It is not about dismissing books or anything else as a rule; it’s simply about being aware that absolutely everybody has an agenda for everything they say or write.

That’s kind of obvious. So, one reads as much as they can from sources which have different agendas. One comes to a reasoned opinion by analysing those sources and attempting to harmonize them.

The biggest threat to the USA right now is the USA itself.

That’s what I’ve been saying: IF the “resisteverything” movement is successful, THEN you end up with a truly dysfunctional government (which is different than a gridlocked government), and THEN you provide opportunity for other world actors to exert influence.

That is one very selective perspective! ‘Pays for the government’ or ‘buys the government’? Anyway, doesn’t the government get taxes from ordinary people? And doesn’t the government give grants and tax breaks to corporates?

My point is that the business sector (a) pays taxes directly to fund the government, and (b) pays wages to individuals, who pay taxes on those wages to fund the government.

All the money comes from the business sector, directly or indirectly.