Profit pathology and other indecencies

183 Pages·2016·0.965 MB·English

by  Parenti, Michael

Profit Pathology
and other indecencies

Profit Pathology
and other
indecencies
Michael Parenti
Paradigm Publishers
Boulder • London
All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any
media or form, including electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or informational
storage and retrieval systems, without the express written consent of the publisher.
Copyright © 2015 Paradigm Publishers
Published in the United States by Paradigm Publishers, 5589 Arapahoe Avenue,
Boulder, CO 80303 USA.
Paradigm Publishers is the trade name of Birkenkamp & Company, LLC,
Dean Birkenkamp, President and Publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Parenti, Michael, 1933–
Profit pathology and other indecencies / Michael Parenti.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-61205-661-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)—
ISBN 978-1-61205-829-0 (library ebook)—
ISBN 978-1-61205-662-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)—
ISBN 978-1-61205-830-6 (consumer ebook)
1. Social classes—Political aspects—United States. 2. Power (Social
sciences) 3. Wealth—Political aspects. 4. Capitalism—Moral and ethical
aspects. 5. Equality. I. Title.
HN90.S6P363 2015
306.3’42—dc23
2014042308
Printed and bound in the United States of America on acid-free paper that meets the
standards of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed
Library Materials.
19 18 17 16 15 1 2 3 4 5
contents
Part One: Class, Race, and Empire
Chapter 1 Thinking about the Great Class Divide 3
Chapter 2 Ethnicity and Exploitation: A Quick History of the
Boiling Pot 11
Chapter 3 Empire in Extremis? Some Urgent Notations 25
Part Two: The Corporate Beast at Home
Chapter 4 A Case of Death and Profits 45
Chapter 5 Free Market Medicine: A Personal Account 57
Chapter 6 Free Market Medicine: More True Stories 67
Part Three: Cultural Aberrations and Other Oppressions
Chapter 7 Pedophiles, Popes, Priests, Preachers, and Papa 83
Chapter 8 Inequality: 85 Billionaires and the Poorer Half 101
Part Four: Global Rule and Ruin
Chapter 9 Capitalism, a Self-Devouring Beast 117
v
vi Contents
Chapter 10 Profit Pathology and Disposable Planet 133
Epilogue: The Next Trip 147
Notes 151
Index 167
About the Author 175
Part one
class, race, and empire

1
thinking about the
great class divide
When We least expect it, when we slump disheartened not daring
to hope for signs of popular uprising, seeing no movement on behalf
of peace and social justice, there sometimes bursts forth a cry of resis-
tance in one or more places. Unannounced, the anger of the common
people so impressively shatters the deadening silence long imposed by
the powers that be. Half the world wakes up. Suddenly the democracy
takes to the streets. The ground itself seems to heave, as people ignite
each other’s spirits. And we dare to think that we might create some
regenerative resurgence, that we might break through the repressive
strictures and structures imposed by privileged powers.
3