On July 23, "Idiot America" author Charles P. Pierce lectures David Shuster about Liz Cheney and idiots in America, including the "birther movement."

The publisher calls this new book "a legendary journalist's acidly funny, righteously angry lament about the glorification of ignorance in the United States."

Since the creation of BuzzFlash in May of 2000, we have struggled to understand how a nation that grew and prospered on innovation, education and grit has seen a good portion of its population sink into the mire of revering ignorance.

Pierce's book is a must-read wry romp through the lack of the most basic common sense and reasoning that has come to be emblematic of FOX "News" true believers, fundamentalists, and dittoheads.

His three tenets of Idiot America are succinct and to the point:

The First Great Premise: Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units. (Think Ann Coulter, as just one example, here.)

The Second Great Premise: Anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough.
(Think Bill O'Reilly, as an example, here.)

The Third Great Premise: Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is determined by how fervently they believed it. (Think of how the Bush Admininstration took advantage of this premise to persuade Americans of the "need" for a war against Iraq.)

If you are wondering how that nice relative of yours turned into a simpleton at odds with fact and reason, this is the book to read -- and you'll have a droll journey as America's descent into idiocy is sardonically unearthed and revealed.

At the heart of the hoodwinking of so many Americans is the right wing and corporatist success at substituting perception for reality. If you are a regular follower of Limbaugh, you accept perception -- as strategically created by Rush and his sponsors -- over fact.

And, of course, the corporate mainstream media long ago abandoned the idea that it was supposed to ferret out facts and discredit false perceptions, so "idiot Americans" are left to wallow in their right wing media, GOP, fat wallet fundamentalist preacher ignorance.

BuzzFlash can't recommend "Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of Free" enough. It will help you keep from banging your head against the wall trying to figure out how ignorance, superstition, and lies became so valued by so many in our nation.

Buy liberally!

For the full BuzzFlash progressive premium catalogue, go to The BuzzFlash Progressive Marketplace.

For BuzzFlash Obama gear, go to Everything Obama on BuzzFlash.com

For BuzzFlash progressive magnets, go to BF magnets

For BuzzFlash progressive books, to to BF Progressive Books

Remember, BuzzFlash has also started a custom book and DVD service for our readers. We will find almost any book or DVD for you and sell it for retail value plus $5.00 shipping and handling (within the United States). Just send us your request to BuzzFlash@BuzzFlash.com! and we will get back to you shipping and paying information. A great way to help BuzzFlash pay its expenses and expand progressive news, sustainable living, and hope.