Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Robert Reich- Foreign corporations contribute unlimited amounts to campaigns thanx to CitizensUnited
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/858896700789594[font size="3"]
The New York Times reports this morning that more than a dozen prominent Washington think tanks have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign sources in recent years while pushing U.S. government to adopt policies that often reflect the donors priorities. But the Times misses the really big story about foreign influence in Washington: Global corporations owned and run largely or partially by non-Americans that since the Supreme Courts shameful Citizens United decision have been pouring unlimited sums into election campaigns. This includes major foreign-based banks, pharmaceutical and high-tech companies, as well as American-based global companies whose management and shareholders are substantially non-American. Its a back door for non-Americans to have their way in our nations capital. In 2012 they began donating big-time to SuperPACs and secret 501-c-4 social welfare entities that dont have to disclose sources of their money, and the sums are increasing. It's exactly what Justice John Paul Stevens anticipated in his prescient dissent in the case.
This is why all political expenditures must be fully disclosed, why public corporations must report all campaign contributions, and "Citizens United" must be reversed if not by the Court then by constitutional amendment. It's also why corporations using tax inversions to desert the United States must no longer have a voice in American politics.[/font]
The New York Times reports this morning that more than a dozen prominent Washington think tanks have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign sources in recent years while pushing U.S. government to adopt policies that often reflect the donors priorities. But the Times misses the really big story about foreign influence in Washington: Global corporations owned and run largely or partially by non-Americans that since the Supreme Courts shameful Citizens United decision have been pouring unlimited sums into election campaigns. This includes major foreign-based banks, pharmaceutical and high-tech companies, as well as American-based global companies whose management and shareholders are substantially non-American. Its a back door for non-Americans to have their way in our nations capital. In 2012 they began donating big-time to SuperPACs and secret 501-c-4 social welfare entities that dont have to disclose sources of their money, and the sums are increasing. It's exactly what Justice John Paul Stevens anticipated in his prescient dissent in the case.
This is why all political expenditures must be fully disclosed, why public corporations must report all campaign contributions, and "Citizens United" must be reversed if not by the Court then by constitutional amendment. It's also why corporations using tax inversions to desert the United States must no longer have a voice in American politics.[/font]
here's the NYT article about foreign corporations buying influence in prominent think tanks
Foreign Powers Buy Influence at Think Tanks
WASHINGTON The agreement signed last year by the Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs was explicit: For $5 million, Norways partner in Washington would push top officials at the White House, at the Treasury Department and in Congress to double spending on a United States foreign aid program.
But the recipient of the cash was not one of the many Beltway lobbying firms that work every year on behalf of foreign governments.
It was the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit research organization, or think tank, one of many such groups in Washington that lawmakers, government officials and the news media have long relied on to provide independent policy analysis and scholarship.
More than a dozen prominent Washington research groups have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments in recent years while pushing United States government officials to adopt policies that often reflect the donors priorities, an investigation by The New York Times has found.
(more)
But the recipient of the cash was not one of the many Beltway lobbying firms that work every year on behalf of foreign governments.
It was the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit research organization, or think tank, one of many such groups in Washington that lawmakers, government officials and the news media have long relied on to provide independent policy analysis and scholarship.
More than a dozen prominent Washington research groups have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments in recent years while pushing United States government officials to adopt policies that often reflect the donors priorities, an investigation by The New York Times has found.
(more)
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
8 replies, 2238 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (12)
ReplyReply to this post
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Robert Reich- Foreign corporations contribute unlimited amounts to campaigns thanx to CitizensUnited (Original Post)
Bill USA
Nov 2014
OP
saying being opposed to people of other countries influencing our public policy is xenophobic is
Bill USA
Nov 2014
#5
Reich actually includes the category of pharmaceutical companies? Third rail, nonetheless.
proverbialwisdom
Nov 2014
#3
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)1. Where are the xenophobes when we need them?? nt
Bill USA
(6,436 posts)5. saying being opposed to people of other countries influencing our public policy is xenophobic is
patent sophistry.
Don't be an ass. I know you GOPers LOVE money but I think if ANYTHING is un-American it is selling yourselves to people or corporations from other countries for influence in the setting of public policies or drafting legislation.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)7. Oopsie. I forgot to add my sarcasm smilie
Hopefully this will make up for it.
Sorry my oversight got your panties in a bunch about it.
Bill USA
(6,436 posts)8. I rest my case.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)2. You get what you pay for
so obviously, we should cut legislators' salaries to zero.
Bill USA
(6,436 posts)6. a complete non sequitur regards the OP.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)3. Reich actually includes the category of pharmaceutical companies? Third rail, nonetheless.
"This includes major foreign-based banks, pharmaceutical and high-tech companies, as well as American-based global companies whose management and shareholders are substantially non-American."
http://www.ageofautism.com/2014/11/best-of-age-of-autism-brian-deer.html
November 28, 2014
Best of Age of Autism: Brian Deer Basks at a Pharmaceutical Conference by Lake Annecy
(Note: We published this post three years ago this week. It serves as a reminder of the background of the "team" devoted to crushing the vaccine autism connection. In a rare mainstream re-appearance a few weeks ago Deer claimed to have inside knowledge of anonymised court case.)
By John Stone
This week journalist Brian Deer has been enjoying celebrity status at the luxury villa of Les Pensières of the Fondation Mérieux on the banks of Lake Annecy in the French alps: The Merieux foundation advertises its financial links to all three MMR manufacturers that were defendants in the UK litigation (GSK, Merck and Sanofi), as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
<>
At a conference entitled See Re-invigorating Immunisation Policy Implementation and Success: From Parent to Partner and from Broadcast to Engagement' Deer was keynote speaker at the introductory evening on Monday with an address Money, media and retrospection. What drove the MMR crisis, and what lessons should we learn for the future? but also was listed to chair two sessions on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
This puts in ironic perspective the scathing remarks that Deer made about Dr David Lewis attending a vaccine safety conference in Jamaica in January in both in BMJ and in Nature News, but is also perhaps a gratifying apotheosis for everyone who has watched his remarkable career.
John Stone is Contributing Editor to Age of Autism.
COMMENTS
November 28, 2014
Best of Age of Autism: Brian Deer Basks at a Pharmaceutical Conference by Lake Annecy
(Note: We published this post three years ago this week. It serves as a reminder of the background of the "team" devoted to crushing the vaccine autism connection. In a rare mainstream re-appearance a few weeks ago Deer claimed to have inside knowledge of anonymised court case.)
By John Stone
This week journalist Brian Deer has been enjoying celebrity status at the luxury villa of Les Pensières of the Fondation Mérieux on the banks of Lake Annecy in the French alps: The Merieux foundation advertises its financial links to all three MMR manufacturers that were defendants in the UK litigation (GSK, Merck and Sanofi), as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
<>
At a conference entitled See Re-invigorating Immunisation Policy Implementation and Success: From Parent to Partner and from Broadcast to Engagement' Deer was keynote speaker at the introductory evening on Monday with an address Money, media and retrospection. What drove the MMR crisis, and what lessons should we learn for the future? but also was listed to chair two sessions on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
This puts in ironic perspective the scathing remarks that Deer made about Dr David Lewis attending a vaccine safety conference in Jamaica in January in both in BMJ and in Nature News, but is also perhaps a gratifying apotheosis for everyone who has watched his remarkable career.
John Stone is Contributing Editor to Age of Autism.
COMMENTS
Scuba
(53,475 posts)4. Of course they do.