The Fixed Fortune 200

Political discussions
Post Reply
kalm
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 69143
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:36 pm
I am a fan of: Eastern
A.K.A.: Humus The Proud
Location: Northern Palouse

The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by kalm »

Lengthy study on political contributions and their ROI from the Sunlight Foundation.

If you're for limited government and the free market there's no way in hell you should support corporate personhood and citizens united. :nod:
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.
http://influenceexplorer.com/fixed-fortunes/overview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image
Image
Image
User avatar
Chizzang
Level5
Level5
Posts: 19274
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:36 am
I am a fan of: Deflate Gate
A.K.A.: The Quasar Kid
Location: Palermo Italy

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Chizzang »

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... :coffee:
Q: Name something that offends Republicans?
A: The actual teachings of Jesus
Ibanez
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 60519
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:16 pm
I am a fan of: Coastal Carolina

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Ibanez »

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... :coffee:
It was on Wall Street but they weren't the best representatives. CU was a horrible decision.
Turns out I might be a little gay. 89Hen 11/7/17
CAA Flagship
4th&29
4th&29
Posts: 38529
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:01 pm
I am a fan of: Old Dominion
A.K.A.: He/His/Him/Himself
Location: Pizza Hell

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by CAA Flagship »

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... :coffee:
:roll: :tothehand:
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?
Ibanez
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 60519
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:16 pm
I am a fan of: Coastal Carolina

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Ibanez »

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... :coffee:
:roll: :tothehand:
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?
They got something. The U.S. Govt, in my sphere, has really clamped down on erroneous and bad billings, poorly performing companies and have been making their contracts more fiscally conservative. That has been my experience with our contracting in the past 10 yrs.

But I'm sure Cleets knows better.
Turns out I might be a little gay. 89Hen 11/7/17
User avatar
Chizzang
Level5
Level5
Posts: 19274
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:36 am
I am a fan of: Deflate Gate
A.K.A.: The Quasar Kid
Location: Palermo Italy

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Chizzang »

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... :coffee:
:roll: :tothehand:
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?

$900 dollar hammers...
Q: Name something that offends Republicans?
A: The actual teachings of Jesus
CAA Flagship
4th&29
4th&29
Posts: 38529
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:01 pm
I am a fan of: Old Dominion
A.K.A.: He/His/Him/Himself
Location: Pizza Hell

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by CAA Flagship »

Chizzang wrote:
CAA Flagship wrote: :roll: :tothehand:



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

$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?
Ibanez
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 60519
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:16 pm
I am a fan of: Coastal Carolina

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Ibanez »

Chizzang wrote:
CAA Flagship wrote: :roll: :tothehand:



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

$900 dollar hammers...
Eh.. There are 2 reasons for this.

1) That was probably a $50 hammer but with so many hands in the process to procure the hammer, it eventually costs that much.

2) A provider is selling them for $900 dollars, billing the Govt and the govt is not reviewing invoices. This happened here where two women were selling nuts and bolts to the Navy for millions and millions. One review of one invoice showed a that the products were sold at 100x the price/each.
Turns out I might be a little gay. 89Hen 11/7/17
User avatar
Chizzang
Level5
Level5
Posts: 19274
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:36 am
I am a fan of: Deflate Gate
A.K.A.: The Quasar Kid
Location: Palermo Italy

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Chizzang »

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?
$12.00 dollars
Q: Name something that offends Republicans?
A: The actual teachings of Jesus
Ibanez
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 60519
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:16 pm
I am a fan of: Coastal Carolina

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Ibanez »

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?
This isn't limited to them. SBOs get into it as well. Research the two Miami kids that sold the USArmy, Chinese (or Hungarian) made bullets which were defective and jammed about 80% of the time.
Turns out I might be a little gay. 89Hen 11/7/17
Ibanez
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 60519
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:16 pm
I am a fan of: Coastal Carolina

The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Ibanez »

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
Was that a multi-function hammer with heat treated wood?
Turns out I might be a little gay. 89Hen 11/7/17
CAA Flagship
4th&29
4th&29
Posts: 38529
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:01 pm
I am a fan of: Old Dominion
A.K.A.: He/His/Him/Himself
Location: Pizza Hell

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by CAA Flagship »

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
:lol: :lol:
Ibanez
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 60519
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:16 pm
I am a fan of: Coastal Carolina

Re: The Fixed Fortune 200

Post by Ibanez »

$12 is a simple hammer. We need carbon fiber, galvanized steel heads, a window punch, seat belt cutter, mini corkscrew And file.
Turns out I might be a little gay. 89Hen 11/7/17
Post Reply