Synopses & Reviews
Praise for John MacArthur’s
Second Front:
“A treasure-trove of evidence of official deception.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Wonderfully readable.”—The New York Times
“A brilliant piece of investigative journalism.”—The Globe and Mail
“A devastating exposé.”—The Nation
“A provocative, well-honed polemic.”—Newsweek
After the debacle of the 2000 presidential election, many Americans were asking themselves if their vote really counted anymore. Yet does the problem go even deeper than that? Is America really a democracy anymore?
In a rollicking piece of reportage based on years of reporting, Harper’s MagazinePublisher John R. MacArthur examines how the system really works—and doesn’t work—nowadays. Why is it that all the major candidates seem to be rich Ivy-Leaguers? Why is there so little difference between the Republicans and the Democrats on so many key issues? Does an outsider really have a chance?
Covering the recent candidacies of Ned Lamont and Ralph Nader, reporting on local efforts to effect change, and examining funding and influence in our electoral system in general, MacArthur presents a clarion call to restructure electoral politics.
"A blistering indictment of the political and social forces that muffle the voice of the people in our beleaguered democracy grows into an invigorating wake-up call for real change."—Shelf Awareness
John R. MacArthur, president and publisher of Harper’s Magazine, is an award-winning journalist and author of the acclaimed books The Selling of “Free Trade”: NAFTA, Washington, and the Subversion of American Democracyand Second Front: Censorship and Propaganda in the Gulf War.
Synopsis
"This book lays bare the malfunctions of our democracy and the solutions in a superb literary style and a convincing manner." George McGovern, Democratic candidate for President, 1972
It seems like an historic election: A woman almost won the nomination to run for President of the United states—losing to an African-American, who will run against the oldest candidate ever! Its the realization of one of the core beliefs of our democracy: Anyone can be president.
Or is it? What if a close analysis showed that the candidates were, for the most part, getting their financing from the same corporations and lobbyists … that they all went to the same schools … that their votes were remarkably similarly on most issues …?
In a rollicking piece of journalism based on years of reporting, John R. MacArthur, the publisher of Harpers Magazine, talks to truly independent candidates—including the first ever post-election interview of Joe Lieberman nemesis Ned Lamont—about what they were up against. He gives the most detailed breakdown yet of campaign financing sources. He analyzes the parameters of the two party system, what the Constitution has to say about that, and how the media treats independent politicians. And he also discusses how all this influences issues of local democracy.
Its an edgy, fascinating look at the system thats a must-read to understand whether the most historic election in American history is really going to be about change … or not.
About the Author
JOHN R. MACARTHUR is the president and publisher of Harpers Magazine. An award-winning journalist, he has previously written for The New York Times, United Press International, The Chicago Sun-Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He is also the author of the acclaimed books The Selling of Free Trade: NAFTA, Washington, and the Subversion of American Democracy, and Second Front: Censorship and Propaganda in the Gulf War. He lives in New York City.