Fed Mob
Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 08:39 AM CDT

Take the time to read this. It's important:
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/federal-judge-grudgingly-approves-morgan-stanley-price-fixing-case/?smid=pl-share

But if you don't have the time here's the skinny. Yep - this is a political post - consider it part of the run up to Woodstock.

Morgan Stanley helped KeySpan make an extra $300M off it's clients through a price fixing deal. Morgan Stanley made $21.6M for it's efforts. National Grid who owns KeySpan paid a $12M fine and admitted no guilt - and MS paid a $4.8M fine with no admission of guilt. The money went to the Federal Government - not the consumers - no one went to jail - and the cost of doing illegal business has been set at a relatively low rate by the Feds - with them taking their cut.

Sound like the Mafia? You're right. This is a bipartisan issue. We are being screwed by our representatives on a regular basis.

Speaking of mafia-like banks and govt:
Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 01:47 PM CDT

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-scam-wall-street-learned-from-the-mafia-20120620

---The Scam Wall Street Learned From the Mafia

How America's biggest banks took part in a nationwide bid-rigging conspiracy - until they were caught on tape---

Re:Fed Mob
Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 03:59 PM CDT

I was thinking about that RS article when I read this one this morning. Amazing how that story got no mainstream attention and no politicians were prosecuted though it could never have worked without their cooperation.

The real truth is - that both parties have colluded with the banks and corporations to enrich themselves and increase their power - while pretending to be of different ideologies ad throwing up the big partisan smoke screens.

What will it take for the people to wake up and smell the abuse?

Re:Fed Mob
Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 04:23 PM CDT

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Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 05:08 PM CDT

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Re:Fed Mob
Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 05:26 PM CDT

Quote by: RochaMalhada Quote by: bud What will it take for the people to wake up and smell the abuse? What will it take to STOP representation of corporations and interest groups as individual citizens (Advocacy, Lobby) in our government?

An amendment to repeal Citizens United is first.

Then we have to recognize illegal traders and bankers as people and prosecute their criminal behavior.

No more light fines and slaps on the wrist where no individual is at fault. No more penalties without admission of guilt.

As someone put it this morning: Jump a $2.25 subway turnstile in NYC and pay $50 fine - as well as getting arrested and being processed etc.
Steal $21.6M and pay a $4.8M fine with no record. There's something wrong with this picture.

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Wednesday, August 08 2012 @ 05:35 PM CDT

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Re:Fed Mob
Thursday, August 09 2012 @ 07:53 AM CDT

Quote by: RochaMalhada Quote by: bud What will it take for the people to wake up and smell the abuse? What will it take to STOP representation of corporations and interest groups as individual citizens (Advocacy, Lobby) in our government?

I joined in a couple of early meetings of what was called "The Peoples' Legislature" here in Wisconsin, headed up by Ed Garvey several years ago. It was an attempt to build a public lobbying group, who would meet, vote on issues and approach the state legislative process as a lobbying force. It seems like we were several thousand strong and statewide at that point... I lost track of it, after awhile. The concept was interesting, though!

Re:Fed Mob
Thursday, August 09 2012 @ 05:57 PM CDT

what people dont know is that the Mafia is a form of government built out of the chaos of the collapse of the Roman Empire, Little has change and the frame work is well built
not a long stretch to think that governments are a big mob
The shakedown is on!

Re:Fed Mob
Thursday, August 09 2012 @ 06:23 PM CDT

Quote by: Doadars Uncle Quote by: RochaMalhada Quote by: bud What will it take for the people to wake up and smell the abuse? What will it take to STOP representation of corporations and interest groups as individual citizens (Advocacy, Lobby) in our government? I joined in a couple of early meetings of what was called "The Peoples' Legislature" here in Wisconsin, headed up by Ed Garvey several years ago. It was an attempt to build a public lobbying group, who would meet, vote on issues and approach the state legislative process as a lobbying force. It seems like we were several thousand strong and statewide at that point... I lost track of it, after awhile. The concept was interesting, though!

Interesting Doug. What was the agenda of the lobby? Was it a special interest group - or just people who wanted actual representation to go along with the taxation?