Naomi Klein on "The Shock Doctrine"
Naomi Klein of Canada is an award-winning journalist, author and
filmmaker. Her articles appear in major newspapers and magazines all
over the world. Her documentary film on the economic crisis in
Argentina is "The Take." "No Logo," her book on globalization and
marketing was an international bestseller. Her latest book is "The
Shock Doctrine."
Catastrophes from Katrina to Iraq from Afghanistan to the Asian
Tsunami clear the way for corporations to move in and operate in
newly privatized zones, pushing local government overboard. Kind of
like shock and awe economics. Privatize, privatize, privatize is
intoned like a mantra by the economic high priests of neoliberalism.
The belief in the so-called free market is almost akin religious
dogma. Abuses, shoddy work and rampant profiteering rule with little
or no oversight or accountability. Governments sub-contract and
outsource their essential functions and services as jobs float
downstream from the public sector into the private. Free market
neoliberalism is synonymous with democracy and since everyone loves
the latter what's not to like about the former? But what it really
is, is a get rich quick crusade.