Off-topic - one of the most infuriating thing's I've seen

[pianoguy]

If you missed "60 Minutes" last Sunday, there was a segment about Congress being able to trade on non-public information, legally. I'm sure some members place their investments in blind trusts to avoid conflicts of interest, but others are apparently taking huge advantage of this "opportunity". If what they reported is true, it is nothing short of an outrage.

The "60 Minutes" clip is on this page:

'60 Minutes' Blows The Lid Off Congressional Insider Trading

A related article about a book on this subject:

Peter Schweizer's New Book Blasts Congressional Corruption - The Daily Beast

If you have a mind to let your representatives know what you think about this, there is a proposed bill that would make this activity illegal. Without public support, I'd bet it never sees the light of day:

https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1148

 

[washvap]

Thank you for bringing this topic up. Signed up and supported the bill.

 

[mlinky]

I watched it and was appalled, but not surprised.

 

[Mudflap]

I share your outrage. I have for years. Our "representatives" in Washington D.C. even passed the Congressional Accountability Act in 1995 to give us the impression that they don't intend to exempt themselves from the laws they make that apply to the rest of us. The slippery weasels view themselves as the ruling class and we are mere peasants.

 

[Needo]

I think I'll just sign the petition and stay out of trouble.

 

[atom48]

I signed the petition. Wish I had their insider knowledge. As one of the peons, I'm losing my shirt.

 

[MXBNW]

Hear is another short clip I found today.

Morning Joe

 

[pianoguy]

Hear is another short clip I found today.

Morning Joe

Thanks, MX!

 

[MXBNW]

Thanks, MX!

Any time. This stuff pisses me off.

There betting agents us.

In all my years I have never been this discouraged with my government.

 

[Delilah718]

If you missed "60 Minutes" last Sunday, there was a segment about Congress being able to trade on non-public information, legally. I'm sure some members place their investments in blind trusts to avoid conflicts of interest, but others are apparently taking huge advantage of this "opportunity". If what they reported is true, it is nothing short of an outrage.

The "60 Minutes" clip is on this page:

'60 Minutes' Blows The Lid Off Congressional Insider Trading

A related article about a book on this subject:

Peter Schweizer's New Book Blasts Congressional Corruption - The Daily Beast

If you have a mind to let your representatives know what you think about this, there is a proposed bill that would make this activity illegal. Without public support, I'd bet it never sees the light of day:

https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1148

Thank you for the eye-opening link! So sad that this affirms what I have always suspected. I voted my support for the bill! Thanks for adding that link too! I hope all of REOvil will support the bill as well

 

[bushmaster]

I watched this too and very disillusioned. What a racket! If you're a senator on the defense acquisition committee (for instance), you can walk out of a meeting and buy or sell stocks based on the information you just received without any fear of legal complications.
It got me to thinking that maybe the legislative branch of the government really serves no purpose--maybe they're there only to paper their pockets.
As long as partisanship is the order of the day, they don't have to stick their necks too far out for fear of having them cut off.
They .... heads, go back to the drawing room and everything stays the same.
Maybe its kind of like professional wrestling--its all a show.
Maybe Nancy Pellosi and John Boener sit down together at the pool in the afternoon rehearsing their rebuttals and chuckle at the idiocy of the American public.
Sounds crazy? Maybe.