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2012 May 23 |
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http://www.theatlanticright.com/2010/04/23/goldman-sachs-has-infiltrated-the-government-really-where-were-you-in-2008/
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The big story these days, from liberals and conservatives alike is that Goldman Sachs has essentially become intertwined with the federal government, by way of former executives being offered lofty positions, such as positions within the Treasury Department, like former Secretary Robert Rubin, and many others.  Michelle Malkin has a post up listing the biggest former Goldman employees in the Obama administration.

The idea for some time, mostly parroted by liberals, is that the federal government is corporatist (though I don’t think that means what they think it means), where corporations have control of the government.  A slightly less sinister version of this conspiracy theory is that the government is like a revolving door, allowing executives from big business to work a few years for the federal government, in order to ensure their former company is favored, and then after the term is up, go back with open arms.

Conservatives apparently believe the latter is the case with Obama and Goldman, because since the announcement of the SEC investigation into the company, they have taken it upon themselves to point out the connections.  They’re right to do so, of course, but I hope they’re being consistent with their attempts to root out corruption.  Lest we forget that the last President had as his last Treasury Secretary one Hank Paulson who, err, left his position as CEO of Goldman to serve as Secretary.  Goldman ended up getting one of the largest windfalls via the AIG bailout.  Interesting.

Luckily some conservatives are consistent.  Malkin, for instance, never liked Paulson, from day one.  Admittedly, that article is without the “Goldman and Obama are in bed together” fanfare that is going around now.  But I’ll chalk it up to their pointing out that Obama is not such a transparent guy.

Of course, Goldman is not the only company, and its executives are not the only businessmen, to receive beneficial treatment from the federal government.  Remember Haliburton and their favorable treatment?  A pretty big time guy was once their CEO, too.  Then left to join the Republican ticket in 2000.  That guy’s ticket won, and not too long after Haliburton received some pretty nice contracts for work in Iraq.  Odd how that works, huh?

What I’m saying is: this is nothing new folks, so don’t act like it is.  I applaud the pointing out of conflicts of interest and corruption and the calling out of the most transparent administration evahhh, but don’t forget your history.

  1. Posted by Lee Thomas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #110660 ›
    Lee Thomas Nothing new here. The only difference is the underlying motive behind why this administration would bring to light this court action at the exact time that congress is trying to pass highly punitive legislation on big business which does something even more sinister. It enables the government to "take over, control and run" big businesses that fail to meet some arbitrary government set of values that determine its value to the American people. In other words the US government led by socialists who hate and despise corporatism in America are getting their dreams enacted via legislation that will then have the full weight of the government, the Supreme court, the constitution and a bevy of lawyers all fighting tooth and nail to defend a socialist intrusion into the workings of big business in America. While big business can hardly be called the greatest of benefactors to mankind, neither can the US government. After all today, at this moment they are killing people with predator drones across the sea in a land far away. They are giving money to dictators who would cut our throats for political persuasion. They give us laws and rules that continue to curtail our freedoms up to and including the type of drinks we are able to drink in schools as well as the amount of salt that is now going into our food. Socialists despise corporations because they are non living entities who should have no rights and yet they give to the US government, another non living entity that should have no rights, immense amounts of power over our lives. Our government is nothing more then the biggest corporation on the planet and the socialists believe that IT should be in charge of dictating to us what is beneficial for us and what is not. This is the battle that rages today and unlike many other people I believe the tea party will enable Obama and the democrats to gain seats this November instead of losing them. In short the GOP and the America people are lost and while they are searching for their souls the Democrats are socializing America to the extent that by the end of 2012 this country will be a shell of what it was in 2008.
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