Comments on: The Shock Doctrine: No Conspiracy Necessary http://zone5.org/2008/11/the-shock-doctrine-no-conspiracy-necessary/ ...on the edge between Nature and Culture Thu, 03 May 2012 05:36:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: George Peattie http://zone5.org/2008/11/the-shock-doctrine-no-conspiracy-necessary/comment-page-1/#comment-37515 George Peattie Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:47:57 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=308#comment-37515 <p>I can't say I enjoyd the book, it's not that sort of read but you are right it is interesting and informative although I feel some of the links between Cameron's work and Friedman's were overstated. They both came together in some pretty horrific examples but I think they work better as an image rather than as some process. I also feel we have to take care not to be too quick to label the free marketeers as capitalizing (sorry) on crises. I've heard a number of people on the left and environmental activists who also see a crisis as an opportunity. I sad to say that I think this is simply human nature.</p> I can’t say I enjoyd the book, it’s not that sort of read but you are right it is interesting and informative although I feel some of the links between Cameron’s work and Friedman’s were overstated. They both came together in some pretty horrific examples but I think they work better as an image rather than as some process. I also feel we have to take care not to be too quick to label the free marketeers as capitalizing (sorry) on crises. I’ve heard a number of people on the left and environmental activists who also see a crisis as an opportunity. I sad to say that I think this is simply human nature.

]]> By: Andy Wilson http://zone5.org/2008/11/the-shock-doctrine-no-conspiracy-necessary/comment-page-1/#comment-37485 Andy Wilson Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:23:56 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=308#comment-37485 <p>Ireland has been following the same 'free market' road for the last two decades - witness the special concessions and low corporate tax deals offered to the US owned multinationals. Interesting that Estonia - now indebted to the hilt but not so long ago hailed as the new miracle economy, modelled itself on two countries: 1990s FF Ireland and Pinochet's Chile. Nice to know we're in such good company.</p> <p>More recently, the Irish state has underwritten corporate investors in Irish banks to the tune of 500 billion, and more recently still ( 18th December) is offering new low corporation tax deals to attract the venture/vulture capitalists into Ireland to hoover up anything of value left.</p> <p>This is being cleverly disguised, in the best disaster capitalist tradition, as being the savour of Ireland's imploding economy. To add further credibility, phrases like 'green', 'renewable energy', 'environment' are being liberally sprinkled in. No doubt the fact that a 'green' party is part of the government provides a bit of local colour.</p> <p>For further reading try 'the Corporate Takeover of Ireland, 2007 by Kieran Allen.</p> Ireland has been following the same ‘free market’ road for the last two decades – witness the special concessions and low corporate tax deals offered to the US owned multinationals. Interesting that Estonia – now indebted to the hilt but not so long ago hailed as the new miracle economy, modelled itself on two countries: 1990s FF Ireland and Pinochet’s Chile. Nice to know we’re in such good company.

More recently, the Irish state has underwritten corporate investors in Irish banks to the tune of 500 billion, and more recently still ( 18th December) is offering new low corporation tax deals to attract the venture/vulture capitalists into Ireland to hoover up anything of value left.

This is being cleverly disguised, in the best disaster capitalist tradition, as being the savour of Ireland’s imploding economy. To add further credibility, phrases like ‘green’, ‘renewable energy’, ‘environment’ are being liberally sprinkled in. No doubt the fact that a ‘green’ party is part of the government provides a bit of local colour.

For further reading try ‘the Corporate Takeover of Ireland, 2007 by Kieran Allen.

]]> By: Albert Bates http://zone5.org/2008/11/the-shock-doctrine-no-conspiracy-necessary/comment-page-1/#comment-37411 Albert Bates Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:23:54 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=308#comment-37411 <p>There is a very nice profile of Naomi in the December 8 issue of The New Yorker. Check it out http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12/08/081208fa_fact_macfarquhar?printable=true.</p> <p>See too this little bit of over-the-transom intel re: the current financial panic: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1954933468700958565&hl=es</p> There is a very nice profile of Naomi in the December 8 issue of The New Yorker. Check it out http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12/08/081208fa_fact_macfarquhar?printable=true.

See too this little bit of over-the-transom intel re: the current financial panic: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1954933468700958565&hl=es

]]> By: Rob http://zone5.org/2008/11/the-shock-doctrine-no-conspiracy-necessary/comment-page-1/#comment-37394 Rob Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:22:48 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=308#comment-37394 <p>Agreed... I am about two-thirds of the way through, utterly brilliant, scholarly, rivetting and deeply important... we have much to learn from it..</p> Agreed… I am about two-thirds of the way through, utterly brilliant, scholarly, rivetting and deeply important… we have much to learn from it..

]]> By: Davie Philip http://zone5.org/2008/11/the-shock-doctrine-no-conspiracy-necessary/comment-page-1/#comment-37392 Davie Philip Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:10:03 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=308#comment-37392 <p>Brilliant Graham, This book and it's thesis is so important to all of us focused on relocalisation, transition and powerdown. Not only to avoid being fooled again but as Heinburg has been arguing - to be ready with worked out alternatives and models to bring in when the shocks we have been predicting hit us. If we are not then the shocks will be used to further erode civil liberties and further neo liberal policies.</p> <p>Thanks for this review.</p> Brilliant Graham, This book and it’s thesis is so important to all of us focused on relocalisation, transition and powerdown. Not only to avoid being fooled again but as Heinburg has been arguing – to be ready with worked out alternatives and models to bring in when the shocks we have been predicting hit us. If we are not then the shocks will be used to further erode civil liberties and further neo liberal policies.

Thanks for this review.

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