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I’ve decided to go on a McCourt Brothers binge, and this was my first taste of the writings of the younger brother, Malachy. I chose it because it’s a short book that got me to my 2016 reading goal quickly, and it was sort of a break from the heavy and depressing book I’m reading now. This was rather depressing, too, but at least there are jokes along the way.
The book is a satirical screed against George W. Bush and the Iraq War, but because it was written in 2004, I alternated between thinking that I ought to go back to reading something more current and being knocked out by all the parallels. For example, the book points out several times that Bush was not elected president. As we all know, Trump lost the popular vote by an even wider margin. What is Malachy saying now?
I desperately hope that Trump will not lead us into war as Bush did. The book cites that the Iraq War cost $750,000 a minute and $45 million an hour. No wonder his presidency ended in deep recession. Malachy contrasts this throughout the book to budget cuts on social services and kick-backs to Bush’s corporate cronies. I sincerely hope that Trump avoids war, but I have no doubt that he and his inner circle are going to make plenty of money while he’s in power, and all on the people’s backs.
This is not a feel-good book. It also may not be the most important book you can read in these days before Trump takes office. But sometimes, a look at the recent past can give us hints of what to avoid in the future. Organize!
The book is a satirical screed against George W. Bush and the Iraq War, but because it was written in 2004, I alternated between thinking that I ought to go back to reading something more current and being knocked out by all the parallels. For example, the book points out several times that Bush was not elected president. As we all know, Trump lost the popular vote by an even wider margin. What is Malachy saying now?
I desperately hope that Trump will not lead us into war as Bush did. The book cites that the Iraq War cost $750,000 a minute and $45 million an hour. No wonder his presidency ended in deep recession. Malachy contrasts this throughout the book to budget cuts on social services and kick-backs to Bush’s corporate cronies. I sincerely hope that Trump avoids war, but I have no doubt that he and his inner circle are going to make plenty of money while he’s in power, and all on the people’s backs.
This is not a feel-good book. It also may not be the most important book you can read in these days before Trump takes office. But sometimes, a look at the recent past can give us hints of what to avoid in the future. Organize!
