Reddit reviews The American Deep State: Wall Street, Big Oil, and the Attack on U.S. Democracy (War and Peace Library)

un-elected officials which have wield power unsanctioned by the people. this includes elements of the intelligence world, defense industry, oil companies, and wall street.

Parts of each group work for their own benefit. It's not an over-arching shadow government per say, but more individuals elements which, when taken as a whole, constituent a deep state which controls decisions more than elected officials.

edit: https://www.amazon.com/American-Deep-State-Democracy-Library/dp/1442214244/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487603482&sr=8-2&keywords=deep+state

LOL. Trump invokes his version of the Deep State to explain why anyone could possibly oppose his destructive reign of error.

But the concept of a "Deep State" predates Trump by more than a generation.

One trenchant example:

https://www.amazon.com/American-Deep-State-Democracy-Library/dp/1442214244

He even has a book with "deep state" in the title and has been using the similar term "deep politics."

Yes, but if you call it "the intelligence community" it will almost sound academic.

I've read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman," as well as parts the sequel, which I think has American Empire in the title. It was both more of the same and super depressing and I wasn't in a place at the time where I felt like putting my consciousness through that.

As for your "every review of that book states he uses the same mental gymnastics and blind assumptions as your typical run of the mill conspiracy theorist," statement, I would merely steer any reader of this thread to the Amazon page and and direct them to the positive reviews from Publishers Weekly, Salon, The Guardian and about 12 other places, as well as the 4.5 review from readers:

http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Deep-State-Democracy/dp/1442214244

Likewise positive reviews on GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23733117-the-american-deep-state

Here's a recent article from The NYTimes that seems to take the Deep State theory quite seriously, and cites Scott's book:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/us/examining-who-runs-the-united-states.html?_r=0

I apologize & stand corrected on the historian/linguistics professor mistake. When the book was recommended to me, that's what I was told. I should know better. Thank you for the correction.

I am curious where you got the poor reviews? Please direct me to a few. Not one, but a few.

But even if there are bad reviews (to balance all the good ones on Amazon and GoodReads), what you're saying is: IanPhlegming suggested a book to get started. You read "bad reviews" somewhere and that's enough to make you judge the book is not worth reading. You will not read the book yourself to see if my recommendation is valid or not, you will take the word of some "bad reviews" and not decide on your own. You then ask for OTHER sources, which I definitely now don't think are worth sharing because it's clear you will decide based on what others tell you as opposed to deciding for yourself.

The first few chapters of this book are available to read on Amazon right now for free. You don't even need to read the book. Might you read the first chapter or two and see what you think? Or are is the power of these "bad reviews" enough to influence your mind that you'd prefer to not decide for yourself?

To other readers of this thread, if there are any: Don't believe me. Don't believe this guy. Read for yourself. Decide for yourself. Don't let "Good reviews" or "Bad reviews" move your mind.

They're not using the term unironically, they're using it Peter Dale Scottly ...

The American Deep State: Wall Street, Big Oil, and the Attack on U.S
https://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Deep-State-Democracy-Library/dp/1442214244/ref=sr_1_6

"Peter Dale Scott has written many books about the Deep State at work in the U.S. government. Scott depicts American society as structurally and inherently schizophrenic... It all makes for compelling reading." 5 stars

Someone thinks they're in charge of the country and its clearly not just Trump.
What label would you suggest for the continuity that has carried the US from 911, Afghanistan and Iraq WMD through Libya into Syria today and much much more?