Foreign Money in U.S. Politics

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http://freebeacon.com/issues/foreign-fi ... l-company/

Russian oil oligarchs are contributing millions to U.S. environmental groups to advocate against fracking.

[jhwalker]

http://freebeacon.com/issues/foreign-fi ... l-company/

Russian oil oligarchs are contributing millions to U.S. environmental groups to advocate against fracking.

Exactly what I would be doing, were I Russia. The thought of USA not tied to external oil is terrifying to the bad guys.

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You have to wonder whether OPEC does the same, funding anti-nuclear energy, anti-fracking, anti- natural gas, and so on.

[Tetge]

It seems to me that all these folks learned how to play from the good old USA. The antics of Standard Oil and the railroads and most big American businesses are well documented in history. Even today, believe it or not, there are lobbyists active in our politics, spreading around money in return for favors. Looking back, I wonder what happened to the Red Car? We gave the world Coca Cola and bailed lots of them out along the way, and now, they are all anxious to rise to the top and to dominate the world economy and to bring down the financial dominance of the USA. So, who better to study but the good old USA, who when examined closely is a fine role model for how capitalism rolls? Perhaps you have heard of dollar diplomacy, which, of course, couldn't possibly still be in existence, could it?

[jhwalker]

It seems to me that all these folks learned how to play from the good old USA. The antics of Standard Oil and the railroads and most big American businesses are well documented in history. Even today, believe it or not, there are lobbyists active in our politics, spreading around money in return for favors. Looking back, I wonder what happened to the Red Car? We gave the world Coca Cola and bailed lots of them out along the way, and now, they are all anxious to rise to the top and to dominate the world economy and to bring down the financial dominance of the USA. So, who better to study but the good old USA, who when examined closely is a fine role model for how capitalism rolls? Perhaps you have heard of dollar diplomacy, which, of course, couldn't possibly still be in existence, could it?

Air yu a commie, boy? First you turn Chevy-lover and now anti-'Mercan?

[Tetge]

Air yu a commie, boy? First you turn Chevy-lover and now anti-'Mercan?

Fine thing for a person who is practically a Mexican citizen to say! I love the USA and I would never live anywhere else as it is the greatest country on the face of the earth, all things considered. But, as a student of history, one has to accept certain truths. And the truth is that the US has been an aggressive capitalistic force across the globe for quite awhile and sometimes strong measures, both military and financial, were used to promote the interests of our big businesses, including the interests of our government. A lot of it is now history, and some was classified and buried, but, the lessons of how to operate remain for all to see. And, yes, I confess that I think the US has been soft on the rest of the world now and then and some of those that we attempted to help have ended up becoming adversaries. It might have gone better, for instance, if Truman had let the military find a complete solution in the Korean conflict, as perhaps there never would have been a crazed North Korea to deal with now.

[jhwalker]

Air yu a commie, boy? First you turn Chevy-lover and now anti-'Mercan?

Fine thing for a person who is practically a Mexican citizen to say! I love the USA and I would never live anywhere else as it is the greatest country on the face of the earth, all things considered. But, as a student of history, one has to accept certain truths. And the truth is that the US has been an aggressive capitalistic force across the globe for quite awhile and sometimes strong measures, both military and financial, were used to promote the interests of our big businesses, including the interests of our government. A lot of it is now history, and some was classified and buried, but, the lessons of how to operate remain for all to see. And, yes, I confess that I think the US has been soft on the rest of the world now and then and some of those that we attempted to help have ended up becoming adversaries. It might have gone better, for instance, if Truman had let the military find a complete solution in the Korean conflict, as perhaps there never would have been a crazed North Korea to deal with now.

I am a US citizen, we pay our US taxes each year.

I see us (the USA) as committing suicide in a variety of ways. We have allowed endless streams of folks to enter the US (legal and illegal) from many places, and too many enter with the goal of turning the US into the very shitholes from which they are ostensibly escaping.
We have a continually expanding government and the current federal administration has given power, officially and unofficially, to people who appear to me to be determined to bring the US down.
We have an out of control ability for the top 10% of the top 1% of the wealthy to continue to accumulate wealth in a variety of ways that add no value to the US as a whole. We have more and more folks moving into the enticing world of entitlements, a world that does not understand the value of hard work.
We have disconnected from the goal of having a strong and independent middle class. We have a ton of drug-addled youth who will hopefully grow out of it, unless they sink into the world of entitlements. I could go on and on, but I still advise my 3 grown children to stay in the US, and to work as they have been brought up to work. If nothing else, they will feel good about what they do -- probably not make a ton of money, but hopefully enjoy their lives. I hope that is true. I don't how the negative trends turn around. I don't know how to project out 10 years from now. It is pretty scary for me. And my family lives for a long time, so we may be talking 25 more years. Very frightening...

This could turn into a longer even more rambling post, but I don't come to laspeedgarage for politics, more to get away from politics. I live in Mexico because I feel less intrusion from the government here than in the US. I pretty much just pay the pissant taxes, eat like the campo Mexicans and live on my Social Security (as long as it keeps rolling in). I hope it stays that way and that we survive the adventure. And hope that the money I was able to make and save in 40 years of work does not end up getting too brutally "shared" with Uncle Sam (beyond the taxes on gain which I will pay without protest) as the government keeps looking for additional revenue.

[SonicVenum]

So, are we okay with two, mega-rich, industrialist brothers planning to spend nearly $900M on the 2016 election cycle? Is that really good for the country?

[jhwalker]

So, are we okay with two, mega-rich, industrialist brothers planning to spend nearly $900M on the 2016 election cycle? Is that really good for the country?

I didn't want to get into the effect of big money, from both sides, being pumped in. But I also hate the thought of folks being persuaded to vote when they know NOTHING about the issues. Democracy is tough. I have read that less (fewer?) than 1% of the election donors donate approx. 70% of the monay.

[Tetge]

So, are we okay with two, mega-rich, industrialist brothers planning to spend nearly $900M on the 2016 election cycle? Is that really good for the country?

I didn't want to get into the effect of big money, from both sides, being pumped in. But I also hate the thought of folks being persuaded to vote when they know NOTHING about the issues. Democracy is tough. I have read that less (fewer?) than 1% of the election donors donate approx. 70% of the monay.

Democracy that allows universal suffrage is a dubious form of government at best.