A scholar speaks of our predicament

On C-Span today, I heard the show, Q and A, with guest Chalmers Johnson. His book Blowback won an American Book Award in 2001 from the Before Columbus Foundation. He discussed Sorrows of Empire, published in 2004, which updated the evidence and argument from Blowback for the post-9/11 environment.

Here’s a quote for the record:

I believe there is a real threat to the continuation of the republican form of government. That is what provides our democracy; what provides our civil liberties and by this we mean divided government. The impossibility of somebody becoming a dictator; being checks and balances, a balance of power; imperial presidency is a good term for it today and it’s out of control.

You can read the entire transcript here or watch the show here.

“… and tell ’em Big Mitch sent ya!”