| Summary: |
"In the aftermath of 9/11, in lockstep with booming technological advancements, a new and more authoritarian form of governance is supplanting liberal democracy. The creation of the Security Industrial Complex -– an 'internal security state-within-the-state' fueled by tech companies, private security firms, and others to the tune of $120 billion a year -– is intruding on civil liberties to an extent never before seen in our history. Politicians tolerate it; the average citizen at times welcomes it, thinking it is the way to keep the homeland safe in a time of uncertainty and terrorism. But how real is this threat, and is it worth the loss of our individual privacy? As a society, the author maintains, we have yet to comprehend the meaning of universal digital connection, its impact on our psychology, and its transformation of our government and society. America is at a crossroads in contending with our overreaction to terrorism, allowing the beginnings of a police state, and the erosion of our country from a 'liberal democracy' to a 'secure democracy' -– one where government overreaches, tramples on civil liberties, and uses increasingly advanced technology to spy on the populace. Keller walks us through what these changes can mean to our society and, more importantly, what we can do to halt our march toward intrusive and widespread surveillance. An urgent clarion call for a country in crisis, Democracy Betrayed is a timely and deeply important book about the future of America, especially as the country orients itself to a new president in early 2017." -- Provided by publisher |
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