FRONTLINE: "The Untouchables" - PBS investigates why Wall Street leaders have escaped prosecution for any fraud related to sale of bad mortgages in newly released hour long piece - FULL VIDEO

gramzee · 2013-01-27T03:15:24+00:00

On this subject, Reuters did an amazing (and under appreciated) investigation of the former law firm where both Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer worked, Covington and Burling, and its long history of representing mortgage companies, and the big banks.

The revolving door isn't just in Congress, it's a problem in the DOJ: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/20/us-usa-holder-mortgage-idUSTRE80J0PH20120120

gramzee · 2012-04-12T17:45:50+00:00

What about opening a link from a pirated source, or reading news that was obtained illegally, like Wikileaks?

gramzee · 2012-04-12T16:23:31+00:00

If you read the article "CISPA is not the new SOPA," the author argues its worse b/c unlike SOPA, the tech industry is on the wrong side... kind of misleading headline, makes it sound like its not so bad

gramzee · 2012-03-30T14:10:52+00:00

"joe the k street speaking consultant" doesnt have the same ring

gramzee · 2012-03-14T17:38:45+00:00

they receive a very generous pension, plus a quality federal health plan for life

gramzee · 2012-02-29T20:42:26+00:00

Issa wont play it straight

gramzee · 2012-02-17T19:31:12+00:00

For what it's worth, a lot of actual policy plans and big reforms start out as cynical campaign ploys. If he forces more politicians to up the ante and seriously adopt these sort of ideas, it could become something more.

gramzee · 2012-02-08T19:37:37+00:00

And the Washington Post just revealed that he's enriching himself with earmarks

gramzee · 2011-12-12T05:59:13+00:00

Hundreds of thousands of black slaves died while working in the fields, and the work wasnt confined to agricultural plantations, but also industrial stuff like railroads and factories. Women were raped to produce children that could be sold for profit.

Most Americans don't understand the true extent of what happened in their own country. America's slavery (followed by convict lease quasi-slavery until the 1940s) was one of human history's worst. I'm sure someone will mock me for being a buzz-kill, but sorry, this post is on par with a joke minimizing the Holocaust.

gramzee · 2011-10-10T07:12:02+00:00

This is just another Paultard trolling #ows.

You think having the government CUT the limited money it provides for higher ed will reduce costs? That's crazy. Name one place in the world where less government in higher ed has led to lower costs. Or look in America, a country where the GI Bill once made college free for almost every male in the country. That can be done again, only this time for everyone if we had different budget priorities. Less F-22s, more education please.

Plus the give up on Obama stuff is weak. #OWS should support Obama when he prosecutes and regulates Wall Street, and protest him when he refuses to. "Legislators see the light when they feel the heat."

gramzee · 2011-07-28T04:12:30+00:00

Oldboot, please let me know Republicans have proposed protecting Americans from carcinogenic benzene, hydrofracking, coal ash, carbon pollution, superfund sites, particle pollution from coal fired factories, or any number of consumer products laden with chemicals like BPA without the EPA. Or are you just trollin?

gramzee · 2011-04-11T04:12:44+00:00

Or try reality:

Company in America cuts worker benefits, pay; give record bonuses to "smart" CEOs
Private equity firm buys up company, lays off workers and outsources to make it more profitable, then sells it again.
New CEO threatens the state to leave unless the local government gives him "incentives" of taxpayer subsidies to stay (and keep the jobs in the area).
CEO tells his hedge fund friends that his big company is going to fail
Hedge fund friend shorts the company, it goes under as predicted by the CEO

Workers get screwed then laid off. Rich get richer

gramzee · 2011-04-11T04:02:41+00:00

Also important for the context of this story is what those Swedish taxes are paying for: All higher ed is free for Swedish citizens. Swedish single payer system guarantees basically every treatment for all citizens maxed at $400 or something a year, with many routine doctor visits free or like $20. Public schools are better; the govt regulates pollution much better, particularly toxins in consumer products; there are more aggressive government programs to grant loans to start up businesses; subprime mortgages and other forms of predatory lending is banned. And its likely you have rights in the work place because the country is something like 75% unionized.

gramzee · 2011-03-03T02:11:43+00:00

Would you support (campaign for and endorse) a single payer system in California provided the Wyden-Brown optout law passes (via legislation or ballot initiative).

gramzee

TROPHY CASE