cooltigger21 0 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 I don't think he really realized what he admitted to here. All the complaints about big money in politics but I seldom see unions, who are major money donors, included in the discussion. http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/05/clinton-surrogate-howard-dean-says-labor-unions-are-just-super-pacs-that-democrats-like-video/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icanthearyou 4,462 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Very valid and interesting point. Lobbying and PACs aren't necessarily bad because of the interests they represent. The negative, IMHO, is more about their desires to achieve dominance for themselves rather than what is best for all of society. The greater negative is a political system which profits (and is therefore motivated) by such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlueVue 177 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 "The greater negative is a political system which profits (and is therefore motivated) by such. What does this ^ even mean? This system doesn't profit bud, if it did, I doubt we would be looking at a $19 trillion dolla national debt. The profits are split by the players not the system. The biggest problem that lobbying creates is obviously the crony capitalism that it engenders but the system never enjoys a cut of those profits. They go exclusively to the players namely, the contractors and the politicians who they fund to secure virtual lifetime positions.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icanthearyou 4,462 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Unfortunately Blue, that is the system. Surely you can understand. Hell, you just explained it to yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexava 6,973 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Unfortunately Blue, that is the system. Surely you can understand. Hell, you just explained it to yourself. this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlueVue 177 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Unfortunately Blue, that is the system. Surely you can understand. Hell, you just explained it to yourself. this It is not the system. It is how the system has been perverted to the benefit of the few in the positions of power and thus able to massage it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icanthearyou 4,462 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Okay Blue. We'll let you pretend that you are right. It is not the system, merely the current system. It is merely the system since the mid 1970's. But please, continue to argue with yourself. It is most entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlueVue 177 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Okay Blue. We'll let you pretend that you are right. It is not the system, merely the current system. It is merely the system since the mid 1970's. But please, continue to argue with yourself. It is most entertaining. You remind of a 15 year old little girl who thinks she knows it all. The problem is you are unaware that you don't know what you don't know. You're anything but amusing although you do seem quite amused by your imagined intellectual superiority which is down right funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icanthearyou 4,462 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Blue, Are you upset? Again? LOL! Gee whiz, it doesn't take much. Does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFTiger 282 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Big Labor Democrat super PACs. Old news, we've know this for years. Nice to see them admit it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooltigger21 0 Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Big Labor Democrat super PACs. Old news, we've know this for years. Nice to see them admit it though. Yeah it was surprising a little. When money in politics is brought up you hear about the Koch Brothers and corporate money and rich donors. You never hear anyone putting unions in there even though they are big time players in the money game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icanthearyou 4,462 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 This is a very good thread CT. And, you are correct. In fact, you have possibly even understated union contributions to political PACs and campaigns. However, and interestingly, unions are comparatively low in the rankings for spending on lobbying efforts. Labor may dominate campaigns but, labor spending on lobbying is about one tenth of what is spent by, healthcare/pharmaceutical OR, financial or, communications or, energy industries, about one-third of lobbying expenditures by agriculture or defense. Should we limit campaign contributions and lobbying to individuals only, no organizations, no businesses? Is there too much money in politics? Is government influence being shopped? If so, are special interests undermining the interests of the country/society. Is this overt corruption? Is it a bipartisan effort? Before answering, consider the billions of dollars being spent. Consider the true motives. Like securing the border before dealing with immigration, should we fix campaign finance and lobbying before hacking away at the size of government? *Source: OpenSecrets.org Now, for anyone who is still with me and, has not retreated to the comfort of their preferred echo chamber, imagine the amount of money spent through media designed specifically to entertain us and, influence our views. Add it all up. Now, is it barely possible that money/corruption, not ideology is the real problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFTiger 282 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Big labor, in addition to money, donate thousands of hours campaigning or candidates. That is not counted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homersapien 11,354 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Big labor, in addition to money, donate thousands of hours campaigning or candidates. That is not counted. Cheating bastards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooltigger21 0 Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Big labor, in addition to money, donate thousands of hours campaigning or candidates. That is not counted. Cheating bastards. It's not cheating. They can do all of those things if they wish to. I just find it interesting that, for the most part, they are exempted from any scrutiny or any attempt to place restrictions on campaign donations and activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homersapien 11,354 Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Big labor, in addition to money, donate thousands of hours campaigning or candidates. That is not counted. Cheating bastards. It's not cheating. They can do all of those things if they wish to. I just find it interesting that, for the most part, they are exempted from any scrutiny or any attempt to place restrictions on campaign donations and activities. What "scrutiny" and "restrictions"?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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