Fairpoint Files Chapter 11 > Why blame Verizon?

reply to ropeguru

Re: Why blame Verizon?

So you're implying lobbying dollars were a bribe to gain regulatory approval for this sale? Quite the accusation.

reply to ropeguru
Then those politicians should all go to prison for accepting bribes.

reply to openbox9

I have a phone on my desk fed by Verizon, but I'm not even remotely employed by them. Don't blame me if you have no proof for your allegation.

And the same can be said for any other person/entity that has ever contributed a dollar to a campaign. I don't see any proof that Verizon bought regulatory approval to sell assets to Fairpoint.

reply to Z80
Campaign contributions, PACs, are all the 'legal' methods of effectively paying off politicians. Money doesn't go directly into their pockets, but the money gained effectively pays for their views to be heard. This is capitalism 101.

Of course it goes to their pockets. It is how they stay in power, it's how they pull their paychecks, and it will be how they get their $50K per speech and a "consulting" job afterward. It's only legal bribery because the bribed are the ones writing the laws. It's a very convenient racket they have. You don't see cops writing themselves tinted window and speeding tickets either.

Any benefit (including campaign contribution) given in exchange for a favor is a bribe. It doesn't matter if it goes in their pocket They should all go to prison.

reply to openbox9
Uh...how about the fact that only Verizon benefits from this, and everyone with even a tiny bit of intelligence opposed the sale from the beginning?

If not for Verizon`s lobbying dollars, why else would regulators have approved of the sale?

reply to Z80
Company PACs should be banned I heard to many low level managers say they know if they don't give it will be held against them. All contributions should be given individually not bundled. That would level the playing field a little.

reply to sonicmerlin
So now we're guilty until proven innocent? I'll be more than happy to believe the accusations if you can show me that Verizon was shown favoritism by regulators because they dropped money in politicians' pockets.

reply to WhatNow
I agree. All contributions other than those made by registered voters should be banned. No special interest groups of any kind, whether corporations, unions, member groups (eg AARP, trade associations etc) should be permitted to contribute. If their individual members or employees choose to on their own and in secret, great. And then it should be a max of $5K per contributor per year total. Political advertising should be heavily regulated. And if they can ban smoking commercials they can ban these propaganda ads by swift boat types and public employee unions looking to pass their pay increases.

Only when contributions are limited to those from individual voters will voters finally get some representation.