Comments on: Congress: Trading stock on inside information?
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- The week of Veterans' Day I thought it most appropriate to give my elementary students lessons in government and civics. I started by asking what type of government does the U.S. have, and I received responses from, "A horrible one," to "Communism." I went on to explain the meaning of a democratic republic, gave a lesson on the roles of the 3 branches of government, the duties of a citizen,the Bill of Rights, and the meaning behind the U.S. seal, flag, and the motto. Students went off for the Veterans' Day weekend and I asked parents to quiz them on the type of government we have. On Monday, some of the students told me that their parents and grandparents said I was wrong about the type of government, and these elders had concurred with some of those initial student responses- we have a bad or awful government. Inwardly, I was upset that these young students have been so tainted,and I tried again to encourage them to believe our system was the best in the world, and look how great it is that thee 'Occupy Wall Street' protest have the right to be angry and voice their objections. Then, I saw your show on congressional insider trading, and everything I taught my students came crashing down around me. Plus, smacking me in the face was the rally I had participated in that week on the steps of my state capitol to try to hold onto my well earned and deserved pension. At the rally I felt empowered, but now I feel like no matter how many signs, chants, letters, emails, or hearings it's all for naught. In the eyes of most congressional members on the state or federal level, I am just a peon. I would like to thank the decent people, Brian Baird and Louise Slaughter, for their efforts in trying to get the Stock Act passed, and for 60 Minutes for exposing the indecent members of Congress.
Sincerely,
A Disgusted Teacher - Reply to this comment
- Good job 60mins/CBS/Steve k. This is what the public needs to know. Forget about the GOP debates or speeches by the Pres promising 5 millions new jobs with xyz stimulus plan. That is all total BS! We need to know what's going on now in congress and on Wall street. Have a National debate. Then elect the right people to fix it. They all need to be voted out ASAP. Third Party Now! This type of fraud, graft, corruption along with NO leadership is this countries biggest problem. It's time for people in their 40's, 50's + to Stand UP and demand change. We are the ones that have allowed them to get away with it for so long. You can't expect the young kids at OWS to change it for you. And now take all the heat! They're going to be left with the bill from all of this anyway. So come on ABC, NBC, CNN, join CBS and let's have some hardcore investigative reporting of the facts about our political system on prime time.
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- Finally, a story that should **** off both sides of the political spectrum. Wake up folks, people don't keep running for reelection to federal office to serve their constituents. One term 'em all unless they agree to more of these kinds of reforms.
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- I tried to find the Stock Act in the Library of Congress, but could not. I checked both the 108th and 109th congress.
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- My real concern now that this issue has been made public; Will CBS News continue to investigate and report future on how Our Elected Officials are taking advantage of inside info, while exemptions for themselves allows them to gain monetary advantages that the Pubic at Large is unaware of?
Personal Greed alone doesn't begin to define what those "Elected Officials' " real morality is all about. It certainly isn't serving their constitutants needs and the needs of the Country.
These names of those who prefer to do unethical practices, while disguising themselves to be public servants is essential information for the Public to know the real truth about their self serving elected officals, and what teir real adgenda is. Who these officiuals actually represent. NO EXCEPTIONS! PEROID!!! - Reply to this comment
- Sad to say folks. I'm afraid its too late. The grand designers of the New World Order/Big Idea have won. We have learned nothing from history as it now appears most of what we have been taught in history class for the most part have been distortions, and or outright fabrications.
The puppet masters that have run the show for tens, if not hundreds of thousands of years are once again working "THE PLAN", which is doublespeak for "THE CONTINUATION OF GOVERNMENT", which is doublespeak for, "PRESERVING THE PLAN", which is doublespeak for, "ONLY THE POWER ELITE GET TO SURVIVE THE COMING CLEANSING OF THE EARTH" Sad part is. Its a flawless plan. Get the stupid people to pay for and build their bunkers,store away all their ill gotten treasures,weapons, and really important knowledge that has been learned from this epoch. Like medical/genetic life extending related wisdom and such. Then when, as always happens. The masses wise up and are to big to control. They head for the bunkers and pull the plug. Nothing new here. SOP. Get the masses to live by the rule of law. While they live by the law of the jungle. Use faith based religions to divide and conquer, as well as provide the cloak they hide behind. Start wars and fund both sides for population control and wealth accumulation. Keep the really dumb ones isolated and poor so they can be sexually exploited, and used as slaves and weapons. Its a perfect playbook. Refined over the ages. Constantly updated as civilizations come and go. I'm moving to Denver. Maybe I can score an invite to the "LAST SUPPER" - Reply to this comment
- What do Nancy Pelosi and Martha Sterwart have in common? Time to shake the bushes boss. www.endtimesurvivalguide.com
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- If our Congressional representatives have used their position to personally enrich themselves through a process that is legal for them, but illegal for everyone else, they do not deserve to be re-elected. Frankly, we voters have the power to turn out the entire House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate in the next election. Now, that would signal real change! But not wanting to throw the baby out with the bathwater, I would like for 60 minutes to post a complete list of those reps who have engaged in insider trading. Thank you.
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- The Office of Goverment Ethics (OGE) is headed by Robert Cusick, but who is Robert Cusick? Try and find his bio and you will run into a bunch of pages with nothing but his annoying peeches that complain about the complexity of his job, but nothing about his qualifications, if he has any. Has Steve Kroft presented his findings to the OGE? If so, what response? Was Mr. Cusick asked to appear on 60 Minutes? If not, why not? Mr Kroft has hit on a seemingly sensitive issue with the government and I hope that he pursues it. The high number of comments indicates the public's interest in this matter and we should demand more blind trusts to be established among committee members and their families as spelled out in the OGE requirements for elected and appointed officials.
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- The real issues here are Conflict of Interest and Profiteering during a time of War... which are punishable under laws of the United States. The elected officals were in breach of their Oath of Office...
Congressional Oath of Office:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
The part "I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States... and allegiance to the same... without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion..."
Herein lies the rub, as a veteran I recall both my swearing in and again when I became an NCO, that what "purpose of evasion" means is that I will not profit from my position. To do so is an integrity breach, and subject to UCMJ.
While "insider trading" is not per se "illegal" for congress it is unethical. Further, to be profiting while the country is teetering on the brink of another Great Depression, is again self serving and morally wrong. Adding insult to injury, for certain Bills to pass and others be defeated while the
members of Congressional and Senate committees invest in the outcome... makes the gambeling of Pete Rose on Major League Baseball look like childsplay. It's easier to win when you make the rules.
Locally a city commissioner was removed, tried, and convicted for a lesser infraction:
The Harlingen (TX) City Commissioner was found guilty for failing to abstain and sign a document saying she had a conflict of interest in regards to her business in the downtown area subject for discussion at a city meeting in September 2010.
John Blaylock is a legal analyst for Action 4 News.
"The law requires you to file a piece of paper that says I have an interest in the property subject to this matter... And that piece of paper should be made public so that everybody knows you have an interest in the property," he said.
Blaylock believes jurors likely thought (the defendant) tried to financially benefit by participating at that meeting with or without a vote.
"Because you can use your influence to affect other people to vote for it on your behalf... And the law is trying to keep public officials from influencing or using their influence to benefit them financially,"
http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=685288
But, Hey... this is Texas law.
I believe the issue for congress and the city offical "Conflict of Interest" is the same. Each member who has commited an offence should be impeached or removed and their profits siezed... and applied to the national debt. Also, they should serve federal jail time for profiteering in a time of war.
M Lucas Harlingen TX - Reply to this comment
