An excellent article purported to have been written by Sarah Palin, entitled: "How Congress Occupied Wall Street" explained why "Politicians who arrive in Washington as men and women of modest means leave as millionaires."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424...Ms. Palin explains how all of the members of Congress can get rich: "Politicians derive power from the authority of their office and their access to our tax dollars, and they use that power to enrich and shield themselves."
The article points out how politicians enrich themselves by: "accepting sweetheart gifts of IPO stock from companies seeking to influence legislation, practicing insider trading with nonpublic government information, earmarking projects that benefit personal real estate holdings, and even subtly extorting campaign donations through the threat of legislation unfavorable to an industry."
All of this would be illegal for the rest of us and they sent Martha Stewart to jail for the same thing. "What are the solutions? We need reform that provides real transparency. Congress should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act like everyone else. We need more detailed financial disclosure reports, and members should submit reports much more often than once a year. All stock transactions above $5,000 should be disclosed within five days."
"We need equality under the law. From now on, laws that apply to the private sector must apply to Congress, including whistleblower, conflict-of-interest and insider-trading laws. Trading on nonpublic government information should be illegal both for those who pass on the information and those who trade on it. (This should close the loophole of the blind trusts that aren't really blind because they're managed by family members or friends.)"
"No more sweetheart land deals with campaign contributors. No gifts of IPO shares. No trading of stocks related to committee assignments. No earmarks where the congressman receives a direct benefit. No accepting campaign contributions while Congress is in session. No lobbyists as family members, and no transitioning into a lobbying career after leaving office. No more revolving door, ever. "
Good ideas all. We should all support positions that clean up government corruption, provide more transparency, and which benefit the 99% no matter what party we belong to. Occupiers and Tea Partiers both claim that they oppose crony capitalism and corruption. Common Ground?
You decide. Actions speak louder than words.
Insider Trading:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/20...Transparency in Government:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/11...Tax Cut for the 99% or Tiny Tax on the 1%:
http://desertbeacon.wordpress.com/2011/1...Corporate Personhood:
http://skyvalleychronicle.com/BREAKING-N...