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* Note to the Mods - this is printed in its entirety due to the fact that it is only available via e-mail newsletter *
Privacy World - The WORLD'S SHREWDEST PRIVACY NEWSLETTER
Predictions of an Economic Hit Man
John Perkins, this controversial author explains why Bolivia's new
president, Argentina's anti-IMF rebellion and the NYC transit strike
are all harbingers of things to come.
Most people in the United States know that a transit strike crippled
New York City. Fewer are aware that seven South American countries,
representing over 80 percent of the continent's population, recently
elected presidents with anti-American sentiments. The former has an
immediate effect. The latter will impact our children for decades
to come.
In December 2005, Evo Morales buried seven challengers -- taking 54
percent of the vote -- in what the New York Times referred to as
"the most important election since Bolivia's transition from
dictatorship to democracy a generation ago." His platform appealed
to the poor, including farmers whose main source of income, coca
plants, caused them to suffer brutal treatment at the hands of U.S.
drug agents. Although U.S. politicians and the media have
denounced coca because it is used to produce cocaine, the fact is
that it is extremely important in the Andes as a legal remedy for
altitude sickness, digestive problems and other illnesses.
Evo Morales is the latest in a long list of democratically elected
Latin American presidents whose primary appeal is their opposition
to U.S., IMF and World Bank policies that favor foreign corporations
with reputations for exploiting natural resources and local labor.
Bolivia joins the ranks of previously pro-American countries that
have recently turned against Washington and Wall Street, such as
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Argentina's President Kirchner recently announced what has been
hailed as an "anti-IMF rebellion." He paid off nearly $10 billion
in IMF debt in order to get out from under a burden that, he said,
"caused poverty and pain among the Argentine people."
Venezuela's President Chavez has become a popular spokesman for
anti-U.S. sentiments around the world.
Ecuador's President Gutierrez was thrown out of office by a popular
grass-roots uprising when he capitulated to economic hitman threats
and bribes, and went against his campaign promises to force U.S.
oil companies to pay more to the Ecuadorian people for Ecuadorian
oil. An Ecuadorian friend told me, "If a democratically elected
official does not honor his campaign promises, democracy demands
that we replace him."
In the past year, a rising tide of people throughout the world has
been rebelling against policies they see as unjust. This has
occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East,
as well as in the United States, where New York transit workers
fought to defend their economic well-being. As one transit worker
told me, "We're sick of being told that our families must sacrifice
while huge corporations and their executives receive tax breaks."
This rebellion is facilitated by the internet, cell phones and
satellite dishes. People in places once considered remote are
increasingly aware of statistics such as these:
Transnational corporations have taken control of much of the
production and trade in developing countries: For example, 40
percent of the world's coffee is traded by just four companies; the
top 30 supermarket chains control almost one-third of worldwide
grocery sales.
A trade surplus of $1 billion for developing countries in the
1970s turned into an $11 billion deficit by 2001.
The income ratio of the one-fifth of the world's population in the
wealthiest countries to the one-fifth in the poorest went from 30 to
1 in 1960 to 74 to 1 in 1995.
Of the 100 largest economies in the world, 51 are corporations; of
those, 47 are U.S.-based.
The overall share of federal taxes paid by U.S. corporations is
now less than 10 percent, down from 21 percent in 2001 and over 50
percent during World War II; one-third of America's largest and most
profitable corporations paid zero taxes -- or actually received
credits -- in at least one of the last three years (according to
Forbes magazine).
Back in 1980 the average American chief executive earned 40 times
as much as the average manufacturing employee. For the top tier of
American CEOs, the ratio is now 475:1 and would be vastly greater if
assets, in addition to income, were taken into account. By way of
comparison, the ratio in Britain is 24:1, in France 15:1, in Sweden
13:1.
Pre-Civil War slaves received room and board; wages paid by the
sweatshops that today serve many U.S. industries will not cover the
most basic needs.
Unrest in New York and Latin America, as well as in Africa, Asia,
Europe and the Middle East are harbingers of the difficulties that
will haunt future generations -- unless we take heed. They serve
notice that if we want a peaceful and prosperous future for our
children, we must recognize basic human needs; we must insist that
all people -- not just those at the top -- have the right to justice
and dignity. Bolivian voters, NYC transit workers and
democratically elected presidents of other countries are warning us
that the bottom line of the corporate balance sheet is not the final
statement upon which our society will ultimately be graded.
Thanks goes to John Perkins who is the author of "Confessions of an
Economic Hit Man."
Until next issue stay cool and remain low profile!
Privacy World
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