The airline industry is asking for 50 billion in response to this crisis.

[guillaumeb]

What did that industry do with the billions they receive from the Trump/GOP tax cut for the rich?

They used that tax cut money to buy back their stock, and to give bonuses to their high level executives. Many other businesses did so as well.

Remember, socialism for the rich, and austerity for the rest.

[Quemado]

1. They used their cash to buy back stock.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213114635

[guillaumeb]

2. I did see that after I posted this.

Many of the rich have no shame, and no sense of community.

[MFGsunny]

3. The answer should be :: GET IN LINE behind far more deserving joe-6-packs. n/t

[guillaumeb]

4. Lines are for workers.

The rich can call their favorite politicians.

[MFGsunny]

8. Eggs-actly.

The rich are already eating cake.

[Windy City Charlie]

12. That's just it

We have all these Trumpers crying around about socialism, yet them and the corporations they trust so much, will be the first ones with their hands out wanting their hand on their government check.

[Wounded Bear]

19. Ab-so-fucking-lutely!!!

Workers first, then corporations. They got their bonuses already.

[Windy City Charlie]

5. Evidently..

It sounds like some in the Senate are proposing to go in the same direction with the crisis bill. They want to start by taking care of the businesses, corporations and the financial sector first and so on at the top and then work their way down. Not liking that at all!

[Frustratedlady]

7. This is why the Democrats in Congress need to watch the Repukes very carefully. They will glom onto

any opportunity to fill their pockets and to hell with the rest of us who actually pay the taxes.

As soon as Trump mentioned the airline industry (and slid quietly into the hotel industry), I could see he was mostly interested in his area of business not the general public.

Someone said this morning that the last bailout/tax break for the airlines was used to buy back stock to increase the profits of their shareholders. The stock market is too complicated for most of the general public to detect any shenanigans going on, but there should be enough savvy citizens that are up-to-date on the current loopholes to know when Trump is helping them and ignoring us.

[Windy City Charlie]

9. Exactly

I'm fearing McConnell and the leaders in the senate will re-write this bill so much it won't look anything like the bill the house passed.

[guillaumeb]

15. Always follow the money.

And yes, welfare for the same companies that used their Trump/GOP tax cut to buy back stock and buy other companies is rewarding bad behavior.

[Cirque du So-What]

10. What kind of capitalists are these?

Whatever happened to the free market and Darwinistic survival of the fittest? Maybe it's time to let the dinosaurs go extinct and allow some up-and-comers to pick up the pieces.

[guillaumeb]

16. The free market never existed under capitalism.

Every market is regulated to one degree or another.

[Cirque du So-What]

22. I agree

My sarcasm was directed toward those who want no regulations.

[guillaumeb]

23. Understood. eom

[alwaysinasnit]

11. Naomi Klein warns of 'coronavirus capitalism.'

https://theintercept.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-capitalism/

[mindem]

13. Nobody is supposed to be traveling anyway

let their frickin jets just sit there. People can get in a car and drive.

[Hoyt]

14. Right or wrong, feds will likely subsidize industry. Airlines employ millions workers, directly or

indirectly, in some of our best paying jobs.

They certainly don't deserve whatever they request, and if we had a lot of time to study it, maybe airlines -- and related industries -- don't deserve anything. But, I suspect the feds will look it as a prudent investment in ensuring good jobs for many years down the road. I would also bet, we see some restrictions on how the money is used.

I'm also assuming there will be direct payments to employees in lots of industries that lose their jobs or significant hours.

Unfortunately, those $12 - $18 an hour jobs that were going unfilled -- that we griped about just a few months ago -- will suddenly become the good old days.

[guillaumeb]

18. If there are restriction son the money to industry,

including prohibitions of certain behavior, that might work. But far more important is money directly to all workers. Demand drives the economy, not tax cuts for the rich.

[smirkymonkey]

17. No, just no.

No corporate welfare until the people are provided for!

[superpatriotman]

20. Sure

NOT ONE PENNY TO DEBT HOLDERS!

[guillaumeb]

21. And no stock buybacks.

If this money were given with the proviso that companies receiving welfare cannot pay dividends or buy back stock for 2 years, that might work.