Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kpete

(71,991 posts)
Tue Jul 9, 2019, 11:12 AM Jul 2019

KRUGMAN: Trump & the Merchants of Detention-Every betrayal seems to profit president & his friends

Krugman's column is good. For those who don't subscribe:
https://www.eschatonblog.com/2019/07/ramping-up-3-months-6-months-tops.html#comment-4532924737


Is it cruelty, or is it corruption? That’s a question that comes up whenever we learn about some new, extraordinary abuse by the Trump administration — something that seems to happen just about every week. And the answer, usually, is “both.”

For example, why is the administration providing cover for Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, who almost surely ordered the murder of The Washington Post’s Jamal Khashoggi? Part of the answer, probably, is that Donald Trump basically approves of the idea of killing critical journalists. But the money the Saudi monarchy spends at Trump properties is relevant, too.

And the same goes for the atrocities the U.S. is committing against migrants from Central America. Oh, and save the fake outrage. Yes, they are atrocities, and yes, the detention centers meet the historical definition of concentration camps.

One reason for these atrocities is that the Trump administration sees cruelty both as a policy tool and as a political strategy: Vicious treatment of refugees might deter future asylum-seekers, and in any case it helps rev up the racist base. But there’s also money to be made, because a majority of detained migrants are being held in camps run by corporations with close ties to the Republican Party.

.............

Krugman's column is good. For those who don't subscribe:
https://www.eschatonblog.com/2019/07/ramping-up-3-months-6-months-tops.html#comment-4532924737
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/opinion/trump-migrants-detention-centers.html

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
KRUGMAN: Trump & the Merchants of Detention-Every betrayal seems to profit president & his friends (Original Post) kpete Jul 2019 OP
That last sentence irks me. trev Jul 2019 #1
The very idea of for-profit private prisons infuriates me & always has. In Nazi Germany... Hekate Jul 2019 #2
Thanks for posting this bit. I love Krugman, but can't get thru to NYT any more... Hekate Jul 2019 #3

trev

(1,480 posts)
1. That last sentence irks me.
Tue Jul 9, 2019, 11:51 AM
Jul 2019

We need to do away with corporate-run prisons altogether. They are a blight on our justice system.

Hekate

(90,677 posts)
2. The very idea of for-profit private prisons infuriates me & always has. In Nazi Germany...
Tue Jul 9, 2019, 12:39 PM
Jul 2019

...corporations profited every step of the way from the torture and death of millions. The railroads, the builders, the chemists, you name it they made money.

We were supposed ro be better than this, godsdammit..

Hekate

(90,677 posts)
3. Thanks for posting this bit. I love Krugman, but can't get thru to NYT any more...
Tue Jul 9, 2019, 12:46 PM
Jul 2019

Never heard of Eschaton, but when I clicked on it I didn't see any link to Krugman at all, so must be doing it wrong.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»KRUGMAN: Trump & the Merc...