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Originally Posted by Kobi
This is a good example of Friedman's disaster capitalism in action. Those in power create the social/economic order they want. Then intimidate people into silence and apathy by enacting stuff designed to control behavior and curb dissention.
Using this paradigm, it gives a different perspective on all the stuff happening in this country. From the Patriot Act, NDAA, SOPA, child labor law changes, selling off the infrastructure in education etc. Look back at the news stories posted here in the past week (minus the KD Lang one) and see the constant and consistent message they contain.
When we continue to focus on the pieces of the puzzle and lose sight of the bigger picture, we not only feed into our own victimization, we give those in power even more ammunition to use against us. Power and control dynamics gone wonky.
Fascinating but very scary shit.
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Yes, very scary shit indeed. Noami Klein's book "The Shock Doctrine" is as scary as any Stephen King novel.
I look back at 9/11 as the opening up of the US to this, although, economic shock doctrine has been put into practice around the world for decades. And I firmly believe, conspiracy theorist that I am, that the situations that have enabled disaster capitalism to flourish have been orchestrated by those with the power and the money to control the government. Now it's all over but the crying and the focus at this time is about taking away rights and increasing punishment. Things are changing and not for the better. I remember when torture was just something people in the US didn't believe in at all (not that the US government wasn't involved in mucho torture over in South and Central America, think Brazil and the dragon chair.) Now torture has become more acceptable. It's a sign of the times and I don't think we are going to like these times very much at all.