First Federal Reserve Audit Reveals Trillions in Secret Bailouts

Okay, I should have put a smiley/winkey face here b/c I was just ribbing you.

Sorry. Hard to translate text with tone.


I disagree with the concept that all government is corrupt. I work in the govt. It is often stupid and short sighted and a small amount of corrupt people work for it. But it is inanity to suggest that all of govt. is corrupt. You want corrupt? Go to Greece, Russia, China.

Makes two of us. I'm not saying everybody in the government is corrupt. I'm saying the system is corrupt. When more people at the top are corrupt, the lone wolf good guy trying to fix the issues isn't going to be able to due to the resistance from the status quo. This is our main issue now. Even a good candidate trying to make good and turn this country around will never succeed. The people within the parties will never allow that to happen. They want to keep their hand outs coming and they'll bury any good ole boy wanting to buck the system.

Maybe I should put a disclaimer on that *ALL when I say the government is corrupt or use better wordage.

I find this funny, but we aren't allowed (as state employees) to accept free lunches from vendors, yet politicians can take campaign donations from corporations and other business interests? The double standard is amazing.

From your past posts, I have no doubt you believe, at some level, US corporations and their boards, CEO's and etc. are sitting in the equivalent of some back room looking to buy judges, congressman and etc. while bilking us honest folk out of our last few pennies. I won't try to shake you awake from your delusion. Feel free to live bitter about our govt.

Then you are reading way too much into my posts or you simply need to ask for clarification. I do not believe some corporations are looking to intentionally corrupt judges, congressman. That said, the lobbying industry is a billion dollar industry and that money isn't being paid for nothing. It's paid so they get favorable legislation passed to benefit their organizations.

I think you need to sit back and realize the true goal of a corporation. It's one and only purpose is to make a profit, and increase the value of its stock. Corporations don't have a conscience, they have a bottom line. Meeting that bottom line is priority status of a corporation. Who cares if dumping toxic wastes is going to harm the environment? We just cut $2 million on expenditures. Who cares if we hire illegal immigrants for below minimum wage? We just cut $4 million on salary and benefits. Who cares if that drug in our drink is potentially dangerous. We just created a new product that will make our stock soar! Who cares if we just eradicated 30,000 jobs? We just saved 350 million by moving those jobs overseas to slave labor and unsafe working conditions.

You only need to look at the history of the corporation (railroad/steel/meat industry to name a few) to see how brutal they were in terms of doing whatever necessary to gain that extra buck. It's pretty much why the government agencies were formed to prevent that.

The people leading these giants aren't necessarily evil or doing it intentional. (well some) Their intent may not be evil, but the final result may very well be evil.



But you go on believing that the you're smarter than the rest of us and that only you can see the truth. I am sure that is comforting to you.

That shit isn't needed. I haven't said anything of the sort in this thread, nor have I implied it.

But you go on believing that the you're smarter than the rest of us and that only you can see the truth. I am sure that is comforting to you.

That shit isn't needed. I haven't said anything of the sort in this thread, nor have I implied it.

I apologize. My remark was uncalled for and inappropriate. My only excuse is the two bottles of wine & six pack that I personally polished off during our "Refugee Dinner" for neighbors without power.

I apologize. My remark was uncalled for and inappropriate. My only excuse is the two bottles of wine & six pack that I personally polished off during our "Refugee Dinner" for neighbors without power.

All good my man. Just didn't want this to turn into a mud slinging debate. We get enough of that with elections and D. Hall debates. :cheeky-sm

Makes two of us. I'm not saying everybody in the government is corrupt. I'm saying the system is corrupt. When more people at the top are corrupt, the lone wolf good guy trying to fix the issues isn't going to be able to due to the resistance from the status quo. This is our main issue now. Even a good candidate trying to make good and turn this country around will never succeed. The people within the parties will never allow that to happen. They want to keep their hand outs coming and they'll bury any good ole boy wanting to buck the system.

Maybe I should put a disclaimer on that *ALL when I say the government is corrupt or use better wordage.

I find this funny, but we aren't allowed (as state employees) to accept free lunches from vendors, yet politicians can take campaign donations from corporations and other business interests? The double standard is amazing.

The system has its problems and I don't entirely disagree with either yours or CRed's point that large organizations, be they govt., corporations or non-profits (e.g. AARP, see also: The 5 Most Influential Non-Profits That You’ve Never Heard Of (http://www.onlinemswprograms.org/the-5-most-influential-non-profits-that-youve-never-heard-of.html)), skew the system. The larger the organization, the more money and more people they have at their disposal to sway/influence lawmakers.

As to the double standard, different places have different laws and after some scandals a few years ago, Maryland enacted much stricter laws regarding lobbyists, permissible gifts, etc. - but, yes, I again agree more than disagree with you that the double standards exist.

Then you are reading way too much into my posts or you simply need to ask for clarification. I do not believe some corporations are looking to intentionally corrupt judges, congressman. That said, the lobbying industry is a billion dollar industry and that money isn't being paid for nothing. It's paid so they get favorable legislation passed to benefit their organizations..

I agree with this statement. At the same time, it's not like every corporation has the same legislative goals. In fact, laws that make one corp more profitable, may, in fact, hurt the profitability of another. "Corporate" lobbying to me implies a monolithic structure that I don't believe exists - there are too many cross purposes from too many corporations, and that doesn't even consider the influential & wealthy non-profits whose lobbying goals are often in direct opposition to certain "corporate" interests.

A big part of the problem is that, given the size, population and general wealth of our society, it is difficult for any one person or small group of people to have any influence on the decision making of our Federal govt.

I think you need to sit back and realize the true goal of a corporation. It's one and only purpose is to make a profit, and increase the value of its stock. Corporations don't have a conscience, they have a bottom line. Meeting that bottom line is priority status of a corporation. Who cares if dumping toxic wastes is going to harm the environment? We just cut $2 million on expenditures. Who cares if we hire illegal immigrants for below minimum wage? We just cut $4 million on salary and benefits. Who cares if that drug in our drink is potentially dangerous. We just created a new product that will make our stock soar! Who cares if we just eradicated 30,000 jobs? We just saved 350 million by moving those jobs overseas to slave labor and unsafe working conditions.

You only need to look at the history of the corporation (railroad/steel/meat industry to name a few) to see how brutal they were in terms of doing whatever necessary to gain that extra buck. It's pretty much why the government agencies were formed to prevent that.

The people leading these giants aren't necessarily evil or doing it intentional. (well some) Their intent may not be evil, but the final result may very well be evil.

I absolutely agree that corporations are concerned with the bottom line and only adopt green or "caring" actions when it is profitable to them either from a regulatory compliance perspective or a public perception perspective (i.e., "I'll buy Ben & Jerry's b/c the seem like such a nice company"). Regardless of their various PR campaigns, corporate entities exist to make money (e.g. insurance companies, despite their professing to be "like a good neighbor", their business model is simple - get as much in premiums as possible and pay as few claims as possible). As my father said once, "the Soviet Union is just GM without a union."

The thing is, these corporations aren't monolithic and, while influential, they often work at cross-purposes with other corporations & other influential groups.

Anyone seen the movie 'Inside Job' (http://www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob/)?

It's great for inducing high blood pressure/aneurysm.