Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 14:05:27 +0100 Subject: FW Rachel #680: MONEY RULES >Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 10:47:33 -0500 (EST) >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Rachel #680: MONEY RULES >MONEY RULES =========My Comment======Thus====== > >Here we begin our traditional year-end review of significant >events and trends. > >One of the most important trends of the last half of the >twentieth century was the spread of democracy into many countries >that had never enjoyed it before. ========Unfortunately it was not democracy that was extended into many other countries, rather it was the "free market" that was spread and used ass an excuse to rob the natives of their resources, monetise them and export them to the "home country." When the natives "wake up" to what has happened and refuse to honour the agreement, the armies of the "democratic" countries will simply have to go and "enforce" the right to private proprty that is the keystone of "democratic countries." *At the same time, democracy >within the U.S. continued to shrivel as a wealthy elite gained >increasing control. All three branches of government actively >encouraged this shift of power from "the rest of us" to the >wealthy. > *>In April, the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for the wealthy >to curry favor with government officials. The court ruled that >substantial gifts to a government official are legal unless the >official performs a "specific official act" in return for the >gift. The matter came before the court because Sun-Diamond >Growers of California gave gifts worth $5900 to Mike Espy when he >was Secretary of Agriculture. Since Espy did not perform any >specific official act on behalf of Sun-Diamond in return for the >gifts, the gifts were legal, the court ruled. The American League >of Lobbyists, expressed relief at the court's ruling. Lobbyists >now know they can shower Congress with gifts without running >afoul of the law.[1] One favorite tactic is to give money to >Congressional staffers, rather than directly to members of >Congress. Another favorite is to pay for lavish vacations for >members of Congress, disguised as "fact-finding trips." SNIP ============I certainly hope that every member of FW has lobbied their Canadian MP to restrict the money allowed to be paid to political partys. The Bill is C-2 and is currently befor the House committee. Happy New Year Edward G
