"Perhaps he has confused making money with freedom."
In Chasteen's history of Latin America he features many illustrious leaders who turn greedy at the expense of their people. Many, in an effort to emulate the United States, push for more freedoms for their people. Chasteen is more concerned, however, that these types of people really misunderstand the concept of freedom. Instead they think America is great for it's money-making opportunities.
“Koch's youthful idealism about libertarianism had largely devolved into a rationale for corporate self-interest.”
Koch Industries is characterized as one of the most corrupt, greedy corporations to ever get its hands on oil. When the Koch brothers -- Charles and David -- first started out, both shared a vision for individual enterprise and competition. What Chasteen notes is that they seem to have lost all interest in accomplishment in their race for money. The corporation has replaced the person.
“What could be more American, after all, than being an immigrant and then, after a few decades, fearing immigration and reacting against it?”
Chasteen is being glib here because he hates to see the hypocrisy that has developed in America. Descendants of immigrants turn up their noses at modern day immigrants because they have bought into the American lie that they are a part of the single best nation in history and are entitled to keep that to themselves.
