You know, Little Hawk, I read Confessions of an Economic Hitman, and it's good, but I didn't like the way Perkins harped on the U.S. as being the center of the economic machine. He rightfully pointed out over and over that it is the World Bank & International Monetary Fund, but then he'd go back to talking about "American" policy and "American" empire. Made me wonder if he wasn't still on the payroll, telling the truth that Joseph Stiglitz made public (former head of the IMF), telling the truth because Stiglitz made it public, but then focusing anger on the U.S. But Halliburton and KBR and the rest aren't American. Trans-national corporations. A truthful book, as far as I could tell, but it seemed like some spinning was going on.

And Bunnahabhain, there is a balance between freedom and dominance. Like most people I'd be somewhere in the middle. Govt is bad enough, but now there are new "regulatory" agencies everywhere.

Do you know about the International Property Maintenance Code? Most people don't. A 40-page PDF of it is located here:

http://www.talgov.com/dncs/neighborhood/pdf/intpropmaint.pdf

It outlines how you have to maintain your property. Drawn up by an international group and being used worldwide. In the northeast US last year some flood victims got low-interest govt loans to rebuild, then afterwards they found this Code in the fine print of their loans. They had agreed to abide by these rules. Problem is, no piece of real estate in the world could pass this inspection. And govts and agencies are starting to use it selectively to fine people. Crushing fines, too. Within a month or so you owe the value of your property in fines. This is one new way that agencies are seizing land. A discussion of this can be found here:

http://www.politicalhotwire.com/2125-international-property-maintenance-code.html

Private property ownership has been targeted for elimination in the U.S. The corporations are buying the govt and the govt is making it possible for environmental groups to claim more and more land. It'll all end up being administered by 1% of the elite, who will keep the other 99% of us off of their wilderness areas. I don't care for the arrangement.