Moyers on Democracy

I enthusiastically nominate "Moyers On Democracy" as an outstanding book for 2008. This book laid a hasty hand on my cynicism about government in the introduction when he wrote that books like this one are viewed with suspicion by media moguls. They have "decided that uncovering the inner workings of public and private power is boring and will drive viewers and readers away to greener pastures of pablum." You've got me, Bill! So I began to read. And he didn't disappoint. If there is any book that will focus a fierce searchlight on the deals related to all the political battles and scandals that are engaging us in this present time then this is one. Each of his essays and speeches begins with insightful musings and personal reflections from his years growing up in Texas with a father who was a devotee of FDR, continue with his flirtations with ministry, describe his time with Lyndon Johnson as senator and president, include his forage into the Peace Corps, embrace his years as publisher and news analyst and crown his career as producer of public television's groundbreaking series such as "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell. Here we have potent examples of both the breadth of his interest and the depth of his probing analysis of the issues of democracy. For example, no other journalist, to my knowledge, has had the audacious courage (or maybe foolhardiness!) to give a lecture at the United States Military Academy that quotes James Madison's words, "In no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found, than in the clause which confides the question of war and peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department," then goes on to say, "Twice in forty years we have now gone to war paying only lip service to those warnings; the first war was lost, the second is a bloody debacle, and both rank among the great blunders in our history. It is impossible for soldiers to sustain in the field what cannot be justified in the Constitution; asking them to do so puts America at war with itself. So when the vice president of the United States says it doesn't matter what the people think, he and the president intend to prosecute the war anyway, he is committing heresy against the fundamental tenets of the American political order." Yet, even then, he concludes by saying to the graduating class, "I salute your dedication to America and I wish all of you good luck." His eulogies for Lady Bird Johnson, Bill Coffin, Barbara Jordan and Fred Friendly provide a rare glimpse into his heart and reveal the genuine compassion of a sensitive and thoughtful human being. I was moved by simply reading them. Still, for me, I have found his lectures on "Money and Politics" and "The Fight For Public Broadcasting" representative of the best journalism being practiced today. With the rare skill honed by his years of investigative prowess he describes Bush's Washington. Jack Abramoff's ties to Karl Rove and bribery and the scandals of Tom Delay's money laundering

Here's the first sentence in Bill Moyers' new book: "Democracy in America is a series of narrow escapes, and we may be running out of luck." But America is lucky to have Bill Moyers as a journalist, a public intellectual and a significant voice in our national conversation: he is a wise and learned man, an active citizen and patriot in the deepest sense of those words, who holds penetrating honesty about the sad state of our Union in creative tension with commitment and hope. If you doubt any of this, read but one of the remarkable speeches gathered here: "The Meaning of Freedom," delivered at West Point. Moyers' reflections on the role of the military in a free society are a microcosm of the strengths one finds throughout this volume: historical grounding, practical realism, critical thought (also known as "speaking truth to power"), an appreciation of the ethical responsibilities and dilemmas of duty, and an uncompromising devotion to democratic values. In this book and in his own way of being in the world, Moyers embodies qualities we all need to cultivate if democracy in America is to keep having those narrow escapes.

One of the great qualities of America is its conscience, sometimes known as that quiet but reasoned internal voice which arises when one is otherwise having a great time. Moyers is an eloquent voice of that conscience, a clear and positive contrast to narcissist negative nagging typified by Rush Limbaugh. Nags are always pessimistic; conscience encourges one to be better. In the best of times, as in the worst of times, Americans share an optimism they can improve themselves and their society. Nags have a purpose, if you like "boss others around" attitudes. Conscience is a small quiet voice of personal responsibility, challenge and constructive incentives. America is a land of boundless excess; after the ruin of the Civil War, it took only 40 years to become the world's richest and most powerful nation. Andrew Carnegie typified the success of excess; he created a dynamic modern steel industry, then the world's finest public library system. Moyers made his early contributions in politics. Instead of acquiring a personal fortune, he became a founder of the Peace Corps, one of the lasting elements of American compassion. He then turned to "the library function", providing people with information. Unlike the compulsive nature of moral nags, no one is forced to read a book and no one is forced to listen to Moyers. Instead, the strength of both is intelligent acceptance by the community. Don't be put off by the cover photo of Moyers; he looks like a nag, but he reads like an inspiration. This book offers some of the best of Moyers over the past 20 years. It is a collection of gems to remind us the best qualities of America are not the politics of bitterness, the greed of selfishness or the pessimism of dismal doom. Would America be better without Limbaugh? Perhaps not. It is better because of Moyers. The greatness of America is its diversity of ideas. Moyers offers some of the best, and this book is a reminder of the success of decency in a world that sometimes seems to be utterly mad, selfish and foolish.

I have had the opportunity to listen to some of these speeches on the Democracy Now telecast/radio show (best news there is IMHO). Bill Moyers is the most genuine patriot of our time. His speeches challenge America to fight off the 'Great Simplifiers' and take a deeper look not only at our current situation, but also at our past and future. Simply brilliant in its inspiration.

I've been lucky to hear Bill Moyers give three speeches live and every time, he reliably stirs my emotions and gives me the chills. The amazing thing is he's talking about democracy, freedom, and justice, while weaving in history and discussion of the way the media should work. Whenever a new Bill Moyers speech transcript becomes available, it's required reading. So this book is a real gem, pulling them together. What you will discover is Bill Moyers is brilliant at weaving together stories of real people with history, occasionally mythology and the most important issues of our time.