General Discussion

cali

(114,904 posts) Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:07 AM Jun 2015

Do you believe disaster capitalism is a real phenomenon

or leftist bullshit?

And by disaster capitalism I mean corporations and individuals taking advantage of wars and other disasters to aggressively chase profits within the affected nation or region, sometimes with protection from the western (usually U.S.) military, sometimes not. For instance, Sidney Blumenthal attempted to benefit from the massive infrastructure damage done to Libya by NATO bombing. (he didn't succeed, but that's another story. Some people, most notably Naomi Klein, who I believe coined the phrase, believe that some of the crises are created, at least in part, purposefully.

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	Yes, it's a real phenomenon
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	No, it's leftist bullshit
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7 replies

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Do you believe disaster capitalism is a real phenomenon (Original Post) cali Jun 2015 OP

Capitalism is by definition opportunistic. Smarmie Doofus Jun 2015 #1

How else would you describe our military budget? N/T catnhatnh Jun 2015 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author rock Jun 2015 #3

Yes, if by phenomenon you mean.... daleanime Jun 2015 #4

Yes absolutely gollygee Jun 2015 #5

I haven't voted yet, but do you mean 'disaster capitalism' as distinguished from simply KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #6

Climate change is viewed by disaster capitalists as a reason to invest in the construction industry. GreatGazoo Jun 2015 #7

Smarmie Doofus

(14,498 posts)

1. Capitalism is by definition opportunistic.

Reply to cali (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:11 AM

Jun 2015

Do they CREATE the opportunities?

Well.... it really doesn't matter. It's never been clear who burned down the Reichstag.... communists, nazis or someone else..... but we know who seized the moment.

catnhatnh

(8,976 posts)

2. How else would you describe our military budget? N/T

Reply to cali (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:12 AM

Jun 2015

Response to cali (Original post)

rock This message was self-deleted by its author.

daleanime

(17,796 posts)

4. Yes, if by phenomenon you mean....

Reply to cali (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:40 AM

Jun 2015

deliberate actions.

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

5. Yes absolutely

Reply to cali (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:43 AM

Jun 2015

I've read Naomi Klein's book and it seems clear and obvious.

KingCharlemagne

(7,908 posts)

6. I haven't voted yet, but do you mean 'disaster capitalism' as distinguished from simply

Reply to cali (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:43 AM

Jun 2015

'capitalism'? Reminds me of a witticism often attributed to V.I. Lenin (ca. 1923): "Capitalists will sell us the rope with which to hang them."

GreatGazoo

(3,937 posts)

7. Climate change is viewed by disaster capitalists as a reason to invest in the construction industry.

Reply to cali (Original post)

Fri Jun 19, 2015, 08:49 AM

Jun 2015

Florida and Texas are key targets for those who want to profit from rebuilding again and again after extreme weather from climate change. They are also buying up farmland and real estate in places where modeling shows little impact from climate change. All while denying climate change is real. Kind of like buying the lifeboats on the Titanic while telling people the boat is not really sinking.

It isn't just disaster capitalists -- Our GDP includes disaster relief, prisons, illness and drugs, FEMA expenses and predatory interest rates. All of those get scored the same as the production of more noble goods and services.

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