OMNI US
[Not much on corporate crimes—i.e. the felonies of corporate executives against the people—because, being so egregious, that’s a separate newsletter.]
CONTENTS of #1
Ralph Nader
Story of Stuff
Increasing Inequality
Marxist analysis of capitalism, a new film
Triumph of Capitalism
Four Case Studies:
Exxon Valdes
Corporate Control of Water
Soft Drinks Industry
Reducing Domination
Contents of #2
OMNI Action Feb. 15, 2010: OMNI Forum on Corporate Personhood
Background and Analysis from NYT
Simple Summary
10 Ways to Stop Corporate Domination
Petitions: Simple Amendment, Move to Amend, Public Citizen
(Go to www.omnicenter.org for full newsletter)
Media Criticism
Cindy Sheehan on History of Ruling
E. J. Dionne for Populist Revolt
Corporations and Chambers of Commerce
New Books and Films
OMNI’s 2008 Forum on Capitalism USA with reading list
Contents of #3
Ralph Nader: Corporate Patriots?
Matt Taibbi: Corporate Tax Evaders
Rep. Kucinich: Wealth Shift to the Rich
Lisa Graves: ALEC Corporate Control of Legislation
Greg Spotts: Outsourcing
Chris Hedges: Money Changers
Paul Krugman: Ruinous Ideas in Control Again
Corporations:
Wall Street
AT&T
Monsanto
Wal-Mart
Resistance
Public Citizen vs. Supreme Court’s Citizen United
Ralph Nader | Why Not Corporate Patriotism for a Change? Chicago
Ralph Nader writes: "Now it is time for American workers and taxpayers to say to corporate America US
READ MORE http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/279-82/6707-why-not-corporate-patriotism-for-a-change
Matt Taibbi | “Where's the Uproar?” Taibblog.
Rolling Stone
Matt Taibbi writes: "We're seriously talking about defaulting on our debt, and cutting Medicare and Social Security, so that Google can keep paying its current 2.4 percent effective tax rate and GE, a company that received a $140 billion bailout en route to worldwide 2010 profits of $14 billion, can not only keep paying no taxes at all, but receive a $3.2 billion tax credit from the federal government. And nobody appears to give a shit. What the hell is wrong with people? Have we all lost our minds?"
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, “Americans' Wealth Is Stolen”
Reader Supported News, July 16, 2011
Intro: "The rancorous debate over the debt belies a fundamental truth of our economy - that it is run for the few at the expense of the many, that our entire government has been turned into a machine which takes the wealth of a mass of Americans and accelerates it into the hands of the few."
ALEC Exposed: Legislation Approved by Corporations
Lisa Graves, The Center for Media and Democracy, PR Watch, July 13, 2011
Excerpt: "The Center for Media and Democracy has learned ... corporate-politician committees secretly voted on bills to rewrite numerous state laws. According to the documents we have posted to ALEC Exposed, corporations vote as equals with elected politicians on these bills. These task forces target legal rules that reach into almost every area of American life: worker and consumer rights, education, the rights of Americans injured or killed by corporations, taxes, health care, immigration, and the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink."
OUTSOURCING Film
Filmmaker Greg Spotts exposes the carnage left behind by companies who choose to outsource their jobs. Moved to action after hearing that 3 million jobs ceased to exist in America
Show Time: 62 Minutes
Show Time: 62 Minutes
Throw Out the Money Changers Chris Hedges Monday 18 April, 2011 http://www.truthout.org/throw-out-money-changers/1303110000
Corporate Cash Con By Paul Krugman, The New York Times
04 July 11
Watching the evolution of economic discussion in Washington
And now trickle-down economics - specifically, the idea that anything that increases corporate profits is good for the economy - is making a comeback.
On the face of it, this seems bizarre. Over the last two years profits have soared while unemployment has remained disastrously high. Why should anyone believe that handing even more money to corporations, no strings attached, would lead to faster job creation?
CORPORATIONS, US
Jeff Madrick: How Wall Street Won and America
Julian Brookes, Rolling Stone
Julian Brookes writes: "In his latest book, 'Age of Greed,' former New York Times economic columnist Jeff Madrick tells how Wall Street triumphed and America
READ MORE http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-opinion-section/83-83/6410-jeff-madrick-how-wall-street-won-and-america-lost
Bruce Kushnick, “ Is AT&T Too Big Again?”
“Time to Break Up the Communications Trusts?” Nieman Watchdog
Bruce Kushnick writes: "Telecom analyst Bruce Kushnick says Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast are dragging down the nation's economy and bilking millions of Americans. The chief firms in the communications oligopoly got $340 billion to upgrade telephone and broadband systems but have almost totally reneged."
READ MORE http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-opinion-section/83-83/6333-is-atat-too-big-again
“Monsanto Cash Incentives Under Federal Investigation” by Kathryn Gilje, Pesticide Action Network July 16, 2011
Intro: "In some circles, it would be called a bribe, at best. Evidence revealed last week shows that Monsanto's former Chief Financial Officer admitted that the agrichemical corporation planned to spend $150 million in cash and trade incentives in Latin America, North America and Europe to spur the uptake of the pesticide glyphosate, better known as RoundUp. $150 million is no small change - and surely that's not all that's been spent."
“Supreme Court Conservatives Thwart Wal-Mart Sex Bias Case”
20 June 11 Mark Sherman, Associated Press
The report begins: "The Supreme Court on Monday blocked a massive sex discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart on behalf of female employees in a decision that makes it harder to mount large-scale bias claims against the nation's biggest companies."
RESISTANCE
PUBLIC CITIZEN VERSUS SUPREME COURT CITIZEN UNITED
All organizations that strive to overturn the Supreme Court’s gift of personhood to corporations, giving a huge boost to the power of money over our democracy, deserve our support. Public Citizen is leading the way. The issues are fundamental to my Blog on US militarism and empire, because the trillion of dollars spent each year on the militarized economy support the military-industrial complex—the contractors, the Pentagon, the wars, nuclear weapons, the Veterans Administration, and other agents of the US warfare state. --Dick
Public Citizen Presses to Overturn Citizens United
In January 2010, democracy was dealt a major blow when the U.S. Supreme Court decided, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, that corporations have a First Amendment right to spend as much money as they want to influence elections.
Immediately after the decision was issued, Public Citizen launched a multifaceted campaign to overturn it.
Immediately after the decision was issued, Public Citizen launched a multifaceted campaign to overturn it.
We are advocating a constitutional amendment specifying that First Amendment protections are for people, not corporations.
We are pushing for public financing of elections to make politicians less beholden to private money.
We are urging Congress to pass the DISCLOSE Act (Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections), which would let the public know which corporations and individuals are funding political ads.
We are helping states prepare “pay-to-play” legislation that restricts campaign contributions and expenditures from government contractors.
We are advocating a constitutional amendment specifying that First Amendment protections are for people, not corporations.
And we are promoting legislation that would give shareholders a say over whether – and how much – corporations spend on elections.
“The Supreme Court’s decision was a tragedy for our democracy,” said Robert Weissman, Public Citizen president. “We want to save our democratic government, and our efforts are aimed at doing just that.”
Corporations already have taken significant advantage of the court’s decision, showering more cash on the 2010 congressional elections than ever before. They funneled their money through independent organizations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Crossroads GPS, a new group formed by Republican strategist Karl Rove. Those organizations then poured millions into races around the country, supporting candidates who would carry the corporate water. Of 75 congressional contests in which partisan power changed hands, spending by outside groups favored the winning candidate in 60.
Partly as a result, control of the U.S. House of Representatives shifted to Republicans, who have made it very clear that they want to advance pro-corporate policies.
“The elections in November illustrate just how damaging the Citizens United decision was,” Weissman said. “The recent elections show the importance of continuing to build our movement to overturn Citizens United and restore our democracy.”
Public Citizen is moving forward with an ever-growing campaign to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision. A Public Citizen petition supporting a Free Speech for People amendment attracted more than 72,000 signatures as of December.
We also worked with other groups, such as People For the American Way, to organize demonstrations around the country on or around Jan. 21, 2011, the one-year anniversary of the disastrous Citizens United decision.
Our efforts won’t stop there. Whether working at the grassroots or the policy level, we will make our message clear: Lawmakers should be responsive to the people who elect them – not beholden to corporations who shower them with the most money.
Keep up with our efforts at http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=3850.
“The Supreme Court’s decision was a tragedy for our democracy,” said Robert Weissman, Public Citizen president. “We want to save our democratic government, and our efforts are aimed at doing just that.”
Corporations already have taken significant advantage of the court’s decision, showering more cash on the 2010 congressional elections than ever before. They funneled their money through independent organizations, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Crossroads GPS, a new group formed by Republican strategist Karl Rove. Those organizations then poured millions into races around the country, supporting candidates who would carry the corporate water. Of 75 congressional contests in which partisan power changed hands, spending by outside groups favored the winning candidate in 60.
Partly as a result, control of the U.S. House of Representatives shifted to Republicans, who have made it very clear that they want to advance pro-corporate policies.
“The elections in November illustrate just how damaging the Citizens United decision was,” Weissman said. “The recent elections show the importance of continuing to build our movement to overturn Citizens United and restore our democracy.”
Public Citizen is moving forward with an ever-growing campaign to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision. A Public Citizen petition supporting a Free Speech for People amendment attracted more than 72,000 signatures as of December.
We also worked with other groups, such as People For the American Way, to organize demonstrations around the country on or around Jan. 21, 2011, the one-year anniversary of the disastrous Citizens United decision.
Our efforts won’t stop there. Whether working at the grassroots or the policy level, we will make our message clear: Lawmakers should be responsive to the people who elect them – not beholden to corporations who shower them with the most money.
Keep up with our efforts at http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=3850.
OMNI SEEKS A WORLD FREE OF WAR AND THE THREAT OF WAR, A SOCIETY WITH LIBERTY
END OF US
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