Prepare For Thy Doom, Book Review

Book Review
After America
By Mark Steyn
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
Washington DC
2011

In this excellent book Mark Steyn reveals some of the irrational programs, policies, and public discourse we see and hear from politicians and their misguided supporters. His treatment is hilarious and deadly serious making me laugh out loud more than once on a one page. He begins early with the observation that "A society can cope with corroded infrastructure and a devalued currency more easily than with corroded liberty and a devalued citizenry." He asks "If the political class plus their dependents in the media and academy have disconnected themselves from the animating principles of the American idea, then what is the point of America?"

Steyn observes that "the whole disease curing industry has ground to a halt." He reports how Obama directed NASA to become a diversity outreach consultant. "What's 'foremost' for NASA is to make Muslims 'feel good' about their contributions to science." That explains why the schools are now used for psychiatric treatment, and why teaching basic skills are no longer a priority. Is there any wonder how Obama was elected twice?

"[W]hen it happens incrementally, and apparently painlessly, free peoples who were once willing to give their lives for liberty can be persuaded very easily to relinquish their liberties for a quiet life. [. . .] The story of the western world since 1945 is that, invited to choose between freedom and government 'security,' large numbers of people vote to dump freedom every time [. . .] and eventually [. . .] what you're permitted to say and think."

A reader of his previous book, America Alone, wrote saying "we're rich enough to be stupid." Steyn says that is the "sun-dappled complacency of idle-trust-funders whiling away the sixth year of of Whatever Studies. But it's an accurate distillation of a dominant world view. Since 9/11, there have been many citations, apropos radical Islam, of Churchill's observation that an appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping he'll eat him last." Steyn notes that "Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, we have been less rich. But, if anything, even more stupid."

He repeats a"basic rule of life: If you reward bad behavior, you get more of it." He notes the fact that "among America's elite, there are many non political members, comfortable, educated beneficiaries of the American Dream who just want to get on with their lives. For these people and many others, liberalism is the soft option, the one with all the nice words-- 'diversity,' 'tolerance,' 'peace,' 'social justice,' 'sustainability,' --and the position that requires the least defending if you happen to be at a dinner party and the conversation trends toward current events. If you have to have opinions these are the safe ones. They're not really 'opinions,' these are the safe ones."

Continuing his rational analysis of the dangerous path the United States is on, Steyn says, "In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury wrote: ' If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him: give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, top-heavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag.

Climate change? It's not a question, and there aren't two sides: there's the side of 'the environment,' then there's the 'deniers.' Illegal immigration? There's the side of 'diversity,' and then there's the racists. From kindergarten up, America's 'educators' teach their young charges the no-side buzz-words: Peace Montag. The seductive peace of comfort and complacency."

You may get the idea of how he discusses numerous wrongheaded contemporary beliefs held by many citizens. He uses logic and humor to draw attention to them. One problem is that for many young college age people there is no history. Two weeks ago is ancient to them. Moreover they often ask, "What is logic?" Lacking common sense it is difficult for them to see the error of their beliefs. Few power hungry politicians and few money hungry corporations will dissuade them from their misguided beliefs. Steyn tries to do that.

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