John Barry's "The Great Influenza"

[hedgehog]

Someone recommended this book a few days ago, and they're right - it's really chilling. What really got to me though, wasn't the description of the pandemic but the descriptions of the Wilson administration. Think of George Bush in action with no opposition. There is a description of Wilson on page 121 in my copy that could be applied to Bush word for word, including the belief that God meant him to lead the world to the American Way. Wilson campaigned on a platform of keeping the US out of WWI but he was already laying the groundwork before 1916 for total mobilization. (Patriot Act, anyone?). He also sent government sponsored vigilante groups after "subversives". (Illegal immigrants make a nice target, too) I was never taught about any of this in school. It all went down the memory hole,

[MrModerate]

1. Wilson was a real piece of work . . .

A broad visionary with the political habits of Nixon crossed with a wharf rat.

[Itchinjim]

2. I read it and it scared the hell out of me.

The Wilson info was a bit of a surprise too. I knew civil liberties were abused during the war, but I didn't think it was quite that extreme. The "Red Scare" of the twenties was as bad if not worse.

[hedgehog]

3. Another point where Wilson and Bush are on the same page -

Wilson was so busy fighting WWI that he not only ignored the pandemic but actually aggravated it with troop movements and encouraging public rallies, etc. Bush tells us we're on our own with hurricanes and the flu, but spends who knows how much protecting us from "terra'sts".

[unhappycamper]

4. It's a good read.

I picked it up from my library last year & was amazed at the totalitarian environment Wilson created in this country.