Turning all your argument upside down:
Searle, I see you are convinced that everything which is happening or has happened is largely the work of sinister Oil Men, who are aided and abetted in their evil quest by a bunch of equally sinister and crazy generals.
From my part, I simply don't believe it. Sure, there are greedy wheeler-dealers -- there are greedy Oil Men and crazy Pentagon brass and crazy Muslims and crazy whoever. But to seriously believe that a handful of Texas oil men want to take over the world a la The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Halliburton, I just don't see it. I have the book and I have read it a few times and, at a certain level, the story is convincing but I simply cannot believe there are actually people who are deliberately plotting to do this, particularly when there is no valid reason to so. [recall the "monopsony" thing]
Sure, I understand the predicament of US gas-guzzlers, economically, and in Texas. I also know their wealth and influence is out of all proportion to their numbers, but so what? That proves nothing. That they are good swindlers [Enron,...] and have managed to do a "rabbit from the hat" trick with US taxpayers' monies is not an indictment but a tribute. They/some are damn clever. But Keynes wasn't a Texan, neither was Newton or Hubble or millions of other brilliant people. Texan Oil Men don't have exclusive rights to being clever -- or to being paranoid. Or greedy. |
