Bush inauguration being bankrolled by big business [View All]

[Selatius]

Energy Firms Lavish Funds on Inauguration



By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - More than $4.5 million from the corporate world has flowed to President Bush (news - web sites)'s inauguration fund, much of it from the energy industry and some of its executives in contributions of $250,000 each.

...

Northrop Grumman Corp., the world's largest shipbuilder and second-largest U.S. defense contractor, donated $100,000.

Michael Dell, chairman of Dell Inc., the world's largest personal computer maker, gave $250,000. So did United Technologies, maker products ranging from escalators to aircraft engines.

Investment banking firm Stephens Group Inc. of Little Rock, Ark., gave $250,000. And the education loan firm Sallie Mae gave $250,000.

Occidental Petroleum Corp., whose business stands to benefit from the president's actions concerning Libya, donated $250,000, as did Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil company. Exxon Mobil reported record third-quarter profits, thanks to higher prices for oil and natural gas.

Full article found http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041218/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_inaugural_donors">here.

This is what America has become. This is the new "American way." We are facing the re-emergence of corporatism on the world stage. Up to 50,000,000 died in Europe before the last incarnation of corporatism was defeated 60 years ago. Are we collectively going to wait until it's too late once again?