In June 2008, I used this space to call on then-Sen. Barack Obama to add economist James K. Galbraith's book, "The Predator State," to his reading list. As an account of the capture of government by private interests, I thought it would make a far more useful guide to contemporary political economy than the market-glorifying texts that were still in fashion in those days. Full Story »
Posted by Kristin Gorski
The title suggests the opposite of the message in the article, but perhaps it will lead some of the predatory capitalists to read the article, and thereby gain some clarity. Well worth a read to protect the language and message of Galbraith.
Although they have snapped up Mr. Galbraith’s catchy title, they have misunderstood his message.
Mr. Galbraith’s point was the opposite: That government becomes a “predator” when it adopts the agenda of the private sector, when it comes under the control of business interests. According to Mr. Galbraith’s book, these interests seek to “control the state partly in order to prevent the assertion of public purpose and partly to poach on the lines of activity that past public purpose has established.”
