Forum Post: Demand Representation, Demand Stronger Laws Against Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Laws.
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 20, 2012, 3:37 p.m. EST by Middleaged
(5140)
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Demand Representation within the Government. We should Demand Stronger Laws and Rules Against Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Laws. These should be applied equally to employees, regulators, executives in the government, and US Congress.
It IS a No Brainer. Representation means, ending Gift Giving, Campaign Contributions, and Lobbying of Congress.
Getting Money Out of Government, removes the Conflict of Interest.
Update: Ralph Nader has new book: 17 Solutions, and one of his Solutions is to take management of corporations from states that do nothing to Regulate Corporations ... Like Delaware ...And have the biggest Corporations be managed Federally (presumably by an organiation that will have a number of Rules which would be enforced, and which would protect the Public Interest.
That is a good Point. US States are doing nothing to Control Corporations which are incorporated within their state.
What is at Risk?
http://occupywallst.org/forum/list-of-legislation-for-civil-rights-labor-rights-/
http://occupywallst.org/forum/lawsuits-too-expensive-for-avg-voter-to-sue-govern/
http://occupywallst.org/forum/political-distortions-erode-us-public-confidence/
http://occupywallst.org/forum/defacto-backwards-parasitic-global-system-uncaring/
WHAT IS THE STATE OF CORRUPTION?
http://occupywallst.org/forum/big-picture-commom-questions-about-corruption/
Here are 8 Other Problems that indicate the slow corruption of Tax Money and lack of Ethics in the Growth of Business behavior like Mergers, Leveraged Buy Outs, Private Equity Firms, Complex Compensation Packages for Executives, Executives Looting their Own Corporations, and Cutting Wages and Jobs which puts a bigger Burden on Social Saftey Net Programs.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/economics-stimulus-taxes-jobs-regulations-revolvin/
Here is a Satire which characterizes a government which grows out of control as it simply moves toward building stronger larger organization that serves more and more different Interests.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/declaration-of-the-new-american-union-smaller-stre/ (satire)
MATT TAIBBI Rollingstone.com Playbook from Mafia is what bankers and corporations are using.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/matt-taibbi-the-scam-wall-street-learned-from-the-/
Here is a Case that proves Trickle Down Economics (cutting Taxes for the Rich) ...DOESN'T Work.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/romney-makes-a-case-against-trickle-down-economics/
Here are IDEAS for dealing with TBFT Banks to change the Status Quo.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/we-are-boiling-frogs-what-models-do-we-have-to-fix/
Here is a List of 15 Cognitive Errors used in Politics or Arguments and which can confuse us all in decision making.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/political-impotence-interpersonal-skills-judgement/
Here are my 3 Amendments for the US Constitution.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/28th-amendment-congressional-gift-rules-too-big-to/
Ralph Nader is an American Hero. Here is a recent interview with many listed problems and possible solutions.
http://news.iowapublicradio.org/post/ralph-nader-and-seventeen-solutions
I'd like to type out these solutions and list the problems, but I have a headache right now.
[Removed]
List of Problems:
1) The SEC often settles or makes deals to accept a penalty from the bank with the biggest banks on charges of money laundering or other banking violations. 2) Too Big To Fail (TBTF) banks often repeat violations within 1-2 years for behavior they agreed in court to stop engaging in.
3) How can any little guy with a limited budget compete with big lobbyist and big corporations with Billions of Dollars?
4) Foreign Nationals Lobbying Congress.
5) Wealthy Lobbying Congress.
6) Campaign Finance Reform Failed in 2002.
7) There is No Watchdog or Transparency for US Congress Personal Financial Interests (although they are forced to report).
8) A person on Main Street can not afford to Sue a Big Corporation in Civil Court.
9) US Regulators can not afford Lengthy Court battles against Wealthy Corporations (so they Settle for small Fines).
10) Small Businesses are not receiving small business Loans during this Recession (since 2007). Small Business is the heart of Jobs and the US Economy.
11) In Recession Banks hold a lot of Cash or Liquid Assets which in effect is "Lower Investment" when we need it.
12) In 1980s Business Mergers and Leveraged Buy Outs became common, but the effect is to Increase Debt for Corporations and Job Layoffs put the burden on Federal and State Welfare Programs.
13) In 1970s and even the 1960s Off Shore Production in Manufacturing began to be commom - Just as Worker Rights and US Safety Requirements became US Law.
14) Globalization Teaches us that manufacturers will always seek the lowest wages in the world for future planning of production and new products (Multinational Corporations).
15) The Complexity of the US Tax Code is an example of how Special Interests have always had access to Congress and had the Ability to Change US Legislation. This is the corruption of the system writ Large, but it is not the only example of Money's Influence.
16) The US Department of Defense is the Largest, Most Modern, Most Capable, Most Expensive, and Technological in all of World History, - and yet Mitt Romney says we have to fix the military and make it Larger. This is a CLEAR Example of the Defense Industry Lobby and Influence over the US Government.
17) George W. Bush Added $4 Trillion to US Total Debt, Obama has added $4 Trillion also. We spend about $700 Billion on defense each year. No doubt in a Couple of Years we will Spend $800 B based on the overall Trend for the last 20 years.
18) Fear is the only reason we Spend $60 B a year on homeland security and have suspended the US Bill of Rights.
19) US Congress has given up all Leadership. It no longer Declares War or Approves a Full US Budget. But worse... Conflict of Interest, the power of money, prevents Congress from Representing Individual Voters, Learning Economics, Creating good Environment for Small Business and New Technology, Can't see voters behind all the Lobbyist, Refuse to Look into any wrong doing by Lobbyist, Kiss Bankers Asses on TV, Cover for any possible wrong doing by other congressmen, and don't care about US Pension and retirement Accounts.
20) Missing $1.2 Trillion in Funds in Public Pension Accounts, there is an Estimated $3 Trillion short from US Retirement and Pension Funds. 21) Biggest Cause of US Homeowner Bankruptcy is Health Event even when Health Insurance is held.
22) Health Care Costs go up like 20% a year. From 1998 to 2011 Medicare Cost Increased 212% (just 12 years).
23) The Focus of the US Government is Not Main Street, rather it is #1 Getting Re-Elected, #2 Meeting with Lobbyist, #3 Implementing Legislation Written by Lobbyist.
24) Status Quo Reins Supreme in Washington DC. There are no Plans Revealed in Campaigns. There is very Little Information that could be Called Educational in a Campaign dispite it being a Teaching Opportunity. In the End the Election Changes Nothing.
25) The one Chance for Debate, Discussion, and Education is from Third Party Candidates - Who are unceremoniously dismissed and barred from Public Events and Public Media.
William K. Black Inspired List from Video Speach or Interview:
1) Perverse Incentives at Banks
2) Dishonest deals Displace Honest Economic Activity
3) Characteristics of Criminal banking Activity
4) Lack of Prosecutions
5) Hope for Prosecutions
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/17/business/la-fi-mo-pension-funds-face-shortfalls--20120717
The key word in your post was "demand".... i dont think we demand anything anymore.
We make a little noise, but there are no real demands from any americans these days. The streets are empty. The townhall meetings are near empty.
But the football stadiums are PACKED. And that is the current state of our union.
Yes, good catch. I actually read your mind. I just removed the "We Should" from the first sentence.... I guess in speach or writing we use the Imperitive form. It is like a command when you remove the we should. Or maybe like billboard or protest sign making.
Demand demand demand. Same old impotent lame ass shit. Grow up.