Top Donors For 2010 Cycle

Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2010 / 2010

1. AT&T Inc – $45,083,314 / $2,735,995
2. American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees – $42,619,761 / $1,861,050
3. ActBlue – $39,955,241 / $12,201,476
4. National Assn of Realtors – $36,267,773 / $1,549,148
5. Goldman Sachs – $32,263,177 / $1,340,427
6. Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – $32,117,695 / $2,405,368
7. American Assn for Justice – $32,017,379 / $1,897,700
8. National Education Assn – $30,446,880 / $773,163
9. Laborers Union – $29,318,050 / $1,462,150
10. Teamsters Union – $28,444,184 / $1,663,260
11. Service Employees International Union – $28,349,982 / $944,365
12. Carpenters & Joiners Union – $28,024,933 / $1,213,750
13. American Federation of Teachers – $27,524,391 / $1,528,570
14. Communications Workers of America – $27,423,296 / $1,084,140
15. Citigroup Inc – $27,318,698 / $677,010
16. American Medical Assn – $26,407,955 / $284,559
17. United Auto Workers – $26,241,902 / $838,150
18. Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union – $25,502,277 / $1,467,800
19. National Auto Dealers Assn – $24,828,758 / $1,075,650
20. United Food & Commercial Workers Union – $24,558,133 / $1,228,000

View Full List  >> OpenSecrets  link
Source: Center for Responsive Politics

Top Overall Donors Total Contributions 2010

1. ActBlue – $13,655,536
2. AT&T Inc – $2,761,314
3. Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – $2,405,368
4. Comcast Corp – $2,376,002
5. Honeywell International – $2,250,875
6. Operating Engineers Union – $2,058,015
7. National Beer Wholesalers Assn – $1,935,241
8. American Assn for Justice – $1,897,950
9. American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees – $1,881,050
10. Lockheed Martin – $1,877,881
11. American Bankers Assn – $1,825,105
12. Boeing Co – $1,795,266
13. Teamsters Union – $1,678,260
14. International Assn of Fire Fighters – $1,672,200
15. Elliott Management – $1,648,702
16. General Electric -$1,621,008
17. American Crystal Sugar – $1,566,850
18. National Assn of Realtors – $1,550,648
19. American Federation of Teachers – $1,529,070
20. National Community Pharmacists Assn – $1,520,383

View Full List  >> OpenSecrets link
Source: Center for Responsive Politics

BP’s Influence Over Congress And The Sobering Repercussions

As with the other supermajors (6 total), BP (NYSE) is all about fuelling profits. Big Oil will use whatever resources it needs to promote the selling of oil products. If that means influencing Congress profoundly with lobbying donations, Big Oil’s lobby machine is prepared to lubricate the rank in the halls of Washington.

BP’s lobbying machine focuses on tax incentives for oil and gas production. BP has also lobbied to gain exemptions from U.S. corporate law reforms. BP contributed more than $5 million since 1990, 72% and 28% of which went to Republicans and Democratics.

BP Lobbying Profile Data – Source: OpenSecrets.org

Despite the subliminal rhetoric from BP officials,  BP spent nearly $16 million to lobby Congress in 2009, breaking the company’s previous record (from 2008) of $10.4 million. And now Congress is to turn its back on BP?

All Time Top 20 Recipients in order:  Barack Obama, Don Young, Ted Stevens, George W Bush, John McCain, George V Voinovich, Mike DeWine, John D Dingell, Mary L Landrieu, Joe Barton, Daniel R Coats, Lynn Martin, Frank H Murkowski, Phil Gramm, Don Nickles, James M Inhofe, Mitch McConnell, Dennis Hastert, John Culberson, and Pete V Domenici. (Source: OpenSecrets.org)

BP: Other Data -  Source: OpenSecrets.org

It’s no secret that the all time winner is none other than Barack Obama. Obama is the biggest recipient of BP cash (Politico.com). So it would be inaccurate to imply that President Obama has been an enemy to BP in the past. These records show that Obama has direct political connections with the oil giant. And now he’s supposed to get angry with them?

The incontestable evidence clearly suggests that Congress has taken substantial amounts of monies from BP over decades past, and BP has reaped the benefits of influence and power. Now BP faces the ultimate challenge – to win the people over in America and try to redeem its degraded image.

Although, the harsh reality is much more complicated than a misdirected boycott of  BP.  Reality check here - Americans are dependent on oil to sustain and feed their overindulgent lifestyles. The reaction to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will more than likely be short-lived, due to the need to fuel the economy which is generated by crude oil.

Americans have sacrificed their surroundings and environment for the sake of the American Dream. Oil is vital to that dream.

Americans face a major environmental catastrophy, probably one of the worst in American history – the BP Oil Spill of 2010. The phrase has been distorted into somewhat of a euphemism, which has been titled the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. But the verdict is not in yet. The public opinion in the United States could change either way.

The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has appeared during the majority of the time to be beyond BP’s ability to control it, paralleling such complete incompetence and incoherency exhibited by the United States government to deal with it, among other deficiencies. Barack Obama has inherited a significant number of complexities; problems that stem from inability and the lack of foresight of  past several administrations, over the past several years.

While the explosion and the spill are extremely tragic, this could’ve happened with any major oil company. The political climate was already rife in America before this disaster struck.  A worldwide economic crisis coupled with devastating unemployment had Americans already cringing. And now this…

The red tide that flows in the sea is somewhat symbollic of the blood of soldiers that fought and died protecting these interests. Perhaps another parallel. Americans are desperately seeking the solution to the energy problem, but there seems to be no end to the bleeding.

The horrific images of the oil covered birds seem to echo the devastation at Prince William Sound in Alaska. Another striking parallel. If only the birds and the fish could speak – there would certainly be  a sea of change…

No Deal Over Retail Chain Acquisition Just Yet

International Chief Doug McMillon said in an interview: “One of the things that has been a hindrance in Russia is just an agreement on price”. Retail giant Wal-Mart has made attempts to buy out retail chains instead of opening its own shops.

“Buying a retail chain would give Wal-Mart a faster presence than opening stores on its own”, McMillon said.

“It’s premature to say that we’ve made a decision, one way or the other,” on an acquisition or building stores, Mitch Slape said. “ Mitch Slape is the senior vice president of international business development.

Wal-Mart has grown to 30 employees in Moscow since 2008.  Wal-Mart is prepared to spend $5 billion on capital expenditures in Russia.

For more details please visit:  The St. Petersburg Times.

Michael T. Klare: The New Geopolitical Strategy

 
BLOOD AND OIL – Presented by The Media Education Foundation
Part 1 – (9:27)

Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum (American Empire Project) - The world’s rapidly growing economy is dependent on oil, the supply is running out and the U.S. and other great powers are engaged in an escalating game of brinkmanship to secure its continued free flow.

Part 2 – Blood and Oil (9:25)
Part 3 – Blood and Oil (8:05)
Part 4 – Blood and Oil (9:37)
Part 5 – Blood and Oil (9:04)
Part 6 – Blood and Oil (7:27)

Michael T. Klare is the Five College Professor of Peace and World Security Studies, based at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Professor Klare teaches courses on international peace and security issues at Hampshire College and, in rotation, at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

The Big Picture: Another Plant Closing In A City Near You

The new job numbers are out. The employment situation seems to be improving in May of 2010. The unemployment rate edged down to 9.7 percent.

Manufacturing employment increased by 29,000 over the month. Factory employment has risen by 126,000 over the past 5 months. Sounds encouraging doesn’t it? (Or maybe misleading…)

Despite the short- lived rays of sunshine, the big picture is unchanging. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to process this. All it takes is some common sense and a good broadband connection. The jobs are leaving America at an unprecedented rate. Analysts predict that most of these  jobs will never come back.

Volkswagen will be adding 2,000 jobs in Tennessee, but approximately 51,400 jobs have gone to China from 2001 to 2008 (timesnews.net). But those figures are estimates, since nobody is really keeping score of  job losses. Not important I guess.

Black and Decker laid off 63 workers in South Jackson, Tennessee (June 3, 2010, Jackson Sun).

The Graco plant, which assembles child car seats, plans to close by the end of the year, leaving 155 jobless. The assembly plant in Macedonia, Ohio wants to move to Asia (June 3, 2010, Akron News Now).

To learn more and find out what America’s made of, please visit ManufactureThis.org.

Stanley’s Furniture plant closing will eliminate some 530 production jobs in the last quarter of this year. Stanley will source its adult line from plants in Southeast Asia (May 24, 2010, Furniture Today). Furniture plant closings hit Virginia hard.

Yep, and even the chocolate you eat may have been made in another country. After 23 years in Reading, Hershey is closing the plant today and moving production to a new factory it has built in Monterey, Mexico. Hershey says it will mean the loss of about 260 jobs in the southeastern Pennsylvania city (Feb. 20, 2009, Ohio.com). The plant also makes 5th Avenue and Zagnut candy bars and Jolly Rancher hard candies.

Polaris Company, until yesterday, had a plant in Osceola, Wisconsin. Polaris announced yesterday that it is closing the plant of 515 employees and moving it to Mexico. Polaris calls the move re-alignment (May 21, 2010, ResistNet.com).

Innumerable plants are closing and sending valuable  jobs abroad. So what we are really facing in the United States is a jobless era. Joblessness in America is here to stay, like it or not. It is transforming the attitudes of our youth today and will affect the generation of tomorrow (theatlantic.com).

The death of manufacturing will surely have a long term effect on America and will probably be a scourge to its citizens. While free traders will try to justify that globalization is good and more products can be purchased cheaper than ever, these luxuries will come at a heavy price to the American worker.

As multinational corporations benefit from increases in profits, Americans will become poorer in the long run. Wages will decrease because of foreign competition. This is inevitable. Job insecurity has reached a whole new level since the jobs started being outsourced, several decades ago. The quality of the American worker has deteriorated because of high unemployment.

This current scenario has elevated poverty levels in the United States. The blue collar worker is more vulnerable than ever. Try telling a discouraged worker that has been unemployed for months, that the economy needs to diversify. Good luck with that.

As the blame game gets shifted to both political parties in America, the anti-incumbent mood is predominate, and has been underestimated in Washington, D.C. Americans are very angry about the lack of results and the arrogancy of politicians. You think the high unemployment rate could be a factor?

Terms that come to mind on election day – modernize, diversify, and re-alignment…

Are Temp Workers Being Abused?

Just what is a temporary worker? A temporary employee is a worker that is supposed to work for the employer within a certain amount of a time period, with no guarantees of long-term employment. This usually implies that little or no benefits are received by the “temp” worker. There is often a stigma attached to the temp worker and it’s almost impossible to ignore it.

Why Hire Temps?
Why would a company that already turns millions of dollars a year profit want to hire temporary workers? The answer may be more simple and grim than we might think – to save and earn even more money. Yes, it’s absolutely the truth. But, the overall picture that is usually painted on the nightly national news is that companies are struggling every day. And that may be the case for some.

The Bad Economy Saga: Meet The Temp
Especially in a bad economy where jobs are scarce at best, everyone is at risk. Even college grads find themselves vulnerable. Right? After all student loans have to be paid. And the dad that has to pay child support. He faces a dilemma. Work as a temp for a rotten company that could care less about his future or his health, or, be unemployed and go to jail for not paying his child support. Does he really have a choice?

The caring mother who wears many hats works from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. She has a family and her husband isn’t working. Her choice is work as a temp or no job at all. Little does she know that she is about to be axed.

The Benefit Of Using Temps
The benefits of hiring temporary employees from the company’s point of view are many. This is quite obvious. Let the temp agencies do all the work, which is screening, hiring, paperwork, payroll, etc. Temp agencies cover the insurance, which is usually minimal. Pay the temps as little as possible, give them no benefits, no vacation, no sick days, no holiday pay, and no seniority.

Temp Workers Lose All Rights And Dignity
Obviously, there is a lot to lose as a temp worker. You can and will  be harrassed by full-time employees, the maintenance crew, and completely ignored by management. You have no rights, little training, no job security, no future, no reason to try harder, because you will not be hired full time. Well, unless you have a family member in upper management of course!

You as a temp have no safeguards or protection from job harrassment, or getting fired, because you are completely disposable. The permanent employee is back outside talking on a cell phone ($15.00 per hour) while you are inside sweating bullets ($8.00 per hour). You’re not alone.

Stay Positive And Never Burn Bridges
Even though times are tough and employment is hard to find, one must keep a positive outlook whatever the case may be. Even though a temporary job may seem to not be working out for you, remain calm and talk it out with your employer. There is a chance that you may need to come back. And remember, a temporary job is better than no job at all. Consider all options.

Majority Of World Growth Will Come From Emerging Markets

Is the economic situation in your country good or bad? Are you satisfied with the direction your country is taking?

If you live in the United States, your answer may not be very favorable. A Gallup Poll survey in May of 2010 indicated that 46% said the economy was bad; only 12% said that the economy was good.

The results of a 2009 survey (Pew Global Attitudes Project) indicated that a whopping 83% of participants stated that the economy was bad in the United States. Only 17% thought that the economy was good. In 2007, roughly 50% of Americans thought that the economy was good. That’s a dramatic turnaround folks.

On the contrary, if you are from China, 88% of you said that the economy was good in 2009. Only 10% thought that the economy was bad. China is the fastest growing major economy in the world. China’s economy grew at an annual rate of 11.9% in the first quarter of 2010, with no signs of slowing down.

If you live in India, your outlook about the economy is probably favorable. In the same survey, 73% thought that the economy was good in India; 27% thought that it was bad. Some analysts are predicting that India may surpass China in economic growth. The growth in India is expected to remain strong.

Take a look here at Pew and see how people responded in 25 countries.

Out of the 28 emerging markets in the world, China and India are considered to be the largest two.

Cayman Islands Under Scrutiny

Just south of Cuba lies three islands, named the Cayman Islands. This British territory consists of the three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman is the largest of the islands and the most populated. Grand Cayman also contains the capital, which is called George Town.

Located at South Church Street in George Town, is a building called the Ugland House. The famous Ugland House is reported to be the home, or mailbox if you prefer, of almost 19,000 international businesses, nearly half of them from the United States.

The Ugland House building is owned by Maples and Calder, which is sometimes called Maples. Maples happens to be the world’s largest offshore law firm.

So what is the purpose of U.S. corporations based at the Cayman Islands? The primary purpose is tax evasion, plain and simple. In the United States, the tax rate that companies must pay is 35%. In the Cayman Islands,  some of the world’s largest corporations channel trillions of dollars, making the area one of the world’s largest tax haven. Switzerland is said to be number one.

Raymond W. Baker, director of Global Financial Integrity, claims that there is no accountability in the Caymans, when it comes to taxes. This means no accounting requirements, no reporting requirements, and no regulatory oversight.

The United States loses approximately a billion dollars a year from offshore tax evasion. The number of top 100 U.S. corporations with subsidiaries in tax havens – 83.

Total global assets estimated to be sheltered in offshore tax havens is $11.5 trillion.

Anti-money Laundering Attorney Specialist Jack Blum estimates that 60-70% of offshore accounts are held by U.S. citizens.

The Coupon Renaissance Continues

Overall, 2010 really looks like more of the same that was experienced in 2009. Even though media moguls are visualizing an economic revival, American consumers are still going to be thrifty, going for better value, and generally being very cautious with their checkbooks. Unemployment is an ugly term that does not want to evaporate.

What does this add up to? Not necessarily less wining and dining, but looking for value meals. Chicken dinners at home are going to remain king through 2010. Americans are back in the kitchen cooking.

With your wallet sounding like some kind of a squeaky door that needs oiled badly, you as the consumer are more interested in value. The department store or supermarket that understands this will be the business that benefits the most. Value remains a top priority.

Status and fashion have taken the backseat to saving and innovation. People are wanting to hear phrases like 10% off, buy one get one free, or get your $1 burger here. And if it’s between food and non-food purchases, the food item is the necessary option.

Credit is out and saving is in. The odds are that if your local bank looks like the one in my town, it looks more like an abandoned, dark night club that is getting ready to close, rather than a bank.

It’s difficult to follow an unpredictable economy and quite tricky to predict the new paradigm. But 2010 will probably be more of the same.

Here are top trends that should still be the norm in 2010:
1. Shopping lists are science textbook style.
2. Bargain hunting is the sport of choice.
3. Redefining what is necessary in the household has shifted to new dimensions.
4. Staycation idea articles are headline stories.
5. Generic brands are replacing many brand name products.
6. The dollar store concept has become extremely fashionable.
7. Midnight in the Food Stamp Economy remains to be the best selling novel.
8. Libraries will retain that social club mentality. Get your seat early if possible.
9. “Compulsive hoarding disorder” will continue to keep psychologists busy.
10. Experiments with clothing durability will reach new heights…

Senator Bernie Sanders On MSNBC’s Morning Joe

Dec. 22, 2009 edition – MSNBC Morning Joe
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) was interviewed recently on Morning Joe.  He stated, “It’s [the bill] gonna provide primary health care, low-cost prescription drugs, and dental care for 25 million people. We’re gonna go from 20 to 45 million people having access to quality primary health care.” (Note: The Senator’s comment about low cost drugs.)

Lawrence O’Donnell asked, “Did you guys always know that the public option was absolutely hopeless?”

Sanders replied, “This is not anywhere near as strong of a bill as I would like. Of course there should be a public option. In my view, there should not be, as the Senate bill does, a tax on health care benefits. There should be a reimportation prescription drug bill which lowers the outrageously high costs of prescription drugs all over this country.” (Note: The Senator admits here that the bill does not address the drug cost problem. That’s not what he said earlier.)

Mike Barnacle asked Sanders, “Can you enlighten me, or explain to me, how the insurance lobby, the insurance industry, in this country, suffer any pain at all under this bill that they hadn’t suffered before?”

Sanders answers, “Mike, no I can’t. The insurance companies are gonna make out like bandits. The drug companies are gonna make out like bandits. No question about that. I’m not gonna argue with you, the insurance companies are gonna laugh all the way to the bank.

Mika Brzezinski asked, “How are the American people supposed to understand the truth here, about this legislation?”

Sanders replied, “The truth is… Let me break the bad news to the American people. Big money interests control the United States Congress. That’s the reality.”

“But the reality is, campaign contributions… What do you think? We bailed out Wall Street. We’re giving insurance companies, drug companies breaks.”

Jean Chatzky asked, “Is it possible for the insurance companies and big pharmaceuticals to win and for the people to win on a sustainable basis?”

Sanders said, “No, it is not. That is why, in my view, in a reasonably short while, we’re gonna be back here. And I hope, I hope, with the support of the American people, Congress has the guts to take on the insurance companies and the drug companies… and tell them that we cannot continue to pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, or for health care.”

Thank you Senator for at least admitting the truth. But with all due respect sir, is this really health care reform? And honestly, shouldn’t Congress have the guts right now to stand up to the industry, for the sakes of the American people? Who are you really working for?