Disaster Capitalism, Chicago-style

[marmar]

Disaster Capitalism, Chicago-style

Thursday, 28 February 2013 10:44
By Kenzo Shibata, Jacobin Magazine | News Analysis


In public policy circles, crises are called “focusing events” — bringing to light a particular failing in government policy. They require government agencies to switch rapidly into crisis mode to implement solutions. Creating the crisis itself is more novel.

The right-wing, free market vision of University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman informed the blueprint for the rapid privatization of municipal services throughout the world due in no small part to what author Naomi Klein calls “Disaster Capitalism.” Friedman wrote in his 1982 treatise Capitalism and Freedom, “When (a) crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around”

In Klein’s book The Shock Doctrine, she explains how immediately after Hurricane Katrina, Friedman used the decimation of New Orleans’ infrastructure to push for charter schools, a market-based policy preference of Friedman acolytes. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools at the time, and later described Hurricane Katrina as “the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans.” Duncan is of the liberal wing of the free market project and a major supporter of charter schools.

There aren’t any hurricanes in the Midwest, so how can proponents of privatization like Mayor Rahm Emanuel sell off schools to the highest bidder?

They create a crisis. ............................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/news/item/14846-disaster-capitalism-chicago-style

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. K&R!

[dreamnightwind]

2. Thanks, will read later

also I got an email from Truth-out (who is hosting the article the OP is about), they're needing donations big-time. I've given in the past but can't do so now. If anyone else can contribute, they're an excellent organization. I have no association with them other than I appreciate what they do,, and often end up reading material on their site.

https://members.truth-out.org/donate