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Deny and Shred

(1,061 posts)

20. Conflict of Interest once was taken seriously

Mon Aug 12, 2013, 02:09 PM

Aug 2013

Somewhere in the late 90's it was replaced with the corpoate-speak word of Synergy. It wasn't a conflict between company and regulator, it was unlocking "value". Having a sleeper as the policeman of whatever you are trying to accomplish was hailed as efficient. Having the Senate Committee in your pocket, promising future lobbying or consulting gigs when their term runs out, being allowed to trade with your subsidiary (Enron CFO), creating a tax-payer funded contractor economy details of which are opaque to even the Senators charged with oversight, etc. - its all good for the bottom line; therefore, its all good. Simply ignore the potential downside.

I think its to the point that one who takes Conflict of Interest seriously has zero chance of arriving in those positions. I applaud the idea of 'hell to pay' but I don't think its forthcoming - more like Medals of Freedom to those who rubber stamp it all with a US Gevernment Seal of Approval.

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Highlight:

Corporate Fury Over NSA's Contracting Ties Is Why Snowdon In Trouble. [View all] TheMastersNemesis Aug 2013 OP

Thank you. Great succinct post. Zorra Aug 2013 #1

the media rarely mentions the corporate interests Enrique Aug 2013 #2

Media is cosolidated abelenkpe Aug 2013 #18

The media, including HuffPo, is a corporate interest. The fact that there are still people walking Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #52

Does bring private contracting back into the spotlight. DirkGently Aug 2013 #3

The NSA is far older than 911 nadinbrzezinski Aug 2013 #4

Now, if we just think that through while considering the TRILLIONS involved, we ineluctably---yes, WinkyDink Aug 2013 #11

This conclusion sucks. snort Aug 2013 #39

And here is how one of the many post-Nine Eleven truedelphi Aug 2013 #51

Jeebus, that's chilling. kath Aug 2013 #58

This OP would explain why the government has gone after snappyturtle Aug 2013 #5

So follow the money, as always. GoneFishin Aug 2013 #6

True, a zebra never changes its stripes. avaistheone1 Aug 2013 #43

These intelligence penetrations hootinholler Aug 2013 #7

The main reason is that they can NOT have a successful whistleblower out there, FREE usGovOwesUs3Trillion Aug 2013 #8

Always Follow The Money - Corporate Oligarchs Despise Exposure cantbeserious Aug 2013 #9

"ties to the Carlyle Group and Bin Laden family." If only more Americans (including here) would WinkyDink Aug 2013 #10

As a matter of fact, I HAVE been thinking about that-- Jackpine Radical Aug 2013 #24

+1 nt Live and Learn Aug 2013 #40

Really? Recursion Aug 2013 #12

Or he hired on to a company for the sole reason of stealing states secrets, gave them uponit7771 Aug 2013 #13

Agreed. blackspade Aug 2013 #14

Of course that's a big part of it. The $$$. closeupready Aug 2013 #15

I don't need Glenn are comrad eddie to tell me anything. stonecutter357 Aug 2013 #16

Certainly, they couldn't top you in the spelling and grammar department. Th1onein Aug 2013 #44

LOL!! ConcernedCanuk Aug 2013 #46

'An inherent conflict of interest'! Exactly. Clapper is a perfect example of that conflict. He lied sabrina 1 Aug 2013 #17

Conflict of Interest once was taken seriously Deny and Shred Aug 2013 #20

The merging of the Corporate World and the State which is where we are now. So of course it isn't sabrina 1 Aug 2013 #22

We are in agreement. Deny and Shred Aug 2013 #29

Read this article from '94 about the CIA being used to help US corps against foreign competitors leveymg Aug 2013 #30

Interesting article. I have doubt that this has been going on for a long time. However, since 9/11 sabrina 1 Aug 2013 #34

There's yet another factor in this: Gen. Hayden's domestic program was spying before 9/11 leveymg Aug 2013 #35

Now we know who the enemy is. Fuddnik Aug 2013 #19

All avenues with access to Government revenue is under full corporate assault. JEB Aug 2013 #21

"Fascism"? No, Snowden is in trouble because he BROKE THE LAW! George II Aug 2013 #23

Well, bless your heart, honey! Th1onein Aug 2013 #45

Snowden is in "trouble" because he's reporting LAWMAKERS breaking the law. ConcernedCanuk Aug 2013 #47

No, Fascism. Enthusiast Aug 2013 #48

HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Aug 2013 #25

The original post is presented without evidence. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2013 #26

It's true - Carlyle Group does have a majority ownership stake in Booz Allen leveymg Aug 2013 #37

Thanks for the link and excerpt. It looks interesting. nt Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2013 #54

Also, Clapper used to be a Booz Allen VP; Mike McConnell (DNI '07-'09) is now their vice chairman muriel_volestrangler Aug 2013 #55

Good material. Thanks for the link. I'm glad to be able to put the context around the facts. nt Bernardo de La Paz Aug 2013 #57

Very interesting Jack Rabbit Aug 2013 #27

No, Snowden is in trouble because he stole four computers full of TS information jmowreader Aug 2013 #28

100% correct malaise Aug 2013 #31

How on earth to you expose privatization as Fascism to a Republican? SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #41

People need to know and recognize fascism malaise Aug 2013 #53

People can't seem to recognize it in DU, SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #60

It is precisely Fascism..........nt Enthusiast Aug 2013 #49

Sorry to tell you, but Snowden himself was a useful idiot for these same people......nt AverageJoe90 Aug 2013 #32

When do you think he stopped? leveymg Aug 2013 #36

Nail meet hammer n/t warrprayer Aug 2013 #33

Why it always comes back to the same solution: Amonester Aug 2013 #38

The entirety of the Bush mal-administration was about the $. And the control, too...remember, it was silvershadow Aug 2013 #42

Bush didn't even win the fucking election. Enthusiast Aug 2013 #50

... AzDar Aug 2013 #56

Curious absence of certain DU posters is curious. Gregorian Aug 2013 #59

then maybe you can tell me why Republicans see Fascism as their Utopia. SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #61