Friends, the Gabriel I’m talking about is not the one who occupies Heaven and has wings. I’m talking about the ‘angel’ Gabriel Strautman who is an economist from Brazil, who is featured today on Al Jazeera.
My Gabriel has said some interesting things about the World Bank and the IMF! I have listed a few of his observations and have reflected upon them (but I would urge you to read the whole article).
He stated clearly that the institutions created from Bretton Woods (World Bank, IMF), which took effect in 1959, had a clear mission: “That was to create the basis of development of capitalism in the global south and to impose a mechanism of economic domination through creating debt.”
Well now, that is surely a contentious mouthful. It means that people set out to use debt to ensure economic domination of countries in the Southern hemisphere and the rise of capitalism. These people came from rich capitalist countries from the Northern Hemisphere. Shock, horror!
Another observation he made is: “One of the big problems with the IMF and World Bank is they are anti-democratic institutions. Those who put one dollar in have one vote. But if I give more money, I have more votes. It gives more power to rich countries. And that is why those organizations are at the service of the rich countries.”
Well, can you believe it?
Fancy someone accusing rich countries of stacking the deck by rigging the voting system then allowing poor countries to accumulate debt which they couldn’t pay back which then made them subservient to the World Bank, the IMF, and rich countries! Is such chicanery possible by Christians?
Alarmingly, he also said: “But years later the IMF and World Bank have a large share of responsibility for all of the financial deregulation, all of the liberalization that has allowed speculation, and for the developing of the current global economic crisis.“
Well, our Gabriel doesn’t mince words does he? He’s suggesting that the two Institutions set up by rich countries not only sought to spread capitalism and dominate poorer countries but they have brought about the very conditions that have caused the current recession/depression which is causing deep pain around the world with no end in sight.
So next time you hear various pontifical statements from the IMF and the World Bank, keep in mind where they are coming from and ask yourself whether such organizations should be involved in trying to fix the current financial and economic mess which they helped to create? What you don’t have to ask yourself is why we don’t get rid of capitalism and set up a more equitable system!
Truth is stranger than fiction, eh!
I think perhaps, truer words have never been spoken. Better late than never. Now we all know. Your question nails the blatant hypocricy: “whether such organizations should be involved in trying to fix the current financial and economic mess which they helped to create?” Hello world leaders, the cat is out of the bag. Should we all continue, pretending we don’t know? How many can really do that?- Only ones that profit from things done just the way they are. Though it has been more than 10 years ago!, I was so proud of those kids and adults that protested in Seattle against the World Bank. Now it puts those Riot Police in another light. The clear light of day! Thanks, Gabriel, you are an Earth angel.
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Grace, it certainly demonstrates how much the world has been manipulated by the politicians and the rich for the benefit of the rich.
It’s time the rich were treated as what they are: PARASITES!
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I am not a country but I’m $4,000 in debt to a credit card company that has switched owners at least 4 times in the last two years, they not only raised my interest but they’ve decided to compound it & it is all legal, they say they can do what they want—it was all spelled out in the small print
I’m so angry I was going to just tell them they changed their part, well I’m changing mine & let them hound me, so what, they can put a lien on my house, so what if they get it when I die, nobody else in my family wants it.
But I guess I’m still a sheep & I’ll keep sending them their minimum payment of $115 per mo of which $75 goes to finance charges & only 40 gets taken off the lump
I have no stocks, bonds, no assets, I’m part of the katrina class that gets left behind. at the end of the month I have no cash & no worries except that $4000 monkey on my back
I hate how this game is rigged!
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David G Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Kate, it is rigged. We, the people, are being played as suckers. It’s time the suckers stood up and changed the rules of the game!
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It just seems to keep getting worse all the time! I’m sure all the fat cats are loving the swine flu panic that is going on. It is sure to take peoples minds off their money problems.
Every time the media spends huge amount of time on one subject I am almost certian that it is not a serious problem; the real problems are ignored or given only a very tiny brief mention.
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Jeannie, you have the right to write to the company that owns your debt and ask them to provide the original note that proves you owe that money. If they cannot prove that you owe that money within 30 days, you have the right to challenge them. They must prove that it is you. Sometimes with all the 4 turnovers, these facts become lost and you can challenge your debt and not have to pay it, or negotiate a more reasonable arrangement. It is just a number on a computer to them. To you it is your entire life. There are some lawyers that specialize in this sort of thing. Often they are happy to steer you in the right direction. Lawyers understand the language and despite the rumors of corrupt lawyers. Rumors proba bly started by corporations who all have their own lawyers, but want the little person to be unprotected. In the end, sometimes lawyers can be the best person to have on your side.
Re: this new epidemic. Anybody notice that the deadly strains are hitting Mexicans and Africans?? How utterly convenient for the Corporate Masters of the World. You think this was made in a laboratory and released on vulnerable populations?? I do.
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Forgive me, I started writing w/o my glasses on. Kate Bates, regarding your debt. If these companies have changed any of the terms of agreement in the course of the 4 transitions, you can pursue the course I mentioned above, you have the right to demand they produce your documentation and (hopefullly!) come to an agreeable solution that is more fair. Best of luck to you!
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