We live in an age when the thirty-second televisi。nspot is the most powerful force shaping the USelectorate’s thinking，and America is currently in thChands of an administration less interested than anyprevious government in sharing the truth with thecitizenry Related to this,and of even greater concern，is the administration’S lack of interest in thC processby which the truth is ascertained—including openinquiry,in which unexpected and even inconvenientfacts can 1ead to unexpected conclusions．

How did the US get here?And how much damage hasbeen done to the functioning of American democracy and its roles as steward of its own national securityand guardian of the wider world?

At the time George w. Bush ordered Americanforces to invade Iraq,70 per cent of Americansbelieved Saddam Hussein was linked to 9／ll.

Voters in Ohio，when asked by pollsters to listwhat stuck in their minds about the campaign，most frequently named two Bush television adsthat played on fears of terrorism．

INTRODUCTION

ONE The Politics of Fear

TWO Blinding the Faithful

THREE The Politics of Wealth

FOUR Convenient Untruths

FIVE The Assault on the Individual

SIX National Insecurity

SEVEN The Carbon Crisis

EIGHT Democracy in the Balance

NINE A Well-Connected Citizenry

CONCLUSION The Rebirth ofDemocracy

Acknowledgments

Notes

Index