Dear Editor,

For decades, American foreign policy has been to give with one hand while the other hand taketh away—all under the guise of “foreign aid” and “economic development.” The relationship between corporate interests and government action has long been noted, but examples presented to the average American are only superficial demonstrations of darker, more complicated issues under the surface.

Finally, an insider has come forward with a book that connects the dots in a way that is understandable, provocative, and ultimately enlightening. John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man exposes the disturbing motivations behind the making of the first truly global empire. 

In the book, Perkins describes his experience as an Economic Hit Man. His job was to convince countries that are strategically important to the U.S.—from Indonesia to Panama—to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development, and to make sure that the lucrative projects were contracted to U. S. corporations. Saddled with huge debts, these countries came under the control of the United States government, World Bank and other U.S.-dominated aid agencies that acted like loan sharks—dictating repayment terms and bullying foreign governments into submission.

The consequence of corporate greed in these third world countries has been economic, environmental, and social devastation. This is unacceptable. What happened to America’s ideal of “democracy for all?”  Apparently, this only applies to those on American soil.   We must educate ourselves to the truth behind America’s so-called “foreign aid” practices if we are ever to earn back—and deserve—our neighbors’ trust.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Reader