Torres-Spelliscy in this new book gives us a multitude of scandals, controversies and litigation related to corporate influence on political figures. While reviewing some recent situations, the reader is left with the impression that this is a 21st century phenomenon but then the author shows us how corporate leaders have been trying to influence politicians for hundreds of years, and politicians have been peddling their influence to the highest bidders. This is laid out well, except for a diversion into January 6, 2021 ramifications, of which it’s unclear how corporations influenced this. While there are recommendations at the end of the book—mostly be aware of what your politicians are doing and vote them out if they’re corrupt—there’s no indication that there’s anything novel here, nor the probability of success, nor how these recommendations differ from recommendations given 20 years, 50 years or 100 years ago….and still haven’t been implemented or effective. So what’s going to be different after this book is published? I don’t know.

I’m appreciative that the publisher provided an advanced copy.

Thank you NYU Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I finished Corporatocracy: How To Protect Democracy From Dark Money And Corrupt Politicians, by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy.

Part 1 of the book is about corporate power and now it not only destroys our political system but also presents the threat for another January 6-like attempt to destroy the government.

The chapter on how corporate interests enabled the Nazis to rise to power in Germany was one of the strengths of the book. It provides a good historical parallel to how corporate interests can turn a country into an authoritarian state.

Most Americans are unaware that the prohibition against slavery in the Thirteenth Amendment contains an exception: “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” The book explains how corporations have done a good job exploiting that loophole in order to get free labor. As one commentator wrote, “Arrest rates responded more to fluctuations in the demand for labor than in the crime rate.” The chapter covering this topic was the most appalling in the book. And while the practice is not as bad as it was in the past, the problem remains to this day.

Part 2 of the book is on how America’s voting system, in general is in jeopardy. Most of that discussion is modern day problems, but it also historical precedents, such as the Watergate scandal (which as the book points out was far more than just a break-in and cover-up).

The chapter entitled The Big Lie was one of the best chapters in the book. It was, of course, about Trump’s lies regarding the 2020 election.

Part 3 of the book is on solutions to the problems.

The chapter on the disqualification clause of the 14th Amendment was also another one of the best chapters in the book. The book thoroughly reviewed the cases of Madison Cawthorn and Trump and was even updated enough to include the Supreme Court’s infamous decision in the latter. The Supreme Court has closed the door to this remedy, but actually following what purports to be “the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby” is still an excellent way to handle things.

I gave this book an A+, which also means the book is inducted into my Hall of Fame. Amazon, Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A+ equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley and Goodreads. It will also be posted at Amazon, as soon as the book is released to the public and I will also be posting it at my new book review blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, which I expect to have up and running later in the week.