The Assault On Reason

Until recently, I was not a fan of Al Gore. I cast my ballot for George W. in 2000. At that time, I suppose I voted for who I thought I should as an OC Republican without giving it much more thought. These days, I'm educating myself, and like Al Gore, I realize "that we have Trouble, right here in River City. With a capital T and that rhymes with G and that stands for Government". Mr Gore has concerns and questions that seek answers and action. His voice is just one of many challenging Americans to think about what we are being told. He encourages (me) to pay attention to what is happening in our great country, and to engage in the public forum exercising reason.

I would love to hear your opinions. Please leave a comment.

From the Publisher A visionary analysis of how the politics of fear, secrecy, cronyism, and blind faith has combined with the degration of the public sphere to create an environment dangerously hostile to reason. At the time George W. Bush ordered American forces to invade Iraq, 70 percent of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was linked to 9/11. Voters in Ohio, when asked by pollsters to list what stuck in their minds about the campaign, most frequently named two Bush television ads that played to fears of terrorism. We live in an age when the thirty-second television spot is the most powerful force shaping the electorate's thinking, and America is in the hands of an administration less interested than any previous administration in sharing the truth with the citizenry. Related to this and of even greater concern is this administration's disinterest in the process by which the truth is ascertained, the tenets of fact-based reasoning-first among them an embrace of open inquiry in which unexpected and even inconvenient facts can lead to unexpected conclusions. How did we get here? How much damage has been done to the functioning of our democracy and its role as steward of our security? Never has there been a worse time for us to lose the capacity to face the reality of our long-term challenges, from national security to the economy, from issues of health and social welfare to the environment. As The Assault on Reason shows us, we have precious little time to waste. Gore's larger goal in this book is to explain how the public sphere itself has evolved into a place hospitable to reason's enemies, to make us more aware of the forces at work on our own minds, and to lead us to an understanding of what we can do, individually and collectively, to restore the rule of reason and safeguard our future. Drawing on a life's work in politics as well as on the work of experts across a broad range of disciplines, Al Gore has written a farsighted and powerful manifesto for clear thinking.

Comments

[charlie]

Joe,

There is a whole litany of things to discuss about politics, as there is no perfect party or candidate. However, point by point can be discussed and refuted, by a variety of arguments pro and con.

I find it ironic that the publisher stated "America is in the hands of an administration less interested than any previous administration in sharing the truth with the citizenry". What about Kosovo, Bosnia, Mogadishu, & transferring of our missile technology to China, and not only his personal conduct. People get too caught up in 'Bush lied about WMD', our previous President, Congress (both sides), foreign allies (including Russia), the United Nations believed he had WMD. Recently Saddam Hussein acknowledged his misleading of the world community on WMD. It is easy to armchair quarterback any situation after the fact, but when you have the security and safety of your country at stake if you blink you die in the dark. We were attacked several times in the 90's with no response from the U.S (we took a law enforcement approach). Besides the United Nations gave SH a deadline, what is the use of an organization if it has no relevance. Any rogue dictator can do whatever without any repercussions...

Mr. Gore has a convenient memory loss when it comes to his involvement and politics in this country. Looks like to me the pot calling the kettle black. If a person bases their beliefs on emotion then it is easy to be swayed or manipulated. I am like Joe Friday...Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.

Isn't this a great country we live in.

Cheers, Charlie

[Jeff Schaefer]

Here’s what’s hypocritical: “His voice is just one of many challenging Americans to think about what we are being told”... Unless it pertains to global warming and its cause. Al Gore and the environmental crowd won’t allow discussion about global warming, claiming the debate is over. The debate never even started! They stifle any opinion contrary to their own.

[Joe Photo]

Charlie, I agree with you that there is no perfect candidate or party. How could there be? We are all imperfectly human and each of us have the right to our own opinions. Our deeply held beliefs are based on our Perception of the Truth (or the Facts). Our brains often filter any evidence they receive to justify our own positions / beliefs until we DECIDE to investigate further. Then our minds can be open again, until we reform our convictions.

My purpose in recommending The Assault On Reason was to share a book that challenged me to open my mind and consider the information (or lack of information) that I process from the media. In fact, all of the books I recommend have challenged my thinking / beliefs in some way.

Personally, I think people should be outraged that Bush lied about WMD and redirected The War on Terror from Bin Laden to Iraq. Thousands of lives have been lost, based on misinformation and misdirection. Why are we still there? Perhaps the roque dictator you refer to is really much closer to home.

Blessings to you Charlie. Thank you for making your voice heard.

[Joe Photo]

Hi Jeff,
Thank you for your comment. By posting your opinion, you are taking action to be heard! That is something that you and Al have in common. Let your voice be heard and change the world.

[Eric Foley]

I worry that as humans, we are no longer able to think for ourselves. We let the media make up our minds, decide our views and lead us to follow the ideals of those in power.

Become a free thinking individual, suppress your egos and allow the energy of the universe do it's job.

Decide what is important to you and fight for the cause! That is what Al Gore is doing! We are moving backwards not forward and if we are not careful, we will be gone!

Humanity First! The rest will fall in place!

[Chris Fawkes]

I am glad Saddam has gone. I think that whatever side of the fence anyone sits we at least agree that lives lost is tragic.
I do think that Ale Gore's Inconvenient Truth is somewhat hokey and also plays on the fears of the masses.
Great work btw.

[David]

That book from the guy "who invented the internet".

Same thing with his "Inconvenient Truth"... Too bad that to make his point he has to resort to lies and half truths.

If I exercise "reason", as he ask me to in his book, I am forced to conclude that he is, what always has been, a phoney.

I am glad we went into Iraq. WHAT I AM OUTRAGED ABOUT IS THAT IT TOOK SO LONG to the aid of the oppressed and why didn't the rest of the nations that call themselves pro-human rights.

It is hypocritical to enjoy and relish the freedoms we have and use them to shy away from helping others,

[Joe Photo]

Hi David,
Thank you for your comment. I admire your passion.

I have two questions for you.
1. Have you read The Assault on Reason and determined that Al Gore is a phoney?

2.How are we aiding the oppressed in Iraq through war?

The cost of the war for America is almost $500 Billion and is expected to double to over 1 Trillion dollars. I'm no economist, but I think that money could be better spent to help the oppressed around the world. I suspect that we are in Iraq to secure our interests in Oil rather than helping the oppressed.

Consider the loss of lives. Almost 4,000 U.S. soldiers killed and more than 60,000 wounded. 700,000 Iraqis killed and 4 million refugees.

When beautiful people like Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King Jr help the oppressed, the world is moved. These are my role models for change.