The big news today is the two-day climate conference of world leaders, which I will write about in the future, but I am still chewing over something from four days ago. Tonight’s post is a combination of history and speculation, so this is a good one to skip if you need a break from politics or you’re not interested in musings.
As a salesperson all of my adult life, I am stuck between two economic paradigms - the “trickle-down” economic cycle, in which the government spends little on the average American, and the “liberal agenda” economic cycle, where the government invests in itself and its citizens. And all these companies need the latter, simply because when the people have no money, they can’t afford to buy their products. Wal-Mart once lamented that the squeezing of welfare dollars negatively impacted their business. And, long before Trump’s nativism caught the attention of latent racists, I decided to stick w the “liberal agenda”, cause it is good for business.
What Rick Scott did in that op-ed was a miscalculation in salesperson terms. It tears against the golden rule of business relationships that “the customer is always right.” And it is never the action of a salesperson to threaten retaliation against a customer after they drop your business; as a salesperson, you NEVER burn that bridge.
Donald Trump’s time as the figurehead that came with the votes is waning, and we all know he’s a sore loser. The Republican Party’s time as the figurehead of business MAY ALSO BE WANING, and the day when the GOP could no longer rely on that great influx of cash to finance the machine that never works may finally be here.
I wouldn't expect you to predict the outcome of this fascinating and potentially momentous split. After all, historians don't predict the future. The Harvard Kennedy School poll of young people, released today, is a harbinger. It shows record-high approval ratings of President Biden among young people, higher even than for President Obama. This follows news of 300 business leaders endorsing aggressive action to combat climate change. The ground is shifting, and Republican leaders are unable or unwilling to see how attitudes in America are changing. They're fighting a tidal change that may sweep them away.
The American economy is based on consumerism. The demographics of American consumers is getting more colorful and more diverse every day. Businesses wishing to thrive therefore must adjust their political outlook and support in order to not alienate the people they more and more depend on.
When people of color were denied economic participation, denying them political participation was an easy business decision. The world is changing and smart businesses will change with it.
Thank you, Prof. HCR! Your political/historical musings are invariably a delight: filled with questions, critical thinking, and possible outcomes! They can never be skipped or ignored -- please, feel free to muse away to your heart's content. You never disappoint!
When I was in B-school in the late 80s’, the big debate was over the quality of for-profit hospitals, and it centered around HCA out of Tennessee, started by a doctor named Thomas Frist, whose brother was a US Senator. In the 90s, HCA merged with Columbia Health Care, out of Kentucky and started by Rick Scott.
Scott became chairman and CEO of Columbia/HCA. Then, employees blew the whistle and showed that the company was defrauding Medicare out of mllions of dollars. It paid "over $2 billion in criminal fines and civil penalties for systematically defrauding federal health care programs." [42] Columbia/HCA pleaded guilty to 14 felonies and admitted to systematically overcharging the government. The federal probe has been referred to as the longest and costliest investigation for health-care fraud in U.S. history” (Wikipedia cites)
Rick Scott was fired and Frist came out of retirement to repair the damage. The company was renamed simply HCA, I’m assuming to rid itself of the stain associated with Rick Scott’s company, Columbia Health Care.
Then Scott got into venture capital and became the governor of Florida.
This was interesting in Wikipedia "During Scott's 2000 deposition, he pleaded the Fifth Amendment 75 times.”
This is what the company confessed to:
"Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. It also admitted to fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. It filed false cost reports, fraudulently billing Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, it gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.
This is a list of every way of breaking health care financial-related laws that I’ve heard of, and used to read endlessly about how to not run operations in a way that could put you afoul of them. Systemically, a total sewer, and impossible that Scott was blind to it.
OK, as an Auslander (even if we have spent time living in the US) we just can't comprehend the power that Trump has over the Republicans (as we say, he seems to have them by the"short and curleys"). We just don't get the dynamics. Can someone please explain to us pig-ignoranti. Thanks.
As Michael Bales commented earlier, the national poll of America’s 18-to-29 year olds by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School provides a tantalizing look into the future. This comment was prepared for another day, but as your interest seems high, here we go. This was put together in an effort to raise the spirits of those among us worried about the future (who isn’t). There been too many disappointments over the years; an acute awareness of the terrible political strength and manipulation of the system and of American people by the Republican Party and age-old weariness can keep us down. There are, nevertheless, avenues of vibrancy, proven success and ingenuity in democratic and progressive circles. Knowing what young people are thinking is a fruitful road to travel. With that, please enjoy the following::
‘April 23, 2021’
‘A national poll of America’s 18-to-29 year olds released today by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School shows that despite the state of our politics, hope for America among young people is rising dramatically, especially among people of color. As more young Americans are likely to be politically engaged than they were a decade ago, they overwhelmingly approve of the job President Biden is doing, favor progressive policies, and have faith in their fellow Americans’.
‘Power Up: Biden scores record high approval rating among young voters, according to new poll’ (The Washington Post) April 23, 2021 at 6:22 a.m. EDT
‘The people’
‘THE BOY NEXT DOOR PHENOMENON’: Young Americans are more optimistic about the future and far more approving of U.S. leadership under President Biden than during ex-president Donald Trump's tenure, according to a new Harvard Youth Poll released on Friday.
Biden has hit the highest favorability rating — 63 percent — among college students who are registered voters of any president in the youth poll's 21-year history, according to the poll.
Sitting at an overall 59 percent approval rating with those surveyed, Biden's popularity among young voters also marks a dramatic U-turn for the 78-year-old president: at this time last year, only 34 percent of all young adults viewed Biden favorably, per the spring 2020 Harvard Youth Poll. Read the full results here.
• Fifty-nine percent of 18-to-29 year old Americans approve of Biden's overall job performance; 65 approve of his handling of the coronavirus; and 57 percent of race relations, according to the poll.
Another striking development: young Americans are more hopeful about the future of America than they were in the fall of 2017 – almost a year after former president Trump took office. Only 31 percent of young Americans were hopeful about the future of America at the time and 67 percent were fearful.
Four years later, 56 percent of young Americans are more optimistic – especially young people of color.
• “While the hopefulness of young whites has increased 11 points, from 35 percent to 46 percent – the changes in attitudes among young people of color are striking,” according to a memo penned by Della Volpe. “Whereas only 18 percent of young Blacks had hope in 2017, today 72 percent are hopeful (+54). In 2017, 29 percent of Hispanics called themselves hopeful, today that number is 69% (+40).”
• Notable: the polling was conducted before the verdict that found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
And for all of the caricatures of young Americans, the poll found that young people are open minded, more likely to be politically engaged than they were a decade ago and favor big government solutions to problems.
• Thirty-six percent of young Americans are politically active, with young Black voters (41 percent) the most active among that group. That's a 12-point difference from a 2009 poll that found in the fall after Obama's election that 24 percent of young Americans considered themselves to be politically active.
• “By a margin of nearly three-to-one, we found that youth agreed with the sentiment, ‘Americans with different political views from me still want what’s best for the country’ — in total, 50% agreed, 18% disagreed, and 31% were recorded as neutral,” according to Della Volpe's memo.
• The poll found a majority of young Americans favor government intervention on the issues of poverty, combating climate change, and health care.'
HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL
INSTITUE OF POLITICS
Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes toward Politics and Public Service 41st Edition: March 9 – March 22, 2021 N=2,513 18- to- 29-Year-Olds in English and Spanish Margin of Error: +/-2.60% at the 95% Level 1. With regard to school, are you currently enrolled at any of the following?
High school ................................................................................ 7%
Trade/Vocational school ............................................................ 2%
2-year or junior college or community college .......................... 9%
[If enrolled in 4-year college/university, ask] 2. In which year of college are you? (n=511)
First year student/Freshman ..................................................... 17%
Second year student/Sophomore .............................................. 18%
Third year student/Junior ......................................................... 25%
Fourth year student/Senior....................................................... 31%
Fifth year student or higher........................................................ 7% Refused....................................................................................... 1%
###
I hope that you enjoyed this glimpse into the future. May these young people work together with a strong commitment to Democracy. Sounds like prayer, doesn’t it?
Of course, Scott is also the guy who headed Columbia/HCA when it was hit with the largest fine by the Justice Department to that time - $1.7B for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs. How do these people live with themselves?
All the yadda-yadda-yadda about how business is finally "woke" is so much happy horseshit. It was on the news tonight on Rachel's show that business PACs are once again donating to the Sedition Caucus. There's also the Chamber of Commerce (that they're all members of) that is whipping votes AGAINST H.R.1, and none of the "woke" CEOs are calling the Chamber out, or canceling their membership.
As always, watch what they do, not what they say, and FOLLOW THE MONEY.
So far as Senator Skeletor is concerned, global warming can't happen fast enough if it means we get the privilege of No More Florida.
It is interesting to see the stock market at an all time high. And what does it represent? The average American doesn't have any part of it. I just read recently that 50 percent of the stock market value is held by the top 1 percent. And 90 some percent is owned by the top 10 percent. Where does that leave the rest of us?
And a bigger question: "What does that value represent?" In the 50's and 60's it represented factories, machinery and jobs. It meant you could buy a house and a car because you had a job.
What can you manufacture with a BitCoin? What can you cook for dinner with a stock certificate?
When American business got taken over by the bookkeepers, we lost sight of the things we could make and the science and engineering problems we could solve.
The political leaders of today are only concerned with raising money. I am happy to see the young people of this country getting involved in government at every level. Time to start thinking about how we are going to feed ourselves and our children.
In today's Letter, Heather speculates that given The Republican Party's furor over Corporate America's cold shoulder since January 6th attempted Insurrection, there may be an even bigger split in the Party. Could the Republicans get by without their best friend and depend mostly on small donations? Reading the following may give pause to Heather's speculation of a deep split between The Republican Party and its dance partner.
I've been keeping the following information for a time like this.
from: Public Citizen APRIL 5, 2021
'The Corporate Sponsors of Voter Suppression'
'Since 2015, Corporations Have Contributed $50 Million to the State Lawmakers Supporting Voter Suppression Bills, Trade Groups Have Given Another $36 Million'
'Key Findings'
'Corporations have contributed $50 million since 2015 to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $22 million during the 2020 election cycle. More than 60 corporations have contributed more than $100,000.
Among the Fortune 100, 81 companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $7.7 million.
Among the Fortune 500, 45 percent of companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $12.8 million.'
Industry trade groups contributed $36 million to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $16 million during the 2020 election cycle.'
•Three-fourths companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.
• AT&T has given the most to supporters of state-level voter suppression bills, at more than $811,000. AT&T is followed by Altria / Philip Morris ($679,000), Comcast ($440,000), UnitedHealth Group ($411,000), Walmart ($377,000), State Farm ($315,000) and Pfizer ($308,000).'
You cannot miss the names of the companies, which have been major supporters of the Republican state legislatures and bankrolling all that voter suppression stuff. When you think about the problems we've got, think about the Democratic Party, too. Howard Dean, when Chairman of Democratic National Committee, successfully implemented the fifty-state-strategy, which met with great success. Naturally, the Party didn't stick with it.
Public Citizen is just one source. The big bankers behind Right Wing (anti-government, anti-regulations, anti-taxi, ANTI-CLIMATE CRISIS are CHARLES and DAVID KOCH. David died in 2019, but what is Charles up to? There are a lot of Big Money Men still alive, and they are not going to make love to the Democratic Party. Oh no, there are a few crumbs left in the Republic Party, who of them would turn a date with these companies?
Which ever way you look at it, at least now we can say that the respective "battle stations and strategies" are now clear, no more sly innuendo, no more "wink, wink...you know what I mean"! We are getting to the point where a racist has to proclaim himself as a racist for all to see and judge. We are getting to the point where the Conservative Movement supporters have to acknowledge to the majority of the people that they couldn't give a damn whether they live or die, whether they ate or not....as long as they spent their money in the economy This makes a significant difference. Nobody can hide behind a mask anymore.
The logical corrollary of Heather's second scenario where the corporations no longer see their interests represented by the Republicans is that effectively corporations move to defeat those vying for the Trumpite option. Business would change camps and fund the Democrats. However, should their money be "outlawed" as it must then it will be a clear battle between the people who actually vote and their representatives. The battle will be "fairer" if the Voting Rights measures are voted and implemented but if not, then it's a question of who can get the most people registered to vote and effectively to exercise their rights, however allowed, on the day in terms of how they see the issues and their personal interests. The result should clarify the real position of the people and will radically alter the structure and composition of the political parties.
I find evangelicals who support the racist trumpista agenda utterly disingenuous. Purportedly Christians, are they pretending to have forgotten that Christ, born in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem and Palestine, in other words, the Middle East), most certainly was dark-skinned? True Christians?
I'm not a violent person by any stretch of the imagination, but Rick Scott has one of those "I really deserved to be punched in the face" faces. Ditto Ted Cruz and Rand Paul............
Not only do companies face losing customers, they are are realizing they can't attract the best talent to backwoods Southern states. My guess is this is the biggest reason for the change in the public-facing messaging in the face of clearly unAmercian lawmaking.
Which of course doesn't mean they won't try to grease the skids on the sly. It's just getting less easy for them to do.
As a salesperson all of my adult life, I am stuck between two economic paradigms - the “trickle-down” economic cycle, in which the government spends little on the average American, and the “liberal agenda” economic cycle, where the government invests in itself and its citizens. And all these companies need the latter, simply because when the people have no money, they can’t afford to buy their products. Wal-Mart once lamented that the squeezing of welfare dollars negatively impacted their business. And, long before Trump’s nativism caught the attention of latent racists, I decided to stick w the “liberal agenda”, cause it is good for business.
What Rick Scott did in that op-ed was a miscalculation in salesperson terms. It tears against the golden rule of business relationships that “the customer is always right.” And it is never the action of a salesperson to threaten retaliation against a customer after they drop your business; as a salesperson, you NEVER burn that bridge.
Donald Trump’s time as the figurehead that came with the votes is waning, and we all know he’s a sore loser. The Republican Party’s time as the figurehead of business MAY ALSO BE WANING, and the day when the GOP could no longer rely on that great influx of cash to finance the machine that never works may finally be here.
I wouldn't expect you to predict the outcome of this fascinating and potentially momentous split. After all, historians don't predict the future. The Harvard Kennedy School poll of young people, released today, is a harbinger. It shows record-high approval ratings of President Biden among young people, higher even than for President Obama. This follows news of 300 business leaders endorsing aggressive action to combat climate change. The ground is shifting, and Republican leaders are unable or unwilling to see how attitudes in America are changing. They're fighting a tidal change that may sweep them away.
It’s a simple business decision.
The American economy is based on consumerism. The demographics of American consumers is getting more colorful and more diverse every day. Businesses wishing to thrive therefore must adjust their political outlook and support in order to not alienate the people they more and more depend on.
When people of color were denied economic participation, denying them political participation was an easy business decision. The world is changing and smart businesses will change with it.
Thank you, Prof. HCR! Your political/historical musings are invariably a delight: filled with questions, critical thinking, and possible outcomes! They can never be skipped or ignored -- please, feel free to muse away to your heart's content. You never disappoint!
Here’s what I know about Rick Scott:
When I was in B-school in the late 80s’, the big debate was over the quality of for-profit hospitals, and it centered around HCA out of Tennessee, started by a doctor named Thomas Frist, whose brother was a US Senator. In the 90s, HCA merged with Columbia Health Care, out of Kentucky and started by Rick Scott.
Scott became chairman and CEO of Columbia/HCA. Then, employees blew the whistle and showed that the company was defrauding Medicare out of mllions of dollars. It paid "over $2 billion in criminal fines and civil penalties for systematically defrauding federal health care programs." [42] Columbia/HCA pleaded guilty to 14 felonies and admitted to systematically overcharging the government. The federal probe has been referred to as the longest and costliest investigation for health-care fraud in U.S. history” (Wikipedia cites)
Rick Scott was fired and Frist came out of retirement to repair the damage. The company was renamed simply HCA, I’m assuming to rid itself of the stain associated with Rick Scott’s company, Columbia Health Care.
Then Scott got into venture capital and became the governor of Florida.
This was interesting in Wikipedia "During Scott's 2000 deposition, he pleaded the Fifth Amendment 75 times.”
This is what the company confessed to:
"Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. It also admitted to fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. It filed false cost reports, fraudulently billing Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, it gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.
This is a list of every way of breaking health care financial-related laws that I’ve heard of, and used to read endlessly about how to not run operations in a way that could put you afoul of them. Systemically, a total sewer, and impossible that Scott was blind to it.
.
OK, as an Auslander (even if we have spent time living in the US) we just can't comprehend the power that Trump has over the Republicans (as we say, he seems to have them by the"short and curleys"). We just don't get the dynamics. Can someone please explain to us pig-ignoranti. Thanks.
As Michael Bales commented earlier, the national poll of America’s 18-to-29 year olds by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School provides a tantalizing look into the future. This comment was prepared for another day, but as your interest seems high, here we go. This was put together in an effort to raise the spirits of those among us worried about the future (who isn’t). There been too many disappointments over the years; an acute awareness of the terrible political strength and manipulation of the system and of American people by the Republican Party and age-old weariness can keep us down. There are, nevertheless, avenues of vibrancy, proven success and ingenuity in democratic and progressive circles. Knowing what young people are thinking is a fruitful road to travel. With that, please enjoy the following::
‘April 23, 2021’
‘A national poll of America’s 18-to-29 year olds released today by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School shows that despite the state of our politics, hope for America among young people is rising dramatically, especially among people of color. As more young Americans are likely to be politically engaged than they were a decade ago, they overwhelmingly approve of the job President Biden is doing, favor progressive policies, and have faith in their fellow Americans’.
‘Power Up: Biden scores record high approval rating among young voters, according to new poll’ (The Washington Post) April 23, 2021 at 6:22 a.m. EDT
‘The people’
‘THE BOY NEXT DOOR PHENOMENON’: Young Americans are more optimistic about the future and far more approving of U.S. leadership under President Biden than during ex-president Donald Trump's tenure, according to a new Harvard Youth Poll released on Friday.
Biden has hit the highest favorability rating — 63 percent — among college students who are registered voters of any president in the youth poll's 21-year history, according to the poll.
Sitting at an overall 59 percent approval rating with those surveyed, Biden's popularity among young voters also marks a dramatic U-turn for the 78-year-old president: at this time last year, only 34 percent of all young adults viewed Biden favorably, per the spring 2020 Harvard Youth Poll. Read the full results here.
• Fifty-nine percent of 18-to-29 year old Americans approve of Biden's overall job performance; 65 approve of his handling of the coronavirus; and 57 percent of race relations, according to the poll.
Another striking development: young Americans are more hopeful about the future of America than they were in the fall of 2017 – almost a year after former president Trump took office. Only 31 percent of young Americans were hopeful about the future of America at the time and 67 percent were fearful.
Four years later, 56 percent of young Americans are more optimistic – especially young people of color.
• “While the hopefulness of young whites has increased 11 points, from 35 percent to 46 percent – the changes in attitudes among young people of color are striking,” according to a memo penned by Della Volpe. “Whereas only 18 percent of young Blacks had hope in 2017, today 72 percent are hopeful (+54). In 2017, 29 percent of Hispanics called themselves hopeful, today that number is 69% (+40).”
• Notable: the polling was conducted before the verdict that found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
And for all of the caricatures of young Americans, the poll found that young people are open minded, more likely to be politically engaged than they were a decade ago and favor big government solutions to problems.
• Thirty-six percent of young Americans are politically active, with young Black voters (41 percent) the most active among that group. That's a 12-point difference from a 2009 poll that found in the fall after Obama's election that 24 percent of young Americans considered themselves to be politically active.
• “By a margin of nearly three-to-one, we found that youth agreed with the sentiment, ‘Americans with different political views from me still want what’s best for the country’ — in total, 50% agreed, 18% disagreed, and 31% were recorded as neutral,” according to Della Volpe's memo.
• The poll found a majority of young Americans favor government intervention on the issues of poverty, combating climate change, and health care.'
HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL
INSTITUE OF POLITICS
Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes toward Politics and Public Service 41st Edition: March 9 – March 22, 2021 N=2,513 18- to- 29-Year-Olds in English and Spanish Margin of Error: +/-2.60% at the 95% Level 1. With regard to school, are you currently enrolled at any of the following?
High school ................................................................................ 7%
Trade/Vocational school ............................................................ 2%
2-year or junior college or community college .......................... 9%
4-year college/university.......................................................... 21%
Graduate school.......................................................................... 5%
Business or professional school (law, medicine, etc.) ............... 2%
Not enrolled in a college/university, but taking at least one course....... 2%
Not currently enrolled in any of these...................................... 54%
Refused...........................................................................................*
[If enrolled in 4-year college/university, ask] 2. In which year of college are you? (n=511)
First year student/Freshman ..................................................... 17%
Second year student/Sophomore .............................................. 18%
Third year student/Junior ......................................................... 25%
Fourth year student/Senior....................................................... 31%
Fifth year student or higher........................................................ 7% Refused....................................................................................... 1%
###
I hope that you enjoyed this glimpse into the future. May these young people work together with a strong commitment to Democracy. Sounds like prayer, doesn’t it?
Of course, Scott is also the guy who headed Columbia/HCA when it was hit with the largest fine by the Justice Department to that time - $1.7B for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs. How do these people live with themselves?
All the yadda-yadda-yadda about how business is finally "woke" is so much happy horseshit. It was on the news tonight on Rachel's show that business PACs are once again donating to the Sedition Caucus. There's also the Chamber of Commerce (that they're all members of) that is whipping votes AGAINST H.R.1, and none of the "woke" CEOs are calling the Chamber out, or canceling their membership.
As always, watch what they do, not what they say, and FOLLOW THE MONEY.
So far as Senator Skeletor is concerned, global warming can't happen fast enough if it means we get the privilege of No More Florida.
It is interesting to see the stock market at an all time high. And what does it represent? The average American doesn't have any part of it. I just read recently that 50 percent of the stock market value is held by the top 1 percent. And 90 some percent is owned by the top 10 percent. Where does that leave the rest of us?
And a bigger question: "What does that value represent?" In the 50's and 60's it represented factories, machinery and jobs. It meant you could buy a house and a car because you had a job.
What can you manufacture with a BitCoin? What can you cook for dinner with a stock certificate?
When American business got taken over by the bookkeepers, we lost sight of the things we could make and the science and engineering problems we could solve.
The political leaders of today are only concerned with raising money. I am happy to see the young people of this country getting involved in government at every level. Time to start thinking about how we are going to feed ourselves and our children.
In today's Letter, Heather speculates that given The Republican Party's furor over Corporate America's cold shoulder since January 6th attempted Insurrection, there may be an even bigger split in the Party. Could the Republicans get by without their best friend and depend mostly on small donations? Reading the following may give pause to Heather's speculation of a deep split between The Republican Party and its dance partner.
I've been keeping the following information for a time like this.
from: Public Citizen APRIL 5, 2021
'The Corporate Sponsors of Voter Suppression'
'Since 2015, Corporations Have Contributed $50 Million to the State Lawmakers Supporting Voter Suppression Bills, Trade Groups Have Given Another $36 Million'
'Key Findings'
'Corporations have contributed $50 million since 2015 to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $22 million during the 2020 election cycle. More than 60 corporations have contributed more than $100,000.
Among the Fortune 100, 81 companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $7.7 million.
Among the Fortune 500, 45 percent of companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $12.8 million.'
Industry trade groups contributed $36 million to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $16 million during the 2020 election cycle.'
•Three-fourths companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.
• AT&T has given the most to supporters of state-level voter suppression bills, at more than $811,000. AT&T is followed by Altria / Philip Morris ($679,000), Comcast ($440,000), UnitedHealth Group ($411,000), Walmart ($377,000), State Farm ($315,000) and Pfizer ($308,000).'
You cannot miss the names of the companies, which have been major supporters of the Republican state legislatures and bankrolling all that voter suppression stuff. When you think about the problems we've got, think about the Democratic Party, too. Howard Dean, when Chairman of Democratic National Committee, successfully implemented the fifty-state-strategy, which met with great success. Naturally, the Party didn't stick with it.
Public Citizen is just one source. The big bankers behind Right Wing (anti-government, anti-regulations, anti-taxi, ANTI-CLIMATE CRISIS are CHARLES and DAVID KOCH. David died in 2019, but what is Charles up to? There are a lot of Big Money Men still alive, and they are not going to make love to the Democratic Party. Oh no, there are a few crumbs left in the Republic Party, who of them would turn a date with these companies?
Below is the link to Public Citizen's web site:
https://www.citizen.org/
Which ever way you look at it, at least now we can say that the respective "battle stations and strategies" are now clear, no more sly innuendo, no more "wink, wink...you know what I mean"! We are getting to the point where a racist has to proclaim himself as a racist for all to see and judge. We are getting to the point where the Conservative Movement supporters have to acknowledge to the majority of the people that they couldn't give a damn whether they live or die, whether they ate or not....as long as they spent their money in the economy This makes a significant difference. Nobody can hide behind a mask anymore.
The logical corrollary of Heather's second scenario where the corporations no longer see their interests represented by the Republicans is that effectively corporations move to defeat those vying for the Trumpite option. Business would change camps and fund the Democrats. However, should their money be "outlawed" as it must then it will be a clear battle between the people who actually vote and their representatives. The battle will be "fairer" if the Voting Rights measures are voted and implemented but if not, then it's a question of who can get the most people registered to vote and effectively to exercise their rights, however allowed, on the day in terms of how they see the issues and their personal interests. The result should clarify the real position of the people and will radically alter the structure and composition of the political parties.
I find evangelicals who support the racist trumpista agenda utterly disingenuous. Purportedly Christians, are they pretending to have forgotten that Christ, born in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem and Palestine, in other words, the Middle East), most certainly was dark-skinned? True Christians?
Every time I see the name “Grover Norquist,” I vomit in my mouth a little.
I'm not a violent person by any stretch of the imagination, but Rick Scott has one of those "I really deserved to be punched in the face" faces. Ditto Ted Cruz and Rand Paul............
Not only do companies face losing customers, they are are realizing they can't attract the best talent to backwoods Southern states. My guess is this is the biggest reason for the change in the public-facing messaging in the face of clearly unAmercian lawmaking.
Which of course doesn't mean they won't try to grease the skids on the sly. It's just getting less easy for them to do.