Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right

Written by:
Jane Mayer
Narrated by:
Kirsten Potter

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
77
Narrator
25
Release Date
January 2016
Duration
16 hours 55 minutes
Summary
Why is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why, despite the desperate need to address climate change, have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? Why have protections for employees been decimated? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers?
     The conventional answer is that a popular uprising against “big government” led to the ascendancy of a broad-based conservative movement. But as Jane Mayer shows in this powerful, meticulously reported history, a network of exceedingly wealthy people with extreme libertarian views bankrolled a systematic, step-by-step plan to fundamentally alter the American political system. 
     The network has brought together some of the richest people on the planet. Their core beliefs—that taxes are a form of tyranny; that government oversight of business is an assault on freedom—are sincerely held. But these beliefs also advance their personal and corporate interests: Many of their companies have run afoul of federal pollution, worker safety, securities, and tax laws.
     The chief figures in the network are Charles and David Koch, whose father made his fortune in part by building oil refineries in Stalin’s Russia and Hitler’s Germany. The patriarch later was a founding member of the John Birch Society, whose politics were so radical it believed Dwight Eisenhower was a communist. The brothers were schooled in a political philosophy that asserted the only role of government is to provide security and to enforce property rights. 
     When libertarian ideas proved decidedly unpopular with voters, the Koch brothers and their allies chose another path. If they pooled their vast resources, they could fund an interlocking array of organizations that could work in tandem to influence and ultimately control academic institutions, think tanks, the courts, statehouses, Congress, and, they hoped, the presidency. Richard Mellon Scaife, the mercurial heir to banking and oil fortunes, had the brilliant insight that most of their political activities could be written off as tax-deductible “philanthropy.”
     These organizations were given innocuous names such as Americans for Prosperity. Funding sources were hidden whenever possible. This process reached its apotheosis with the allegedly populist Tea Party movement, abetted mightily by the Citizens United decision—a case conceived of by legal advocates funded by the network.
     The political operatives the network employs are disciplined, smart, and at times ruthless. Mayer documents instances in which people affiliated with these groups hired private detectives to impugn whistle-blowers, journalists, and even government investigators. And their efforts have been remarkably successful. Libertarian views on taxes and regulation, once far outside the mainstream and still rejected by most Americans, are ascendant in the majority of state governments, the Supreme Court, and Congress. Meaningful environmental, labor, finance, and tax reforms have been stymied. 
     Jane Mayer spent five years conducting hundreds of interviews-including with several sources within the network-and scoured public records, private papers, and court proceedings in reporting this book. In a taut and utterly convincing narrative, she traces the byzantine trail of the billions of dollars spent by the network and provides vivid portraits of the colorful figures behind the new American oligarchy.
     Dark Money is a book that must be read by anyone who cares about the future of American democracy.
Reviews
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Val T

As stated earlier, this is indeed one " of the best and scariest audio-books I have ever listened to." Something needs to get done soon in the United States. The contents seems to parallel the situation in France that preceded the French Revolution. I intend to listen to this audio book again.

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Bria F

I don't think I could overstate the importance of this piece of true investigatory journalism given the current political climate. SO necessary. It has very dry sections, and I definitely appreciated having it on audio-book. Listen hard for the imperatives, and let the rest wash over you in enraging waves.

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Marissa C.

Brilliant feat of journalism by the tycoon Jane Mayer. hard work told masterfully in this densely informative book.

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richard s

Once of the best and scariest audio-books I have ever listened to. I am buying four copies to share with friends. Everyone needs to understand what political money is doing to our country. This is a must read for every American. This is critically important!

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Harrison Tucker

The book is dense with names, dates, and values. The narrator could do more to illustrate such dry material. She definitely makes the book more entertaining than it's author probably could've imagined though; as the author has little to no writing voice beyond standard academia. Lastly, this book is incredibly well researched, loaded with fascinating reports of misconduct and nefarious greed, and it provides one with a total foundation knowledge of how money affects our Democracy.

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Gerald Schweitzer

Excellent Historical Narrative. A must read for any who wish to know the make-up of how the country is changing in the selection process of our democracy. Another reason why funding for a particular party so be really limited especially when money runs the process more then moral and ethical values.

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Richard Todd

This is a fascinating read. A must read for everybody who wants to understand how our political system allows this type of behavior to go on.

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Lee Webster

We're in a frightening situation. This is a clear picture of the oligarchy attempting to take over our republic.

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