Confessions of an Economic Hitman

[BuyerWillEPB]

Not directly housing related, but I think many here will be interested in watching this video (3 parts).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oARBdBtGenM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAqG51uwzMI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l22O33KyWa4

[LookoutBelow]

I Read the book…he's full of shit….In the vids….He lost me when he was admittedly naked in that hot tub with 3 world leaders or some such shit all talking about saving the world and "bad" people can be good people….All ya have to do is just ask em…Were they eating mushrooms ?….Dont waste your time reading it or watching those goofy vids.

A few points are somewhat valid, but he offers NOTHING other than HIS awareness….we ALL KNOW whats going on…So what ? Whats going to be done about it ?

 

NOTHING

[bsrsharma]

On the other hand, “Liar’s Poker” is a truly interesting book. You get to know the inner mechanics of Wall street a bit too well.

http://books.google.com/books?id=YK6-xuF6gZIC&dq=&pg=PP1&ots=J9fezmjtcs&sig=j0Zpr0RdeeDpbTrv8gpvKKFFIDk&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fq%3Dliars%2Bpoker%26ie%3Dutf-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26aq%3Dt%26rls%3Dcom.ubuntu:en-US:official%26client%3Dfirefox-a&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title#PPP1,M1

[sdduuuude]

That’s a cool book. My dad bought it for me just before I went to grad school (long ago). Amazingly, I met one of the guys who had left Solomon Brothers to come to school. He was one of the guys who sat in “the back of the class” that the author told about. He was a real character.

D

[Anonymous]

I like the book but by the end of it I thought it was a little “perfect”, the author feeling remorse he cause all this yet the big secret government industrial miltarly complex just chugging along, corrupting 3rd world nations. I have to check out the video’s to see what is different.

Overall, good message yet questionable if it truly is 100% true!

MGL

[NotCranky]

I watched the videos. The situations describe are not far fetched at all. However, I don’t trust the speaker/authors motivations.Supposedly we are going to level the playing field with all the resource rich nations and support democracy by forcing corporations,IMF, ect to be kinder and gentler, more eguitable partners with leadership of said regions. I note that he doesn’t mention that an equal playing field would require voluntary impoverishment on the part of the citizens of our “fat lazy union” from the top down or that we strip the most the world of resources and disperse them in the shape of american(western) style luxuries that which would in turn consume the rest of the worlds resources in a week or two.

We can blame the “corporatocracy” but I don’t think we would willfully impoverish ourselves to make the world a better place even if we were guaranteed of success in doing so. I am sure Mr. Perkins would not, nor would he have that agenda for his family. So long as our citizenry(voters) is greedy and our elites are greedier, power hungry,evil bastards the Empire will not take a new direction.

[LookoutBelow]

Well said Rustico

[luchabee]

It’s a nice, elegant theory, but very simple, even black and white. There are so many other interest groups, like socialist governments who want to suck off profits to pay for their burgeoning welfare states.

Though he says it’s not a political debate, it is. He’s clearly a socialist.

Also, unfortunately, the “prescription” for curing corporate influence on an international level is worse than the disease. Why would you implement bone-headed economic policies that weaken everyone, including the wealthy, middle class, and poor, like Hugo Chavez? His economy is splintering:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aTUqRT3KYeY0

How many people have died in communist governments in the interest of the advancement of the proletariat? Answer: 100 million people. Modernly, look at Hugo’s restrictions on the free press for a contemporary example.

Lastly, notice what he doesn’t talk about: India and Asia.
These countries have worked with Western Powers, adopted modern capitalist economies, and are now competing and beating this “Empire.”

It’s the recalcitrant third-world socialists who have destroyed their economies, repressed (and murdered) their people, and taken private companies and businesses that are far more destructive than a US led economic system that gives out loans in return for consideration and takes out an occasional left-wing nutjob who goes too far in repressing his people.

I typically find that left-wingers lack an ability to really examine issues in a detailed fashion. They say ALL war is bad, but never examine what is stopped by war or they say American corporations are bad, but don’t examine the record of past or contemporary socialist governments in the arenas of human rights or economic progress. In sum, I’ll take a Korea or Taiwan anyday over a Bolivia or Venezuela.

[Raybyrnes]

I though the book was fairly entertaining and if it doews nothing else it challenges you to think about global issues in a different light. Hey the yellow press has been around for a very long time.

[bob2007]

Even if you totally agree with him, there is a major problem. It is human nature to take control. Someone/people/country, etc. will always want to dominate. If any current power gives up control or becomes weak, those that have never been in the power position will see an opportunity.

[NotCranky]

Very imaginative response Bob. Unfortuantely pretty “Normal” too.

I asked my friend in Argentina to respond to these videos. this is what he had to say…

I watched a couple of videos of this guy. I liked him, I guess just for being a little different and go against the mainstream, his love for los sudamericanos and his general unpretentious, casual stance.

Although you know the anti corporate thing is well known to me… remember? Since I guess 1997 when I started sending you stuff from http://www.adbusters.org and my subscription to that magazine. And also that excellent book I bought in a quaint bookstore in Arkansas called “A Nation of Salesmen”. That was a pre web purchase!

I feel he is naive thinking we, sudamericanos, are democratic! Ja ja, gee he is too in love with the hospitality he found in Ecuador, a country that I´m sure also saw its share of interrupted elected governments and military coup d´etats I mean something admirable of the U.S is the oily mechanism of elections since Washington times without any fascist or military interruption…at least “On the Outside” appears as a good example of democracy and democratic people. We are the opposite to that.

Also I think he is wrong or naive when he thinks a “democratic capitalism” is possible in opposition to the “imperialistic capitalism” of the U.S. My guess is that it is too late: the U.S or British Or old Spanish model of conquer and implant our way of life (capitalism) has taken root in most nations, even China!!! For example, okey he is very honest in telling all the details of the U.S operations to control de oil in the middle east but do you know who owns the oil in Argentina??? who controls it? The gallegos yes los chavales de ESPAÑA! So see the model is already implanted internationally…and I would say Italians control gas in Uruguay…
The corporate model is already embraced everywhere…

To me the core problem is capitalism and consumerism… the MAXIMIZING PROFIT creed, capitalism exploits people because its based on profit, and reducing costs to be able to COMPETE in the now GLOBAL market, all market laws demand and offers are based on competition…on reducing costs, paying less, exploiting, otherwise you dont have “sufficient margins” …
democratic capitalism is a contradiction in terms…the nature of capitalism is conquest, expansion, etc…it is ruthless Rustico!!! ja ja—You know that in Argentina we exploit BOLIVIANS ANS PARAGUAYANS in textile sweatshops and in the construction industry. There have been plenty of problems with the sweatshops and bolivians. BUT, we are now experiencing a textil, design boom, tourist from all over come to B.A. to buy clothing, good and cheap stuff. Same with Walmart, Nike and other brands that hire indonesians or whatever…

So to me the solution comes from the utopian scenario of masses of people QUESTIONING themselves!!! ja ja ja on the habits of consumption, greed, cult of personality (clothing, fashion, bigger cars, houses) etc…ja ja which comes down to the old religions that question DESIRE!!! how to curb desire or restricted, or we consume because of spiritual or love voids, etc…and we come to addictions ja ja!!!!

Anyway in the same line I like that guy MIchael Moore (I have to see that movie Sicko) and HAVE YOU SEEN the movie “The corporation” I saw it a couple of years ago, it´s really good check it out here…it´s a really GOOD WEBSITE about it with educational stuff and all http://www.thecorporation.com/

Also I am sending you a whole book in PDF format called gangs of america. It´s about also corporations the birth of them and how they acquired so much power thru some bylaws in your constitution…

WOW WHAT A RANT eh rustico, hope you are doing well my friend. I will soon be rendering my translation services for a huge US Argentina Realtors convention organized by my cousing. Ah lots of greedy wanna be developers looking to cut deals in the pampas…by the way we are having a construction boom here…

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A Nation of Salesmen: The Tyranny of the Market and the Subversion of Culture by Earl Shorris (Paperback – Jan 1, 1996)
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About the Film
WINNER OF 26 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS! 10 Audience Choice Awards including the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Part film and part movement, The Corporation is transforming audiences and dazzling critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. Taking its status as a legal “person” to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist’s couch to ask “What kind of person is it?” The Corporation includes interviews with 40 corporate insiders and critics – including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, Vandana Shiva and Michael Moore – plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change.

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