Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn't filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.
Naomi KleinRead
protected businesses never, never become competitive ... Halliburton, Bechtel, Parsons, KPMG, RTI, Blackwater and all other U.S. corporations that were in Iraq to take advantage of the reconstruction were part of a vast protectionist racket whereby the U.S. government had created their markets with war, barred their competitors from even entering the race, then paid them to do the work, while guaranteeing them a profit to boot - all at taxpayer expense.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes government protectionism that benefits corporations at the expense of competition and taxpayers.
Naomi Klein's quote illustrates the problematic relationship between government and certain corporations, particularly in the context of war and reconstruction efforts. She argues that these corporations benefit from a protectionist system established by the government, which not only shields them from competition but also finances their projects with taxpayer money, ultimately questioning the fairness and ethical implications of such practices.
Themes
ProtectionismCorporationsGovernmentCompetitionTaxpayerProfit
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the ethics of war-time contracting.
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