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Naomi Klein's first book - 'No Logo' was quite good. The 'Shock Doctrine' was kind of a mess. What happens is that these authors become very famous by putting

Naomi Klein's first book - 'No Logo' was quite good. The 'Shock Doctrine' was kind of a mess. What happens is that these authors become very famous by putting out a good book with an opinion. Then, like a one-hit-wonder rock band, they are urged to publish more red-meat for their readers, who want to hear about how the world works in a certain way. Though the 'Shock Doctrine' is not a work of almost fiction as is 'Economic Hitman' - the premise of the accusations are really, really shaky, in many cases absurd. She's very unrealistic about most things, and recently indicated that the Canadian Postal Workers should double as nurses and visit people door-to-door (because hey, they already do that). Which is neat for a brainstormed idea but fails in so many ridiculous and obvious ways it's laughably absurd. Since that book (Shock Doctrine), which by the way makes some reasonable points, but mostly not - she's become a 'book agitator', she can't be taken credibly. I can understand how people could read the 'Shock Doctrine' and be upset, but it's the absent contextual information that is missing that ultimately makes these books in some ways 'misinformational'. There are a lot of facts - but they are highly, highly selective. Add to this - some of the actual bad things the USA has done in the past - and you get the allowance for someone to spin great conspiracy theories. Klein lives in my neighbourhood BTW. I see her around :)

Synaesthesia 10y ago
Shock doctrine had some great points like about the economic collapse of Russia and South Africa in the early 90's under neoliberalism.
- edblarney 10y ago
  I can think of a couple of issues which might underlie the economic issues of South Africa and Russia: namely thee end of one party rule in both states. There really was no 'collapse' of the South African economy - it's been growing rapidly since the end of apartheid. Just some chaos during the transition. Crime expanded quite a lot and it had nothing to do with 'neoliberalism'. And both nations would have had to go a heavy and chaotic transitionary period. To imply that it was part of some cabal of Western Imperialist 'Doctrine' is completely false. There were a lot of resources up for grabs - and a lot of money ploughing in. Naomi Klein is part of the reason I dropped supporting SJW/leftist causes by default, I'm pretty skeptical these days, I pick and chose.
  - Synaesthesia 10y ago
    There was a dramatic downturn in the South African economy after 1994, not a collapse like Russia but our industry took a huge knock, the Rand weaken dramatically, there was vast disinvestment and job losses. Yes there was growth, but like all neoliberal regimes it has gone to the wealthiest 1%. Today South Africa is significantly worse in most social indicators than it was in 1994.
    - edblarney 10y ago
      "Today South Africa is significantly worse in most social indicators than it was in 1994." And do you blame this on capitalists? Or do you blame this on your utterly, completely and totally corrupt and inefficient political system? Which one do you think is the source of the problem? :) Because we have capitalism here in Canada and are doing just fine.

Synaesthesia 10y ago

Shock doctrine had some great points like about the economic collapse of Russia and South Africa in the early 90's under neoliberalism.

edblarney 10y ago
I can think of a couple of issues which might underlie the economic issues of South Africa and Russia: namely thee end of one party rule in both states. There really was no 'collapse' of the South African economy - it's been growing rapidly since the end of apartheid. Just some chaos during the transition. Crime expanded quite a lot and it had nothing to do with 'neoliberalism'. And both nations would have had to go a heavy and chaotic transitionary period. To imply that it was part of some cabal of Western Imperialist 'Doctrine' is completely false. There were a lot of resources up for grabs - and a lot of money ploughing in. Naomi Klein is part of the reason I dropped supporting SJW/leftist causes by default, I'm pretty skeptical these days, I pick and chose.
- Synaesthesia 10y ago
  There was a dramatic downturn in the South African economy after 1994, not a collapse like Russia but our industry took a huge knock, the Rand weaken dramatically, there was vast disinvestment and job losses. Yes there was growth, but like all neoliberal regimes it has gone to the wealthiest 1%. Today South Africa is significantly worse in most social indicators than it was in 1994.
  - edblarney 10y ago
    "Today South Africa is significantly worse in most social indicators than it was in 1994." And do you blame this on capitalists? Or do you blame this on your utterly, completely and totally corrupt and inefficient political system? Which one do you think is the source of the problem? :) Because we have capitalism here in Canada and are doing just fine.