This chapter starts out with John explaining what PURPA (Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act) was and why it was established by Former President James Carter. It was intended to open the doors for companies like John's to create alternative forms of energy moving America away from oil. However, what happened was the opposite. Corporate America of the 1980s could be summed up in one phrase: "Greed is good." This was uttered by the character Michael Douglas played in Wall Street, Gordon Gekko.
By the 1990s, the majority of companies like John's had been devoured by large corporations like ExxonMobil. While his company experienced success, he had a 'Come to Jesus Moment' about his role in the mass destruction of environments and communities around the world. He pondered if the new generation of EHMs had moments when they questioned themselves as he had. Eventually, John's 'Come to Jesus' moment brought him to the reality that he must share what he knows with the world.
Toward the end of this chapter, John has a reality check. He started to write his first book 'The Conscience of An Economic Hit Man' however, he made the mistake of talking about it. Then the calls threatening his life started. Then there was the threat against his daughter Jessica. You have to understand, the kind of monsters John was dealing with had NO problem murdering a child and making their target watch. So, by taking this consulting job gave John a steady income and he sold his energy company. He was told by his new boss that writing books about how people in countries like Indonesia handle stress was fine. Writing about what he would be doing for a living and had done as an EHM was absolutely off limits. The consequences would be heavy. Without a doubt this job was about shutting him up. And for the time being he did shut up. Until his daughter was grown and understood what he had done for work prior to her birth and how she changed him.
References
(n.d.). John Perkins. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://johnperkins.org/
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