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Edited on Sat Oct-23-10 07:36 AM by OlympicBrian
I just spoke with a representative from the DC office of my Senator, Patty Murray. He confirmed my worst suspicions related to another dire aspect of the US Chamber of Commerce/unlimited corporate money controversy. You see, not only is the Chamber responsible for money flow to ads BEFORE the election (the origin of money which we don't know), but they are ALSO responsible for the flow of money through the political system AFTER the election, for lobbying (lawmaking) purposes. Essentially, the Chamber can buy out votes on specific issues. In fact, the Chamber is the LARGEST lobbying entity in the US, and probably in the world. Not only that, but the restrictions on amounts and sources of money that pass through the Chamber for lobbying purposes are even more lax than those for election money--among other things, the sources can be foreign. Like the donations through the Chamber for elections, these sources can be unlimited in amount. So, for example, the position of a foreign company or interest on a particular bill can essentially be bought via contributions to the Chamber--in other words, foreigners can make US laws! Once again, since the Chamber is the largest lobbying entity, they are the most responsible for US laws, regardless of who we elect. The Chamber has recently taken pro-offshoring, anti-US-job lobbying positions. They even have said they support hiring a foreign worker over an American. Not surprisingly, the Chamber shares interests with multinational corporations who employ communist Chinese production, for example. Googling the web, I found media posts showing that foreign governments and interests celebrate the actions of the Chamber. So while our Congress acts in lockstep with the Chamber lobbyists to hurt our economy, foreign countries get their payoffs via the Chamber. Did you know the US allows tax benefits for offshoring US jobs? Once again, the Chamber lobbied against a law to stop this. Do we really want potentially secret, foreign money in our elections, and in our lawmaking as well? "I hope we shall... crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and to bid defiance to the laws of our country."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Logan. November 12, 1816
p.s. The Republicans and Glenn Beck are both in tight with the Chamber. Glenn Beck has a "donate to the Chamber" ad on his website.
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