Shock Doctrine

Alright well I just finished the first part of the reading by Naomi Klein and I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed in the U.S. and to a lesser degree, the whole world.  Yes, I know, that's taking on a lot of people, but oh well.  While it is clear to me that the idea of war profiteering and making a buck off of disaster is not a new idea, I'm appalled that it is being done to such a wide degree and with such success.  It seems that everywhere I turn there is new news of another company making record profits in a time of great economic distress, but also during a time where it seems like profits and the bottom line should be the last of our worries.  When foundations of American culture like the public school system come under attack and those who are proponents for public education are dubbed as having an "irrational attachment to a socialist system," I think we're in trouble.

I believe that Klein's use of the torture analogy was quite apt.  It really showed how great shocks to a country and it's inhabitants can give rise to change that would otherwise would not have taken place, for better or worse.  I do get the feeling that the average American citizen has been a punching bag these past few years, that we are being softened up for more major changes that could prove debilitating to our way of life.  We were scared into approving things like the Patriot Act, told to be afraid, that the only way we could help was to go out and spend.  And now looking back it all seems like colored bubbles used to distract away from this great change that took place, without the consent of those that are governed by the laws.  I feel disenchanted with government and the way I have always envisioned it working.  That, for me, is a lot to say growing up in a family that lives in the D.C. area and is still thoroughly involved in politics.  When war can be seen as a 'for profit model' and as a great way to diversify, I think it's safe to say we've crossed a threshold that is followed by a precipitous drop.

Where are our morals?  When even aid being given to other countries, which should be given-but out of the goodness of our hearts and out of necessity, is seen as another way to make profit, it makes me cringe.  The Bush-Cheney camp calls people that operate on this level "pioneers," well it seems to me that the Chilean translation would be more appropriate-"piranhas."  When the man who finds a way to make money by providing supplies to the sick and needy after a disaster of historical proportions like Hurricane Katrina or the Iraq War [oh wow, both overseen by Bush] is called a "pioneer," it makes you question what they will call the new land that a man such as that would find.

I rambled but I'm not happy with where we are as a country right now.

Obama '08, and register to vote if you haven't already.