by T. M. Beeker

Created on: January 20, 2009

ENRON was proof positive of this situation. The depth of corruption and blatant manipulation of the market should have resulted in serious criminal charges for numerous leaders at ENRON. So what gives? Simple any time your going to do something you know is illegal why not hedge your bets with the people who will investigate, indict, and perhaps punish you? Follow the trail of campaign contributions and its clear ENRON's leadership padded the wallets of people who could influence the investigation and later prosecution of each case of fraud. Think about the number of people at the top involved and then look at how many were fined (fines that were a fraction of the money they made off with) and even fewer who served any or little jail time.

Wall Street is a place that generates billions for a select few who know how the system works and how to manipulate it. It does not require a sharp intellect to recognize that anyone making that kind of money will protect themselves from legal tangles by lining the pockets of elected officials who control the purse strings and careers of those in place to enforce the law with respect to trading. How much Wall Street money went into Hillary's coffers? Millions at the last report and since so many Clinton cronies are now in high level positions in the Obama administration the fix is in.

How about AIG recipient of billions only to be 'exposed' for its greed in officials who spend millions getting back rubs, facials, and manicures? Again, follow the trail of money from the firm's leadership to the campaign funds of leading Democrats and Republicans who control the budgets and have oversight over organizations that are supposed to monitor the practices of financial institutions. The problem is the media and big business have tried very hard to convince voters that a campaign contribution is NOT a bribe. Sorry if I give a hundred dollars to my local Congressman or some politician seeking re-election its a contribution to the effort. Hundreds of thousands of dollars or in some cases millions are a bribe plain and simple.

With a new President and a withdrawal from Iraq looming large in the future it is interesting to note that Halliburton has dumped mountains of money into both McCain's and Obama's campaigns. Why? Simple there is going to be Congressional investigation into its profits and operations in Iraq. A subject that has come up on the news from time to time. The fact is the firm has made billions and not all of it to build bridges

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