The Council on Foreign Relations
Obama on the CFR: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=obama+on+the+cfr
Ron Paul on the CFR: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul+on+the+cfr
The stark contrast between these two mens' responses (to
the same question) conjures up what is undoubtedly one of the greatest
speeches ever given by an American President:
"The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society. And we are, as a people, inherently and historically, opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret procedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it."
"Even today, there is little value in ensuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand it's meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment."--- from JFK's speech in New York City, April 27, 1961, before the American Newspaper Publishers Association, regarding the role and importance of the free press ---
Why does the CFR
matter? Because they're not accountable to the public, and yet
their influence upon the public sphere is immense. They
are a group of some of the biggest corporate interests in the world
meeting with political leaders of the past, present and future.
The conflict of
interest here could hardly be more obvious.
Yet many - like our new
President elect - brush this aside as harmless or
insignificant.