Unaccountable, Janine R. Wedel
Unaccountable, Janine R. Wedel
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Unaccountable
How Elite Power Brokers Corrupt Our Finances, Freedom, and Security

Author: Janine R. Wedel

Narrator: Pam Ward

Unabridged: 11 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/15/2014

Synopsis

A groundbreaking book that challenges Americans to reevaluate our views on how corruption and private interest have infiltrated every level of societyFrom the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street, however divergent their political views, these groups seem united by one thing: outrage over a system of power and influence that they feel has stolen their livelihoods and liberties. Increasingly, protesters on both ends of the political spectrum and the media are using the word corrupt to describe an elusory system of power that has shed any accountability to those it was meant to help and govern.But what does corruption and unaccountability mean in today's world? It is far more toxic and deeply rooted than bribery. From super PACs pouring secret money into our election system to companies buying better ratings from Standard & Poor's or the extreme influence of lobbyists in Congress, all embody a "new corruption" and remain unaccountable to our society's supposed watchdogs, which sit idly alongside the same groups that have brought the government, business, and much of the military into their pocket.

About Janine R. Wedel

Janine R. Wedel is the author of Shadow Elite and the award-winning Collision and Collusion. She has written for the Nation, New York Times, Financial Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Boston Globe, Politico, and Salon, among others. She is a professor in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University and has been a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation.

About Pam Ward

Pam Ward, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, found her true calling reading books for the blind and physically handicapped for the Library of Congress’ Talking Books program. The fact that she can work with Blackstone Audio from the beauty of the mountains of Southern Oregon is an unexpected bonus.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Thomas on March 22, 2015

Wedel's book describes what is, in a sense, obvious if you follow the news. When the same people keep popping up as experts from different sides of the coin, you need to be wary. The people in positions to shape government actions are also working for the government - sometimes overtly, sometimes no......more

Goodreads review by Eric on January 09, 2016

Some useful points about how high-powered individuals jump between jobs in different sectors, creating conflicts of interest and an elite clique, are undermined by absurd criticisms of experts being given government jobs (surely better than just having career politicians).......more

Goodreads review by ^Mak_Enon5 on November 30, 2022

Just as the title says, all of the chapters are about how the structure of unaccountability works and only one page of the temporary workaround which is disappointing. Interesting perspective, but no advice or proposed structure. I watched her interviews on Youtube and I think it saves me more time.......more

Goodreads review by Greg on January 23, 2017

The 2016 election certainly acquainted us all with the problem of, and threat posed by, "fake news." Ms. Wedel's fact- and instance-filled book demonstrates how, in today's world of slippery images and dubious arguments, the old adage "What you see is what you get" can no longer be counted on to be......more

Goodreads review by Chris on April 10, 2017

Very useful resource for understanding modern corruption and influence.......more

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