In Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins recounts his days of being an "economic hit man" for an international consulting firm in this sleeper bestseller.
He begins his story stating that he started writing it in the early 1980s, but bribes and threats (from the government???) always stopped him from taking the next step; publishing it, which he finally did in 2004.
Perkins declares that "Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex and murder. They play a game as old as Empire but one that has taken on terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization."
His main focus is on our government's tactics of politically and economically exploiting disadvantaged countries in pursuit of western culture with development aid money which ultimately enslaves them to the US Government. In other words, enticing weak countries with infrastructure development loans that are inflated highly above amounts needed, which then make the countries default on the loans. This provides leverage for our government and enslaves the countries by making them provide their natural resources as well as play puppet for the political machinations our government tries to create.
Perkins' story is very interesting and holds your attention throughout. It actually reads like a spy novel, and makes me think of all the espionage movies I love (think Spy Game and Bourne Identity). His allegations are deeper than the substance he provides to back them up. I would not be surprised if his experiences as an EHM were dramatized, exaggerated or even fabricated. It is hard to think this man, not anyone of high political or economic stature, would be in these important places meeting important political leaders and shady rebels influencing major cause/effect events that impact entire nations.
There is no doubt that our government employs sometimes-shady tactics of gaining political and economic position, but just keep in mind that Perkins' story is not to be taken word for word. It is a mere account of one man's experiences. Experiences that he claims to feel guilty about, yet he stayed involved with and earned a large salary for 30 plus years.
If nothing else, this story entices us to think critically about what's happening in our world today, and the effects of our current position on future generations.
Rodrigo's rating: A fun sitting-by-the-fireplace-while-its-cold-outside read
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