World, Writing, Wealth discussion
Wealth & Economics
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Are greed and corruption defeatable?
J. wrote: "Philip wrote: "One from Dem side. Resign and will have his day in courthttps://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/22/po..."
Apparently, y'all don't know that New Jersey c..."
Wow - no RICO charges?
As I've said before, RICO is what they use when they can't pin anything else on you. They had most of these guys dead to rights.
More revelations about Justice Thomas failing to declare more hospitality and possible conflict of interest.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
When I have time I'll start to list some of the issues in UK corruption accusations. None so far have resulted in any prosecutions.
Philip wrote: "One from Dem side. Resign and will have his day in courthttps://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/22/po..."
Why do these guys get away with it for so long? They spread the wealth.
Fetterman plans to return donation tied to Menendez 'in envelopes stuffed with $100 bills,' spokesman says
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/25/fette...
I think people in general are so tired. Just tired and worn out with corruption, violence, inflation, uncontrolled spending, paying increasing taxes, lying politicians. It's so tempting to just give up and say what the hell. There's no fix for any of it. Is there?
Scout wrote: "I think people in general are so tired. Just tired and worn out with corruption, violence, inflation, uncontrolled spending, paying increasing taxes, lying politicians. It's so tempting to just giv..."There's a fix, vote the bums out.
I agree, Scout. There's a feeling of inevitability about the way we're heading. It's as if the politicians are all being driven a certain way, regardless of their political colours, by powerful forces from above. And I don't mean God.
The thing with voting them out, J., is that people with money and rich corporations buy politicians and finance their campaigns - legally. So we don't get much say in who stands for office and can run a successful campaign. Do you think that most politicians are corrupted before being elected?
More on Justice Thomashttps://www.propublica.org/article/cl...
You may be aware that his wife is also under scrutiny for her connections to various right-wing groups including Koch Brothers who are alleged to have paid for the flights etc previously not declared.
Promised some details on UK corruption on-going scandals that get hidden in farce over rail line cancellation and change of green policiesHigh-risk contracts -Contracts awarded to companies with political connections:
Twenty-four PPE contracts worth £1.6 billion were awarded to those with known political connections to Conservative Party.
Three contracts worth £536 million went to politically connected companies for testing related services.
- Contracts awarded without competition:
Between February and November 2020, 98.9 percent of COVID-19 related contracts by value (£17.8 billion) were awarded without any form of competition, many without adequate justification.
- Contracts awarded to companies with no track record of supplying goods or services:
Fourteen companies incorporated in 2020 received contracts worth more than £620 million, of which 13 contracts totalling £255 million went to 10 firms that were less than 60 days old.
These are all COVID related. Emergencies do justify fast procurement and mistakes do get made but...
Sunak's billionaire wife
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/...
She pays £30k per year to be registered non-dom thus avoiding £20m tax.
We also have them both being US Green card holders even while he was Chancellor - he forgot that he had pledged to work in US to get Green Card.
Of course Sunak also received fixed penalty fine for breaching COVID party rules.
In his announcement on new rail (cancelling one and claiming lots of others would be done) they claimed that 9 Metro extensions would be done in various cities. Two are already complete so very fast work.... Contracts for building HS2 over ran so where did money go. Which civil servants and Government ministers signed contracts that didn't deliver....
Meanwhile Water companies want bills to go up to pay for 59 Billion of needed investment. The largest water companies (Owned outside UK) delivered >£55b in dividends in last ten years which may be the reason they haven't invested. Lots of connections to government and independent regulators not regulating.
These are just some of the corruption issues floating around but mostly unreported by mainstream press.
Philip wrote: "....(£17.8 billion) were awarded without any form of competition ..."May be found eligible for the biggest heist entry in Guinness.
Philip wrote: "...These are just some of the corruption issues floating around but mostly unreported by mainstream press. ..."
Ukraine sounds corruption - free after reading your report :)
Philip, your comment "These are just some of the corruption issues floating around but mostly unreported by mainstream press" lets me know that it's not just happening here. I'm so tired of the press ignoring happenings that the public needs to be made aware of. The mainstream press here ignores what's really happening in favor of supporting liberal ideas. Why not just report what's happening without bias? Doesn't happen here, and it sounds like it doesn't happen there either. I sympathize.
The current government in the UK is right wing in UK terms (Very right some would say) the majority of the written press is right wing. Much of it still in Murdoch organisation. Under reporting of Conservative corruption is an ongoing issue. The opposition (Labour traditional left) have just had their conference and it was raised; however the conference got less coverage this w/e due to news from Israel. BBC is scared to death of being sued and has its own corruption scandals and others. Likewise main TV channels will only report when there are arrests except in exposes. Closest to Fox is GB news where 3 presenters have been fired/suspended and they are under further investigation for breaches of broadcasting license.Full corruption investigation would require legal action and that would require actual evidence of malfeasance not just rumour that someone got a contract in an emergency. That would take police investigation as well and I have not seen any confirmation that a criminal investigation into any of the events has begun.
Lot's of political rhetoric but actions being proven as illegal remains a long way away.
As for Mrs Sunak's status. the Labour Party has stated it will change the law on what's called non-Dom status. They have said that before. They have said lots of things before e.g. changing tax status of private schools but not actually done it when in power.
Our election like yours may be next year but could wait till 2025.
Microsoft obviously haven't had a quiet word with the right peoplehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-6...
Must remember the 'that's what we used to do but don't do it now excuse' when I submit my next tax return.
Philip wrote: "Microsoft obviously haven't had a quiet word with the right peoplehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-6...
Must remember the 'that's what we used to do but don't do it now excuse' when I sub..."
No, no there is a better one: a pre-emptive witch hunt to bar Gates from running for president
I very seldom watch news-based programs on TV or listen to them on the radio. I prefer to access the Associated Press wires and reports on-line. They are brief and to the point with no opinion, commentary, or evaluation and therefore not suited to those who prefer to be entertained or have their pesonal opinion supported and lauded; they would find them boring..In my opinion, the worst source of news are social websites such as Facebook, X, or Truth Social. They tend to be biased, inaccurate, and/or deliberately false most of the time.
Agreed about social networks - not very trustworthy. Better to cross check anything. Remember that goodreads is a SN too ;)
Nik wrote: "Agreed about social networks - not very trustworthy. Better to cross check anything. Remember that goodreads is a SN too ;)"Nik,
Yor are right. Goodreads could very well have been included in my mention of social networks whose members' comments are occasionally inaccurate or totally false (message 167). I was attempting to be nice. I have seldom been accused of being nice.
All good, no accusations on my part, just seconding your implicit call to exercise caution ⚠️
I haven't looked at the Associated Press news. Can you tell if there's bias in what they choose to report and not report?
Thinking about Associated Press reminded me of something I used to watch on Euronews. It was called Without Comment, and was basically just video footage of a topical event, but without anyone speaking about it.
I know this doesn't necessarily mean it's unbiased, as the channel chose the footage shown, but it was still interesting to watch.
I know this doesn't necessarily mean it's unbiased, as the channel chose the footage shown, but it was still interesting to watch.
Most of the bias in news organizations if right up front now, but there's also bias in any news reporting. They get to choose what to report and what to ignore. It's really difficult these days to get to the truth of the any matter. So far, I've been able to believe videos shot at night with infrared of many illegals crossing the border at night. And videos of National Guard guys opening border gates to let illegals through. And videos of hundreds of illegals camping under a bridge or sleeping on the streets in Texas. I see Biden's blank looks and incompetence on videos, and I know he's not the one making decisions in the White House. Rather than believing a reporter, I believe what I see, and until someone proves those videos are AI produced, that's how I'll decide what's true.
"We tolerate a sclerotic system that allows the rise of people you wouldn’t trust with your wallet – or to babysit your children"https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...
Gavin Esler article.
Think some of his comments go beyond UK
Philip wrote: ""We tolerate a sclerotic system that allows the rise of people you wouldn’t trust with your wallet – or to babysit your children"https://www.theguardian.com/commentis......"
The essence is probably ubiquitous for the West for the initially good and humane intentions and a vast majority of excellent people created a political and economic system that is welcoming enough to being freely exploited by crooks, con artists and petty careerists of any kind that learnt to invoke most basic instincts to maintain their popularity
I read the Esler article this morning. After a promising start, it went downhill fast.
Our problems are down to our uncodified constitution, culture and pride in history, eh? Yawn. Maybe at Notting Hill dinner parties but elsewhere, probably not.
The problem we have is the political class, one side of which is smug, entitled and tells us to hate ourselves, while the other side would sell their own granny and concrete over the last field to make an extra few quid.
Both are beholden to powerful special interest groups, who also control a lying, manipulative media. Same elsewhere in the West, but at least they get better weather.
Our problems are down to our uncodified constitution, culture and pride in history, eh? Yawn. Maybe at Notting Hill dinner parties but elsewhere, probably not.
The problem we have is the political class, one side of which is smug, entitled and tells us to hate ourselves, while the other side would sell their own granny and concrete over the last field to make an extra few quid.
Both are beholden to powerful special interest groups, who also control a lying, manipulative media. Same elsewhere in the West, but at least they get better weather.
Beau wrote: "I read the Esler article this morning. After a promising start, it went downhill fast.Our problems are down to our uncodified constitution, culture and pride in history, eh? Yawn. Maybe at Nottin..."
You are correct, he is also part of that elite like most London based journalists and MPs. Those that come from elsewhere get sucked into the bubble. I remain unconvinced that PR is the solution but what we currently have is not working. I hoped Brexit would have given us a chance detaching from another corrupt and undemocratic regime. I was wrong in terms of implementation and relying on a bunch of corrupt ignoramuses to fix anything.
When the expenses scandal hit we had an opportunity to not only fix things but put hundreds in unavailable prison cells for fraud. We then re-elected the vast majority.
It's out fault - we the voters.
Philip, there's still a lot to be grateful for living in Britain, and a lot to be proud of in our history too, but I'm in despair at our current direction of travel.
I don't expect to find a party that exactly matches my own outlook but I can't think of a time I've felt so alienated from the big 2.
Where I live (Worcester), there's a few Green local councillors and they are excellent. They're the only ones you see between elections and they seem to genuinely care about the city. They get things done too.
I agree with 1/2 of what the Green Party says and disagree with the rest, but I am going to vote for them at the next GE, purely in the hope that the character of their councillors is mirrored in their choice of candidate.
I don't need to be represented by someone I completely agree with, just somebody who cares about the local area, country and planet we inhabit, is in touch with the grass roots, and isn't bought and paid for by the big vested interests.
For me, at this moment in time, that will do. If we get a few more people like that in Parliament, if nothing else, it's a start.
Re Brexit, I had high hopes for it too. I was wrong to have faith in our politicians' desire/ ability to make it work. We'll see what happens next with it but I'm no longer optimistic about Brexit Britain.
I don't expect to find a party that exactly matches my own outlook but I can't think of a time I've felt so alienated from the big 2.
Where I live (Worcester), there's a few Green local councillors and they are excellent. They're the only ones you see between elections and they seem to genuinely care about the city. They get things done too.
I agree with 1/2 of what the Green Party says and disagree with the rest, but I am going to vote for them at the next GE, purely in the hope that the character of their councillors is mirrored in their choice of candidate.
I don't need to be represented by someone I completely agree with, just somebody who cares about the local area, country and planet we inhabit, is in touch with the grass roots, and isn't bought and paid for by the big vested interests.
For me, at this moment in time, that will do. If we get a few more people like that in Parliament, if nothing else, it's a start.
Re Brexit, I had high hopes for it too. I was wrong to have faith in our politicians' desire/ ability to make it work. We'll see what happens next with it but I'm no longer optimistic about Brexit Britain.
Re it being our own fault - yes, to some extent I accept that.
Alongside the connections from his wife to Mark Meadows, Clarence Thomas of SCOTUS has another corruption issue raised to go with the holidays and flights he failed to declare, then declared under pressure, then failed to declare some others. This time it's a $267,000 loan for an RV from a friend that was then written off.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
It doesn’t smell good irrespective of whether he’s conservative or liberal
More on SCOTUSCNN reports Justice Alito’s Rome trip, following his decision overturning Roe v. Wade, was funded by Notre Dame’s Religious Liberty Initiative – a group that supported the Roe overturn.
Have also been reading the great Podium-gate story. Sometimes you can't make this stuff up.
Judges shouldn't accept any of these! It's the same corrupt culture as we've seen in the Aviator with Leonardo
Various billionaires have now been subpoenaed to appear before Senate regarding Supreme Court influence.
Just so we know who is paying.
Politicians can present excellent agendas, commoners can elect whom they want, but sponsors lay the rules
More on UK scandals and as COVID inquiry continues this is one of those fact checks on Twitter promoted scandalsJhttps://fullfact.org/health/covid-ppe...
The summary is that there was fraud but it's not £14.9 Billion worth its less than that just a couple of billion maybe. That's alright then.
this is all down to fast emergency procurement. At the same time the government was being accused (and in inquiry) of not acting quickly enough. Consequently corners were cut and a bunch or greedy probable criminals walked away with the cash.
When I think of SCOTUS's decision in Citizens United vs. FEC, I've always wondered whether there was undue influence on the court. At the time, it was taboo to even think such a thing. But they were okaying the influence of the wealthy on our elections, so why not question if they were influenced by the wealthy? Here's what resulted from that decision:"The ruling has ushered in massive increases in political spending from outside groups, dramatically expanding the already outsized political influence of wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups.
But perhaps the most significant outcomes of Citizens United have been the creation of super PACs, which empower the wealthiest donors, and the expansion of dark money through shadowy nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors.
A Brennan Center report by Daniel I. Weiner pointed out that a very small group of Americans now wield “more power than at any time since Watergate, while many of the rest seem to be disengaging from politics.“
“This is perhaps the most troubling result of Citizens United: in a time of historic wealth inequality,” wrote Weiner, “the decision has helped reinforce the growing sense that our democracy primarily serves the interests of the wealthy few, and that democratic participation for the vast majority of citizens is of relatively little value.”
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-wor...
This decision made "the will of the majority" obsolete and gave the wealthy the ability to buy elections. It's a BFD, but no one seems to be bothered.
Scout wrote: "When I think of SCOTUS's decision in Citizens United vs. FEC, I've always wondered whether there was undue influence on the court. At the time, it was taboo to even think such a thing. But they wer..."US campaign financing is crazy, but we can't be complacent here as we have seen from our current round of corruption. Latest evidence came from COVID inquiry where it was claimed that PM paid of MSM print by paying well over going rate for COVID adverts. Millions hidden in what looked like normal payments. All to get supportive press.
Scout wrote: "....no one seems to be bothered..."I'm bothered.
Resigns instead of accusing prosecutors in witch-hunting? Feels like a blast from the past: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...
Couldn't see that because of ad blockers. Can you give me gist of it?
Prime Minister of Portugal resigned over corruption inquiry. This should open:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...
"He said he had not been named as a suspect but believed the inquiry was incompatible with staying in office." Prima facia, he treasures the reputation of the office higher than his personal career - something that became rarity these days.
Now we have subpoenas for Hunter Biden to try to get his father impeached some interesting information on James Comer the Rep leading the pushhttps://www.thedailybeast.com/james-c...
Not only did Comer have a loan deal with his brother it was all done through non-existent farm companies all while he was on Agricultural Committee. That's on top of some issues with COVID loans. Doesn't make Biden snr innocent but then again he wasn't in public office when the loan to his brother went through and was paid back unlike the non-paying back for a Supreme Court Justice we can mention. Not that Comer is interested in investigating that.
Eric Adams had cellphones, iPad seized by FBI as part of corruption investigationhttps://nypost.com/2023/11/10/metro/e...
Let’s see what will be the findings. At least fbi doesn’t shun from going against a democrat too, as some accuse it of being politically tainted
When Biden was VP, he was taking Hunter with him on Air Force 2:“Then-Vice President Biden’s misuse of Air Force Two and Marine Two is indicative of yet another way in which the President has abused his various offices of public trust and wasted taxpayer money to benefit his family’s enterprise, which consisted of nothing more than access to Joe Biden himself,” the letter said. “Devon Archer, a longtime Biden family associate, has stated it is 'categorically false' that Joe Biden played no role in his son’s foreign business dealings. Flights on Air Force Two around the world to seal business deals are evidence of that role.”
https://www.thecentersquare.com/natio...
While Hillary hits the talk show circuit to talk about how the Evil Orange Man is going to build concentration camps, I wonder what the Clintons are really about.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
Scout wrote: "When Biden was VP, he was taking Hunter with him on Air Force 2:“Then-Vice President Biden’s misuse of Air Force Two and Marine Two is indicative of yet another way in which the President has abus..."
At least he didn't appoint his children to paid roles in the White House
Of course not, Hunter was busy being his bag man.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/22/po..."
Apparently, y'all don't know that New Jersey corruption is measured on a different scale than the rest of the country. What you posted is an average Tuesday. This is a proper NJ corruption story.
Mayors, rabbis arrested in NJ corruption probe
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-co...