The United States of the Corporation

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I just love how the country is going....

Not just your country. We all have booked a table for the insanity ball. There is no escape from the madness poisoning all of our world. Especially the West has lost it's marbles quite some time ago.

Originally Posted by Skybird

Not just your country. We all have booked a table for the insanity ball. There is no escape from the madness poisoning all of our world. Especially the West has lost it's marbles quite some time ago.

Very true. It ain't just USA.

[FIREWALL]

What corporation has your best interests at heart ?

To hear it around here.... UBISOFT. imho

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Not just your country. We all have booked a table for the insanity ball. There is no escape from the madness poisoning all of our world. Especially the West has lost it's marbles quite some time ago.

Agreed.

[FIREWALL]

It's called Greed. Very infectious.

[Aramike]

I disagree with mookie 100%.

First of all, limiting the exercise of free speech from ANY entity in the US in unconstitutional, period. Secondly, allowing corporations to openly donate anything (while STILL having so-called soft money bans in place) will help the public's awareness of who's donating to what.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but right now corporations can donate money just the same - while keeping fairly anonymous, through donating to 501s which were exempt from federal limits. Furthermore, those donations did not need to be made public record, ergo allowing for the money to flow even more freely.

Finally, who's to say that money is the end-all be all of the electoral process? The people who are pissed about this should be pushing more for an informed electorate, rather than assuming that everyone's just a dolt and will do what the next ad will tell them to.

If that's the case, we have far greater problems than who's donating what.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Aramike

I disagree with mookie 100%.

First of all, limiting the exercise of free speech from ANY entity in the US in unconstitutional, period.

Theres the rub. Corporations should not be considered entities. If they want so bad to have the same rights as people, let them have the same obligations. Personal income tax rates apply, as well as jail time for CEOs if the company breaks the law.

Finally, who's to say that money is the end-all be all of the electoral process?

Oh come on, now. I know you're smarter than that.

[FIREWALL]

And then another congressional watchdog commitie will be formed.

Talk about the fox guarding the chicken coop

[AVGWarhawk]

First of all, limiting the exercise of free speech from ANY entity in the US in unconstitutional, period.

Since when does donating money have anything to do with free speech? It is money, not words. What if this union donates a crap load to contender A but some union employees like contender B?

[Catfish]

Hello,
i suppose all those Obama haters will now rejoice and hope things will get back like they were during McCarthy, Nixon, and the Bushs

Well, not really "funny"

Right here we have a Mister Roland Koch, being a condemned criminal for corruption and whatnot, certainly bribed by industry, just threw out the intendant of one of Germany's biggest TV stations, because he tolerated party-critic TV spots - certainly about THE party that is closely "related" (money-wise) to the industry.
There are so much scandals here with big business bribing the politicians and parties (right-wing, that is) that the people don't even want to hear about it anymore. I guess Koch's shining example is Mr. Berlusconi from Italy "lol".
Not really funny either

Greetings,
Catfish

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I just love how the country is going....

Hope that's not the pot in your U-Boat.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Right here we have a Mister Roland Koch, being a condemned criminal for corruption and whatnot, certainly bribed by industry, just threw out the intendant of one of Germany's biggest TV stations, because he tolerated party-critic TV spots - certainly about THE party that is closely "related" (money-wise) to the industry.
There are so much scandals here with big business bribing the politicians and parties (right-wing, that is) that the people don't even want to hear about it anymore. I guess Koch's shining example is Mr. Berlusconi from Italy "lol".
Not really funny either

Greetings,
Catfish

Don't get me started on the latest FDP crap with their hotel stay taxation cap (after receiving a 1.1 million € donation of a big hotelier). I'm really exited to see their new man for checking the products of pharmaceutical companies too (The current one who always resisted the lobby and made sure that the people only got stuff that worked for the smallest price has been sacked by them today. The official reason is that he used a car illegally on the expense of the taxpayer but he denied that. He made some enemies with the big pharmaceutical companies though.... Why do I have the feeling that the new guy will be so much more pro expensive stuff.). Well, we voted predator capitalists and we got predator capitalists. Sometimes I think this country is full of idiots.

[SteamWake]

Dont you find it the least bit curious that this gets turned over when the democrats are fighting for their political life?

It would seem to me that this would make them happy.

[August]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Wrong natural conclusion. Since companies can now use the media to run ads supporting the positions of the politicians they've contributed to, they can basically pay to get whomever they want elected.

Hate the price of prescription medication? Sorry, the Senator from Merck, in a bill co-sponsored by the Senator from Pfizer, has established that drug company patents don't expire, thus effectively ending the generic drug market.

Hate the bailouts? Well, hate to break it to you, but the House of Representatives brought to you by Goldman Sachs will vote 434-1 in favor of the next one.

Want to start a business? Well, the City Council, sponsored by WalMart along with the Mayor, brought to you by Target has changed the zoning laws, and your store must close.

Companies still cannot directly contribute money to a candidate so your use of "sponsor" is misleading at best and if a mayor changes zoning laws to favor one company over another he's just setting himself up for a lawsuit.

Good luck with that when the President, brought to you in part by Boston Globe and Rupert Murdoch signs a bill preventing "unlicensed news reporting."

So you totally ignore the fact that your corporate owned Boston globe can publish partisan propaganda as "news" and get away with it but you object to Joe Liquor store owner being able to send out a flyer asking it's patrons to support the candidate that opposes higher liquor taxes? This type of thing is why the law was thrown out.

[August]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

So corporations should not run political ads but Acorn should?

Not just ACORN but the New York Times, the Boston Globe and a million other liberal rags. Those media CORPORATIONS get to run political ads under the guise of "news".