Why this is about money and not health.
Dow Chemical spends an enormous amount of money for lobbying. What is lobbying you ask. Let me explain it this way. Lobbyists are paid by companies and groups to visit your representitives in Wasnington DC, your state legislature and even your local city and country governments.
The old saying that 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' rings true when you consider the massive effect that the lobbyists have on the decisions that politicians make. Some people say that the lobbyists are the evil ones here, but others blame the politicians. I guess I find the majority of the fault on the politicians. If there hands weren't out looking for 'grease' and the receipt of that 'grease' didn't have such direct results for the lobbying company or group, then lobbying would die out. BUT, Washington DC runs with lots of 'grease'. Usually the more greased politicians become nothing more then bought and paid for shills or 'water carriers' for the industries that give them money. Now, onto Dow and lobbying.
According to OpenSecrets.org, Dow ranked number 6 in 1999 lobbying activities. Here is the line from the report:
Dow Chemical
1999 Lobbying expenses $2,120,000
1998 Lobbying expenses $2,440,000
1997 Lobbying expenses $1,980,000
Average growth 3.5%
Some of the groups that Dow spent money on have clients like the Chlorine Chemistry Council (CCC), the Recording Artists of America (RIAA), Phillip Morris, DuPont, American Petroleum Institute, CBS, AT&T and Aventis.
Why is lobbying so bad? Here is the figures from the top lobbying organization in 1999:
Cassidy & Assoc
1999 Lobbying receipts $20,840,000
1998 Lobbying receipts $19,890,000
1997 Lobbying receipts $17,754,425
Average increase 8.3%
Yes, that's 20.8 million dollars! I feel like I should have my pinky in the corner of my mouth like the villan in Austin Powers. That's a heck of a lot of 'grease'. At this rate, people would have very little chance of fighting the will of the lobbyists.
Another thing that adds to the 'money over health' situation is the amount of contributions that Dow Chemical doles out to 'our' representatives.
In the 2002 US Congress race, according to OpenSecrets.org again, Dow Chemical gave Dave Camp $11,000 and earned the 'top contributer' title to his campaign and Dow made the top 5 list of .highest contributors in the 2001-2002 race with a total amount contributed reported at $510,389. More grease...
Other 'representatives' that were taking money from Dow are Tony Stamas who took close to $5,000 in 2002 from the data at this site that reports on Michigan contribution recipients. According to 2004 data available, he is doing just as well now...
John Moolenaar is close behind in his collection of grease.
Why are political contributions so dangerous? Because, if they didn't work the corporations that are giving wouldn't give, would they...
Also at OpenSecrets.org are information on personal assets. According to the 2002 personal finance report filed May 13, 2003, Dave Camp holds between $500,000 and $1,000,000 dollars of Dow Corporate stock and earns between $15,000 and $50,000 dollars a year in dividends from that stock!
Well, isn't that cozy. The person that is to represent us citizens of the great State of Michigan have someone who has a conflict of interest with a major polluter in his home district supposedly 'representing us'. Why does this become important? You will see... Do you, reading this now, think that Mr. Camp can be totally unbiased in any dealing with Dow and the chemical industry in general? But fear not, dear friends... Mr. Camp, with his huge amount of Dow stock, was on the 'Standards of Official Conduct Committee'! It's commonly called the 'House Ethics Committee' and 'deals solely with reviewing the behavior of House members'. Kinda ironic, huh... These political people are quite a bunch of funny people... I guess ethics are hard to come by for politicians these days but also missing is the ability to look at themselves to find the hypocrisy...
The old saying that 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' rings true when you consider the massive effect that the lobbyists have on the decisions that politicians make. Some people say that the lobbyists are the evil ones here, but others blame the politicians. I guess I find the majority of the fault on the politicians. If there hands weren't out looking for 'grease' and the receipt of that 'grease' didn't have such direct results for the lobbying company or group, then lobbying would die out. BUT, Washington DC runs with lots of 'grease'. Usually the more greased politicians become nothing more then bought and paid for shills or 'water carriers' for the industries that give them money. Now, onto Dow and lobbying.
According to OpenSecrets.org, Dow ranked number 6 in 1999 lobbying activities. Here is the line from the report:
Dow Chemical
1999 Lobbying expenses $2,120,000
1998 Lobbying expenses $2,440,000
1997 Lobbying expenses $1,980,000
Average growth 3.5%
Some of the groups that Dow spent money on have clients like the Chlorine Chemistry Council (CCC), the Recording Artists of America (RIAA), Phillip Morris, DuPont, American Petroleum Institute, CBS, AT&T and Aventis.
Why is lobbying so bad? Here is the figures from the top lobbying organization in 1999:
Cassidy & Assoc
1999 Lobbying receipts $20,840,000
1998 Lobbying receipts $19,890,000
1997 Lobbying receipts $17,754,425
Average increase 8.3%
Yes, that's 20.8 million dollars! I feel like I should have my pinky in the corner of my mouth like the villan in Austin Powers. That's a heck of a lot of 'grease'. At this rate, people would have very little chance of fighting the will of the lobbyists.
Another thing that adds to the 'money over health' situation is the amount of contributions that Dow Chemical doles out to 'our' representatives.
In the 2002 US Congress race, according to OpenSecrets.org again, Dow Chemical gave Dave Camp $11,000 and earned the 'top contributer' title to his campaign and Dow made the top 5 list of .highest contributors in the 2001-2002 race with a total amount contributed reported at $510,389. More grease...
Other 'representatives' that were taking money from Dow are Tony Stamas who took close to $5,000 in 2002 from the data at this site that reports on Michigan contribution recipients. According to 2004 data available, he is doing just as well now...
John Moolenaar is close behind in his collection of grease.
Why are political contributions so dangerous? Because, if they didn't work the corporations that are giving wouldn't give, would they...
Also at OpenSecrets.org are information on personal assets. According to the 2002 personal finance report filed May 13, 2003, Dave Camp holds between $500,000 and $1,000,000 dollars of Dow Corporate stock and earns between $15,000 and $50,000 dollars a year in dividends from that stock!
Well, isn't that cozy. The person that is to represent us citizens of the great State of Michigan have someone who has a conflict of interest with a major polluter in his home district supposedly 'representing us'. Why does this become important? You will see... Do you, reading this now, think that Mr. Camp can be totally unbiased in any dealing with Dow and the chemical industry in general? But fear not, dear friends... Mr. Camp, with his huge amount of Dow stock, was on the 'Standards of Official Conduct Committee'! It's commonly called the 'House Ethics Committee' and 'deals solely with reviewing the behavior of House members'. Kinda ironic, huh... These political people are quite a bunch of funny people... I guess ethics are hard to come by for politicians these days but also missing is the ability to look at themselves to find the hypocrisy...
posted by RW at
11:32 AM
|
0 comments
