The Emperor Wears no Clothes in Theory: Theories Underlying Major US Policies are Problematic

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Emperor-Wears-no-Cloth-by-David-Model-110604-883.html

In advanced democracies, economic, political and global policies are rooted in theories developed by scholars and intellectuals who imbue government decisions with legitimacy and credibility. Given that not all scholars in a particular field agree with each other, government leaders will often choose those theories that are in accord with their own ideology and that of their advisors. The norm in choosing advisors and secretaries of the various cabinet posts is to seek out people who are part of the corporate, cultural and intellectual elite whose worldviews are somewhat similar to that of the president and his top advisors.

For example, despite Obama's selection of mostly Wall Street executives to staff key economic positions and selection of Gates at defense and Clinton at State, progressive people in the Democratic Party still remained hopeful of progressive policies despite the lack of alternative points of view among advisors.

When Colin Powell was appointed to Secretary of State in the Bush Administration, he was considered a moderate despite his career in the military. Many of the other appointees, such as Cheney, Wolfowitz, Abrams, Pearle, Rumsfeld and Libby shared a very similar ideology, as might be expected given their membership in PNAC.

Prevailing economic theories have changed over the years but since the 1980s, Milton Freidman's apotheosized monetarist theories have formed the backbone of economic and social policy. Others who have contributed to current mainstream thought in economics include Alan Greenspan, Arthur Laffer and Friedrick Hayek.

More at the link --

[jwirr]

1. No kidding. What with Milton Friedman, the University of Chicago,

the PNAC, the CIA empire builders, Ayn Rand, libertarianism and the MIC we have the worst basis for governing that could exist.