UnMaking America by Vale Foster exposes how a 1971 memo reshaped U.S. institutions, empowering corporate elites and threatening democracy. A must-read for politically engaged minds.
Book Summary – UnMaking America
Vale Foster’s UnMaking America: How a Secret Memo Unleashed Corporate Power, Divided the Nation, and Endangers Our Future is a piercing, well-researched political exposé that connects the dots between a once-confidential 1971 memo and the slow but steady unraveling of American democratic institutions. Through meticulous historical analysis and sharp political commentary, Foster presents a powerful argument: that America’s increasing corporate dominance is no accident it was strategically designed.
| Book Detail | Details |
|---|---|
| Author Name | Vale Foster |
| Book Title | UnMaking America: How a Secret Memo Unleashed Corporate Power, Divided the Nation, and Endangers Our Future |
| Format | Kindle |
| Pages | 429 |
| Recommended Age | 12–18 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Political Ideologies |
| ASIN | B0FBQBT381 |
| Publisher | Independently Published |
The Genesis of Power: The Lewis Powell Memo
The catalyst for this sweeping transformation, as Foster details, is a confidential memo penned by Lewis Powell Jr. to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Written shortly before Powell’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, the memo urged American corporations to defend free enterprise by influencing public opinion, academia, the media, and the judiciary.
Foster posits that this memo didn’t gather dust. It became a battle plan—one that birthed think tanks, co-opted legal institutions, and turned education into a conveyor belt for pro-business ideology.
Institutional Capture: Courts, Academia, and Policy
The Judiciary and Legal Influence
Foster dedicates substantial analysis to the rise of the Federalist Society and the “law and economics” movement, both of which he argues were instrumental in reconfiguring the judiciary. These legal trends, shaped under Powell’s ideological shadow, ensured that corporate-friendly interpretations of the Constitution gained traction.
Universities and Think Tanks
Major universities, previously bastions of independent thought, were influenced by well-funded endowments and pro-business think tanks. Foster shows how institutions like the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute shaped policy narratives, especially regarding deregulation and privatization.
Tax Policy and Deregulation
Using concrete examples, Foster illustrates how American tax policy shifted dramatically to favor corporations and the wealthy. Deregulation—from finance to environmental protections—was not incidental, but the result of intentional lobbying and policymaking designed to reduce corporate accountability.
Alliances with Christian Nationalism and Silicon Valley Neoreaction
In one of the book’s most provocative sections, Foster explores unlikely alliances between corporate interests, Christian nationalists, and Silicon Valley’s neoreactionary thinkers. These movements, while ideologically distinct, share a common disdain for democratic institutions and public oversight.
Foster connects this to contemporary threats such as Project 2025, a controversial agenda to consolidate executive power, eliminate independent government agencies, and shift authority toward ideologically aligned actors.
A Warning Echoed Through History
Quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt, Foster underscores the existential risk of unchecked private power:
“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself.”
The book’s thesis is clear—democracy is not just under siege; the siege was long-planned, subtly executed, and dangerously normalized.
Signs of Democratic Resistance
Despite its sobering tone, UnMaking America ends on a hopeful note. Foster identifies grassroots movements, policy reformers, and civic engagement initiatives that are pushing back against the Powell-era blueprint. Youth-led organizations, environmental justice movements, and democratic social platforms are emerging as modern resistance forces.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Politically engaged readers interested in American history and governance
- Advocates for economic justice and corporate accountability
- Teachers, students, and researchers studying political ideologies
- Citizens concerned about Project 2025 and the future of democracy
Final Verdict: A Must-Read Political Wake-Up Call
UnMaking America is not a conspiracy rant—it’s a meticulously documented, sobering look at the hidden forces shaping the American political and economic landscape. Vale Foster combines historical insight with modern urgency to deliver a book that informs, warns, and ultimately empowers.
If you care about the future of democracy, UnMaking America is essential reading.
