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Richardson’s central argument is that while America was founded on democratic ideals, it simultaneously upheld systems of racial and economic oppression that contradicted those very principles. She explores how, even after the Civil War, wealthy stakeholders, controlled voter eligibility, and economic policies, to maintain racial and class hierarchies. These hierarchies were adapted from the Antebellum South to the West with it’s ‘rugged individualism� and seizure of Indigenous peoples� lands to concentrate wealth in the hands of white settlers.

Most disturbing for this reviewer were the chapters devoted to the evolution of the modern conservative movements with the complete lack of moral compass many of the participants held. The machinations of these men were disheartening to say the least, criminal to say in accuracy. Even with a grain of caution (many of conclusions are a tad oversimplified and not necessarily analyzed), Richardson does layout the complex historical developments for the average reader to grasp.

With the current state of US politics reflecting Richardson’s premise, one has to wonder if the oligarchy truly understands how capitalism, industrialization, and global economic forces can be leveraged in order to maintain such control over American’s and their democracy with no consequences. Is Neil Howe’s prediction of the Fourth Turning going to happen or will previous historical forces such as labor movements, immigrant communities, and grassroots activism rise again to challenge and reshape the political landscape?

Reviewer’s Comments:
William Buckly, Jr. held a lot more power and was a lot more extremist than this reviewer knew.
Richard Nixon influenced far too many politicians.
Ronald Reagan (as a front for his oligarchy) wielded too much power as he convinced Americans of his selfish agenda under the guise of ‘favorite grandpa.�
Barak Obama, an island of sanity, did present an anomaly, which Richardson did not explain fully, within the decades of complex oligarchical political evolution.
The Marlboro Man, (okay, Richardson used the ‘cowboy�) as the epitome of white, manly ‘rugged individualism,� was actually the front for racial, gender and economic inequality.