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On Sunday, May 27 at 12:00 am and at 12:00 pm
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The Assault on Reason: How the Politics of Fear, Secrecy, and Blind Faith Subvert Wise Decision Making, Degrade Our Democracy, and Put Our Country and Our World in Peril
Al Gore
Description: From an event at the Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills, California, former Vice President Al Gore discusses his new book, "The Assault on Reason," with actor and author Harry Shearer. The book argues in favor of rational public debate, saying the Bush administration is part of a larger trend in which spin prevails over reason. He sites as an example the statistic that at the time the U.S. went to war with Iraq 70% of Americans thought Saddam Hussein was responsible for the September 11 attacks, and between a third and a half of Americans still believe that. Mr. Gore says it is impossible to make informed public policy decisions in a climate that is hostile to reason.
Author Bio: Former Vice President Al Gore is chairman of Current TV, a television network for young people based on viewer-created content. He is also chairman of Generation Investment Management, which focuses on sustainable investing. Mr. Gore served in the U.S. House 1977-1985 and the U.S. Senate 1985-1990. He was Vice President 1993-2001. He is the author of "Earth in the Balance" and"An Inconvenient Truth."