Star Man
07-30-2013, 06:03 PM
Maplight.org tracks donations to politicians. Maplight published the following information on July 23, 2013:
"On Wednesday, July 24, the House of Representatives voted to continue the National Security Agency's dragnet domestic surveillance programs. An amendment (https://amash.house.gov/speech/amash-nsa-amendment-fact-sheet), introduced by Representative Justin Amash, R-Mich., to the 2014 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, would have blocked funding for NSA surveillance activities that are not limited to specific persons of interest. It was rejected by a vote of 205-217.
"As much as 70 percent (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/the-outsourcing-of-us-intelligence-raises-risks-among-the-benefits/2013/06/09/eba2d314-d14c-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html?hpid=z1) of the money appropriated to the NSA by Congress is used to pay private defense companies to conduct intelligence operations, though the details of the NSA's budget and contracts with private companies are classified. Federal budget experts estimate (https://money.cnn.com/2013/06/07/news/economy/nsa-surveillance-cost/index.html) the NSA's budget to be somewhere between $10 billion to $20 billion per year.
"Data: A MapLight analysis of campaign contributions from employees and PACs of defense contractors and other defense industry interests, to current members of the House, from January 1, 2011—December 31, 2012. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org
Representatives voting to continue the NSA's dragnet surveillance programs received on average 122 percent more money (https://maplt.org/13iGXQz) ($41,635) from defense contractors and other defense industry interests than did representatives who voted to end the programs (18,765).
Representative Justin Amash, R-Mich., the chief sponsor of the amendment, has received $1,400 (https://maplt.org/1bqUbnl) from defense contractors and other defense industry interests.
Representative Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., has received $526,600 (https://maplt.org/13iH7HH) from defense contractors and other defense industry interests, more than any other member of the House. He voted to continue the programs."
I checked on our local Representatives. C. Mike Thompson (D) who represents CA5 has received $1,747,878 in contributions. That places him number 131 out of 433 in the House. Jared Huffman who represents $1,225,294. Data on Maplight do not appear to suggest that either Representative has received large donations from defense contractors the way McKeon has.
At the same time, Representative Thompson voted against the Amash amendment (HR 2397) that would have defunded NSA spying on American citizens. I wrote Congressman Thompson asking that he vote in favor of defunding NSA. In typical politician-speak, Thompson agreed with me that our government should not spy on its own citizens, and then he stated he voted against the Amash amendment -- Thompson voted to continue NSA spying -- because "now is not the time" to restrict the government in its efforts to protect citizens from terrorists.
NSA spying appears to have nothing to do with protecting citizens from terrorists. It appears much more designed to protect government from citizens. Bradley Manning has given his life to protect We The People from the government that murders with impunity in our name. Edward Snowden has defected to Russia to save himself from Manning's fate. These two American heroes have tried to show the American people what our government is doing. Government is consolidating its power and control. Spying on We The People has the purpose of uncovering dissent among citizens to government policies.
When Thompson and Huffman accept contributions they are bought by the corporatocracy, whether the money comes from defense contractors or not. Thompson voted for the corporatocracy and against We The People.
Star Man
"On Wednesday, July 24, the House of Representatives voted to continue the National Security Agency's dragnet domestic surveillance programs. An amendment (https://amash.house.gov/speech/amash-nsa-amendment-fact-sheet), introduced by Representative Justin Amash, R-Mich., to the 2014 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, would have blocked funding for NSA surveillance activities that are not limited to specific persons of interest. It was rejected by a vote of 205-217.
"As much as 70 percent (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/the-outsourcing-of-us-intelligence-raises-risks-among-the-benefits/2013/06/09/eba2d314-d14c-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html?hpid=z1) of the money appropriated to the NSA by Congress is used to pay private defense companies to conduct intelligence operations, though the details of the NSA's budget and contracts with private companies are classified. Federal budget experts estimate (https://money.cnn.com/2013/06/07/news/economy/nsa-surveillance-cost/index.html) the NSA's budget to be somewhere between $10 billion to $20 billion per year.
"Data: A MapLight analysis of campaign contributions from employees and PACs of defense contractors and other defense industry interests, to current members of the House, from January 1, 2011—December 31, 2012. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org
Representatives voting to continue the NSA's dragnet surveillance programs received on average 122 percent more money (https://maplt.org/13iGXQz) ($41,635) from defense contractors and other defense industry interests than did representatives who voted to end the programs (18,765).
Representative Justin Amash, R-Mich., the chief sponsor of the amendment, has received $1,400 (https://maplt.org/1bqUbnl) from defense contractors and other defense industry interests.
Representative Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., has received $526,600 (https://maplt.org/13iH7HH) from defense contractors and other defense industry interests, more than any other member of the House. He voted to continue the programs."
I checked on our local Representatives. C. Mike Thompson (D) who represents CA5 has received $1,747,878 in contributions. That places him number 131 out of 433 in the House. Jared Huffman who represents $1,225,294. Data on Maplight do not appear to suggest that either Representative has received large donations from defense contractors the way McKeon has.
At the same time, Representative Thompson voted against the Amash amendment (HR 2397) that would have defunded NSA spying on American citizens. I wrote Congressman Thompson asking that he vote in favor of defunding NSA. In typical politician-speak, Thompson agreed with me that our government should not spy on its own citizens, and then he stated he voted against the Amash amendment -- Thompson voted to continue NSA spying -- because "now is not the time" to restrict the government in its efforts to protect citizens from terrorists.
NSA spying appears to have nothing to do with protecting citizens from terrorists. It appears much more designed to protect government from citizens. Bradley Manning has given his life to protect We The People from the government that murders with impunity in our name. Edward Snowden has defected to Russia to save himself from Manning's fate. These two American heroes have tried to show the American people what our government is doing. Government is consolidating its power and control. Spying on We The People has the purpose of uncovering dissent among citizens to government policies.
When Thompson and Huffman accept contributions they are bought by the corporatocracy, whether the money comes from defense contractors or not. Thompson voted for the corporatocracy and against We The People.
Star Man