SubscribeTDI Episode 64: Confessions of an Economic Hitman
July 6, 2008
Guest: John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of the American Empire. We discuss what exactly an economic hit man is, the American Empire, the challenge from China, the collapse of our way of life just to name a few.
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John Perkins is the author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, a startling expose of international corruption that spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller lists and has been published in more than thirty languages. 
A former economic hit man, he is a founder and board member of Dream Change (www.dreamchange.org) and the Pachamama Alliance, nonprofit organizations devoted to creating a stable, sustainable, and peaceful world. He has lectured and taught at universities on four continents including Harvard, Wharton, and Princeton, and is a champion of environmental and social causes.
You have to read his books. Start with Confessions of an Economic Hitman, then read Secret History. Great reads!
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5 Responses to “TDI Episode 64: Confessions of an Economic Hitman”
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I cannot believe you brought this man, this Perkins, on the podcast.
He talks like just like some left wing loon (is he paid for by Soros’ moveon organisation?) .
The most disturbing and disgusting was his comment about 9/11. He implies that it was all the fault of the US itself, because of economic policies. This is the old marxist line. Of course 9/11 has nothing to do with rich and poor. It is moslim jihad against jews and crusaders, just like Osama bin Laden said numerous times himself.
@hannov
Of course you probably believe the USA can do no wrong. Yes, Muslim extremists carried out 9/11, but there is more than that. I’m not saying that Perkins is 100% correct, but still 9/11 was caused in part by the USA’s imperialistic actions overseas. Please don’t tell me you buy that line “they hate us for our freedoms”.
I rarely post comments on any website, so this is an exception.
I was surprised that TDI offered the author a forum when it has little to do with the TDI. If Andrew intends to become a talk show host, then he should also include the counterpoint. There was enough hesitation in Andrew’s comments that it sounded like he knew this interview was going in a questionable direction.
Over the past 12 years I’ve lived overseas in Egypt, UK(Scotland), Azerbaijan, and now Russia. I have many personal experiences that refute some of what Perkins says.
Yes the USA makes many mistakes, especially the current administration. But Perkins claims this continues regardless of the party in power.
ON US CONTROL OF OIL: If the US controls all, then why are there 13 national oil companies larger than Exxon Mobil. Why does gasoline cost $4/gallon in Russia where there is very little US oil company ownership? Why did the US encourage building a pipeline from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey to the Med instead of allowing the companies to build a cheaper route to the Persian Gulf? Why would Haliburton ever move to the UAE if the USA was taking such good care of them?
Does anyone ponder what the oil price would be today if the US did not go into Iraq in either the first or second time?
ON ABUSE OF LOCAL PEOPLE: I’ve seen kids maimed and forced to beg on the streets for organized gangs. Those kids would have been better off in sweatshops. Working in a sweatshop for food is better than not eating at all. We need to be careful not to apply our USA perception of what is right to those needing food and health care. Many times their needs are more basic than we can imagine while their government is unwilling or unable to help them.
Loans given to countries or companies by the USA are often through the World Bank or IFC. They have extensive Environmental, Safety, Health, and Social requirements. They are enforced and independently audited. Google “BTC Pipeline” for the above mentioned pipeline if you want to see an example.
So Perkins has the Bolivia(?) interview well documented. If the interviewee arranges a press conference and has a video crew, who is using whom?
Whew, now I feel better.
I have only just discovered your site after listening to TWIT.
Is it possible to download the podcasts as mp3 without going to iTunes or Zune and listen to them later rather than streaming them “live”?
My internet connection is a bit slow and the sound breaks up. My hearing and concentration are not as good as they used to be so I like to go over some bits more than once.
Mr. Larry are you telling me that Egypt, and I am Egyptian btw, is not an economic colony of the US. The US gives Egypt $2billion loans. How many real Egyptians have you talked to in your stay in egypt, you know the one that don’t have their noses up Mubarak’s butt, another question how many of them sympathize with the US. An independant not lefty newspaper (for al Wafd party which is known to be pretty favorable to capitalism) reasrched and found that 60% of the loans that the US gives to Egypt of course goes to US corporations and then the rest goes for arming a cowboy like Mubarak with weapons he can use against civilians like he did in the 6th of April strike and then the curropt politican/businessmen/soldierboys in the Nationalist democratic (ya right) party.
You have to be from third world and economically deprived areas to understand economic imperialism not just some guy who has travelled around and seen the world with western eyes and with a western point of view. Yes and we would all love to work in a sweatshop. thanks for making that tough decision for us.
Phew!
As all Egyptians would say “Typical American”, your way of life is the only way and we have to serve you because we would be better off dependant on you than ourselves cause we are not white and not smart enough to make our decisions by ourselves. No wonder the whole world hates you