Hijacking America (PDF)

George Bush leaves the White House in January 2009 and the United
States goes back to "normal", right? Wrong, argues
Susan George in this fascinating, thorough and often chilling
account of the decades-long transformation of American society and
political culture. Using the four "Ms" - money,
media, marketing, management--but above all with a keen sense
of mission, the American secular and religious right has made its
"long march through the institutions" and changed the
way Americans think.

As the left went about its business in blissful ignorance,
convinced that its policies, programmes and projects spoke for
themselves and would always prevail; the right's well-oiled
machine of foundations, lobbies, think-tanks, publications,
political cadres, lawyers and activist organisations slowly and
strategically took over. A broad alliance of neo-liberals,
neo-conservatives and the religious right successfully manufactured
a new common sense, assaulted Enlightenment values and targeted the
top of society where culture is created and legitimized, because
they knew that ideas have consequences--and not just in the
United States.

Hijacking America is that rarity of a book, a thoroughly
researched page-turner. Clearly and gracefully written, it will
enthral the general reader while providing plenty of factual
nourishment for the student of politics, culture, religion or
international relations. And for all those who hope for a different
America in the future, the first step is to hold the present one up
to the light and understand how it got that way.