Lawrence Summers Flashback: Africa Is 'Under-Polluted'

Lawrence Summers is on a very short list of possible nominees for Secretary of Treasury. His selection has been complicated, however, by his destructive performance as president of Harvard University, a rocky term he finally sabotaged by revealing his opinion that women lack the mental aptitude to succeed in science.

But there is a lesser known episode in Summers' past that further highlights his reckless tendencies, and foreshadows a politically nettlesome nomination process.

On December 12, 1991, while serving as chief economist for the World Bank, Summers authored a private memo arguing that the bank should actively encourage the dumping of toxic waste in developing countries, particularly "under populated countries in Africa," which Summers described as "UNDER-polluted." Summers added that public outrage over the heightened rates of prostate cancer caused by his proposed dumping would be mitigated by the fact that poor people in developing countries rarely live long enough to develop prostate cancer.

Read the full Summers memo here.

When the Summers memo leaked to the public in February 1992, Brazil's Secretary of the Environment, Jose Lutzenburger, responded with an indignant missive. "Your reasoning is perfectly logical but totally insane," Lutzenburger told Summers. "Your thoughts [provide] a concrete example of the unbelievable alienation, reductionist thinking, social ruthlessness and the arrogant ignorance of many conventional 'economists' concerning the nature of the world we live in... If the World Bank keeps you as vice president it will lose all credibility."

If Obama nominates Summers, he will send a dispiriting message to governments of developing countries -- especially in Africa -- just as they have begun to look at the United States as a beacon of hope.

Back in the U.S., Summers' nomination would prompt a reexamination by the media of the countless controversies he has fomented. Even an episode as tangential as Summers' romantic fling with right-wing hatemonger Laura Ingraham could become a source of political embarrassment for the White House. Summers should be left to write his memoirs, not memos.

Comments (28)

1. It's amusing to note that Obama's been the President-elect for less than 48 hours and already you guys have dissed 2 of his possible choices: Dreyfuss doesn't like Gates, asking why he's picking Repub's for office (as if thats a crime, although to such a provincial thinker as Dreyfus it probably is) and now 'ole Max hates a possible Summers choice.

   What I'd like to see is a list of choices from some of the writers here. I'm certain I, and probably Pr-E Obama, would find it fairly laughable, and highly partisan, which is exactly what we DON'T need anymore

   Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 11/06/2008 @ 07:22am

2. Larry Summers is one of the Wall Street whores who embraced the disasterous policy of bank deregulation. He and Robert Rubin bear great responsibility for the financial meltdown that happened. In addition, he is a pig of a human being.

   Posted by philbq at 11/06/2008 @ 08:15am

3. Sorry, but I predicted the "disappointment" of much of "The Nation" staff under Obama a long time ago.

   But it's still better than the alternative by astronomical units.

   For instance, speaking of "Africa"...

   our once-potential Vice-President-elect didn't even know that Africa was a continent, not a country. Fox held the news until after the election-

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFJr3XRedYU

   Posted by Mask at 11/06/2008 @ 08:47am

4. This would be a grave mistake on many fronts. But for starters, just ask Cornell West and Jesse Jackson. Obama really shouldn't even consider going there.

   Posted by Lil at 11/06/2008 @ 09:22am

5. meanwhile, back on mars:

   U.S. investigates after Afghanistan air strike kills 40

   Published: Wednesday, November 05, 2008

   KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Dozens of Afghan civilians were killed when a wedding party was bombed in a mountain village, according to witnesses who blamed the American military for the attack.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 11/06/2008 @ 09:22am

6. no honeymoon in kandahar....

   Posted by frosty zoom at 11/06/2008 @ 09:22am

7. Typical of Right wing blowhards, Chip Thorton must subscribe to the Rightwing reactionary definition of "bipartisinship": capitulation to and complete staffing of incompetent Rightwing hacks and proven failure re-treads.

   Posted by Lil at 11/06/2008 @ 09:27am

8. Human, think human... If we're to move beyond the last 8 years-- we need to evolve:

   I actually had a dream about this article:

   'No Currency Left to Buy the Big Lies'

   http://tinyurl.com/65a7o9

   In it new con repubs were vampires that were of course unable to stop gorging on the population after convincing everyone that new con repub vamp's would actually care for the human's as it was in their own best interest to care with the best upkeep of their food. NOT.

   So after the new con repub vamp's self-destruction, ironically, 'evolution' kicks in and humans evolve to walk the earth and rule again.

   Albeit a little less trusting of the now mythical new con repub vamp's...

   Posted by hsuBfools at 11/04/2008 @ 1:58pm

   When there's no spin, is that a little evolution?

   Posted by hsuBfools at 11/06/2008 @ 09:29am

9. Interesting and distressing, but probably not that surprising that the Bloomberg article doesn't have Joseph Stieglitz or Paul Krugman on the short lis for Treasury Secretary or economic advisor.

   Posted by Edoardo_C at 11/06/2008 @ 09:54am

10. DO SOME RESEARCH! Let us recall that Galbraith defined conventional wisdom as the thinking that is common and convenient, not correct. Blumenthal's critique of Summers fall into this category.

    1) Summers' comments on women came at an event at which he had been asked to propose some provocative ideas for discussion. He did not spew sexistist vitriol; he expounded on data indicating fewer women in certain fields and proposed - as requested - a provocative explanation. His statements no way reflect his personal views. To imply otherwise is a shameful abrogation of journalistic responsibility.

    2) The Summers pollution memo was a joke designed to illustrate a point, I think about the limits of trade. A tasteless joke? Perhaps. Although within context - i.e. among economists - it was unlikely to be taken amiss. In any case, it was NEVER designed as a policy proposal and in no way reflects an anti-poor attitude on Summers' part.

    I know that columnists are not investigative journalists, and I believe that sharing public opinions is an important role for the press. Nonetheless, good argumentation requires good data, and you don't have it here.

    If you don't like Summers, fine. I prefer Volcker myself. But I hate to see anyone misrepresented, especially during a political decision-making process that requires sound judgement.

    CP

    Posted by oneoff at 11/06/2008 @ 10:25am

11. this is all idle chatter. Obama has not announced any staff position.

    Posted by emile duBois at 11/06/2008 @ 10:25am

12. Posted by lvliberty1 at 11/06/2008 @ 10:13am

    I thought he was going to be a "radical socialist appeaser of terrorists"?!?!?!??

    Posted by Maskdelta at 11/06/2008 @ 10:41am

13. larry's happy about all this, mask.

    his kids told him to quit grumping and get over it.

    soon, HE'LL (with or without apostrophe) be bitchin' about obama the neocentrist corporatron.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 11/06/2008 @ 10:47am

14. you know,

    mr. mccain, too, seemed kinda happy he lost.....

    Posted by frosty zoom at 11/06/2008 @ 10:47am

15. mr. mccain, too, seemed kinda happy he lost.....

    Posted by frosty zoom at 11/06/2008 @ 10:47am

    No Country for Old Men.

    Posted by Benchrest at 11/06/2008 @ 11:03am

16. Posted by frosty zoom at 11/06/2008 @ 10:47am

    Amazing, FZ...

    you just channelled STEPHEN HAYES of "THE WEEKLY STANDARD"!!!!

    http:// www.weeklystandard.com/Content/ Public/Articles/000/000/015/771vfzje.asp

    Will wonders never cease?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 11/06/2008 @ 11:04am

17. Summers positions are morbidly repub. Toxic waste dumping as appropriate for Africa is strikingly similar to the 'pugnant argument that social security is untenable in an age when recipients typically live longer than a couple years after receiving their first check.

    Posted by Sorelish at 11/06/2008 @ 11:27am

18. We don't need a whole bunch of 'new improved' economic theory right now... It's been so long since we've had anything conservative about our national economic system, that most of us have no idea what a stable economy would entail.

    Limiting the economic 'game playing' that the wealthy have been engaging in... which we often overlook as it inevitably and negatively impacts the 'way of life' most of us live every day... is not socialism, or radical... it is a conservative economic cornerstone from which we build the type of stable economy that creates and reinforces steady genuine growth, as well as more realistic attitudes about what it means to invest in our country.

    We're doing this for our kids... and moms... and dads...

    ...homes and communities... peace of mind... and investment potential... and the 'quality of life' of generations to come.

    Capitalism requires persistent oversight and a gentle 'reining in' in order to function smoothly and properly as a national economic system... and necessitates perhaps even a bit more control when it adopts it's pseudo-boundary-less international markets of today's global economy.

    The people who do this really well are seldom labeled 'progressives'... but, interestingly enough... in some circumstances... they could conceivably be called socialists...;^)

    Posted by ttr at 11/06/2008 @ 11:42am

19. I don't know if Summers' comments about women in science were taken out of context or if his memo about under-polluted Africa was a joke, as suggested in an earlier message by "oneoff". What I DO know is that Summers was an aggressive lobbyist for Phil Gramm's deregulation proposals, fought hard to prevent the regulation of credit default swaps and was an Alan Greenspan insider.

    I understand that Mr. Obama's pragmatism trumps his perceived ideology. It always has and it is evident from the continual disconnect between his rhetoric and his actions. I also understand that he was the only viable option in this election. That said, I am convinced that an Obama administration will result in "more of the same" even if cosmetically different. With a huge Democratic majority, Mr. Obama will have no excuses if, in a reasonable timeframe, the Patriot Act and warrantless wiretapping are still in play, the Guantanamo nightmare is not ended, the growing gap between America's rich and poor is not reversed, a real national health plan that puts the people's welfare above that of insurance companies is not initiated, a truly equitable Middle East foreign policy is not implemented and the expansive neo-liberal approach to American world economic and military domination is not rejected and thoroughly repudiated.

    Forgive my cynicism, but I suppose I've read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" too many times to think that Mr. Obama's behavior will differ significantly from that of so many who preceded him in office only to serve a master other than "the people". A Larry Summers nomination would certainly suggest we will be heading back to the future.

    Posted by saroman at 11/06/2008 @ 12:45pm

20. Capitalism requires persistent oversight and a gentle 'reining in' in order to function smoothly and properly as a national economic system...

    Posted by ttr at 11/06/2008 @ 11:42am

    Well you can scratch off anyone in the Democratic party because nothing they do is ever "gentle".

    Posted by ACook at 11/06/2008 @ 2:08pm

21. Posted by ACook at 11/06/2008 @ 2:08pm

    In spite of your refusal to use blatent insults and curse words, (probably in keeping with your old fashioned notions, like no hats in the house), I am not as impressed as others here.

    You still spout utter nonsense as fact. And you still throw in a slightly insulting remark, every post.

    Posted by Malcontent at 11/06/2008 @ 3:59pm

22. A passive/aggresive neo-con, you are.

    Posted by Malcontent at 11/06/2008 @ 4:00pm

23. Still confused about the "two condoms per act" recommendation, ACook. Are we supposed to double bag?

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 11/06/2008 @ 4:49pm

24. The article to which this post linked had some interesting insights into Summers. The key point is that he is socially and politically tone-deaf. That wouldn't necessarily disqualify him for an advisory position but the Secretary of the Treasury is often the public face of the administration on economic matters. He may very well have to advocate for Obama's economic policies in Congress.

    Summers is spectacularly ill-adapted for the political dimensions of this particular job slot.

    Posted by brunowe at 11/07/2008 @ 08:12am

25. Well, Lil, I'm still waiting for YOUR choices.

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 11/07/2008 @ 10:01am

26. Summers' arrogance is mind-numbing. Albert Einstein's IQ was not all that high, as theoretical physicists go. Yet, by this lil' old thing called HARD WORK and dedication, he became one of the greatest physicists of all time. Even if it's true that women may not be dealt as much analytical aptitude as newborns, so what? There are geniuses pumping gas and universities full of over-achievers. There are enough BRILLIANT women in the world to render a comment such as Summers' to the category of arrogant, bigoted, mean and entirely irrelevant.

    Posted by DejaVu at 11/07/2008 @ 9:36pm

27. Forget banning lobbyists -- how about a rule that says you can't be in the Obama Administration if you think women are inherently inferior in math and science skills? It's a testament to the strength of sexism that Summers was allowed to hang on to that Harvard job after making this statement. Not only did it put the university at extreme legal risk on equal opportunity grounds, but, come on, it was like learning that an Oxford don believes in phrenology. You shouldn't get kicked out of the academy for your speech, but surely you can get kicked out for being unacademic.

    Posted by RLawrence at 11/08/2008 @ 3:40pm

28. Well, in the version of the memo posted at the link, Summers refers to "prostrate cancer". So, is that a new form of lying-down cancer? Does Summer not know the proper term? Are individuals with xy chromosomes less capable of mastering and managing the English language ? Or is it possible that whirledbank.org might have additional errors in their posting that are not so obvious?

    Posted by babz21 at 11/10/2008 @ 09:43am