The oligarchy's rule of law [View all]

[HiPointDem]

so i'm reading this article about how when the soviet union collapsed and capitalism took over but things still went to hell, milton friedman came in and rationalized the failure by saying it was because there was no "rule of law".

In reality, as everyone was forced to admit by 1999, Russia’s privatized companies were stripped and plundered as fast as their new private owners could loot them, leaving millions of workers without salaries, and most of Russia’s industry in far worse shape than the Communists left it....some of the more earnest believers whose libertarian faith was shaken by what happened to Corporate Russia needed something more sophisticated than a crude historical whitewash.

Lucky for them, Milton Friedman provided the answer to a Cato Institute interviewer...Without “rule of law,” Friedman and the rest of the free-market faithful argued, privatization was bound to fail.

Then the writer starts talking about the CEO of natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy (USA), Aubrey McClendon. McClendon plundered the company by running a hedge fund from inside it. Employees, retirees and shareholders lost, McClendon scored.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/15/us-chesapeake-401k-idUSBRE84E10F20120515

The writer concludes that “Rule of law” is just another red herring diversion to provide cover for continued oligarchy plunder, failure and barbarism.

http://exiledonline.com/the-oligarchys-rule-of-law-from-boris-yeltsin%E2%80%99s-russia-to-aubrey-mcclendon%E2%80%99s-oklahoma/#more-54162

I found a little tidbit in the article particularly interesting. Who is Aubrey McClendon?

Why, he's a Kerr-McGee ('Silkwood') heir.

And his wife?

She's a Whirlpool heiress.

And deeply involved in stealing waterfront land from Benton Harbor, an African-American slum and the poorest city in Michigan, in order to expand an exclusive golf course country club for residents of St. Josephs, where McClendon owns several plots of land.

I remembered seeing discussion about that theft.

http://angryblacklady.com/2011/04/19/michigan-tragedy-and-corruption-in-benton-harbor/

Supporters of the Harbor Shores luxury housing development say the $500 million project will create jobs and spark the renewal of the city of Benton Harbor, now the poorest city in Michigan.

But for two prominent backers of project, Republican Congressman Fred Upton and Whirlpool CEO Jeff Fettig, the benefits of the project hit closer to home: the proposed development will put a private golf course with spectacular views of Lake Michigan just a short drive from their family residences.

http://michiganmessenger.com/1190/rep-upton-whirlpool-ceo-would-gain-easy-access-to-privatized-park

Rich people just take whatever the hell they want. They're the biggest thieves in the world.

Other relatives of McClendon & wife mentioned in the article = "swimsuit model Kate Upton" & Fred Upton, Republican Congressman.

George Carlin's words 'It's a club & you ain't in it' came to mind.