Outrageous Numbers

Here are the kind of numbers that simply drive me crazy. (You will find the source here.) What you're looking at here is stark evidence of why the middle class is getting absolutely reamed by the corporate interests in this country. These figures are in the millions of dollars. Just forget about the third column for the moment and consider that the thirty U.S. corporations listed here made a total of almost $164 billion worth of profit from 2008-2010, and during that same period received $10.6 billion in tax rebates from the American people. 

Just what is wrong with this picture? At least part of the explanation for these outrageous numbers lies in the last column which shows the millions of dollars these corporations paid for lobbyists in their behalf over the same time span. It's hardly coincidental that the top three companies receiving the largest tax rebates also spent the most on lobbyists. But you have to admit, the returns on this particular investment are spectacular.This, brothers and sisters, is why the tax laws in this country fill hundreds of volumes. They require that many volumes to contain all the goodies for numberless corporations and special interests crammed in there. Tell me all those fancy meals, fabulous trips, Super Bowl tickets, etc., etc., etc. don't buy members of Congress.


Related articles

• Steven Strauss: Actually, Corporations That Lobby and Make Campaign Contributions Get Special Benefits (huffingtonpost.com)
• Congress Seen as Less Honest Than Lobbyists (fdlaction.firedoglake.com)