Calif. gov. makes $1M a year as consultant

[Loki]

the mighty son of the tribes of germany shalt deal with all whom oppose him. huzzah.

[Nickdfresh]

I think you mean AUSTRIA.

[Keeyth]

[Keeyth]

Originally posted by Big Train
I stick to my previous statement. If you want to ban all politicians from having an outside income, then let's do so. Let's not sit here and pick and choose what is and isn't ethical. Let's chose a path where either it is or it is not legal to be involved in business. Being involved in business means having conflicts. This is a minor one at best.

If you are ready to say we should ban any outside business, then let's do it. If not, there is no story here...

I don't begrudge them having outside incomes, especially when most don't make near what Arnie makes, but when it comes down to your decisions on lawmaking affecting either negatively or positively your other outside income, then there is a problem because power corrupts, and they may make decisions that are better for themselves than for the people as a whole, and that is not right.

It's pretty simple to see that, isn't it?

[Big Train]

He could recuse himself if it made you feel better.

How do you feel about changing the ground rules?

[Keeyth]

What ground rules?

[Keeyth]

Originally posted by Big Train
He could recuse himself if it made you feel better.

I think he did. He has agreed to quit taking money from the magazine the last I heard.

[academic punk]

Actually, speaking of business/political conflicts, an interesting story came out today re: NY's attorney general eliot Spitzer's bid for the governorship of NY.

Apparently the CEO of some insurance company called AON he let off easy (as perceived by some) for violations just made a hefty donation to his campaign coffers.

Now that to me is sticky.

[Big Train]

Ground rules, like I have stated twice in previous posts. The ground rule as it is , states that politicians can have outside incomes.

Do you A. Think thats just fine or B. think they should only be doing what someone before said "the job we pay them to do"?

If you want to change the ground rules to eliminate all possible conflicts, fine.

I'm saying also he could have just recused himself from that vote, if there were an actual conflict.

[FORD]

I don't think politicians should have outside incomes where the conflict of interest is obvious. Cheney recieving "deferred compensation" from Halliburton is the most obvious example, since Halliburton has benefitted more than anyone from the wars started by the BCE.

[academic punk]

The problem is, it's unavoidable.

Why? Because life in public service does not generate the kind of collossal income these people could otherwise be making.

Besides, who's to say that money they make AFTER leving office doesn't have a great deal with the policies they implemented while IN office?

When Bloomberg won the mayoral position here in NYC, he had to give up a great deal of the stocks he owned b/c of potential conflict.

And then there is always the example of Howard Stern who gave up his bid for governorship of NY b/c he would have to disclose his income and its sources.

[Big Train]

Punk, as a side question, what do you think of Spitzer? Think he is dirty?

[Big Train]

Originally posted by FORD
I don't think politicians should have outside incomes where the conflict of interest is obvious. Cheney recieving "deferred compensation" from Halliburton is the most obvious example, since Halliburton has benefitted more than anyone from the wars started by the BCE.

So if it is NOT obvious, based in off shore accounts, that's cool? How NEOCON of you...welcome to the dark side, we have been waiting for you.

The bottom line is that it is either a yes or no proposition. If you go after him for that, you are singling him out, which is bullshit. You should go after everyone then who is making a dime which might possibly produce a conflict of interest. It should be either all in or you leave it alone. Any other way is completely hypocritical.

Halliburton BTW< is only obvious because it so easily fits into your BCE/ Masons/Dark Side of the Moon conspiracy theories...

[FORD]

What does Nick Mason playing drums on Dark Side of the Moon have to do with Dick Cheney making money off of Halliburton contracts awarded as a result of the BCE's war?

[Big Train]

Figures of Speech...I was on my 5th Scudweiser at the time, sorry if I wasnt clear.