Confession of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins (IRB Tow#18)

       The book is a confession, and it is a unique one. John Perkins, the confessor, has worked as an economic Hit Man for US for more than a decade. His job is simple: to further the cause of economic imperialism on behalf of his country, or basically, to convince developing nations into unfair deals.

       Published in 2004, just a few years ago, “Confession of an Economic Hit Man” details the behind-the-scenes deals US government had made with numerous developing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Panama, and Ecuador. As the government’s chief negotiator, John Perkins held nothing back to his worldwide, but especially American, audience. He wrote down his memories, from the prostitutes of Panama to the palace of Saudi Arabia, from poverty and desperation to luxury and corruption. Perkins wants people to no longer be ignorant.

       Before he can change people’s perception, Perkins first needs to present himself as a trustworthy source, and he accomplished the task with flying colors through the usage of specific description and fact referencing. When Perkins describes the image of General Omar Torrijos, a forward-looking leader of Panama, he was extremely detailed, reflecting how the general “was dressed casually, in typical Panamanian style: khaki slacks and a short-sleeved shirt buttoned down the front, light blue with delicate green pattern” (Perkins 81). Even when mentioning the women he used to accomplish his deal with a prince of Saudi Arabia, Perkins still put many details in his portrayal: “ ‘Sally’ was a beautiful blonde women who lived in the Boston area; she had a cavalier attitude about her husband’s activities, and she was a hippie who had become accustomed to promiscuous sex”(Perkins 107). The emphasis on specificity in Perkins description is a testimonial to his memory and credibility. It is Perkin’s way of saying he was there.

       Adding on to the specificity in Perkin’s description, the numerous reference to facts also made his believable. The discussion about “JECOR embodied an innovate concept for foreign aid”, the mentioning of how “United Fruits was one of the largest landowners in Guatemala,” and how “OPEC is established to preserve the powers of Middle East” (Perkins 93) all attests to Perkin’s expertise on current economic and world affairs. These facts are declarations to his audience of the book’s veracity.

 

       May we open our eyes.