Schwarzenomics.

“Luhk entwo mah ayes.”

A couple of weeks back, author Naomi Klein (The Shock Doctrine) spoke at an event hosted by University of Chicago faculty campaigning against the planned creation of the Milton Friedman Institute, a research center named after UC’s most famous, most controversial alumnus and professor. (He died in 2006.)

I heard Klein’s speech on Democracy Now, and it was great. But the part that really caught my attention was her reference to an Arnold Schwarzenegger taped intro to the 1990, ten-part documentary, Free To Choose, in which Friedman outlines his ideas for the masses.

For some reason, whether in his movies or in real life, it’s always hilarious hearing Schwarzenegger discuss complex ideas, especially in pre-Governator footage. Check this quote, where he notes that, observing market trends even during the time he has been in the U.S.,

the more the government interfered and intervened and inserted itself into the free market, the worse the country did. But when the government stepped back, and let the free enterprise system do its work, then the better we did, the more robust our economy grew, the better I did, and the better my business grew.

What happened?Needless to say, all that jibber-jabber might have sounded cool coming out of the coked-out ’80s. Given market’s recent denouement, however, and the Austrian’s own announcement that his state may need a $7B loan from the Feds, all you can think is that, “You need to take the crack back to whoever sold it to you.” Schwarz admits…no, acclaims that the dealer was Friedman.

Also, when you watch, tell me if there’s something a little Tom Cruise/KSW about the footage. Like, the way Schwarzenegger’s face is lit gives his eyes an evil raccoon-like, mind-control mask every time he tilts his head down. (Note the lead picture.) I mean, the aura of the whole piece is a little cultish, a little sinister, wouldn’t you say? I’m shakin’ off chills, myself, folks.

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