1 recommendation |
A rose..A rose by any other name is still a rose.. We should call lobby what it really is: a 'bribe'.
We have the best government money can buy. |
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WellThey do get a tax write off for those contributions. |
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pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
pnh102
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 4:29 pm
So?Why rag on AT&T or any other company that pays protection money to Congress? Elected officials, if they really wanted to, could solve this problem by not accepting such bribes. |
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PToN Premium Member join:2001-10-04 Houston, TX |
PToN
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 4:41 pm
OldWe all knew that the government has always been for sale. Now how much of it can you buy, depends on how deep your pocket is... |
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FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ |
FFH5
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 4:44 pm
Here is the FULL top 10 list» www.opensecrets.org/orgs ··· ndex.phpTop 10 Heavy Hitters:
AT&T Inc $45,461,879 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $42,883,511 ActBlue $42,399,451 National Assn of Realtors $36,749,493 Goldman Sachs $32,660,452 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $32,505,695 American Assn for Justice $32,432,279(i.e. trial lawyers) National Education Assn $30,812,330 Laborers Union $29,629,800 Service Employees International Union $28,659,682 It isn't just those nasty corporations that are buying Congress. 7 of the top 10 are either unions, trial lawyers, or big pocket individual Dems. Seems like AT&T has to spend big bucks just to level the playing field. |
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SnowyLock him up!!! Premium Member join:2003-04-05 Kailua, HI
1 recommendation |
Snowy
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 4:52 pm
It's a necessary evilIf it weren't for lobbyists how would our politicians know what to do? |
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i1me2ao Premium Member join:2001-03-03 TEXAS |
i1me2ao
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 4:57 pm
if it wasnot for the stupid public this would not be and issue. if you disagree see article above that directly reflects ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS.. |
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CamaroQuestion everything Premium Member join:2008-04-05 Westfield, MA |
to Snowy
Re: It's a necessary evilThat is funny yet so true,also like another poster said blame the politicians they are the real problem and the only way we can speak anymore is with that one little vote. |
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Murdoc49 Premium Member join:2009-02-08 Manitowoc, WI
1 recommendation |
Murdoc49
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 5:03 pm
No wonder why theres extra feesWhy not just combine all the BS fees into one fee called the "Bribe recovery fee"? |
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bbrkdub join:2001-10-03 San Antonio, TX |
to pnh102
Re: So?Unless they're made an offer they can't refuse. |
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openbox9 Premium Member join:2004-01-26 71144
1 recommendation |
to FFH5
Re: Here is the FULL top 10 listBut that doesn't make for nearly as juicy of a story. AT&T barely beat out a compilation of unions representing employees of the public sector. "battling efforts to privatize public sector jobs" Kind of incestuous it seems. |
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1 recommendation |
to pnh102
Re: So?Personally, I believe that only individuals should be able to donate to political campaigns, and only up to a certain amount (say $5,000 per year).
It would make politics in America so much more balanced, and lower the cost of entry for 3rd and 4th party candidates. |
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to pnh102
said by pnh102:Why rag on AT&T or any other company that pays protection money to Congress? Elected officials, if they really wanted to, could solve this problem by not accepting such bribes. Subsequently losing the next election due to a lack of funds. |
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ArrayListDevOps Premium Member join:2005-03-19 Mullica Hill, NJ |
to openbox9
Re: Here is the FULL top 10 listdont forget that IBEW is a large portion of AT&T's own employees. |
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1 recommendation |
to FFH5
said by FFH5:» www.opensecrets.org/orgs ··· ndex.phpTop 10 Heavy Hitters:
AT&T Inc $45,461,879 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $42,883,511 ActBlue $42,399,451 National Assn of Realtors $36,749,493 Goldman Sachs $32,660,452 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $32,505,695 American Assn for Justice $32,432,279(i.e. trial lawyers) National Education Assn $30,812,330 Laborers Union $29,629,800 Service Employees International Union $28,659,682 It isn't just those nasty corporations that are buying Congress. 7 of the top 10 are either unions, trial lawyers, or big pocket individual Dems. Seems like AT&T has to spend big bucks just to level the playing field. Unions are the result of a group of individuals volunteering money out of their pocket for a common cause. Corporations are nothing like that. They use their profits derived from customers, whose political affiliations have absolutely nothing to do with products they purchased from said corporation, to manipulate legislators. Even an attempt to make a pity plea for "investors' sake" is inane. The vast majority of corporate stock is owned by the top 20% richest in this country. If everyone is truly equal, as our constitution states, what's good for "investors" is undoubtedly not what's good for the country overall. Of course you know this very well already and are trolling, but hey, I'm a generous troll-feeder. |
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sonicmerlin |
to openbox9
said by openbox9:But that doesn't make for nearly as juicy of a story. AT&T barely beat out a compilation of unions representing employees of the public sector. "battling efforts to privatize public sector jobs" Kind of incestuous it seems. What is your quote referring to? Do you even have a point? |
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thenderScreen tycoon Premium Member join:2009-01-01 Brooklyn, NY |
to pnh102
Re: So?I know I don't have any say in how a company uses its profits.
I pay a high phone bill. I like to at least be able to pretend it goes to things that matter.
I don't want my money going to 45 million in campaign contributions. I want it going to a network that works in New York City. |
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FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ
1 recommendation |
to sonicmerlin
Re: Here is the FULL top 10 listsaid by sonicmerlin:Unions are the result of a group of individuals volunteering money out of their pocket for a common cause. Don't make laugh. Union political contributions are made by the union leaders often over the objections of their membership. Individual union members aren't volunteering squat. It is coming out of their union dues; dues they usually have no say in setting. |
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1 recommendation |
to sonicmerlin
"volunteering money out of their pocket for a common cause"
When you have to join the union you are not volunteering anything. |
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FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ
1 recommendation |
to trekboy
Re: So?said by trekboy:Personally, I believe that only individuals should be able to donate to political campaigns, and only up to a certain amount (say $5,000 per year). Is that $5,000 total to all campaigns in 1 yr. Or is it $5,000 per candidate. If it is per candidate, then nothing changes. For example, George Soros has given close to $1M over 10 yrs, spread over dozens of congress critters. He is buying Congress 1 congressman at a time. If he can give $5,000 to each congress critter nothing has changed, especially when all his relatives can do the same thing. |
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Sammer join:2005-12-22 Canonsburg, PA |
to FFH5
Re: Here is the FULL top 10 listNote that some of the largest amounts are from public employee unions. Their members are supposed to be working for us but such amounts suggest that some of them are clearly working against we the people. |
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JBT Premium Member join:2002-12-06 Odessa, FL |
JBT
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 6:08 pm
who do they mean by att?Att, sbc, cingular? A number of other little companies who were gobbled up? |
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Lone WolfRetired Premium Member join:2001-12-30 USA |
The New AT&THere's a brief history of the New AT&T, » www.corp.att.com/history ··· ry5.htmlAnybody remember the Old AT&T before the divestiture or am I the only one? |
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C_9084Kill The Socialists Premium Member join:2001-03-19 |
to thender
Re: So?said by thender:I know I don't have any say in how a company uses its profits. I pay a high phone bill. I like to at least be able to pretend it goes to things that matter. I don't want my money going to 45 million in campaign contributions. I want it going to a network that works in New York City. as an AT&T shareholder, I could give two shits what you want. all that matters is maximizing my stock value |
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en102Canadian, eh? join:2001-01-26 Valencia, CA |
to TongSama
Re: A rose..said by TongSama:A rose by any other name is still a rose.. We should call lobby what it really is: a 'bribe'. We have the best government money can buy. I agree on both statements. |
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en102 |
to brianiscool
Re: WellThat's good for them...
Instead of just 'handing over money' to Uncle Sam (taxes), they're allowed to 'put their money to work' and pay Uncle Sam at the same time. Talk a about a racket. |
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Mdg Premium Member join:2009-01-10 Allentown, PA |
to Lone Wolf
Re: The New AT&TIt merged with two large cable companies, (TCI and MediaOne.) Operating as AT&T Broadband, the unit became the largest cable company in the United States.
That division went down in flames, I bet they wish they still had the ability to offer DOCSIS 3 instead of DSL or VDSL |
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pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
to FFH5
Re: Here is the FULL top 10 listsaid by FFH5:» www.opensecrets.org/orgs ··· ndex.phpTop 10 Heavy Hitters:
AT&T Inc $45,461,879 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $42,883,511 ActBlue $42,399,451 National Assn of Realtors $36,749,493 Goldman Sachs $32,660,452 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $32,505,695 American Assn for Justice $32,432,279(i.e. trial lawyers) National Education Assn $30,812,330 Laborers Union $29,629,800 Service Employees International Union $28,659,682 It isn't just those nasty corporations that are buying Congress. 7 of the top 10 are either unions, trial lawyers, or big pocket individual Dems. Seems like AT&T has to spend big bucks just to level the playing field. How funny indeed. Of course there is NO OUTRAGE WHATSOEVER over all that union spending on bribes. And to add insult to injury, public sector unions are doing this WITH TAXPAYER MONEY. To be fair, I include Government Sachs as another entity that bribes Congress with taxpayer money. So why all the focus on AT&T? It seems far more bribes are done using taxpayer money by organizations that exist only because of government. |
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SandShark5Long may you run Premium Member join:2000-05-23 Santa Fe, TX |
to FFH5
said by FFH5:» www.opensecrets.org/orgs ··· ndex.phpTop 10 Heavy Hitters:
AT&T Inc $45,461,879 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $42,883,511 ActBlue $42,399,451 National Assn of Realtors $36,749,493 Goldman Sachs $32,660,452 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $32,505,695 American Assn for Justice $32,432,279(i.e. trial lawyers) National Education Assn $30,812,330 Laborers Union $29,629,800 Service Employees International Union $28,659,682 It isn't just those nasty corporations that are buying Congress. 7 of the top 10 are either unions, trial lawyers, or big pocket individual Dems. Seems like AT&T has to spend big bucks just to level the playing field. I thought the NRA would have been on that list. |
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FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ 1 edit
1 recommendation |
FFH5
Premium Member
2010-Sep-14 8:26 pm
I would think the NRA would be higher too. But they are #41 on the list at $17.6 M. » www.opensecrets.org/orgs ··· ?order=A |
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