Confession of an Economic Hitman

[PatM]

Just read a book by John Perkins, former chief economist for MAIN - an engineering consulting firm deeply involved in "globalization". They worked on major projects such as the Indonesian Electrification project, Panamanian infrastructure, Modernization and Modernization of Saudi Arabia - among many others.

Perkins describes his job as: Going into a country, creating highly inflated projections of economic growth from infrastucture projects, and convincing governments to take on loans they couldn't possibly pay off. The resulting debt crisis allowing the corporatocracy and U.S. government to take control of the country through its two weapons, the World bank and IMF.

Perkins names names and fills in the blanks. He accuses the Reagan administration of assassinating South American leaders that resisted the economic hit men and tried to keep their countries sovereign. Those that weren't assassinated were treated to a CIA smear campaign. Made out to be corrupt communists and replaced with US Stooges.

This isn't simply accusations from some reporter - John Perkins was one of the point men for the process. He rubbed shoulders with Presidents and Prime Ministers, Generalissimos and Kings. This is the real insider's look at what REALLY happened from the 60s to the 90s.

Excellent book. Picked mine up and Black Bond Books for about $35 (hardcover).

If interested - you shoud read the writings of Joseph Stiglitz - Former senior vice president and chief economist of the world bank. His site is

http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/bwi-wt...nk/stigindx.htm

Pay close attention to his description of technocrats (third rate graduates from first rate schools). John Perkins IS one of those technocrats. You'll see how Stiglitz frustrations with the apparent stupidity of the World Bank and IMF in handling economic crisis is not misplaced or simply self serving. Stiglitz just didn't realise just how corrupt these institutions and the world governments really are.

P.S. Neither Stiglitz nor Perkin's works require any real knowledge of macro-economics. They are written for us normal people.

After reading and digesting these works - think hard about the Campbells, Harpers, Kliens, and Harrises in our politics.

Look back at the 1980s when Mulroney kept borrowing from foreign lenders at 16%-22% instead of the bank of Canada at 1%.

Think hard about Mulroney's elimination of banking reserve requirements - releasing billions of dollars to the big banks when they were bankrupted by defaults in the countries these EHM had bamboozled.

Think hard about the billions and billions of dollars that YOU pay to American firms perpetrating this great theft - through taxes given to the World Bank and IMF.

P.S. There is no known connection between the people Stiglitz calls technocrats and the poster of the same name on this board!

edit:

Here's a link to an interview of the author:

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/11/304675.shtml

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Until the control of the issue of currency and credit is restored to government and recognized as its most sacred responsibility,

all talk of the sovereignty of parliament and of democracy is idle and futile."- William Lyon Mackenzie King