'Lobbyists Are Here. Goldman Sachs Is Here. Where's Labor? Activists?' Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez

[guillaumeb]

'Lobbyists Are Here. Goldman Sachs Is Here. Where's Labor? Activists?' Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez Pull Back Curtain on Corporate-Sponsored Freshman Orientation

From the article:

Pulling back the curtain on the ostensibly "bipartisan" orientation for newly elected members of Congress at Harvard's Kennedy School in Boston, Reps.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) informed the public through live social media updates on Thursday that—contrary to the ideologically neutral advertising—the private conference featured a heavy dose of speeches by corporate CEOs and completely shut out organized labor and members of the progressive community.

"Our 'bipartisan' congressional orientation is co-hosted by a corporate lobbyist group," Ocasio-Cortez noted, likely referring to the Koch-funded American Enterprise Institute, which is co-sponsoring the event. "Other members have quietly expressed to me their concern that this wasn't told to us in advance. Lobbyists are here. Goldman Sachs is here. Where's labor? Activists? Frontline community leaders?"

To read more:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/06/lobbyists-are-here-goldman-sachs-here-wheres-labor-activists-tlaib-and-ocasio-cortez?cd-

One co-sponsor is a Koch Brothers front group disguised as a research institute.

And labor leaders are missing?

[Autumn]

1. We got lucky to get these 2 wonderful women.

K/R

[guillaumeb]

2. Agreed.

And we have Ilhan Omar, and many other great women as well.

[lilactime]

5. +1

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. Was just about to say that too.

[TheBlackAdder]

3. Congress allow themselves to insider trade, that's why they want committees. Leave millionaires.

.

That's something else which needs to be addressed, the gaming of the stocks by congress critters.

If it's illegal for regular folks and financial types from making money using Non-Public Material Information, the very people who game the laws while in committee should be held to the same standards.

.

[guillaumeb]

4. And the lobbyists are controlling the debate.

And controlling what is seen as possible.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

22. lobbyists write the bills

'Way back, I saw an interview with someone that many here will remember -- Hollings. He said one of the reasons he left is because they don't do anything any more except raise money and vote on bills that lobbyists write.

Found it:

But does access mean his vote? "Not only the vote. Wait a minute, it's all those K Street lawyers now and lobbyists and interests making up the legislation, and they work with staffs and everything else. The bills, and the special interests overwhelm us with submitted legislation," says Hollings.

"Communications, defense, you got them all – farms, agriculture people and everything else like that … They get their piece of the pie. That's our problem. Today, you can't find the real interests of the country."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parting-shots-from-fritz-hollings/

OT for this subject, but a juicy part of that interview:

"What are you saying? That all of these folks that keep voting Republican are racist," asks Wallace.

"Not quite. They are conservative. They honestly don't believe in government, like we do in the Democratic Party," says Hollings, laughing.

"We believe in feeding the hungry, and housing the homeless, and educating the uninformed and everything else like that. They believe in private education, a privatized Social Security, privatized energy policy -- privatize, privatize. They don't believe in 'We the people' in order to form a more perfect union."

[guillaumeb]

24. A good addition to this thread.

Like ALEC, the conservative group that writes "model legislation" for GOP politicians.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

25. we need balance

We need enough turn-over so that there are fresh, enthusiastic members of Congress, untainted by corporate lobbyists, in balance with experienced members who know how to get things done. I don't know how to achieve that balance or where it lies.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Why did it take a junior member of Congress

To point this out?

[guillaumeb]

7. It is taken for granted, perhaps,

that the lobbyists who infest Washington will control the debate.

And in a money driven political system, this should be no surprise.

Sad? Yes.

Surprising? NO.

[whathehell]

26. That's an excellent question..

Labor has been ignored for FAR too long.

[KelleyKramer]

32. At freshman orientation?

[shadowmayor]

8. Ruh Roh

Looks like the new kids ain't swallowing the usual bullshit.

[guillaumeb]

10. I am glad that they are speaking out.

Money politics is the main issue because the money controls the dialogue.

[Autumn]

11. The kids are alright. They don't fall for the bullshit and they don't take no bullshit.

[crazycatlady]

31. which is why we need more like her

[pecosbob]

12. Here's a new clip, soldado...

[guillaumeb]

13. Is there a link?

[pecosbob]

16. Poor use of words...a clip as in more ammo for her fight...

and the imagery's all wrong...sorry.

[guillaumeb]

19. I understand.

She has the potential to be a powerful voice for the 99%.

[hibbing]

14. Members should wear patches of their corporate sponsors

Just like NASCAR, and then in interviews thank their sponsors for writing their legislation for them.

Peace

[guillaumeb]

17. The jackets would need to be as large as circus tents.

To make the patches legible.

Peace to you also.

[dlk]

15. AOC Made an Excellent Point

Good for her--shining for a light on this event. Corporations wield far too much power in DC and a change is long past due.

[guillaumeb]

18. Indeed. eom

[mysteryowl]

20. Is this the first time the public is learning of this?

Unbelievable it has not been told to us before.

Thank you AOC! Keep it up!!!

[Takket]

21. they are out in the cold, where they have always been

[mjvpi]

23. This highlights one of Bernie Saunders main messages

The voice that is given to big money needs to be challenged by the Democratic leadership. Not just the freshmen. The Progrssive Caucus will welcome these new voices. Let’s hope they get assignments the gives their voices clout.

[guillaumeb]

29. Taking Big Money out of the equation is one part of the issue.

But given that politicians are constantly raising money, only public financing can help.

[JNelson6563]

27. Oh good, now she will learn all about

which lobbying groups have resources and which don't. Labor for instance. Labor ain't what it used to be. Sure you've got big union presence in pockets around the US but it's so diminished as to be unrecognizable from what people think it is.

When you have lots of money you can be everywhere at once. Seems this will be another lesson she will learn.

[guillaumeb]

28. One hopes that this will change.

But Labor Leaders will also have to take an even more active role.

[JNelson6563]

30. Challenges

A bit tough in "right to work" states, which are increasing in numbers. Why join a union and pay dues when you can get the same deal by not joining?

The GOP has been tirelessly working on making this the case in all 50 states. It's working. Labor is on the decline (has been for decades).