Weekend Reading
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is this week's book of the week. Just started this quasi spy thriller - cum - journalistic tell-all that traces the career of an EHM -- short for economic hit man. EHMs, clandestinely hired by America's elite, do two things -- convince foreign countries -- primarily third world ones -- that the USA is the
best place most powerful entity on earth and two, loan them the infrastucture and fiscal werewithal so that they can begin to develop. However altruistic this may all sound, ultimately the borrowers default on the loans and America -- the creditors -- force the still struggling countries to pay back the USA with favors. More often than not, this favor comes in the form of oil, that commodity the consumption crazy USA cannot do without. If it isn't oil - its engineering and hydroelectric contracts the same impoverished countries are asked to sign with American corporations if they want our aid. In the meantime, thee rich get richer while the indigenous continue to live on less than 2 dollars a day as promise after promise dissipates. Its conspiracy masquerading as something even more insidious -- capitalism.
Thank you Tope out in Park Slope, Brooklyn for the heads up on the book.
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