Benjamin Franklin Rolling Over In Grave
Again. Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber, who have already produced the wonderful Trust Us, We're Experts, Toxic Sludge Is Good for You!, and Weapons of Mass Deception, have a new book coming out: Banana Republicans: How the Right Wing Is Turning America into a One-Party State (the book can be found here at Amazon.com). Here's a small excerpt:
"The pattern is this: Companies like Halliburton give money to support Republican politicians, who in turn use their clout to ensure that the companies get fat contracts, who in turn give a portion of their profits to keep Republicans in power. Around and around the circle goes, and everybody gets a piece – except, of course, for the rest of the American people, who pay the bill for all this fun with their tax dollars and the mounting federal deficit."
If that doesn't make you fighting mad, I don't know what would.
If you know anyone who's considering voting for Nader this November, tie them up Clockwork Orange-style and make sure they know about things like this:
"Republican dominance on K Street has further enhanced the party's fundraising advantage over Democrats. "An analysis of political donations by industry groups shows that over the past decade, 19 major sectors have shifted from a roughly 50-50 split between the two main parties – or in some cases, a slightly pro-Democratic tilt – to a solid alignment with the Republican Party, which now enjoys advantages exceeding 5 to 1 in some of these sectors," the Washington Post reported in November 2002.
Key industries that have shifted Republican include accounting, aerospace, alcoholic beverages, commercial banking, defense, health care and pharmaceuticals. "Just like the Democrats get a 90-10 split from the trial lawyers and labor, we will have 90-10 in the staffing on K Street and 90-10 business giving," Grover Norquist gloated in November 2002. But trial lawyers and labor give only a fraction of the amount that corporations donate to election campaigns. In 2002, contributions from businesses accounted for 73 percent of all election giving, compared to only 7 percent for labor. (Most of the remainder came from "ideological" or "other" donors, such as environmental groups, the National Rifle Association, clergy or nonprofit organizations.)"
One of Nader's big talking points is that Republicans and Democrats have the same "corporate paymasters." While that statement was true 15 years ago, it's not the case now.
Again. Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber, who have already produced the wonderful Trust Us, We're Experts, Toxic Sludge Is Good for You!, and Weapons of Mass Deception, have a new book coming out: Banana Republicans: How the Right Wing Is Turning America into a One-Party State (the book can be found here at Amazon.com). Here's a small excerpt:
"The pattern is this: Companies like Halliburton give money to support Republican politicians, who in turn use their clout to ensure that the companies get fat contracts, who in turn give a portion of their profits to keep Republicans in power. Around and around the circle goes, and everybody gets a piece – except, of course, for the rest of the American people, who pay the bill for all this fun with their tax dollars and the mounting federal deficit."
If that doesn't make you fighting mad, I don't know what would.
If you know anyone who's considering voting for Nader this November, tie them up Clockwork Orange-style and make sure they know about things like this:
"Republican dominance on K Street has further enhanced the party's fundraising advantage over Democrats. "An analysis of political donations by industry groups shows that over the past decade, 19 major sectors have shifted from a roughly 50-50 split between the two main parties – or in some cases, a slightly pro-Democratic tilt – to a solid alignment with the Republican Party, which now enjoys advantages exceeding 5 to 1 in some of these sectors," the Washington Post reported in November 2002.
Key industries that have shifted Republican include accounting, aerospace, alcoholic beverages, commercial banking, defense, health care and pharmaceuticals. "Just like the Democrats get a 90-10 split from the trial lawyers and labor, we will have 90-10 in the staffing on K Street and 90-10 business giving," Grover Norquist gloated in November 2002. But trial lawyers and labor give only a fraction of the amount that corporations donate to election campaigns. In 2002, contributions from businesses accounted for 73 percent of all election giving, compared to only 7 percent for labor. (Most of the remainder came from "ideological" or "other" donors, such as environmental groups, the National Rifle Association, clergy or nonprofit organizations.)"
One of Nader's big talking points is that Republicans and Democrats have the same "corporate paymasters." While that statement was true 15 years ago, it's not the case now.
posted by Jude at 6:53 PM
