Naomi Klein Discusses "Disaster Capitalism" On Real Time With Bill Maher (VIDEO)

Naomi Klein, author of the book "The Shock Doctrine," was a guest on Bill Maher's HBO Show, "Real Time." Klein's book posits that certain people often like when there is a disaster because it allows them to rationalize making radical and unpopular changes that normally the citizenry would not go for. She discusses her theory of "disaster capitalism" within the context of the current economic crisis.

[WATCH]

Comments

[MediaCritic75]

Naomi was brilliant and beautiful on Real Time. Maher couldn't take that her humor and brains were outshining him. I hope to see more of her on TV and elsewhere.

[sedum]

You freaks will take any fantasy to slag Maher.

Insecurities anyone.

[LITU]

Hey se-dumb, don't you have anything substantial to offer this morning?

Sometimes Maher is funny, but most of the time he's in love with the image projected from the mirror.

I didn't think Klein was that eloquent, but her book certainly is.

[whatsgoingon]

It's like the old saying about the pot. Whats in the pot? I don't know but the more you stir it the more it stinks.

[bacaangel]

"In 2007, Wall Street's five biggest firms-- Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley - paid a record $39 billion in bonuses to themselves." ABC's Political Punch -- I say no Bail Out!

AND

Senator John McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, was paid more than $30,000 a month for five years as president of an advocacy group set up by the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to defend them against stricter regulations!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/us/politics/22mccain.html?ref=politics

More McCain Hypocrisy!

[ultrabop]

That's good! That's why Booooosh was saying we needed to take action immediately before we could smell the rancid odor coming up from the bottom of the pot. He looks so much like Mussolini in his latest photos.

[Moshe]

Naomi Klein is right on target, and I highly recommend reading her book: The Shock Doctrine.

Sometimes the corporatist neo-cons are just taking advantage of a disaster, sometimes they are actually creating the disaster so they can exploit it, but what is absolutely clear is that what is bad for the rest of us has become very good for these immoral disaster profiteers.

It's not a very complicated covert plan, but I seriously have my doubts that the american people will catch on before it's too late. It may already be too late.

If things don't change, and fast, what we are facing is an economic collapse, social collapse, and then a for profit police state with a handful of immoral disaster profiteers getting filthy rich on the exploitation and suffering of the rest of us.

That is not the future I would like to give to our children and grandchildren, but if we don't turn this ship around a.s.a.p., that is most certainly what they will get.

[sedum]

What's becoming crushingly evident is that you might just have to take it to the streets and I don't mean with placards and don't take your kids. The paid goons would just as soon shoot you as look at you. The evidence has been shown on a zillion vids.

OBL might eventually be regarded as the lesser of evils in this part of the world AND easier to deal with.

Perish the thought however.

[Moshe]

I do think that if Americans are going to take back their own government and their own nation, they are going to have to mount a forceful and determined campaign to run the greedy rats out of their positions of privilege and advantage. The rats are not planning on leaving on their own.

But this absolutely CANNOT be done through acts of violence, but must instead be a peaceful but absolutely committed non-violent movement for two crtically important reasons: 1) While self-defense is sometimes necessary, violence is always wrong; and 2) the paid goons and those paying them would welcome acts of violence as the excuse for further crackdowns on civil liberties.

You can't defeat an evil enemy by becoming more like him.

We need change, we need it now, but it must be accomplished through means that are as noble as the ends.

Those who seek a peaceful democracy must achieve it through peaceful democratic means.

Fight lies with truth, secrecy with openness, corruption with the rule of law, contest the rule of the few through the peaceful but powerful force of the many. As Justice Brandeis said: Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Expose the truth for all to see.

If those acting in secret are exposed their own acts with condemn them.

[progressivelady]

she was right on and everything she said made sense, she is one smart lady now she would ahve been a good VP

[Steeevyo]

She would´ve spun her stupid disaster capitalism theory also if the government wouldnt have intervened like they do now.
She perfected a way of making money in best capitalist manner by shitting on capitalism.
Maher obviously is not smart enough to ask her some critical questions about her rabid leftism.

[FedUpModerate]

Obviously, you haven't read the book, or listened to what she said.

[apduncan1]

Huh?

[PeacefullyYours]

The Cons prove her right on a daily basis. This is no longer a "theory"

[jp5472]

You obviously did not listen to or understand one word she said. You obviously have preconceived/prejudiced ideas about her and her theories on the people who profit from disasters through playing the fear card. I'd have to guess from your comments that you are a beneficiary of that "Fairy Godmother" (the common taxpayer) Klein refers to, or why else would you not be absolutely incensed by what has been going on with this disaster?

Let's face facts - "supply-side" economics and the subsequent deregulation of just about everything under the sun (of consumer protections) that started in January of 1981 (and which I voted for and believed for way too many years) has been an unmitigated disaster. So now we have "rabid leftism" for capitalist neo-cons: "Privatize the Profits - Socialize the Losses"! That should be the new battle cry for the McCain/Palin ticket!!

[Mason]

"She perfected a way of making money in best capitalist manner by shitting on capitalism."

So you're unhappy because she saw through all of the bullshit, identified the rotten core, and took the time to write a book exposing it for all to see and understand.

Wow, you need to think about the implications of what you just said because, if you can't figure out what's wrong with your thinking, the effects of the Kool-Aid you've been drinking are irreversible.

Here's a clue: The truth speaks for itself and does not change according to the political views of the person holding the flashlight that reveals it for the world to see.

[HaloGuy]

wow.

[kfdan]

Naomi Klein is absolutely correct when she says this is Xmas morning for Wall Street. They are going to be made golden with this bailout and the taxpayers will wake up with a tremendous headache when they get the bill.

[crease]

I don`t think we who have been fleeced for the last eight years should be the ones not getting bailed out.This is utter disaster and we in the bottom 95 percent get screwed.We need jobs and good wages to make it through or the middle class is gone for good.

[Gatormouth]

"The Shock Doctrine" is a page turner. I know the subject matter covered is different, but I would put Cline's book alongside of Carson's "Silent Spring" on my bookshelf. Both were "paradigm shifters" and moral lessons addressing the true divide in our country. There are those who believe in the utility of "the end justifies the means" and those who feel that "evil is as evil does". An atrocity is not justified by good result. An atrocity is an atrocity. A rapist is not exonerated by a good and beautiful child, a rapist is a rapist and should be treated as such.

We have moral sayings about the road to hell and good intentions, but ignore them. To often monsters in a place of power are shaping events to favor avoidable crises so that they may have the ability to use calamity to advance their own agendas toward "good and worthwhile goals" by their own definition, of course. Cline's book throws a light upon them. That these creatures are supported by any so-called religious group astonishes and disgusts me. Supporting evil acts by others to advance one's own religion toward "good" results is by itself an evil act.

[renatam]

Americans need to stop disbelieving our lying eyes. The world knows this is happening because they are benefitting at our expense -- and both Bush and Clinton have unvetted international DEALS that commoditize the American people, our technologies, assets and tax dollars. The international community -- "Clinton Global Initiative" - Davos - UN and family members of our politicians are in business together. Some international banks are lining up to benefit by this bailout -- while "Main Street" and Americans do not benefit.

American optimism is dangerous now. We need to make it our business to understand what is happening. Paulson is the former head of Goldman Sachs. Gramm is the current vice-chair of UBS. War profiteers have a permanent money juggernaut -- aka Halliburton's (now of Dubai) former (and really current CEO is Cheney).

Republicans wanted to overturn the NEW DEAL underpinning of the Middle Class American century. Excepting privatizing SS and Medicare/healthcare -- which Bush and McCain lobbied for big time -- preventing by the Democrat slight majority in 2004-06 -- they have largely succeeded. We will be in debt for the rest of our lives no matter what we do -- and American wealth has been outsourced worldwide and leveraged as currency for DEALS for Bush/Clinton Inc. over the last 30 years.

Americans let this happen -- in particular, the "heartland" voters. It is up to them to vote a straight Democratic ticket and stop depending on the rest of us to fight their battles for their

[sedum]

"Heart"land" is a misnomer.

[WeMustChange]

When are we going to put Bush and Cheney in jail?

[renatam]

When we once again have a REAL Justice Department, Attorney General, Secretary of the Treasury worthy of Alexander Hamilton -- and, Democratic majority in Congress that isn't Clinton-unvetted dealmaking-"Global Initiative"-DLC-Repub-lite-capitulating like Charlie Rangel of NY.

We need a clean break w/the Bush/Clinton dynasties, America. We are almost there. Work hard for your Country and your children.

[ultrabop]

When the brown shirts leave town. When their generals lose their stripes. When the military decides enough is enough. When somebody decides its time to defend the constitution.

[Peace15Progress]

She's right and this is an outrage.

Say it with me, and say it loud: NO. BLANK. CHECK!!

[whoissilvia]

"Thank you, Barack. Let us know if you need any help."

This is exactly the problem: armchair outrage. How can you be surprised that the people of the US have allowed it to go on this long? There was a coup d'etat in November 2000. Our democracy...that great concept by which so many Americans define our greatness as a nation...was stolen, and how many people did anything beyond watching it happen on cable news?

Thanks for being the voice of change, Mr. Obama. I'm right there with you in spirit. Unless I get a personal call from you on my cell phone, I'll assume you've got it all under control and don't need my help. I'll make every effort to turn off the TV, pry my butt off the couch and head to the polling station on November 4. Thereafter, if you need any help protesting the black boxes, the voter caging, or other foul play that cost you the election, you know where to find me: on my Barcalounger, screaming and shaking my fist at Fox News.

[thirteen13]

This is nothing compared to paying back our war debt to Communist China. Future generations will curse the word REPUBLICANS.

The longer we stay in Iraq, the more payback will be.

As long as REPUBLICANS are in power, our Nations future diminishes.

We are becoming a Nation of pushovers.

How is your retirement portfolio doing?

[renatam]

What's frightening is the Republicans take no responsibility, are not accountable to anyone and don't think they have to be in a mature way -- and OPENLY LIE it is the Dems and "whinning" American people at fault.

Let's hope Americans fight this Fall and don't allow the trickery of 2000. NOBODY could have as many disasters as we have had in 7 years -- w/out this being INTENTIONAL -- and it continues w/out abatement until 11/4/08.

[ultrabop]

It's scary because they act as if there will be no retribution, as if they plan on continuing the charade for the next hundred years. Maybe that's what McCain refers to in his illusion to the "hundred years war."

We haven't seen the last of this treachery. More surprises will come. Boooooosh needs to protect himself from the wrath of the people.

[dtrain51]

what I don't understand is Sen. Obama has been on the money from the first, but now McCain is trying to steal his programs that would have us(United States) in this mess.

[BlackbirdHighway]

She is absolutely correct. Normally a $700 Billion transfer of wealth from taxpayers to Wall Street would be a out of the question.

Now that we have a crisis, suddenly it's not only acceptable, it's "necessary". This is exactly what "The Shock Doctrine" is all about; using a crisis or disaster, natural or man made, to push through changes that would never fly under ordinary circumstances.

[LITU]

Eggs-acully! Followed by martial law to restrict dissent. I realize I already have a one-way ticket on that bus.

[ultrabop]

Naomi Wolfe has the crisis thing as one of the stepping stones to Fascism in her article, "Ten Easy Steps to Fascism," in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/24/usa.comment

[aznurse]

please read "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips
Naomi Klein/Kevin Phillips=soothsayers.

[Mason]

Absolutely, and Kevin Phillips used to be on the other team until he saw the light.

[CanuckforObama]

As a Canadian, I am quite shocked at how little the government does to help its citizens in the U.S. Every other developed nation has a robust public sector aimed primarily at improving the welfare of its citizens. Yes, it's called socialism. Only in the U.S. is socialism a dirty word. I pay $3,000 a year in tuition to go to university in the province of Quebec. I have free medical care regardless of my employment status and Canada still has a healthy budget surplus, low unemployment, low crime and a sound economy. Last week we saw that unfettered free-market capitalism cannot improve human welfare in the long term. If it cannot do this, what the hell is the bloody point of it.

[c1ee]

You're letting facts and logic get in the way of making more money for ME ME ME!

[Mom4Choice]

Every post I read from a Canadian makes the Great White North seem like a more and more attractive alternative to living in the US. And I hate cold weather.

I've never understood why our government is so intent on holding up our system as a model for others to follow. We have one of the worst healthcare and educational systems and a ever-increasing number of people living below the poverty line in the developed world, and somehow we believe this is something other countries should aspire to? How arrogant is that??? I love my country, but frankly I'm ashamed of what we've allowed it to become, and I'm appalled that so many of us still consider it the "greatest nation in the world," when we refuse to even take care of our own people.

The US is imploding, and half of our voting citizens are condoning--even encouraging-- the behavior that's causing it to happen. Our Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves. The whole situation makes me sad.

[Mason]

The most disturbing health-care statistic to me is that 90,000 people die in our nation's hospitals every year due to medical negligence. That, by the way, is a conservative estimate.

Our nation is sinking fast and there are many countries in the world whose citizens are healthier and happier than we are.

[bk81665]

and the irony of all these, many americans calls their country the greatest country on earth, even though many of them never had travel abroad.

[LITU]

I need a sponsor. Are you available?