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Invisibledanknugz81
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151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War
    #8369466 - 05/06/08 03:55 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/151_congressmen_derive_financi.html

Quote:

151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War

Blood money stains the hands of more than 25% of members of the U.S. House and Senate

rss202

By Ralph Forbes

Who profits from the Iraq war? More than a quarter of senators and congressmen have invested at least $196 million of their own money in companies doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD) that profit from the death and destruction in Iraq.

According to the latest reports, 151 members of Congress invested close to a quarter-billion in companies that received defense contracts of at least $5 million in 2006. These companies got more than $275.6 billion from the government in 2006, or $755 million per day, according to FedSpending.org, a website of the watchdog group OMBWatch.

Congressmen gave themselves a loophole so they only have to report their assets in broad ranges. Thus, they can be off as much as 160 percent. (Try giving the IRS an estimate like that.) In 2004, the first full year after the present Iraq war began, Republican and Democratic lawmakers—both hawks and doves—invested between $74.9 million and $161.3 million in companies under contract with the DoD. In 2006 Democrats had at least $3.7 million invested in the defense sector alone, compared to the Republicans’ “only” $577,500. As the war raged on, so did the billions of profits—and personal investments by Congress members in war contractors, which increased 5 percent from 2004 to 2006.

Investments in these contractors yielded Congress members between $15.8 million and $62 million in personal income from 2004 through 2006, through dividends, capital gains, royalties and interest. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who are two of Congress’s wealthiest members, were among the lawmakers who garnered the most income from war contractors between 2004 and 2006: Sensenbrenner got at least $3.2 million and Kerry reaped at least $2.6 million.

Members of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees which oversee the Iraq war had between $32 million and $44 million invested in companies with DoD contracts.

War hawk Sen. Joe Lieberman (IConn.), chairman of the defense-related
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, had at least $51,000 invested in these companies in 2006.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), who voted for Bush’s war, had stock in defense companies, such as Honeywell, Boeing and Raytheon, but sold the stock in May 2007.

Of the 151 members whose investments are tied to the “defense” (war)
industry, as far as we know, not one of them offered to donate their bloodstained profits to the national treasury to offset the terrible debt they have imposed. Has one of them even offered to donate one cent of their war profits to lessen the debt that increases more than $1 million a minute?

When our boys and girls are wounded the government bills them to return their reenlistment bonus. They have to return any pay they received while they were hospitalized. They have to pay for their helmets and uniforms that are destroyed in the hell of war. But they keep on fighting for these politicians’ right to keep their war profits.

• Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) $3,001,006 to $5,015,001
• Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $250,001 to $500,000
• Rep. Kenny Ewell Marchant (R-Tex.) $162,074 to $162,074
• Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) $115,002 to $300,000
• Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) $115,002 to $300,000
• Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) $100,870 to $100,870
• Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) $65,646 to $65,646
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) $50,008 to $227,000
• Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) $50,001 to $100,000
• Rep. Stephen Ira Cohen (D-Tenn.) $45,003 to $150,000



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InvisibleThe Tourist
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: danknugz81]
    #8369552 - 05/06/08 04:15 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Hahaha.

All I can really do is laugh at this point.












Just Relax! The end is near.



--------------------
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society"
Jiddu Krishnamurti

"That's a marvelous structural technique of propaganda... It is only in folk tales, children's stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful and dedicated ignorance to fail to perceive them.”
Noam Chomsky

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OfflineThe_Red_Crayon
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: danknugz81]
    #8369618 - 05/06/08 04:30 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Glad to see the democrats care so much about Iraq, Itleast when the republicans make a profit they are actually for the war, its disgusting to see democrats making profits off a war they dont agree with (or itleast appear that way). The democrats have to be the biggest liars on earth.

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Invisibledanknugz81
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The_Red_Crayon]
    #8369649 - 05/06/08 04:40 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

The_Red_Crayon said:
Glad to see the democrats care so much about Iraq, Itleast when the republicans make a profit they are actually for the war, its disgusting to see democrats making profits off a war they dont agree with (or itleast appear that way). The democrats have to be the biggest liars on earth.




stop making it a partisan issue, the republicans are just as guilty of profiting from this war. even more so, in my opinion.

they're all scumbags.

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OfflineThe_Red_Crayon
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: danknugz81]
    #8369692 - 05/06/08 04:52 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

danknugz81 said:
Quote:

The_Red_Crayon said:
Glad to see the democrats care so much about Iraq, Itleast when the republicans make a profit they are actually for the war, its disgusting to see democrats making profits off a war they dont agree with (or itleast appear that way). The democrats have to be the biggest liars on earth.




stop making it a partisan issue, the republicans are just as guilty of profiting from this war. even more so, in my opinion.

they're all scumbags.




Where did I state republicans never profitted from this war, and first of all im not a republican and nor do i support any republican politicians as well as democrats. You dont find it any strange that the party who generally opposes the war in Iraq is making significant profits there?

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Invisibledanknugz81
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The_Red_Crayon]
    #8369738 - 05/06/08 05:02 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

The_Red_Crayon said:
Quote:

danknugz81 said:
Quote:

The_Red_Crayon said:
Glad to see the democrats care so much about Iraq, Itleast when the republicans make a profit they are actually for the war, its disgusting to see democrats making profits off a war they dont agree with (or itleast appear that way). The democrats have to be the biggest liars on earth.




stop making it a partisan issue, the republicans are just as guilty of profiting from this war. even more so, in my opinion.

they're all scumbags.




Where did I state republicans never profitted from this war, and first of all im not a republican and nor do i support any republican politicians as well as democrats. You dont find it any strange that the party who generally opposes the war in Iraq is making significant profits there?




i dont know if i consider anything strange anymore, with this "elected" psuedo government of the people. i just thought you were a right-winger taking the opportunity to knock democrats while trying to make republicans look better because they're "actually for the war" - like that somehow makes it better. they are ALL profiting from the blood of americans and iraqis - and the republicans are making the most since they are the ones who maintain close ties to Blackwater, Halliburton, KBR, etc...

we've all been lied to, and people in this country still refuse to believe it. it's sickening what this once-great nation has become.

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OfflineThe_Red_Crayon
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: danknugz81]
    #8369763 - 05/06/08 05:10 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

No, we havent been lied to. We've just been retarded and nobody fact checks, and after 9/11 it seemed in some orgiastic jingoistic fit of retardation nobody in the public questioned the administrations actions till it was hip to no longer show support.

I was against the war in Iraq from day one, I knew the occupation would be a disaster and the pentagon didnt even know the difference between Shiite and Sunni. They were played by the Iranians and all the major middle eastern political powers. It reminds me of Israel and the Bekaa valley in 83.

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Invisibledanknugz81
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The_Red_Crayon]
    #8369794 - 05/06/08 05:18 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

1) iraq - al queda link : LIE
2) Weapons of mass destruction : LIE
3) faulty 9/11 cover-up, i mean commission : LIE

however, this isnt just about the war.

this is about the loss of civil liberties. the mangling of the constitution to serve the needs of a wanna-be fascist dictatorship. this is about congress giving an administration with questionable motives-at best FULL UNCHECKED POWER to do whatever the fuck they want.

now, we're openly discussing war with Iran as an option (based up more LIES) when we havent even resolved the issues in Iraq - much less the MANY problems plaguing us at home.

the game is rigged. the system is a joke and so is our democracy. yes, you HAVE been lied to.

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OfflineThe_Red_Crayon
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: danknugz81]
    #8370225 - 05/06/08 07:01 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Ohhhh ok, thanks for letting me know i've been "lied" too. Oh you who watched a video and suddenly became enlightened.

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Invisibledanknugz81
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The_Red_Crayon]
    #8370605 - 05/06/08 08:12 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

The_Red_Crayon said:
Ohhhh ok, thanks for letting me know i've been "lied" too. Oh you who watched a video and suddenly became enlightened.




lol fuck a video dude... read the news man, see what is going on.

regardless of whether you believed the premise of the war, the majority of the country got behind it due to the lies and false "intelligence" this administration spouted. you may not feel you were lied to but many do. i saw this coming the moment bush was elected, although when rize said Iraq was "no threat" I thought I might have been wrong.

i agree that this country displayed a wreckless "kill em all" attitude after 9/11 and maybe if people had awoken to these lies earlier and congress would have had some fucking BALLS we could have avoided this disaster.

every member of congress took an oath to uphold the constitution and they violated that oath when they signed the patriot act 1 & 2. i've always known that politicians were crooked, but i never expected them to rape the constitution so severely.

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OfflineThe_Red_Crayon
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: danknugz81]
    #8370658 - 05/06/08 08:24 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

What else do you expect from people who spend 20$ million on a campaign for a job that only pays 150 thousand a year.

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InvisibleThe Tourist
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The_Red_Crayon]
    #8371062 - 05/06/08 09:51 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

If anything good can be taken from this fucking mess, it's that more of us have realized that something needs to change in American politics. I think a good place to start is by completely separating money interests, lobbying, corporate ties, etc. from Washington. Enough with this plutocracy BULLSHIT. I don't even think that that's the half of it, but it's a start.

We need to bring back the idea that a democratic government serves the people, rather than the other way around. They do the bidding of the population, period. Being in politics puts you in the area of work designated "public service" for a fucking reason.

If the American government does something that I consider to be evil, wrong, etc. but it represents the will of the people or a move that is legitimately in the peoples' interest, then so be it. But if our government officials decide to become rogue politicians, even collectively and for any reason, they deserve to be locked away with no more questions asked.

Our administration and congress have spit in the face of democracy.


--------------------
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society"
Jiddu Krishnamurti

"That's a marvelous structural technique of propaganda... It is only in folk tales, children's stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful and dedicated ignorance to fail to perceive them.”
Noam Chomsky

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Invisiblejohnm214
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The Tourist]
    #8371099 - 05/06/08 10:01 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

The Tourist said:
If anything good can be taken from this fucking mess, it's that more of us have realized that something needs to change in American politics. I think a good place to start is by completely separating money interests, lobbying, corporate ties, etc. from Washington. Enough with this plutocracy BULLSHIT. I don't even think that that's the half of it, but it's a start.

We need to bring back the idea that a democratic government serves the people, rather than the other way around. They do the bidding of the population, period. Being in politics puts you in the area of work designated "public service" for a fucking reason.





How can you limit money contributions? That is an assault on freedom, the first amendment, the 9th amendment (not really but I think it is).

All I think should be done is require disclosure of monies paid. As soon as you start prohibiting certain means of political support you interfere w/ democracy and are neccesarily tied to the will of the government to ensure fairness- which I don't think can be presumed. If I want to give money to a cause I should be able to. If bill gates wants to give money for a cause, he should be able to. Both contributions to politicians or groups should be disclosed, but that's it. The government can't protect you from the apathy of the citezenry.

And government is neccesarily a socialist system where the people serve the government. How can you have it any other way?

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InvisibleThe Tourist
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: johnm214]
    #8371291 - 05/06/08 10:44 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

All corporate and organizational contributions should be banned. Individual ones are fine, and you're right, they should simply be disclosed. The "apathy of the citizenry" is definitely something we can't manipulate.


Quote:



And government is neccesarily a socialist system where the people serve the government. How can you have it any other way?





Well, we could have a democracy.


And who says socialism means the people serve the government?


--------------------
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society"
Jiddu Krishnamurti

"That's a marvelous structural technique of propaganda... It is only in folk tales, children's stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful and dedicated ignorance to fail to perceive them.”
Noam Chomsky

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Invisiblejohnm214
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The Tourist]
    #8371533 - 05/07/08 12:18 AM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

The Tourist said:
All corporate and organizational contributions should be banned. Individual ones are fine, and you're right, they should simply be disclosed. The "apathy of the citizenry" is definitely something we can't manipulate.


Quote:



And government is neccesarily a socialist system where the people serve the government. How can you have it any other way?





Well, we could have a democracy.


And who says socialism means the people serve the government?




Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

---

So to you that means: Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, unless they've got money or are a corporation?

----

And the Ninth:
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.




This means we have all natural rights except the right to do w/ our money what we please? Or only organisations don't have that right?
Quote:

Quote:



And government is neccesarily a socialist system where the people serve the government. How can you have it any other way?





Well, we could have a democracy.


And who says socialism means the people serve the government?




How is a democracy incompatible w/ a socialist scheme?

And socialism means people serve the government, as in all forms, because the second law of thermodynamics applies to wealth too. The government cannot function without money and labor, and they cannot create such out of thin air, thus, necessarily, they must take from others to provide for themselves. Again, how else could the government function without the people serving it, as in providing labor and money?

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OfflineSeussA
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: johnm214]
    #8371885 - 05/07/08 04:05 AM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

And government is neccesarily a socialist system where the people serve the government. How can you have it any other way?




You can at least restrict the socialist nature by removing the governments "right" to play Robin Hood, giving one citizen's money to another "less fortunate" citizen. You also place control of pay and compensation in the hands of the voters rather than the hands of the lawmakers.


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Just another spore in the wind.

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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: Seuss]
    #8372576 - 05/07/08 10:36 AM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Also, the military should be limited to defending attacks on their own soil. Any foreign wars should be handled SOLELY by individuals and should not be paid for with taxes.


--------------------
"America: Fuck yeah!" -- Alexthegreat

“Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knowledge with the lies of the day.”  -- Thomas Jefferson

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InvisibleThe Tourist
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: Seuss]
    #8372875 - 05/07/08 12:16 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

I agree, Seuss.

But I'd like to ask everyone here, what makes your money truly yours? The fact that you possess it? Money belongs to the people who create it and produce, not to the business owners and managers within the hierarchy who enslave their workers as a result of the workers having no alternatives under the current system.

Business and money belong to the workers, and this system of capitalism is simply a way for people with power (the wealthy) to control those in need, those without money.

If workers actually had a say in the workings and wage policies of the organization they are keeping alive (in the form of unions, for example), aka economic democracy, then our government wouldn't have to play babysitter and get everyone's undies in a knot because they think "their" money is being taken from them and redistributed. They could just worry about things like infrastructure, which all, or most, of the people agree on. True socialism, in my interpretation, has nothing to do with the government.


--------------------
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society"
Jiddu Krishnamurti

"That's a marvelous structural technique of propaganda... It is only in folk tales, children's stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful and dedicated ignorance to fail to perceive them.”
Noam Chomsky

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InvisibleThe Tourist
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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: Baby_Hitler]
    #8372878 - 05/07/08 12:17 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Baby Hitler, your nuclear smiley face is what I was looking for when I put the picture in my first post haha. I love that.


--------------------
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society"
Jiddu Krishnamurti

"That's a marvelous structural technique of propaganda... It is only in folk tales, children's stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful and dedicated ignorance to fail to perceive them.”
Noam Chomsky

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Re: 151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War [Re: The Tourist]
    #8373133 - 05/07/08 01:32 PM (15 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

The Tourist said:
I agree, Seuss.

But I'd like to ask everyone here, what makes your money truly yours? The fact that you possess it? Money belongs to the people who create it and produce, not to the business owners and managers within the hierarchy who enslave their workers as a result of the workers having no alternatives under the current system.

Business and money belong to the workers, and this system of capitalism is simply a way for people with power (the wealthy) to control those in need, those without money.





excellent work comrad


Now find a way to determine who gets what, who owes whom what, and you'll have something there.

But I submit there is no other way to decide what something is worth than through free market contracts.

When government seeks to regulate consumer/worker affairs they almost always take rights from the poor folks and give it to the rich buisnesses (removing standing to sue, providing no private causes of action, nullifying common law, and trumping local/state law).

There is no way for the government to involve itself in these matters. It must only provide fair laws that respect the natural rights of contract and self determination of both parties, and a forum for grievances and damages.

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