American Views Abroad

 
Europe may be facing an eruption in its economy as a fall out from the ban on flying these last few days, but the fall out over Goldman Sacks in the US is going to be far greater. Societies cannot control acts of nature. Volcanoes can lie dormant for centuries, but the potential for an eruption is always there. There isn't much anyone can do but accept what's happening, pick up the pieces, re-arrange priorities, rethink relying on the fastest way of traveling short distances and work things out.

Causing untold harm to fellow citizens through fraud, cover-ups, not revealing facts, making huge profits while producing nothing of worth gets to the core of what human beings can become when left uncontrolled and allowed to run amok with other people's money and property.

www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/04/19-3

Priceless: www.tomdispatch.com/post/175235

The Business of America is Kleptocracy by William Astore:

If we were to take an honest look at American's blasted landscape of 'losers' and the far shinier spiffier world of 'winners', we'd have to admit that it wasn't signs of onrushing socialism or fascism that stood out, but of staggeringly self-aggrandizing greed and theft right in the here and now. We'd notice our public coffers being emptied to benefit major corporations and financial institutions working in close alliance with, and passing on remarkable sums of money to, the representatives of 'the people.' We'd see, in a word, kleptocracy on a scale to dazzle. We would suddenly see an almost magical disappearing act being performed, largely without comment, right before our eyes.
- posted by Gloria @ 5:31 PM