Cognitive Dissonance

Is it a radical statement to say the president should have issued this statement long-ago in regards to Occupy Wall Street? Because he hasn’t. I’d like to take this moment to point out how much Wall St. gave Barack Obama in 2008…

• Goldman Sachs: $1,013,091
• JPMorgan Chase & Co: $808,799
• Citigroup Inc: $736,771
• UBS AG: $532,674
• General Electric: $529,855
• Morgan Stanley: $512,232
• Latham & Watkins: $503,295
• Total: $4,636,717

Here’s the top two recipients of donations from the financial/securities and investment sector since 2012:

As far as Wall Street, Obama’s already received over a third of what they donated in 2008 for the entire cycle. Though we can see who Wall Street’s favorite is for the GOP side. I don’t think it’s possible to deny the influence of corporate Wall Street dollars in our elections. 

Let’s take Goldman Sachs as an example. Here’s their break down for 2012: They’ve donated a total of $1,858,958 thus far, $508,609 to Democrats and $1,350,349 to Republicans, for a 27%/73% split.

Compare to 2008. By the end of the election cycle, Goldman Sachs donated $6,025,681. Of that, $4,489,893 went to Democrats, and $1,525,448 went to Republicans for a 75%/25% split.

This is why I laugh nearly uncontrollably when I hear Fox News talking about Obama’s occupiers. He’s not on our side, guys.

Essentially, we’re supposed to support democratic movements elsewhere, not here at home. God forbid you actually participate.

Gotcha.

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Here’s a handy chart explaining why you should move your money, particularly if you didn’t today. The lobbying totals are for 2011, the political contributions are for the 2010 cycle, and the percentage for Republicans and Democrats are how much each party’s politicians received from the 2010 cycle contribution. The lobbying figures for 2010 were not available; however, the debate over financial reform has intensified this year, so I would imagine quite a bit has gone to lobbying. Also, 2011 is not an election year.

I included the ever-vilified Koch Industries in the chart to show how little they spend as opposed to all various banking corporations combined. Also, Koch Industries lobbies for and against the same bills as the large banks. They play for the same team. Check it out at Open Secrets.

This stems from opposition that I’ve seen to the move your money movement on Twitter, Facebook, etc. that basically states credit unions donated $4 million to Congress last year, so why bother?

Well, adding in lobbying for 2011 and contributions for 2010 together, it’s a grand total of $6,179,817. That’s significantly less than the $38,162,642 spent by the banking industry. 

So who do you trust?

The epitome of heartlessness:

What the Costumes Reveal
By JOE NOCERA Published: October 28, 2011

On Friday, the law firm of Steven J. Baum threw a Halloween party. The firm, which is located near Buffalo, is what is commonly referred to as a “foreclosure mill” firm, meaning it represents banks and mortgage servicers as they attempt to foreclose on homeowners and evict them from their homes.

Steven J. Baum is, in fact, the largest such firm in New York; it represents virtually all the giant mortgage lenders, including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The party is the firm’s big annual bash. Employees wear Halloween costumes to the office, where they party until around noon, and then return to work, still in costume.

I can’t tell you how people dressed for this year’s party, but I can tell you about last year’s. That’s because a former employee of Steven J. Baum recently sent me snapshots of last year’s party.

This is one photo from the party. Here’s the columnist’s description:

Let me describe a few of the photos. In one, two Baum employees are dressed like homeless people. One is holding a bottle of liquor. The other has a sign around her neck that reads: “3rd party squatter. I lost my home and I was never served.” My source said that “I was never served” is meant to mock “the typical excuse” of the homeowner trying to evade a foreclosure proceeding.

Here are agents of the 1% mocking what the 99% are going through. Is this not class warfare? Why is it only class warfare when we call this out? When we suggest that maybe people losing their homes right and left is unconscionable, it’s somehow class warfare waged by the 99%. This kind of mockery goes on, Wall St. continues unregulated, and WE’RE the ones waging war. I beg to differ.

(Source: The New York Times)