Naomi Klein's book: The Shock Doctrine
Naomi Klein has a new book about what she calls the “Shock Doctrine.” She traces this doctrine to the great Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman, the Karl Marx (so to speak) of free-market capitalism. Naomi makes quite a startling discovery. Because the general population will resist harsh privatization policies of the sort that Friedman advances, Friedman (and others of the Chicago School) held that privatization policies should be pushed on the public during times when it suffers shocks, like when a natural disaster hits or when an event like 9-11 occurs, or when war starts, or whatever. Shocks not only soften up prisoners (torture), but they can soften up whole target populations.
Examining a long series of historical events, Naomi traces the Shock Doctrine at work driving the “successes” of privatization around the world. She sees the Shock Doctrine at work in places like Chile, South Africa, Russia, China, New Orleans, and in the “Shock and Awe” occupation of Iraq.
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I am writing an OP-ED based on ideas in the book
I just finished reading Shock Doctrine then discussed it at the Livermore Progress Book Club. This is the best book we have read so far. I am writing an OP-ED that I hope to get published. It is at http://www.resolutionpeace.org/ShockPoisonandGiveaways.doc
It relates the current economic downturn (SHOCK) as an opportunity making the tax giveaway for the richest permanent.
My real goal is to tie the war to the economic shock and explain that they are not an accident. It is a way of undermining the torture by explaining to those about to be torured what this is all about.
Remember Dr. King's greatest acheivement was uniting the civil rights and peace movements. I am the webmaster for Resolution Peace and the President of the TriValley Democratic Club. We are about to have a workshop with the purpose of keeping Iraq on the front burner. Please get back to me with your comments and critique.
Ellis Goldberg
EllisG237@aol.com
New! Community Protection Needed
Dwigley,
I, too, am reading Naomi's book and believe more than ever that for communities to protect themselves from harm neighbors must look out for one another. I don't always do this, but I read the last chapter first to see if there was any hope. There is.
Chuck