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OVERVIEW

Between 2007 and 2012, 200 of America’s most politically active corporations spent a combined $5.8 billion on federal lobbying and campaign contributions. A year-long analysis by the Sunlight Foundation suggests, however, that what they gave pales compared to what those same corporations got: $4.4 trillion in federal business and support.

That figure, more than the $4.3 trillion the federal government paid the nation’s 50 million Social Security recipients over the same period, is the result of an unprecedented effort to quantify the less-examined side of the campaign finance equation: Do political donors get something in return for what they give?

Overall, the Fixed Fortune 200’s PACs, employees and their family members gave $597 million to political committees and disclosed spending $5.2 billion on lobbying. They make this enormous investment in politics in large part because their businesses are inextricably entwined with government decisions — including spending decisions.

Government as business partner

For example, the federal government issued contracts to purchase goods and services that totaled a little more that $3 trillion during the period; companies among the top 200 corporate political givers won $1 trillion of that, a third of the total. The Treasury Department managed $410 billion in loans and other assistance issued under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, created by Congress to cope with the 2008 financial crisis; of that amount, $298 million, about 73 percent, went to 16 firms among the Fixed Fortune 200. When the Federal Reserve took extraordinary measures in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, it funneled nearly $2.8 trillion through 29 Fixed Fortune firms. The companies that participated the most in politics got huge returns.

Chizzang wrote:This ^ will never get the same kind of press as black people standing in line for food stamps...
Even though its pretty much the same thing


where's the outrage...

Chizzang wrote:This ^ will never get the same kind of press as black people standing in line for food stamps...
Even though its pretty much the same thing


where's the outrage...

For example, the federal government issued contracts to purchase goods and services that totaled a little more that $3 trillion during the period; companies among the top 200 corporate political givers won $1 trillion of that, a third of the total.

CAA Flagship wrote:

Chizzang wrote:This ^ will never get the same kind of press as black people standing in line for food stamps...
Even though its pretty much the same thing


where's the outrage...

For example, the federal government issued contracts to purchase goods and services that totaled a little more that $3 trillion during the period; companies among the top 200 corporate political givers won $1 trillion of that, a third of the total.

Did the government just hand out that $1 trillion, or did the government get something in return?

CAA Flagship wrote:

Chizzang wrote:This ^ will never get the same kind of press as black people standing in line for food stamps...
Even though its pretty much the same thing


where's the outrage...

For example, the federal government issued contracts to purchase goods and services that totaled a little more that $3 trillion during the period; companies among the top 200 corporate political givers won $1 trillion of that, a third of the total.

Did the government just hand out that $1 trillion, or did the government get something in return?

Chizzang wrote:

CAA Flagship wrote:



Did the government just hand out that $1 trillion, or did the government get something in return?

$900 dollar hammers...

Chizzang wrote:

CAA Flagship wrote:



Did the government just hand out that $1 trillion, or did the government get something in return?

$900 dollar hammers...

CAA Flagship wrote:

Chizzang wrote:

$900 dollar hammers...

If they didn't buy them from the "Fortune 200", who would they have bought them from and what would be the price?

CAA Flagship wrote:

Chizzang wrote:

$900 dollar hammers...

If they didn't buy them from the "Fortune 200", who would they have bought them from and what would be the price?

Chizzang wrote:

CAA Flagship wrote: If they didn't buy them from the "Fortune 200", who would they have bought them from and what would be the price?

$12.00 dollars

Chizzang wrote:

CAA Flagship wrote: If they didn't buy them from the "Fortune 200", who would they have bought them from and what would be the price?

$12.00 dollars