Back on the kleptocracy, and it looks like the Chamber of Commerce is working to keep its position at the trough by threatening to go to war with the incoming Obama administration. It seems that the Chamber is concerned about how new or revised regulations that reverse the Bush-era’s kleptocracy may affect the Chamber. The Chamber, of course, opposes the rules, claiming that they will benefit plaintiffs’ trial lawyers.

Classic diversion tactic, as the Chamber fails to take responsibility for its role in the financial meltdown. In fact, the Chamber got paid handsomely to lobby against regulation.  In their rush to demonize trial lawyers, the Chamber always forgets to mention its role in lobbying for failed insurance giant, AIG. I’m going to guess that when and if the real story of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gets told, trial lawyers will be the least of their concerns.

Meanwhile, let’s be clear about a few things. Americans of all backgrounds, ages, races, and political persuasions voted for change. The kleptocracy is over. No more feeding at the trough. It’s time to put regulations in place because taxpayers–and our children–are going to pay for your greed and the lack of oversight that got us here. It’s time that corporations paid their fair share of taxes. It’s time to make sure that juries decide product safety issues. It’s time for equal pay for the same work, regardless of race or gender. In short, the Chamber of Commerce’s time at the trough is over.

David Sugerman

I do most of the grocery shopping for the family, so like everyone else, I’ve been wide-eyed at the steep increase in food prices.  I’ve heard a lot about rising fuel prices, credit crunches, and inflation as part of the talking heads’ various explanations for the whys of it all.

I almost missed this piece on a federal lawsuit against a vegetable processor, SK Foods, that alleges that SK bribed purchasing agents at various food companies to keep SK’s prices high. If it’s true, some big companies like Safeway, Heinz, Kraft, were getting bribes to inflate prices on SK’s goods.

Nothing like graft, corruption and bribery to add to the cost of living. I couldn’t resist the urge to check in with my good friends at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They’re the ones that keep screaming about “lawsuit abuse” as the great drag on the American economy. Of course, they don’t seem to discuss this lawsuit as an example of “lawsuit abuse.” In fact, they don’t talk about bribery at all. I suppose in the Chamber’s world, the government shouldn’t bring lawsuits to address bribery and corruption by large corporations.

David Sugerman