"Shock Doctrine"

I heard an author, Naomi Klein, on The Randi Rhodes Show on my way home from work today. She wrote a book called "The Shock Doctrine" that describes the strategy to take advantage of crisis to push through policies that never otherwise would have passed.

The Bush Administration is expert at this. Think:

• 9/11 and the Patriot Act and the Iraq War
• The rise in oil prices and "Drill Here, Drill Now".
• And now the financial market crisis and the bailout.

Apparently, this bailout package contains a truly scary provision that basically says once the Act is passed, there will be no oversight of decision making of the Secretary by any court of law or administrative office. And according to Naomi Klein, Newt Gingrich is using the crisis to promote a return to Reagan-era economic policies. On the radio, she urged people to contact their elected representatives and the Obama campaign to let them know we are not falling for it this time and that they need to resist these tactics.

Naomi Klein will be in the Bay Area October 16-19 for various speaking engagements.