Anand Giridharadas

I identified with this book from the opening pages which talked about the petty and not so petty criminals Ras Bhuiyan was subjected to at a convenience store in Texas. No victim of crime, no victim of so many crimes ever entirely buries the shock and worry you feel when attacked or threatened with violence. As a store owner you worry more for your staff than for yourself. You worry about the calls from the security company at night, you worry that some evening you won't make it home to your family. You don't ever know why the thugs get you in their sites, you just deal with it and try to move on. Life is like that. How Bhuiyan found the strength to strike back at the cycle of violence and hatred is what makes this story incredible. I don't know that I would do the same.… (més)

I was really drawn to this book by two things: 1) Giridharadas’ outstanding “The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas,” and 2) a Slate podcast in which the author outlines some of the themes of this book.

But once I dove into it I was a little disappointed: the author takes full aim at the few rich people who actually give a damn about what’s going on in the world beyond their gated communities. I just don’t see the point of it, unless such people really need a waking up. I suspect they pretty much know they’re collaborators with the devil.

Still, there are a number of themes in the book that bear comment, themes that I throw around in my mind regularly.

For example, Giridharadas correctly lionizes Thomas Piketty’s fine volume “Capital.” Wealth does show a trend to consolidate itself. And indeed all the world’s democracies need to take aim at a progressive wealth tax more than an income tax if they hope to reverse the trend, to shut down the tax havens, to nail the money-launderers, and isolate the Russian kleptocrats.

Westerners do need to view their own governments at once more seriously and with a more critical eye. Our constitutions are not perfect, do need review, and do need a less tortuous path to reform. However, our governments are as clear a picture of their constituents as anything. Our governments are our neighbours, our collective aspirations, and our failure to address the inertia of budgets and priorities. We needn’t let our paranoia overtake the reality of the situation.

There is also the question of who is wise enough to govern ourselves. Giridharadas clearly thinks the titans of commerce are not. Not having known any of them I can’t say as I can agree or disagree with him.

Regretfully, Americans display annoyance that their President is not the Emperor. So many of them side with Donald Trump these days I have been seriously taking a hard look at my vacation plans.

Like Churchill, the author seems to think that democracy is the worst way to govern ourselves, except for all the others. I’d like to believe him. I’ve never had much success at moving my governments one way or t’other on some relatively pedestrian inequities I’ve seen in our laws.

Running for office is no picnic.… (més)