On Thu, 24 Jul 2003, Brad DeLong wrote:
> Say, rather, that the Bolshevik system of rule seems to generate an
> absurdly high probability that a murderous paranoid psychopath will
> gain absolute power and wreak fearful slaughter. Pol Pot... Kim Il
> Sung... Mao... Stalin... Ceausescu.
>
> I can't think of a system of rule that on average gave more power to
> worse people. There's something structural going on here. But I've
> never been able to satisfactorily explain what.
>
>
> Brad DeLong
I think you could replace "bolshevik" with "U.S." in the preceding passage and it would be equally valid. I know it's obvious to most of us, but I think it's important to emphasize that the U.S. "system of rule" has lead to misery and death for millions of people around the world. In terms of undermining democracy and freedom, yeah, China suppresses democracy effectively in China, but the U.S. is much more efficient on the global level: destabilization/overthrow of democracies in South America (Chile), the Middle East (Iraq), Central America (Guatemala), etc.
Frankly, people like Kissinger fit into your list quite nicely. I agree it's not just because Kissinger is an evil asshole; there's definitely something structural going on here.
Miles