American theocracy : the perils and politics of radical religion, oil, and borrowed money in the 21st century

From America's premier political analyst, an explosive examination of the axis of religion, politics, and borrowed money that threatens to destroy the nation In his two most recent New York Times bestselling books, American Dynasty and Wealth and Democracy, Kevin Phillips established himself as a powerful critic of the political and economic forces that are ruling-and imperiling-the United States. Now, Phillips takes an uncompromising view of the political coalition, led by radical religion, that is driving America to the brink of disaster. From Ancient Rome to the British Empire, Phillips demonstrates that every world- dominating power has been brought down by a related set of causes: a lethal combination of global over- reach, militant religion, resource problems, and ballooning debt. It is this same axis of ills that has come to define America's political and economic identity in the past decade. Military miscalculations in the Middle East, the surge of fundamentalist religion, the staggering national debt, the costs of U.S. oil dependence-together these factors are undermining our nation's security, solvency, and standing in the world. If left unchecked, the same forces will bring a debt- bloated, preachy, energy-starved America to its knees. With an eye on the past and a searing vision of the future, Phillips has written a book that no American can afford to ignore. Praise for Kevin Phillips and American Dynasty: "[Phillips] is a deep thinker extraordinaire, who does a masterful job of connecting the military- industrial dots. . . . A searing indictment of the Bush Dynasty." -Douglas Brinkley, Mother Jones "Devastating . . . an important, troubling book that should be read everywhere with care, nowhere more so than in this city." -Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World Former Republican Strategist Phillips Takes An Uncompromising View Of The Political Coalition, Led By Radical Religion, That Is Driving America To The Brink Of Disaster. From Ancient Rome To The British Empire, Phillips Demonstrates That Every World-dominating Power Has Been Brought Down By A Related Set Of Causes: A Lethal Combination Of Global Over-reach, Militant Religion, Resource Problems, And Ballooning Debt. It Is This Same Axis Of Ills That Has Come To Define America's Political And Economic Identity In The Past Decade. Military Miscalculations In The Middle East, The Surge Of Fundamentalist Religion, The Staggering National Debt, The Costs Of U.s. Oil Dependence--together These Factors Are Undermining Our Nation's Security, Solvency, And Standing In The World. If Left Unchecked, The Same Forces Will Bring A Debt-bloated, Preachy, Energy-starved America To Its Knees.--from Publisher Description. Fuel And National Power -- The Politics Of American Oil Dependence -- Trumpets Of Democracy, Drums Of Gasoline -- Radicalized Religion : As American As Apple Pie -- Defeat And Resurrection : The Southernization Of America -- The United States In A Dixie Cup : The New Religious And Political Battlegrounds -- Church, State, And National Decline -- Soaring Debt, Uncertain Politics, And The Financialization Of The United States -- Debt : History's Unlearned Lesson -- Serial Bubbles And Foreign Debt Holders : American Embarrassment And Asian Opportunity -- The Erring Republican Majority -- Afterword : The Changing Republican Presidential Coalition. Kevin Phillips. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 397-430) And Index. An explosive examination of the coalition of forces that threatens the nation, from the bestselling author of American Dynasty In his two most recent bestselling books, American Dynasty and Wealth and Democracy, Kevin Phillips established himself as a powerful critic of the political and economic forces that rule—and imperil—the United States, tracing the ever more alarming path of the emerging Republican majority’s rise to power. Now Phillips takes an uncompromising view of the current age of global overreach, fundamentalist religion, diminishing resources, and ballooning debt under the GOP majority. With an eye to the past and a searing vision of the future, Phillips confirms what too many Americans are still unwilling to admit about the depth of our misgovernment. PREFACE......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 16 Fuel and National Power......Page 20 The Politics of American Oil Dependence......Page 48 Trumpets of Democracy, Drums of Gasoline......Page 85 Radicalized Religion......Page 116 Defeat and Resurrection......Page 149 The United States in a Dixie Cup......Page 188 Church, State, and National Decline......Page 235 Soaring Debt, Uncertain Politics, and the Financialization of the United States......Page 282 Debt......Page 315 Serial Bubbles and Foreign Debt Holders......Page 336 The Erring Republican Majority......Page 364 AFTERWORD......Page 405 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 412 NOTES......Page 414 INDEX......Page 448 A political commentator evaluates today's political climate and the inherent dangers posed by such factors as global over-reach, religious fundamentalism, and ballooning debt, in an account that draws on historical examples