A Review of "U.S. History Uncensored"

Carolyn Baker's book U.S. History Uncensored is designed as a supplement to the standard version of history offered by textbooks, college professors, and high school teachers. However, this does not mean that the material presented in the book should be considered tangential to the main themes of US history since the Civil War; to the contrary, Baker's work presents a far more coherent view of the rise of corporate power at the expense of the individual, the emergence of the American Empire, and the most pressing issues facing the entire world today.The work, though, is not even really a "book;" rather it is "a curriculum abstract for U.S. History, 1865 to the present," and provides more of a framework for the student to consider Baker's positions and do independent research on the various topics examined. In many of the 33 chapters, readers are encouraged to view documentaries, search out other books on the topic, or read supplementary articles presented directly in the text. Helpfully, Baker gives web addresses to locate many of these sources, many of which may not be offered at the local bookstore or movie rental.Through the end of the Civil War, through the rise of the Robber Barons, the conferring of "personhood" on corporations, and the continuing transfer of wealth and power to large corporations and the government, the book looks at the most important events of recent American history and examines the influences behind the stories and popular myths, such as the Civil Rights movements, the xenophobia that began the eugenics movement and allied it with big business and public schooling, and various Cold War Issues.The most important event of the time period Baker examines, though, is "1947 when the National Security Act was signed into law creating the Central Intelligence Agency and a black budget, which absolved the Agency from all accountability to Congress or the American people regarding its activities and expenditures." This transferred public power and money to a secretive agency that has done much harm to Americans living in the US and American interest abroad. Some of the issues briefly examined include relationships with drugs, mind-control experiments on American citizens, and involvements in various assassinations and plots to overthrow governments.While Baker traces the paths of American history from growing corporate power to increasing government involvement in the world and secret dealings at home and abroad, her main concerns are with the three most pressing issues facing the world right now, and an examination of these are what the book leads to in its final chapters. Without understanding how events and decisions have led to these newest unprecedented problems, there will be no effective reaction to solve them, and most citizens are unaware of the significance of the issues. According to Baker, the "Terminal Triangle of Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Global Economic Collapse" are "inexplicably ominous for our planet and its inhabitants - and absolutely unprecedented." These chapters are some of the most important in the book, and various experts are quoted on each of the issues.Just as important is the question of why these issues are not being dealt with the government or talked about in the media. But Baker presents these answers indirectly, for the most part, and the discussions of recent American history will provide readers with the map to be able to find the answers on their own. Large corporations benefiting from the Terminal Triangle, who own the media and operate the revolving door between business and government, have no reason to inform consumers of these issues. And this same government/business partnership also operate, fund, and present the national elections, making large-scale change unlikely.After presenting such a dismal map with little reason to hope for change, Baker thankfully presents her views on how to work through the problems now facing America and the world. Focusing on local solutions and sustainability, Baker provides such recommendations as "not only must we move through our fear of the topic of money, we must come to understand how it works in our communities," and "sustainability cannot be created in isolation. Crucial in one's 'options portfolio' is a sense of community." Thus, while there may be no hope in distant governments, which will continue to wage wars for the last remaining resources on planet Earth and take away more of the average citizen's liberties in a "war for freedom," change can occur more easily on the local level, and create a higher moral and spiritual standard of living for every citizen, instead of gross profits for a few abstract corporations and the central governments they control.Baker's book is recommended as an examination of both America's past, from its rise after a devastating Civil War to become the largest empire in history, as well as its future. It also gives the reader an understanding of the likely course of future events, based on over one hundred years of history of the US government favoring corporate profits over civilians, other nations, and the planet in general. Most importantly of all, Baker gives readers a new perspective on hope as a tangible, controllable idea that can be enacted at a local level, instead of an abstract, dogmatic belief in a government that will promise to deliver hope but offer further loss of life and liberty for the majority of citizens it was originally designed to protect. dr seuss cat in hat quotes