Selling Out isn't odd corp america invests billions in politicians over new industry

[merrill]

Onetime New York mayoral candidate Green lashes out against the government's tradition of selling access to politicians to the highest bidder and pricing practically everyone-besides millionaires-out of the ability to participate in our democracy.

Although it's easy to detect the scent of sour grapes in Green's screed (he lost the election to business information tycoon Bloomberg), dismissing his words for that reason alone would be foolish.

Fortunately eschewing the pervasive idea that American democracy was once a virginal paradise unsullied by as base a thing as money, Green provides a quick but thorough overview of the history of money and influence in national politics (during the post-Civil War era, most legislators openly sold their votes).

After showing how we got ourselves into this mess, Green paints a portrait of how exactly the millions of dollars sloshing around the corridors of power shades and corrupts the system.

Green does not cover much new ground, but he admirably collects all the usual jeremiads about this subject into one propulsive narrative. Although a Democratic bias creeps in here and there, for the most part Green blames his own party as much as the Republicans, naming names in plenty of embarrassing instances.

Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elections, Rams Through ... - Mark Green - Google Books

 

[Mr. H.]

You realize that it doesn't cost one cent to have access to politicians?

 

[merrill]

Big Businesses Have Enough Extra Cash to Create 19 Million Jobs
By Seth Fiegerman

* Big Businesses Have Enough Extra Cash to Create 19 Million Jobs | Employment | Career | Mainstreet

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – Wondering where all the jobs are? Just follow the money.

Big businesses and banks currently have enough extra cash lying around to create 19 million jobs between 2012 and 2014 and thus bring unemployment in this country back down to its normal rate of 5%, according to a new report from economists at the University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute.

In total, America’s corporations are sitting on an estimated $3.6 trillion in liquid assets and cash reserves, or roughly a quarter of the country’s entire gross domestic product. Some of this is in fact needed to cover companies in the event that their business – or the economy as a whole – takes a turn for the worse.

But according to the report, even accounting for a “highly risky economic environment,” these corporations would still have $1.4 trillion in excess liquidity.

To put that in context, that’s nearly twice the amount of money that the federal government set aside for its stimulus package to rescue the economy in 2009.

But while the stimulus saved or created some 3 million to 4 million jobs, the economists predict that these private sector funds could do significantly more if invested in the right way.

 

[Mr. H.]

"If invested in the right way".

Business and industry are waiting for Obama to get the fuck out of the way.

It's as simple as that.

 

[merrill]

How is Obama in the way?

What is it?

 

[merrill]

This doesn’t need to be a pipe dream, but the researchers argue it will require the right combination of government policies to coax big businesses to let their cash flow. In particular, the group calls for more government spending and debt relief measures for households in order to shore up consumer demand.

This, coupled with greater taxes on business cash reserves, could force companies to start reinvesting again in the economy.

“There is no reason that the U.S. needs to remain stuck in a long-term unemployment crisis,” the researchers write. “Rather, through a combination of policy measures, overall demand can be strengthened and the credit constraint weakened.

This will be the combination of measures necessary to start fulfilling the needs of U.S. citizens for decent job opportunities at all levels.”

Big Businesses Have Enough Extra Cash to Create 19 Million Jobs | Employment | Career | Mainstreet

 

[merrill]

Onetime New York mayoral candidate Green lashes out against the government's tradition of selling access to politicians to the highest bidder and pricing practically everyone-besides millionaires-out of the ability to participate in our democracy.

Although it's easy to detect the scent of sour grapes in Green's screed (he lost the election to business information tycoon Bloomberg), dismissing his words for that reason alone would be foolish.

Fortunately eschewing the pervasive idea that American democracy was once a virginal paradise unsullied by as base a thing as money, Green provides a quick but thorough overview of the history of money and influence in national politics (during the post-Civil War era, most legislators openly sold their votes).

After showing how we got ourselves into this mess, Green paints a portrait of how exactly the millions of dollars sloshing around the corridors of power shades and corrupts the system.

Green does not cover much new ground, but he admirably collects all the usual jeremiads about this subject into one propulsive narrative. Although a Democratic bias creeps in here and there, for the most part Green blames his own party as much as the Republicans, naming names in plenty of embarrassing instances.

Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elections, Rams Through ... - Mark Green - Google Books

Absolutely bring on Fair Vote and Public Financing of elections. Then maybe our elected officials will stay on the jobs instead of always begging for campaign money.

 

[whitehall]

Onetime New York mayoral candidate Green lashes out against the government's tradition of selling access to politicians to the highest bidder and pricing practically everyone-besides millionaires-out of the ability to participate in our democracy.

Although it's easy to detect the scent of sour grapes in Green's screed (he lost the election to business information tycoon Bloomberg), dismissing his words for that reason alone would be foolish.

Fortunately eschewing the pervasive idea that American democracy was once a virginal paradise unsullied by as base a thing as money, Green provides a quick but thorough overview of the history of money and influence in national politics (during the post-Civil War era, most legislators openly sold their votes).

After showing how we got ourselves into this mess, Green paints a portrait of how exactly the millions of dollars sloshing around the corridors of power shades and corrupts the system.

Green does not cover much new ground, but he admirably collects all the usual jeremiads about this subject into one propulsive narrative. Although a Democratic bias creeps in here and there, for the most part Green blames his own party as much as the Republicans, naming names in plenty of embarrassing instances.

Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elections, Rams Through ... - Mark Green - Google Books

Selling access? The US Constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to petition the government. Would you lefties have it any other way? Maybe in NY. The supreme court ruled that money is speech. Don't like it lefties? Tough shit.

 

[merrill]

We need to get rid of politicians who believe their campaign war chests are the priority!

 

[snjmom]

And the Supreme Court would be wrong on that. Money isn't speech, it is speech amplification. It's like calling a microphone or a tv show speech.

 

[merrill]

Bring on new legislation banning all special interest contributions.

 

[Ernie S.]

Big Businesses Have Enough Extra Cash to Create 19 Million Jobs
By Seth Fiegerman

* Big Businesses Have Enough Extra Cash to Create 19 Million Jobs | Employment | Career | Mainstreet

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – Wondering where all the jobs are? Just follow the money.

Big businesses and banks currently have enough extra cash lying around to create 19 million jobs between 2012 and 2014 and thus bring unemployment in this country back down to its normal rate of 5%, according to a new report from economists at the University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute.

In total, America’s corporations are sitting on an estimated $3.6 trillion in liquid assets and cash reserves, or roughly a quarter of the country’s entire gross domestic product. Some of this is in fact needed to cover companies in the event that their business – or the economy as a whole – takes a turn for the worse.

But according to the report, even accounting for a “highly risky economic environment,” these corporations would still have $1.4 trillion in excess liquidity.

To put that in context, that’s nearly twice the amount of money that the federal government set aside for its stimulus package to rescue the economy in 2009.

But while the stimulus saved or created some 3 million to 4 million jobs, the economists predict that these private sector funds could do significantly more if invested in the right way.

Why would these businesses hire 19 million people when they are meeting demand with the number of employees they have? They are holding cash because now is not the time to invest. New regulations, obamacare, high energy costs, and an unfavorable business climate as a result of this administration's policies have them sitting back waiting for the adults to take over.

 

[Ernie S.]

How is Obama in the way?

What is it?

You really are clueless, aren't you?

 

[Ernie S.]

This doesn’t need to be a pipe dream, but the researchers argue it will require the right combination of government policies to coax big businesses to let their cash flow. In particular, the group calls for more government spending and debt relief measures for households in order to shore up consumer demand.

This, coupled with greater taxes on business cash reserves, could force companies to start reinvesting again in the economy.

“There is no reason that the U.S. needs to remain stuck in a long-term unemployment crisis,” the researchers write. “Rather, through a combination of policy measures, overall demand can be strengthened and the credit constraint weakened.

This will be the combination of measures necessary to start fulfilling the needs of U.S. citizens for decent job opportunities at all levels.”

Big Businesses Have Enough Extra Cash to Create 19 Million Jobs | Employment | Career | Mainstreet

This shit would be comical if you weren't serious.

1. The right combination of government policies is "get the fuck out of the way" Get rid of obamacare, increase domestic energy production, take favoritism for minority owned businesses and union shops out of government procurement and elect responsible leaders that actually know how to manage money.

2. Debt relief? So you want to punish people who manage their money and reward stupidity? Why the fuck do they keep score at a football game? There are winners and losers, fool. That's life. If you dislike being a looser, emulate a winner.

3. Tax cash reserves? Geeze guy! You tax income, you tax capitol gains on money that has already been taxed, and then you tax that same money yet again when a person dies. Now you want to tax money that is just sitting there waiting for a place to invest it? Don't you already give enough of my money away?

4. No. There is no reason we should be stuck in a long term unemployment crisis. If the American people wake the fuck up and send barack obama back to Chicago, Honolulu, Nairobi or where ever the hell he'll go when tossed out, you will see business anticipating increased demand and they will invest in capitol equipment, facilities and labor.

And no! I'm not sorry about that at all.

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.

 

[Ernie S.]

Onetime New York mayoral candidate Green lashes out against the government's tradition of selling access to politicians to the highest bidder and pricing practically everyone-besides millionaires-out of the ability to participate in our democracy.

Although it's easy to detect the scent of sour grapes in Green's screed (he lost the election to business information tycoon Bloomberg), dismissing his words for that reason alone would be foolish.

Fortunately eschewing the pervasive idea that American democracy was once a virginal paradise unsullied by as base a thing as money, Green provides a quick but thorough overview of the history of money and influence in national politics (during the post-Civil War era, most legislators openly sold their votes).

After showing how we got ourselves into this mess, Green paints a portrait of how exactly the millions of dollars sloshing around the corridors of power shades and corrupts the system.

Green does not cover much new ground, but he admirably collects all the usual jeremiads about this subject into one propulsive narrative. Although a Democratic bias creeps in here and there, for the most part Green blames his own party as much as the Republicans, naming names in plenty of embarrassing instances.

Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elections, Rams Through ... - Mark Green - Google Books

Absolutely bring on Fair Vote and Public Financing of elections. Then maybe our elected officials will stay on the jobs instead of always begging for campaign money.

OH God! It's turning into an articulate TDM. It's quoting itself as an authority now!