John Perkins Why We're At War

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ohn Perkins is the author of Several books which lay bare the harsh realities of contemporary Global Economics.  The first book which hit America hard, was Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.  Perkins tells how he got into being a an Economic Hit Man, and the appalling damage he helped to create.  He walked into the offices of Latin-American presidents and threatened them with death if they refused to play ball with the American "Corporatocracy."  Many capitulated.  Some did not.  And those who refused to play with the corporations were assassinated within months of the office visit, by what Perkins tells us are called the Jackals.

Somewhere along the way, Perkins had a change of heart and turned against the Corporatocracy.  Now he writes of his experiences as an Economic Hit Man; exposing the cynical and exploitative activities of the wealthy corporations, and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund which are, more than any other thing, corporate tools of expedience.  Perkins describes a typical office visit as one in which he walks in and in the most pleasant and civilized tones lets it be known that all the president of this country, or that, need do, is accept a loan of hundreds of millions of dollars from the World Bank, or the IMF, and all will be well.  What he does not explain, is that the lion's share of the money will go to the oil corporations as they dig and exploit the natural resources of the country; so it is the oil companies, Halliburton, Bechtel, BP, CitiBank, Bank of America, all of the biggies who then will descend upon the country like a plague, and nothing can be done to stop them because the interest is so huge that it can't be paid off ever.  And that is just fine with World Bank and IMF, because they have done their job of opening the country up like an oyster.  And if the president does not graciously accept this immense sum on behalf of his country, or, on behalf of himself and his family if he wishes, and is just a little more corrupt than most, then he can rest assured that within several months he will no longer be among the living.  

Perkins speaks to college students and Peace activists, doing his best to light a fire under people in this country to change the situation before it's too late.  This is the context in which I first encountered John Perkins. As the local University opens its doors to the townies, though this was not a student sponsored event; but was a presentation of Peaceworks, a local grassroots organization of peace activists. We bought several of his books and presented them to him afterwards for his autograph, an activity by which we've accumulated a library of books signed by their authors.  He signed our books.  What he wrote on the flyleaf was "To Bill,  this is your time.  Don't waste it! John Perkins" 

These videos document a speech he delivered to the National Convention of Veterens For Peace.  These are long documentaries comparatively, but so important.

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