Dark Money provokes lively discussion at January Book Club
The most common reaction to Jane Mayer’s Dark Money was amazement at the billions of dollars the very rich have at their disposal, and the billions they spend to place Far Right politicians into state and federal offices. One member said that just thumbing through the book was enough to scare her; and she chose not to read the book. Another expressed concern that dark money is given to universities and colleges as a way of having influence on what is taught.
Below is a review of Dark Money by Mariah Snyder, January discussion leader.
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, by Jane Mayer, provides a well-researched (five-year) exposé on the impact of money on many aspects of American life and politics. Mayer, a staff writer for The New Yorker, details how a number of United States billionaires such as the Koch brothers, Mellon-Scaife, Bradley brothers, Prince DeVos, and others made their money, and how they now use it to influence political affairs. Mayer lists companies, colleges/universities, and organizations owned or influenced by this money. After reading Dark Money, one is left with the question: “Can the impact of big money on our political system and way of life be stopped or ever be reversed?”
Dark Money was published in 2016 before the presidential election. For more up-to-date article by the same author, Jane Mayer, published in The New Yorker, March 27, 2017, enter the following into your web browser:
The Reclusive Hedge-Fund Tycoon Behind the Trump Presidency
— Mariah Snyder, UMRA Book Club member
UMRA Book Club to discuss Dark Money at January 19 meeting
Fri, Jan 19 2018, 2pm
Book Club member Mariah Snyder will lead the discussion of Dark Money by Jane Mayer at the January 19 meeting. The Book Club meets at 2 p.m. the third Friday of every month, except December. Meetings are held at the 1666 Coffman Building, which is located on Larpenteur Avenue near the St. Paul Campus. Newcomers are welcome. Contact Pat Tollefson for more information ([email protected])
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
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Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
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