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CORRUPTION UPDATES 40 March 10th to March 19th, 2007 The CORRUPTION UPDATES reviews corruption in the news. News Stories from California, the Nation and the World are abstracted below, and followed by commentary and references. |
CORRUPTION UPDATES 40
Previous Corruption Updates: Page 39
Next Corruption Updates: Page 41
1) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BEE, 3-10-07:
E-mail warned of board chaos
“Chiropractic panel director's memo didn't need immediate action, governor's aide says.”
By John Hill and Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published
12:00 am PST Saturday, March 10, 2007
http://www.sacbee.com/391/v-print/story/135874.html
“More than a week before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's appointees on the Board of Chiropractic Examiners fired their executive director and took other controversial actions, the director warned the Governor's Office that the board was out of control and that the disarray would soon become public.”
“ "After being with this Board for over a decade, I have never seen or experienced such malfeasance by a group of Board members," Catherine Hayes wrote to Nicole Rice, an appointments secretary at the Governor's Office, in an e-mail obtained by The Bee.”
“"Their lack of knowledge of civil service laws, governmental procedures and the role of the board member makes it impossible for me to carry out my duties as executive director. This type of activity would never be tolerated by a Board within any other governmental oversight agency." ”
“The Governor's Office concedes that it was aware of the memo, but says that it contained nothing that warranted immediate action.”
“At a meeting nine days after Hayes' e-mail, the board fired her, ejected a deputy attorney general from the meeting, passed a resolution in support of a controversial chiropractic technique involving the use of anesthesia, and accredited a college despite staff warnings that it did not have an application on file.”
“As of that meeting, the board consisted entirely of Schwarzenegger appointees, including two cohorts from his bodybuilding days, Richard Tyler and Franco Columbu.”
“In another sign of confusion at the board, the Department of Personnel Administration this week yanked the board's authority to handle personnel matters.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
ARNIE PUTS INCOMPENTENT FRIENDS ON STATE CHIROPRACTIC BOARD
Modern Politicians put political allies, not experts, onto appointed boards. The result is the public gets degraded service, poor oversight, and policy biased by partisanship if not outright corruption.
Arnie could have found political allies who are a heck of a lot more professionally prepared than his weightlifting buddies.
Also See:
Corruption Updates 28, 8th article on page, “PERATA'S POLITICAL PAYBACK:PERATA PUTS ALLIES, RATHER THAN EXPERTS, ON BIG BUCK Board”
Corruption Updates 9, 4th article on page, “Cal-Pers Working to Hide Corrupt Political-Economic Deals”
Corruption Updates 8, 7th article on page, “Pension Board May no Longer be Political Slush Fund for Democrats”
Read more articles about Arnie
Search the Corruption Database under
Public Boards
Arnie
2) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BEE, 3-15-07:
Donor appeal raises brows
“Governor promises dinner, other perks for up to $250,000.”
By Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am
PDT Thursday, March 15, 2007
http://www.sacbee.com/391/v-print/story/138398.html
“Despite calling for a future fundraising ban during budget season, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is asking donors to give as much as $250,000 to attend an exclusive dinner and reception at his Brentwood mansion with additional access through "regular conference calls." ”
“ "Here's a governor who proposed a ban on fundraisers during budget season, and now he's asking the highest price ever for people to come to his dinner table," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.”
“According to an invitation obtained by the Los Angeles Times, donors can give $100,000 or $250,000 to become part of the "Governor's Executive Committee." That entitles participants to four meetings with Schwarzenegger, an April 25 reception and June 6 dinner at his home, and regular conference calls with the governor and other "well-known Californians from the public and private sectors." Those who give $250,000 have the opportunity to host the governor at their own homes.”
“For donors lighter in the wallet, the governor offers membership to his "Advisory Committee." Those who give $25,000 or $50,000 can attend the four meetings with Schwarzenegger, the reception at his house and participate in conference calls.”
“Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, said "It's a nonelection year," Stern said. "He shouldn't be fundraising. He's going way over the candidate limits." ”
“Soderlund said the governor plans to use the funds to support his efforts on redistricting, in addition to improving the state's environment, health care system and prisons.”
“But it remains unclear how the money will specifically address those issues. The governor previously has used the California Recovery Team to pay for his own travel, including his private plane service. He also used the account in 2005 to pay aides who worked on his special election campaign outside their state duties.”
“Stern said Schwarzenegger could use his latest donations to pay bonuses to state aides, as he has done in the past.”
“"There's no shame anymore," Stern said. "The governor has become a politician. It's a long way from Jay Leno."”
“Stern was referencing the time when Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy during the 2003 recall election and said, "As you know, I don't need to take money from anyone."
“Since then, the governor has raised more than $110 million for his various campaigns.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
ARNIE SELLS INFLUENCE: 250,000 BUYS GOV'S EAR
Arnie's raising of a fortune when he is term-limited out of office indicates he is raising money, and support, to run for a US Senate seat.
Arnie has formed a slush fund with PG&E, has done AT&T's bidding, and they directed a fortune of their corporate bribery payment to his foundation. The insurance industry is embedded in the Arnie Administration. The developers and real estate interests are amenable.
As far as our democracy is concerned, Arnie is a Benedict Arnie.
Corruption Updates 6, 4th article on page, “Arnie's Turn to Bleed Special Interests: Assembly done selling itself, Now it's Arnie's Turn.
Corruption Updates 12, 4th article on page, “How to Corrupt Democracy: The Insurance Industry and the Governor”
Ccrruption Updates 12, 5th article on page “INSURANCE INDUSTRY BATTLE PLAN: COMBINED BUSINESS ASSUALT ON DEMOCRACY” LATimes. Plot to corrupt democratic process and institutions successful. Plot uncovered, and yet it goes on. 9-24-06
Corruption Updates 13, 6th article on page, “Governor, PGE, Set Up Political Slush Fund”
Corruption Updates 17, 5th article on page, “VAST SUMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY COLLECTED BY GOV CANDIDATES IN CA”
Corruption Updates 17, 6th article on page “Total Campaign Outlays Approach $400 Million”
Corruption Updates 24, 2nd article on page, “Arnie has Huge Special Interest Slush Fund” ("officeholder" account: Southern California Edison, PG&E, Chevron and AT&T)
Search the Corruption Database under
Arnie
Big Money Politics
3) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BBC, 3-16-07:
China passes new law on property
Friday, 16 March 2007, 07:37 GMT BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/asia-pacific/6456959.stm
“China's parliament has wrapped up its annual session, passing a landmark law to increase private property rights.”
“It also approved a bill ending preferential tax treatment for foreign firms, setting a standard rate of 25%.”
“...99.1% of the 2,889 legislators attending the NPC backed the property law.”
“Legislators also discussed a wide variety of other issues during the two-week NPC meeting - with one key theme being Mr Wen's promise to focus more on sustainable development than rapid economic growth.”
“Increasing equality is of vital concern to the Communist Party. Correspondents say that protests over the growing income differentials, exacerbated by rising corruption, are threatening its control over the rural hinterland.”
“He
blamed the increase in graft on an "over-concentration of power
without effective and proper restraint and oversight", and
promised to address the issue as a priority.”
THE
COMMITTEE SAYS:
China passes new law on property
See commentary in CU 38, 4, Linked below
Also See:
Corruption Updates 12, 8th article on page, “Chinese Elite Holding "Election" of Leadership with Thinly Disguised "Corruption”
Corruption Updates 38, 4th article on page, “WILL PROMISES OF “FUTURE WEALTH” KEEP PEASANTS FROM REVOLTING?”
More Articles on China
Search the Corruption Database under
China
4) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BEE, 3-14-07:
Chiropractic board to face legislative scrutiny
By Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am
PDT Wednesday, March 14, 2007
http://www.sacbee.com/391/v-print/story/137585.html
“State lawmakers are investigating the Board of Chiropractic Examiners to determine whether the panel acted appropriately at its controversial March 1 meeting and to consider sanctions that may include eliminating its $3 million budget.”
“Legislative committees in the Assembly and state Senate have tentatively scheduled a March 28 joint oversight hearing where they expect chiropractic board members -- all appointees of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- to explain their March 1 actions.”
“Eng and Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, chairman of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, said their aides are examining details of what happened at the March 1 meeting. They said they hope to use the March 28 hearing to question everyone who was at that meeting, including staff members and five California Highway Patrol officers called in to keep the peace.”
“Still,
Eng said he believes the Legislature could pursue two measures of
oversight, potentially revoking the chiropractic board's $3 million
budget or removing current board members to pressure the panel to
take appropriate steps in the future.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
ARNIE'S INCOMPENTENT CHIRO BOARD ATTRACTS OVERSIGHT
Also See:
Article 1, above, comments on this incident.
Corruption Updates 28, 8th article on page, “PERATA'S POLITICAL PAYBACK:PERATA PUTS ALLIES, RATHER THAN EXPERTS, ON BIG BUCK Board”
Corruption Updates 9, 4th article on page, “Cal-Pers Working to Hide Corrupt Political-Economic Deals”
Corruption Updates 8, 7th article on page, “Pension Board May no Longer be Political Slush Fund for Democrats”
Search the Corruption Database under
Public Boards
Arnie
5) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE LA TIMES, 3-19-07:
Democrats turn up heat on firing of U.S. attorney
“They allege Carol Lam was ousted in San Diego because she was investigating Republican politicians in Southern California.”
By Richard A. Serrano
Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-usattys19mar19,1,7925479.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
March
19, 2007
“WASHINGTON — Senate
Democrats signaled Sunday that of the eight federal prosecutors
abruptly ousted by the Bush administration, the case in San Diego is emerging as the most troubling
because of new allegations that U.S. Atty. Carol C. Lam was fired in
an attempt to shut down investigations into Republican politicians
in Southern California.”
“Appearing on CBS' "Face
the Nation," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) revealed evidence
that Lam had notified Washington about
search warrants in a Republican corruption case last year. Soon
thereafter, a top Justice Department official in Washington wrote to the White House about a
"real problem we have right now with Carol Lam."
“Another
Judiciary Committee member, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), agreed
that an investigation in San Diego, along with a parallel GOP
corruption probe in Los Angeles, might have been directly linked to
Lam's firing.”
“Lam spearheaded
the case against Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the
former Republican congressman from Rancho Santa Fe who pleaded
guilty to bribery and income tax evasion. He was sentenced in March
2006 to eight years and four months in prison.”
“In
a broadening of the Cunningham investigation, Feinstein said, Lam
turned her sights on two of the former lawmaker's associates: Brent
R. Wilkes, a Poway-based defense contractor, and Kyle Dustin
"Dusty" Foggo, a top CIA official who abruptly
resigned May 8.”
“Feinstein
said that on May 10, Lam "sent a notice to the Justice
Department saying that there would be two search warrants sent in
the case of Dusty Foggo and a defense contractor. The next day, an
e-mail went from the Justice Department to the White House."
”
“The May 11 e-mail was from D. Kyle
Sampson, chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales, to White
House Deputy Counsel William Kelley. "The real problem we have
right now with Carol Lam … leads me to conclude that we
should have someone ready to be nominated on 11/18, the day her
four-year term expires," it said.”
“Sampson,
who resigned last week, may also have been referring in the
May 11 e-mail to a report that morning in the Los Angeles Times
concerning a parallel investigation by federal prosecutors in Los
Angeles into Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), then the chairman of the
powerful House Appropriations Committee, and Bill Lowery, a former
GOP congressman from San Diego who after leaving Congress founded a
successful lobbying firm — one of whose clients was
Wilkes.”
“Clients of Lowery's lobbying
firm had been awarded millions of dollars in earmarks authorized by
Lewis, The Times reported, and members of Lewis' staff had been
hired by Lowery's firm, where they worked as lobbyists for several
years and then returned to Lewis' staff.”
“Carl
Tobias, a law professor at the University of
Richmond who has monitored the
U.S. attorneys scandal, said there was growing evidence that Lam's termination might be the
one most directly linked to retaliation for GOP corruption
investigations.”
SMOKING GUN EMAILS DETAIL POLITICAL FIRING OF LAM
Duke gets Revenge from Prison
The Bush Administration has sent a clear message to all the US Attorneys around the country: Fuck with us and die.
This is the same approach they took with the Pentagon prior to the war in Iraq. They fired a string of generals until they found talking heads that would do their bidding. They clubbed the CIA into submission like a baby seal. Colin Powell, and the State Department was heartlessly manipulated.
Prosecuting corruption is off the table for the Bush Administration, and any Attorney who puts it on the table will end their career. This will not trouble the Dems too much, as they are just as corrupt, and just as liable to prosecution, as are the Republicans.
Feinstein recently chided FBI head Mueller, just before the start of this
US Attorney mess, for spending so much time hunting
corruption. Little did she know then, that Gonzales and Bush
felt the same way, and were going to do something serious about
these out of control US Attorneys.
Corruption Updates 25, 8th article on page, “FBI CHIEF DEFYS CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT REFUSAL TO DISCLOSE ILLEGAL PROGRAM REVE...”
Also See:
Corruption Updates 34, 2nd article on page, “SCARY NEO-CON POLITICAL OPERATIVE REPLACES US ATTORNEY IN ARKANSAS”
Corruption Updates 35, 12th article on page, “DOMENICI FINALLY ADMITS TO UNETHICAL, IF NOT CRIMINAL, CONTACT WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTOR”
Corruption Updates 37, 5th article on page, “Fired U.S. attorneys testify before Congress” ( Fed Attorneys Silent on Pressure/Threats Until Fired)
Corruption Updates 37, 6th article on page, “Republicans could face new ethics probes”
Corruption Updates 37, 7th article on page, “Keating case prompted intervention rules”
Corruption Updates 38, 1st article on page, “Fired U.S. attorney's testimony raises broader concerns”
Corruption Updates 38, 5th article on page, “LA TIMES OFFERS BUSH POLITICAL COVER FOR FIRING PROSECUTOR OF DUKE CUNNINGHAM”
Corruption Updates 39, 3rd article on page, “Rove's role in firings is focus”
Corruption Updates 39, 4th article on page, “Fed Attny Firing Report:TRIBUNE CO HAS MADE LATIMES A TOOL”
Corruption Updates 39, 5th article on page, “GOP official urged Rove to fire prosecutor”
Corruption Updates 39, 6th article on page, “House panel expands inquiry into prosecutor firings”
Corruption Updates 39, 7th article on page, “Gonzales is urged to quit 'for the nation' ”
Read more articles About Abuse of the US Attorney
Search the Corruption Database under
US Attorney
Duke
Wilkes
Ethics Committee
Feinstein
6) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN Al Ahram, 15 TO 21 MARCH, 2007:
Before the vote
“Controversy over constitutional amendments proposed by President Mubarak, reports Gamal Essam El-Din, has centred on civil liberties being under threat”
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/836/fr2.htm
“Following almost three months of intensive debate, next Monday the People's Assembly will put President Hosni Mubarak's 26 December constitutional initiative -- that 34 articles be amended -- to a final vote.”
“ “At a press conference on Monday at the Wafd Party headquarters in Dokki, a coalition of the liberal Wafd, the Muslim Brotherhood, the leftist Tagammu Party, the Nasserist Karama movement, and independent MPs joined forces to declare a united front against the drafts.”
"The new draft of Article 88 eliminates full judicial supervision over elections and brings us back to the days before the ruling of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) regarding this article." ”
“The coalition's statement also emphasised that the proposed amendment of Article 179 grants the president powers striping individuals of the guarantees secured by articles 41, 44 and 45, and opens the door to a police state in Egypt.”
“Articles 41, 44 and 45 state that, "the law shall protect the inviolability of the private life of citizens" and that "correspondence, wires, telephone calls and other means of communication shall have their own sanctity and secrecy and may not be confiscated except by a judicial warrant and for a definite period in accordance with the provisions of the law." ”
“People's Assembly Speaker, Ahmed Fathi Sorour, indicated that the new draft of 179 would also authorise the president to refer civilians implicated in terrorist acts to military tribunals. Opposition forces, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, are up in arms.”
“Zakaria Abdel-Aziz, chairman of the Judges Club, an independent professional association, said the new draft of Article 88 would make judges eyewitnesses to election rigging. "Eliminating the rule of a judge for every ballot box means we are back to the days when stuffing boxes with votes in favour of the NDP was the hallmark of auxiliary polling stations," Abdel-Aziz said.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
MUBARAK ABOUT TO IMPOSE BUSH RULES ON EGYPT
The Constitutional changes Mubarak is about to impose on Egypt are the same powers Bush has claimed here
Mubarak is claiming the power to search without warrant. Bush is not just claiming this power, he is using it. Mubarak is claiming the power to try civilians before military tribunals. Bush has used this on Jose Padilla. Mubarak is making “judges eyewitnesses to election rigging.” Here, the Supreme Court participated in election rigging. Bush outdoes Mubarak by a long shot. Bush out dictates our Dictators.
Bush claims authority to seize, hold, and torture anyone, anywhere in the world, under his authority as Commander in Chief in the endless, borderless “war on terror.” The rest of the world is trying to catch up with Bush's system of law, and use it themselves.
The opposition in Egypt, unlike our “uniparty” here, (the RepubliCrats) are putting up a fight. The Democrats here voted to give the President Unconstitutional powers, with a very few notable exceptions.
The Egyptian people are looking to cast out their American sponsored dictator, Mubarak. Americans should be looking to cast out the corporate usurpers who have put our government's support behind dictators around the world.
We have a plan to do just that. Read our Initiative and Join Us.
Also See:
Corruption Updates 27, 5th article on page, “Egypt Cracks Down on Brotherhood”
Corruption Updates 27, 6th article on page, “EGYPT LEADING THE WAY FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN MIDDLE EAST”
Links to more Articles on: EGYPT
Search the Corruption Database under
Egypt
Foreign Policy
Supporting Dictators
7) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE BEE, 3-19-07:
Dan Walters: Car dealer subsidies dangerous
By Dan Walters - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, March 19, 2007
http://www.sacbee.com/111/v-print/story/140234.html
“Mike Daugherty is an auto dealer who peddles Chevrolets and Hummers from a sprawling complex on Sacramento's Fulton Avenue.”
“Proposition 13, the 1978 property tax limit law, made local governments very dependent on sales taxes, and they began doing elaborate deals, often misusing redevelopment funds, to subsidize auto malls, big box retailers and other sales tax generators, and sometimes raiding them from nearby communities.”
“In 1999, the City Council hired a new city manager, Bob Thomas, who had been Sacramento County's chief administrator, and made creating a city auto mall one of his highest priorities. That intent and Thomas' defection from the county touched off a not-so-subtle political war between the two governments.”
“A few years later, Thomas and Daugherty agreed to develop a new auto mall near Interstate 80. Daugherty purchased property and won permission from General Motors to move his dealerships, and the city set up a redevelopment zone around the site, presumably to subsidize what it hoped would be a mass defection from Fulton Avenue. But the land did not have freeway access and the owner of an adjacent tract with access refused to sell, so the project collapsed. The city, however, bought the 25 acres from Daugherty for what was reported at the time to be $3.5 million.”
The city later attempted, and failed, to establish an auto mall at another Interstate 80 site, and meanwhile, it entered into a political partnership with the county on state legislation that would have forced other cities and counties in the region to share their sales taxes with Sacramento's city and county governments. The partnership collapsed, however, when it was revealed (in this column) that the city had secretly amended the bill to remove legal barriers to the city's giving subsidies to attract Fulton Avenue dealers.
“2007:... County supervisors are still worried about losing Fulton
dealers and their sales taxes, perhaps to a new city of Arden
Arcade. They've pumped money into beautifying Fulton, and last week, voted to give Daugherty a $100,000 annual subsidy for 10 years to
keep his dealership on Fulton -- unless the area is incorporated
or annexed to the city of Sacramento.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
SAC COUNTY SUPS VOTE 100K PER YEAR TO AUTO DEALER
The Citizens of Sac County should recall their pathetic supervisors.
Usually special interests bribe politicians, then our politicians give them our money. Unless there is more to this story, Sac County supervisors have skipped a step: They give away our money before being bribed.
Sacramento is overpopulated, and presents a huge market for business. It is amazing that cities and counties are subsidizing businesses access to this huge captive market, when business should be paying us to access our markets.
Walters pointed out that this subsidy, our tax dollars, could be used to manipulate politics.
Heck, I'd be surprised if every Sac County Supervisor didn't get a big contribution from Daugherty for the next election.
Our representatives should be properly taxing business to cover the costs of doing business. Instead, business funds their campaigns, bribes them, and the politicians run the county, and our country, for the benefit of business.
Search the Corruption Database under
State, California
(use both terms, separated by comma, in Search Box)
Insiders
Favoritism
Misuse of Office
8) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED by Market Watch, 3-19-07:
IIF report: Latin American growth to decelerate
Polya Lesova is a MarketWatch reporter
NEW YORK (MarketWatch)
(Published Around 3-19-07)
IIF criticizes Venezuela
“The IIF report sharply criticized the policies of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has moved to nationalize assets in several key industries, including electricity, oil and mining. Venezuela's economy has grown at a quick pace, fed by huge oil revenues.”
"The radicalization of Chavez's government further undermines the country's deteriorating institutional framework of democratic checks and balances, increases political risk and heightens the economy's vulnerability to a downturn in oil prices," IIF said.”
“Chavez is virtually omnipotent; he controls Congress, the judiciary and the army. His hostility toward the markets "poses substantial risks to private firms," IIF said. The bonanza of oil revenues has obscured the negative economic impact of increased government intervention in the economy.”
“Elsewhere in the region, Brazil's central bank has cut rates significantly in an attempt to boost growth. Real GDP should increase in 2007 to 3.8%, up from 2.9% last year.”
“Brazil's external position is likely to remain strong, supported by a robust international reserve position, declining external debt-to-GDP ratio, lower foreign currency financing requirements, and an increasingly diversified export base, IIF said.”
“Mexico's growth will decelerate to 3.5% this year, down from 4.8% last year, the report said. The reinvigoration of economic growth is President Felipe Calderon's major challenge.”
“In Argentina, which will hold presidential elections later this year, real GDP is forecasted to be 7.2%, down from 8.5% in 2006, the IIF said. The central bank has intervened aggressively in the foreign exchange market to keep the peso from appreciating and thereby maintain the competitiveness of the country's exports.”
“ "The main risk over the medium term is the government's aggressive non-market approach to economic policy," IIF said. "Despite price controls, an acceleration of inflation, perhaps rooted in a wage-price spiral, remains a significant risk." ”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
IIF CHIDES CHAVEZ: GOVERNMENT FOR PEOPLE BAD FOR PROFITS
“Non-market approach to economic policy.” Translation: the rich lost control of “democracy.”
American political policy sends all profits and political power to the top. This is very profitable for the rich, but screws everyone else.
Somehow, democracy won In Venezuela. The IIF criticizes Venezuela for “deteriorating institutional framework of democratic checks and balances.” Apparently it's ok for checks and balances to disappear in the US, as long as business is in charge. It's bad in Venezuela, as long as the people are in charge.
Governments have to balance the needs of different classes within their society. Without balancing these groups, one of two outcomes is highly likely.
The government can become an agent of the people, and disregard wealth, or the government can become an agent of wealth and power, and disregard the people.
A good balance between wealth and the people would require business pay the costs of doing business, and keep the remainder as profit.
A bad balance is where business keeps the money, impoverishes the people, and monopolizes politics.
Venezuela was the latter, and is now the former. The swings of political power between the people and wealth in Venezuela will moderate to a proper balance, unless we piss them off. Again. Like we did when we backed the coup that took Chavez out of power for a few days. His return assured that his authority would be cemented in place.
Now Chavez is dismantling the economic institutions Venezuela's elite used to maintain their social and economic positions. Good work Bush.
Chavez now faces the real challenges of his post colonial country and continent: Ridding his economy of parasites without killing the patient. Pushing money to the bottom, to the people, requires a business class to complete the economic cycle, and ensure a healthy, balanced society.
America offers no good examples to follow.
Search the Corruption Database under
International
Argentina
International Corporate Bribery
9) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NY TIMES, 3-19-07:
Colombia May Extradite Chiquita Officials
By SIMON ROMERO
March 19, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/world/americas/19colombia.ready.html?_
r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
“CARACAS, Venezuela, March 18 — Colombian officials said over the weekend that they would consider seeking the extradition of senior executives of Chiquita Brands International after the company pleaded guilty in United States federal court to making payments to paramilitary death squads.”
“Chiquita, one of the world's largest banana producers, agreed to pay a fine of $25 million last week to the United States Justice Department to settle the case. Chiquita told the Justice Department that from 1997 to 2004, a subsidiary in Colombia had paid $1.7 million to right-wing paramilitary groups, which are classified by the United States government as terrorist organizations.”
“President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia told reporters on Saturday that extradition "should be from here to there and from there to here." Colombia, the Bush administration's closest ally in South America, has extradited hundreds of drug-trafficking suspects to the United States since Mr. Uribe took office in 2002.”
“The company's former chief executive from 2002 to 2004, Cyrus Freidheim Jr., on Friday told the board of directors of the Sun-Times Media Group, of which he is currently chief executive, that he is among present and former officials at Chiquita that may be subjects of the investigation in the United States.”
“United Fruit Company, one of the companies that merged to create Chiquita, was long considered a bastion of American influence in Colombia's banana-growing regions. Thousands of striking United Fruit workers were massacred in Colombia in 1928, an incident that made its way into "One Hundred Years of Solitude," the epic novel by Gabriel García Márquez.”
“In
2003, a report by the Organization of American States said that a
ship used by Chiquita's Colombian subsidiary may also have been used
for an illicit shipment of 3,000 rifles and 2.5 million bullets for
Colombian paramilitary groups. The chief prosecutor's office in
Colombia said last week that it would ask the United States Justice
Department for details about the shipment, thought to have been made
in 2001.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
UNITED
FRUIT NEVER STOPPED SUPPORTING DICTATORS WHO KEEP PEASANTS WORKING
Also See:
Search the Corruption Database under
International Corporate Bribery
Colombia
10) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NY TIMES, 3-19-07:
Official Alerted F.B.I. to Rules Abuse 2 Years Ago, Lawyer Says
By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
March 19, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/washington/19letter.html?pagewanted=print
“WASHINGTON, March 18 — Almost two years before the Federal Bureau of Investigation publicly admitted this month that it had ignored its own rules when demanding telephone and financial records about private citizens, a top official in that program warned the bureau about widespread lapses, his lawyer said on Sunday.”
“The official, Bassem Youssef, who is in charge of the bureau’s Communications Analysis Unit, said he discovered frequent legal lapses and raised concerns with superiors soon after he was assigned to the unit in early 2005.”
“Stephen M. Kohn, the lawyer for Mr. Youssef, said his client told his superiors that the bureau had frequently failed to document an urgent national security need — proving “exigent circumstances,” in the bureau’s language — when obtaining personal information without a court order through the use of “national security letters.””
“ “He identified the problems in 2005, shortly after he became unit chief,” Mr. Kohn said. “As in other matters, he was met with apathy and resistance.” ”
“Unlike a search warrant, which must be approved by a judge, a national security letter can be approved by the agent in charge of a local F.B.I. office. The bureau has issued more than 20,000 such letters since it received authority under the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act of 2001.”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
CONGRESS KNEW THEY WERE GIVING AWAY OUR RIGHTS&FREEDOMS WITH THE “PATRIOT” ACT:
SHOULD BE CALLED TRAITOR ACT, and The TRAITORS ARE ACTING SURPRISED AT POLICE STATE POWERS THEY CREATED
The Patriot act's searching clauses are clearly unconstitutional. Congress knew this when they passed it. Congressmen who say they believed it was Constitutional, and would be used with restraint, are either liars or idiots. Or both.
The specific words of the Fourth Amendment of
The Constitution are:
“...and No warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
The
president has no authority to interfere with this Constitutionally
mandated standard. Nor does Congress, nor the Courts. Their jobs are
to enforce the Constitution, not stand around stealing our treasure
while Bush steals our Rights.
It is time for political officeholders to stand up, and protect and enforce the Constitution. Those that do not have rendered themselves Constitutionally illegitimate, and must be removed from office and prosecuted for betraying our laws and Constitution.
The Congressional and Court deference to clearly illegal actions by the President, against the Constitution and laws of this country, are a galling testament to the extent corruption has eroded our political institutions.
Their
vast corporate campaign funds and PACs that fund the parties and
candidates make it almost impossible to vote them, and their kind,
out of office.
Also See:
Corruption Updates 25, 8th article on page, “FBI CHIEF DEFYS CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT: REFUSAL TO DISCLOSE ILLEGAL PROGRAM REVE...”
Corruption Updates 23, 9th article on page, “TIMES SOFTPEDALS PRESIDENTIAL WAR CRIMES AND DOMESTIC CRIMES”
Corruption Updates 31, 6th article on page, “Secret Court to Govern Warrant less Taps”
Corruption Updates 32, 3rd article on page, “PRESIDENT TRIES END RUN AROUND CONSTITUTION:CLAIMS ACTIONS ARE SECRET, AND ABOVE LAW”
Read more Articles about Unconstitutional Presidential Power
Search the Corruption Database under
Illegal Searches
FBI
Unconstitutional Presidential Power
Failure of Congressional Oversight
11) THE ABSTRACT PRINTED BELOW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NY TIMES, 3-19-07:
Uproar Over Memphis Power Broker’s Unpaid Bills
By ADAM NOSSITER
March 19, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/us/19memphis.html?pagewanted=print
“...Memphis Light, Gas and Water allowed City Councilman Edmund Ford to forgo paying thousands of dollars in overdue bills without having his power cut. Meanwhile, other prominent politicians — council members, a judge, a state representative — were on a protected list, supervised by a senior utility official, intended to prevent them from having their power cut off in case of nonpayment.”
“Even the mayor, Willie W. Herenton, was on the list, though Mr. Herenton says he did not know about it and never got any favors. It is not clear that anyone but Mr. Ford was allowed to pile up unpaid bills. Still, the whiff and practice of favoritism — detailed for the last several weeks in the local news media — is upsetting many in a city where nearly a quarter of the people are poor, and the local utility is publicly owned.”
“The City Council — some members present and past were on the list — has ordered an investigation, as has the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the president of the utility has been called before a federal grand jury.”
“Mayor Herenton takes a more benign view; he nominated Joseph Lee III, his former finance director, as the president and chief executive of the utility in 2004, and the City Council approved the choice on a 7-to-5 vote. Mr. Ford, who at the time was chairman of the council committee that oversaw the utility’s budget and spending, lobbied heavily for Mr. Lee’s confirmation.”
“Mr. Herenton recently refused to accept Mr. Lee’s resignation.”
“Mr. Ford, a member of the city’s foremost power-broker political family and uncle of Harold E. Ford Jr., a former congressman and the current chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, was allowed to put off paying bills at his funeral parlor and home that eventually totaled more than $16,000.”
“The paper trail shows officials negotiating, cajoling and pleading with, and ultimately excusing Mr. Ford, who was indicted on unrelated federal bribery charges last December.”
“...and Mr. Ford was even included in a special program for low-income customers. “Joseph does not want us to cut him off,” another official wrote, apparently referring to Mr. Lee.”
“Mr. Ford, who did not respond to requests for an interview, recently exploded publicly at his critics in a rambling address to the Council.”
““I’ve been slandered and everything else,” Mr. Ford said angrily. “I got stuck with a bill that’s really not my bill.” “
“He went on: “I struggle every day. Yes, I’m behind on a lot of things. And I ain’t the only one,” adding, “The F.B.I., the one that started it.” ”
THE COMMITTEE SAYS:
MEMPHIS POLITICAL MAFIA BUSTED:
POLITICAL PULL PAYS POWER BILL
Memphis Light, Gas and Water's list of privileged political players is symbolic of the economics of political corruption. Every city, county, and state government in our Union is a creature of local wealth and power, and local governments deliver privileges to their benefactors.
The symbols of the Economics of Political Corruption are everywhere: earmarks, lavish lobbyist events, the revolving door between lucrative corporate jobs and political office, and, of course, Free Electricity in Memphis.
The usual suspects are the same in every local: realtors, developers, lawyers and bankers, not to mention local, state, and national corporate interests, who combine their wealth to monopolize local, as well as national, politics.
They receive favors, subsidies, and deals the rest of us pay for.
Also See:
Corruption Updates 12, 3rd article on page, ““INSIDER” PERMIT OFFICE TO REMAIN OPEN, AND SERVING HIGH ROLLERS,WHILE REST OF US WAIT IN LINE
Search the Corruption Database under
States
Insiders
Favoritism
Family Connections
Previous Corruption Updates: Page 39
Next Corruption Updates: Page 41
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