Cockburn, Alexander and Silverstein, Ken. Washington Babylon. New York:
Verso, 1996. 316 pages.
With wit, humor, sarcasm, and some vulgarity, this is a refreshing
indictment of official Washington. The six chapters are titled "Babel's
Tongues" (the press and the pundits), "Congress," "The Lobbyists," "Pork
Central," "The Green Establishment," and "The Presidency." Each chapter is
thick with names, detailing the hypocrisy, conflicted interests, frequent
stupidity, and profiteering of the folks in Washington. The most interesting
chapter is the one on ecology. It describes the role of major foundations
and corporate philanthropy, as they deploy "engulf-and-neuter" tactics
(the awarding of huge grants, ostensibly for grassroots issues, but designed
to co-opt those advocating such issues into positions that ultimately
sustain their opposite).
Alexander Cockburn writes a regular column for "The Nation." With Ken
Silverstein he also edits "CounterPunch" (PO Box 18675, Washington DC 20036),
described as "a fortnightly newsletter about power and evil in Washington."
"Washington Babylon" is not recommended for Clintonistas and other liberals,
as it's a major step beyond the hand-wringing of a William Greider, or of
Barlett and Steele's "What Went Wrong?" By the time you're into the last
chapter, you don't care about regressive tax laws or term limits. Instead,
you feel like nuking Washington and making them start all over again.
ISBN 1-85984-092-2
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