Proud to be American ? read this?

Question

JOHN PERKINS: Well, really, over the past 30 to 40 years, we economic hit men have created the largest global empire in the history of the world. And we do this, typically -- well, there are many ways to do it, but a typical one is that we identify a third-world country that has resources, which we covet. And often these days that's oil, or might be the canal in the case of Panama. In any case, we go to that third-world country and we arrange a huge loan from the international lending community; usually the World Bank leads that process. So, let's say we give this third-world country a loan of $1 billion. One of the conditions of that loan is that the majority of it, roughly 90%, comes back to the United States to one of our big corporations, the ones we've all heard of recently, the Bechtels, the Halliburtons. And those corporations build in this third-world country large power plants, highways, ports, or industrial parks -- big infrastructure projects that basically serve the very rich in those countries. The poor people in those countries and the middle class suffer; they don't benefit from these loans, they don't benefit from the projects. In fact, often their social services have to be severely curtailed in the process of paying off the debt. Now what also happens is that this third-world country then is saddled with a huge debt that it can't possibly repay. For example, today, Ecuador. Ecuador's foreign debt, as a result of the economic hit man, is equal to roughly 50% of its national budget. It cannot possibly repay this debt, as is the case with so many third-world countries. So, now we go back to those countries and say, look, you borrowed all this money from us, and you owe us this money, you can't repay your debts, so give our oil companies your oil at very cheap costs. And in the case of many of these countries, Ecuador is a good example here, that means destroying their rain forests and destroying their indigenous cultures. That's what we're doing today around the world, and we've been doing it -- it began shortly after the end of World War II. It has been building up over time until today where it's really reached mammoth proportions where we control most of the resources of the world.

Answer 1

Great quotes. One can see this occuring in countries like Nigeria, where our country gave the government of Nigeria billions in loans so that our oil companies can rape their country of natural resources. In turn, they use the money to buy weapons from our weapons manufacturers. Meanwhile their impoverished people are stuck paying off the loans. It's sickening. And, we in America are so ignorant and wonder why people hate us around the world. It's called money laundering and it's a crime. No wonder people in Nigeria are kidnapping oil workers and killing the security people who are supposedly protecting the oil platforms. We're stealing the oil. In the mean time, those same oil companies are getting subsidies from our government and huge tax give aways and making huge profits in our country. The poor and middle class are not winning in this world. It's the billionaires and multi-millionaires who have control of just about everything. At least people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates admit it and say there is something seriously wrong with this practice.
John Perkins is a hero for revealing this in his book. I've heard him interviewed on NPR and Pacifica radio (KPFK).
What this government does for corporations around the world is disgusting. And it is shameful.

Answer 2

There is an ngo which is helping to finance projects to other countries without them going into huge debt. The problem is that the UN, the IMF and the World Bank have failed in their missions, so new ngo's were started, but most people only know of the old corrupt ones. The new ones are pretty unknown, one is the world consulate and it was started by both Americans and Europeans. None of the main officers make money off of it and most of the work goes unknown.

There is no longer a zero sum economy, the internet and intellilectual property have created a market for ideas which cannot be consumed and used up but they can still make money. For instance, the internet does not use up an oil field, and these intellectual properties are where future growth is for all people of the world.

As long as people falsely believe that for someone to be rich someone else needs to be poor, they just will not get it.
That old way of thinking is gone and needs to be gone.

Answer 3

There is a vast difference in the contention that we "control most of the resources of the world" vs. WE PAY DEARLY FOR THESE RESOURCES. How do you think the Middle East got so filthy rich?
And speaking of Panama - did we not clean up the malaria at the onset and recently give the canal back to Panama?
Third world countries can't repay debts for the same, simple reason most poor people have bad credit - no money.
Proud to be an American? You can bet on it.

Answer 4

As I have been saying all this time, and getting thumbs down for: Pride is stupid.

I have read John Perkins "confessions of a economic hit-man". It is a great read. I hear there is another book coming out soon.

Answer 5

Neither, Americans are the offspring of Puritans and Calvinists who fled Europe, that had been dealing with the noose. For there heresy and blasphemy, of the actual christian faith.

Answer 6

Confessions by an Economic Hitman by John Perkins is a must read if one wants to understand why countries of the Southern Hemisphere resent and dislike United States Imperialist Foreign Policy. "Our Interests" means Corporate interests not the people's.

Another great read that expands on this is:
A Game as Old as Empire: The Secret World of Economic Hit Men and the Web of Global Corruption (BK Currents) (Hardcover)
by Steven Hiatt (Editor), John Perkins (Introduction).

Answer 7

Hum, are you telling me this is why they don't like me?? Along with the fact that we use their countries to test our war technologies by trumping up reasons to come protect them from someone else??? Then we send our business men and tourists there who are on vacations or expense accounts, and throwing money around like it grows on trees, when they don't know how their going to feed their families tonight??? Is this what you want me to believe???

Answer 8

Still not shaken.

You still believe your side doesn't try to influence with fear, intimidation, or emotional black-mail?

Answer 9

What you have been rambling on about has been going on since time began! One group taking over another and exploiting that countries resources, people etc!! All have done this past, present and future this will go on!! I got news for you liberals, conservative, Muslim, Arab, Hindu, Asian, black, Jew, Spanish, latin, or what ever, all people's have done this. It is HUMAN NATURE!!!

Answer 10

I'm not surprised by this--only surprised that someone would admit it! (I have been explaining this "scenario" to others for years and years, now.)


A question: Do you have any idea how much the US owes China?? What do you think China will want to "take over" as payment for their loans?????

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