war on greed at Brave New Filmshttp://bravenewfilms.org/topics/war-on-greed2008-07-24T12:54:16ZBillionaires Are Gouging Your Grandparentshttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/44920-billionaires-are-gouging-your-grandparents2008-07-24T12:54:16Zparisla
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<p>Just how is buyout billionaire Bruce Wasserstein gouging our country's elderly? <a href="http://www.behindthebuyouts.org/lazard-unveiled/">Let's connect the dots</a>: Wasserstein is the CEO of Lazard and has made billions by buying companies, cutting costs, and turning quick profits. Lazard owns and manages Atria Senior Living—the third largest assisted-living provider in the U.S.—as a private equity investment. Atria has been mismanaging its facilities left and right, making medication mistakes, wrongly locking in residents, and even failing to call emergency services. <br /> <br />What is Atria's response? The company slapped residents on a fixed income with steep rent increases to as much as $8,500 per month. What's more, Atria pays its staff a measly average of $8-10 an hour with unaffordable healthcare, while Wasserstein made $41 million in 2007 alone. That's right, Wasserstein is getting rich off our nation's grandmas and grandpas, a gross injustice that we have exposed in our newest video, <em>Bruce Wasserstein: Gouging Grandma.</em><br /><br />We have joined the SEIU to demand that Wasserstein stop gouging our grandparents and respect its employees. Here's what you can do:<br /><ul><li>Sign the petition from Campaign to Improve Assisted Living and <a href="http://warongreed.org/lazard.php">Tell Bruce Wasserstein to Stop Gouging Seniors.</a></li></ul><ul><li>E-mail this video and the petition to all your friends, family members, and coworkers. </li></ul><ul><li>Spread the word on sites like Digg, which will help create a public outcry to pressure Wasserstein and Lazard.</li></ul><p>Make sure everyone knows we won't stand for Wasserstein's despicable behavior, and make sure it happens today.</p></p>
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Henry Kravis Wins the Loophole of the Year Awardhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/38021-henry-kravis-wins-the-loophole-of-the-year-award2008-06-19T09:29:54ZBrave New Films
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<p><p>Yesterday, 10 members of the Working Families Party were joined by 5 SEIU 1199 members and 25 members of SEIU Local 32BJ outside the Waldorf Astoria, where Billionaire tax-avoider Henry Kravis of the private equity firm KKR hosted a Columbia Business School award dinner. We had an award for Henry too, the <a href="http://warongreed.org/">Loophole of the Year Award, </a>for the man who single-handedly dodged his way out of $96 million in taxes in one year alone.<br /><br />Holding the award plaque and a giant banner, we protested and passed out leaflets to passersby asking why Kravis gets to pay a lower tax rate than nurses and hotel doormen. As tuxedo-clad guests streamed in to the event, we got some great reactions. No one was willing to give Kravis our award for us though, and the Hotel claimed to have lost our tickets. Guess we’ll have to keep looking for Kravis at his next gala event. </p><p><a href="http://warongreed.org/">Sign our petition</a> and tell our presidential nominees to close the Kravis tax loophole. </p></p>
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Workers Demand that Buyout Billionaires Pay Their Fair Sharehttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/38020-workers-demand-that-buyout-billionaires-pay-their-fair-share2008-07-24T12:54:17Zaguilabjs
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<p>http://warongreed.org</p>
<p>May 5th, 2008: Works gather outside the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC to give Henry Kravis the "Loophole of the Year" award.</p>
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Buyout Billionaires' Recession-Proof Secrets Revealedhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/37890-buyout-billionaires-recession-proof-secrets-revealed2008-07-24T14:08:17Zrobertgreenwald
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<p><p>How is it possible for us to be entering a recession while buyout billionaires like Henry Kravis saved $96 million through tax loopholes in 2006 alone? That's just one buyout billionaire, in one year, making use of one loophole! Just think how much these private equity crooks are costing taxpayers who are already battling financial hardships and home foreclosures.<br /><br />Our earlier <a href="http://warongreed.org">War on Greed</a> films garnered over 350,000 views and a lot of attention from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/business/06equity.html?_r=1&amp;ref=business&amp;oref=slogin">The New York Times</a>, <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2007/12/24/071224ta_talk_widdicombe">The New Yorker</a>, and <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/12072007/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm">The New York Post</a>, not to mention the Private Equity Council. Such wonderful feedback made us realize that now is a crucial time to connect the dots between buyout billionaires and everyday Americans suffering through this recession. And in talking with many of you, we thought a short, animated video could be a great means of conveying the gross misconduct of Henry Kravis, KKR, and the policies of buyout exploiters. So Paris, Lee Stranahan, and the team went to work to bring you our first animated video.</p><p>Now for the serious part. Join over 18,000 people who have already <a href="http://warongreed.org">signed our petition</a> demanding our presidential candidates close the Henry Kravis tax loophole. Then, please send this film along to ten people. Make sure Larry the Loophole is seen by friends, relatives, and schoolmates through Facebook, MySpace-the works! We already started spreading our message yesterday outside the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, when we joined the SEIU to present Kravis with the "Loophole of the Year" Award.<br /><br />Last week, journalist <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/the-capital-gains-questio_b_99204.html">David Sirota wrote</a>, "As the facts trickle out about the private equity scam, you can bet public pressure for change is going to start building." Yes, we've presented the facts here with animated satire and humor, but our hope is that this will allow us to reach tens of thousands of people together.<br /><br />By the way, our <a href="http://condimustgo.com">Condi Must GO</a> video was a smashing success. Not only was it the #1 Video on YouTube News and Politics, but we received over 70,000 signatures for our petition. However, we still need more to reach our goal. Help us send Condi packing by sending <a href="http://condimustgo.com">Condi Must GO</a> to all of your friends to sign. </p></p>
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The War on Greed starring Larry the Loopholehttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/35533-the-war-on-greed-starring-larry-the-loophole2008-07-24T12:54:19ZBrave New Films
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<p>Buyout industry executives with multimillion dollar incomes have been amassing fortunes by exploiting a major tax loophole. Their tax privileges have robbed the public purse and placed the burden on working- and middle-class taxpayers. Sign the petition demanding the Presidential candidates close the buy-out industry's tax loopholes at <a href="http://warongreed.org">warongreed.org</a> </p>
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The Homes of Henry Kravishttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/32733-the-homes-of-henry-kravis2008-03-22T21:55:01Zjimhightower
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<p><p> Let’s take another peek [Lifestyles theme] into the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Cranky.”</p> <p> The old rich pride themselves in … well, in having some pride. For example, they tend to set their venerable mansions behind tall walls and shrubs that discreetly obscure their wealth. It's a matter of class. On the other hand, the new rich are more inclined to crassly flaunt their abundance, building garish houses that amount to neon signs screaming; “Look how rich I am, sucker!”</p> <p> How surprising then that one of the showiest of these look-at-me celebrities of wealth has gotten pouty about being featured in a movie that, after all, is about him. He's Henry Kravis of Manhattan, South Hampton, and... well, <a href="../../blog/20619-war-on-greed-starring-henry-kravis-and-his-homes">so many places</a>. In Henry’s life, everything is about him. He heads an eponymous Wall Street equity firm that essentially borrows money to take over corporations that other people built. To pay off his lenders, Kravis sells off whole chunks of the captured corporation. Then he fires thousands of workers, slashes the wages and benefits of those who remain, and pockets the savings for himself.</p></p>
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Brave New Films: March 2008 updatehttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/32621-brave-new-films-march-2008-update2008-07-24T12:54:19ZBrave New Films
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<p> A quick look at Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films, our campaigns and successes up to March 2008. Together we can pave the way to victory in 2008 and beyond.</p>
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The $5 Billion Manhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/32439-the-5-billion-man2008-03-14T16:23:18Zparisla
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<p><p>Private equity executive Stephen Schwarzman made <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/12/blackstones-schwarzman-m_n_91193.html" title="Huffington Post Article">$5.13 BILLION</a> last year. </p><p>Not too shabby. I think that is somewhere around 100,000 times what the average American made last year.<br /><br />But let's be fair, most of that income was in stock from Blackstone's IPO - stock that has been falling since its initial offering last June. Out of that $5.13 billion, Steve's salary was a mere $350,000 - oh and $179,482 in perks. Chump change, really.</p><p>But what's that $350.2 million in cash distributions I am reading about? That wouldn't be <a href="http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2007/06/26/understanding_the_carried_inte/" title="Understanding the Carried Interest Issue">carried interest income</a>, would it? You know, that "special" income that fund managers get to pay 15% taxes on rather than the 35% their salary is taxed at. </p><p>Hmmm ... A quick calculation shows that the carried interest tax loophole may have saved our friend Steve $70 million last year. Not too shabby, Steve.</p><p>Get involved. Go to <a href="http://www.warongreed.org" title="War On Greed">www.WarOnGreed.org</a> and sign the <a href="http://www.warongreed.org" title="The War On Greed">petition</a> to close the private equity's tax loopholes. </p></p>
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More from Super Return '08http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/30870-more-from-super-return-082008-03-11T13:03:23ZAseem K. Giri
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<p>At this week's Super Return 2008 conference in Munich, nearly 1,000 attendees gathered, including leading private equity professionals and the constituents they care most about—their investors. During a speech, David Rubenstein, Founder and Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, conducted an informal survey of the audience. The audience was asked, "Think taxes will go up?" <a href="http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/live-from-germany-super-return-2008/">The New York Times reports</a> that "many hands" went up.<br /><p> <br />It would appear that many in the industry view a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/business/yourmoney/11deal.html?ex=1331269200&amp;en=1631a51b325e9a65&amp;ei=5090&amp;partner=rssuserland&amp;emc=rss">tax increase</a> as inevitable. However, this hasn't stopped them from <a href="http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.aspx?Feed=AP&amp;Date=20080212&amp;ID=8183324&amp;Symbol=BX">throwing money</a> at lobbying groups to try to avoid such increases. Ultimately, it's their money, so they can do what they want. But for a professional class that promotes the efficient deployment of capital, this would appear to be a waste of resources.<br /><br />For more info on private equity, check out <a href="http://warongreed.org/">www.warongreed.org</a> and my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Imposters-at-Gate-Aseem-Giri/dp/160502001X">Imposters at the Gate</a>. </p></p>
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Calling Henry Kravishttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/30500-calling-henry-kravis2008-07-24T12:54:20Zofelia
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<p><p>Giving up is certainly not something we do here at Brave New Films. This time however, we had to throw in the towel. For weeks, our team repeatedly tried to reach Henry Kravis, the star of our <a href="http://warongreed.org">War On Greed</a> video series.</p><p> From interns to producers ­ even Director Robert Greenwald himself ­ all tried their luck at calling Mr. Kravis to invite him to share his point of view and to give him an opportunity to speak for himself. We left messages with the switchboard operator, his assistant, and his voice mail became our acquaintance. His PR firm never responded, and obviously, neither did Mr. Kravis. </p><p>We would like to add that aside from simply picking up the phone, we proposed Mr. Kravis the sweet deal of meeting with him at his own time, at the location of his choice, at his convenience. All he had to do was say the word and we would have followed. We offered to post the transcript of the would-be interview in its entirety on the web, so that his words would not be misinterpreted or lost in translation. Unfortunately, our perks didn't interest Mr. Kravis, and we have yet to hear from him. Mr. Kravis: you can't say we never tried.</p></p>
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Happy Birthday, 16th Amendment!http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/27884-happy-birthday-16th-amendment2008-03-21T18:48:20Zsor juana
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<p>On this day in 1913, the 16th Amendment was ratified. It was the first graduated income tax and was implemented later in the year as part of the Underwood Simmons Tariff Act. This was significant because previously, taxes were apportioned according to population (Pollock v. Farmers Loan and Trust Co., 158 U. S. 601 [1895]). The Sixteenth Amendment took the focus away from whether taxes "are direct or indirect by giving Congress blanket power to lay and collect taxes on income 'from whatever source derived,' without any apportionment or regard to any census." This tax season, can you imagine population and the census being the most important question? How would that change things? How would it affect what we focus on or that for which we fight?</p>
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What you may not know about MLK. Spanish subtitles.http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/27660-what-you-may-not-know-about-mlk-spanish-subtitles2008-06-25T08:45:13ZBrave New Films
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<p>http://warongreed.org/dreams.php</p>
<p>Today we honor Dr. King's birthday. We all know him because of his historic impact on civil rights, but many don't realize that later in life he fought just as passionately for the rights of workers and against the entrenched institutions of injustice.</p>
<p>"Equality means dignity. And dignity demands a job and a paycheck that lasts through the week."</p>
<p>The War on Greed is exactly this kind of fight. The livelihoods of families have been directly attacked by the actions of buyout billionaires like Henry Kravis putting Wall Street's special interests ahead of his 800,000 employees... and pocketing $51,000 an hour in the process.</p>
<p>The first step must be taxing these buyout billionaires at a fair tax rate. It will not solve all the problems, but it is a strong and forceful beginning. With the presidential campaigns underway, it is the perfect time to force this issue into the campaigns the way we did with Wal-Mart and Iraq for Sale.</p>
<p>As our friend Rev. Yearwood, leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, has said: "We are facing a lunch counter moment for the 21st century."</p>
<p>Please join us at our virtual lunch counter by signing the petition to presidential candidates demanding they pledge to close the loopholes and tax the tax dodgers. Buyout billionaires are a menace to our economy. People are hurting, badly, and we must take beginning steps to bring the issue of corporate greed and economic equality to the nation's attention.</p>
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The “War on Greed” or Why I Support John Edwardshttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/26117-the-war-on-greed-or-why-i-support-john-edwards2008-06-11T21:31:12ZIndependent Musings
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<p><p>Cross posted at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/22/213123/353/970/441435" title="DailyKos">DailyKos</a></p><p>The latest Robert Greenwald documentary: <a href="http://warongreed.org/">http://warongreed.org/</a> is a must see video.</p><p>A CEO, being paid $51,000/hour is taxed at a lesser rate (percentage wise) than a "worker bee" earning less than $50,000/year. Corporate loopholes, <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/18/free_lunch_how_the_wealthiest_americans">wealth transfers</a> - ‘Reverse Robin Hood': where money from the poor & middle class is given to the super rich -- etc., combined with Bush's <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/18/163014/008">give-away of our national resources</a> to corporate cronies all contribute to the bankrupting of this nation.</p><p>The primary reason I support John Edwards is that he <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/11/75639/0473">fights</a> passionately for the dignity / rights of workers and against entrenched corporate interest.</p></p>
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War on Greed: Fight for the Dreamhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/25568-war-on-greed-fight-for-the-dream2008-07-20T17:08:46ZJohn Ehrenfeld
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<p>On this day celebrating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King who immortalized the words “I have a dream”, we should all stop and take a moment to remember the compelling message of hope that he gave as a gift to us all.<br /><br />To Dr. King, racial equality was just part of the inspired and virtuous future he envisioned for our nation. He also dreamt of a society where economic fairness would become part of the essential fabric of our democracy. Dr. King’s stirring and inspirational words allowed every man, woman and child to visualize their deserved place in the sun, a society of inclusion without the divisions of class built with the brotherhood and generosity that he believed all men and women capable of. That was his dream for us, and it should be our dream to honor him by fulfilling that.<br /><br />Today, the reality is that the goals of ending poverty and economic disparity that Dr. King articulated so eloquently have still not been achieved. There are still formidable obstacles built upon foundations of greed standing in the way, and a growing economic disparity that prevents millions of Americans from being able to realize his dream. <br /><br />Nothing represents these obstacles more than leveraged buyout (private equity) firms such as KKR, led by billionaire Henry Kravis. Companies like KKR and men like Kravis are the antithesis of what Dr. King stood for, seekers of limitless wealth for the few at the expense of the many. Private equity firms like KKR generate huge profits by acquiring public companies with primarily borrowed money. They then take them private to ensure secrecy and often dissect and restructure them for the purpose of selling the company later. In the process, these firms sometimes lay off workers, cut wages and restrict medical benefits to drive up the stock price and increase profitability, insuring a higher sales price. Kravis and others like him also benefit from tax breaks unavailable to the average American. He pays a tax rate of only 15% on a majority of his $450,000,000 annual income, percentage-wise, less tax than many teachers, firemen, and policemen pay.<br /><br />Brave New Films ongoing “<a href="http://warongreed.org/">War on Greed</a>” campaign seeks to educate the public about how leveraged buyout firms like KKR operate and the damage that they often do. This new video in the series, “<a href="http://warongreed.org/dreams.php">Fight For The Dream</a>” tells the story of the workers at Accuride’s Rockford, Illinois plant; a company bought by KKR, and contrasts the exploitation they faced with Dr. King’s message of equality and dignity.</p>
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<a href="/blog/25568-war-on-greed-fight-for-the-dream">Continue reading</a>
How the private equity buyout industry workshttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/25543-how-the-private-equity-buyout-industry-works2008-07-08T01:26:47ZBrave New Films
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<p>Jeff Faux, author of The Global Class War, explains how the private equity buyout industry works, and how it hurts American workers and our economy.</p>
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Congress needs to close the buyout industry's tax loopholeshttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/25542-congress-needs-to-close-the-buyout-industry-s-tax-loopholes2008-06-10T18:39:33ZBrave New Films
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<p>http://warongreed.org/facts.php</p>
<p>Jeff Faux explains that Congress has the power to change the tax code and close the buyout industry's tax loopholes that let them rake in millions while paying less percentage in taxes than regular people.</p>
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War on Greed: Rev. Yearwood on MLK's dreamhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/25537-war-on-greed-rev-yearwood-on-mlk-s-dream2008-07-08T05:32:55ZBrave New Films
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<p><p><a href="../../topics/rev-lennox-yearwood">Rev. Lennox Yearwood</a> from the <a href="http://www.hiphopcaucus.org/">Hip Hop Caucus</a>:</p><blockquote><p>40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died so all of us could have human dignity and equality here in America. He died to bridge the divide between the rich and the poor. He died so white and black could all come together, so we could all have human dignity. He understood that economic rights were at the core of the fabric of human dignity. <br /><br />As we fast forward to the 21st century, multi-billionaire wall street tycoons like Henry Kravis and companies like KKR are causing that dream to become a nightmare. </p></blockquote></p>
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John Edwards' Iowa speechhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/23356-john-edwards-iowa-speech2008-07-24T12:49:33Zjgilliam
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<p><p>"If you're willing to stand up to corporate greed... the American people are unstoppable!"</p><p>I love it when he talks about greed like that. </p></p>
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John Edwards in Ames, Iowa: "This is very personal for me"http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/23282-john-edwards-in-ames-iowa-this-is-very-personal-for-me2008-06-13T09:37:27Zcliffschecter
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<p><p>This is a great speech by Edwards, who is apparently experiencing a "surge" right now in Iowa. </p><p>Let's face it, when corporate protectors like <a href="http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2007/12/31/121825/35">Stu Rothenberg</a>--so happy in his gated city--attack you for being too populist, you're doing something right (yes, populism also failed that "crazy" man named Franklin Roosevelt who spoke of "economic royalists," as it equally doomed Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, LBJ, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Oh yeah and that guy who won the popular vote, Al Gore).</p><p>I'd pay good money if people like old Stu would just once pick up a history book before opening their ignorant traps. In any case, Edwards talks about, in plain language, what we have spoken about in our <a href="http://warongreed.org/">War On Greed</a> campaign. There are no deals to be made with the Henry Kravises of the world...</p></p>
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John Edwards Continues To Attack The System That Has Created This Messhttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/22951-john-edwards-continues-to-attack-the-system-that-has-created-this-mess2008-07-09T20:28:15Zcliffschecter
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<p><p>This is an important thing Edwards is doing, whether you are a supporter of his or not. For, as with our (BNF's) <a href="http://warongreed.org/">War On Greed</a> campaign or <a href="http://foxattacks.com/">exposes on Fox</a> have shown, there is a whole system in place that has allowed corporate hacks to break up companies and put workers on the street while literally pocketing billions--and then trumpeted their success on Fox.</p><p>This system allowed a man manifestly unprepared and unsuited for the job of President to ascend there, without the kind of scrutiny necessary for a democracy to not only thrive, but survive.</p><p>This must change (no pun intended). And whether it's Edwards who brings it about or someone else, we must hold those in power accountable to bring us back to the pre-Reagan age, when the middle class was growing, the safety net was real and preemptive war was considered as retarded as it sounds.</p></p>
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More Corporate Greed, Because There Is Just So Darn Much Of It...http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/22816-more-corporate-greed-because-there-is-just-so-darn-much-of-it2008-06-13T15:30:57Zcliffschecter
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<p><p>Great post by <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/27/165410/40/495/426663">Devilstower over at Dailykos</a>, who provides the worst of the worst in the past year of corporate abuse. Let me share a bit, see how it strikes you:</p><blockquote><p>How about the CEO at Qwest, whose daughter gets to use the corporate jet to <a href="http://www.footnoted.org/perk-city/back-to-school-but-not-on-the-bus/">travel to school</a>? Puts that kid whose mother pulls up to jr. high in a Hummer in her place. Cost to the stockholders: about $600,000.</p><p>Personal travel was a theme in CEO perks this year. Just ask the CEO of I2. The company covered <a href="http://www.footnoted.org/perk-city/and-the-frequent-flyer-award-goes-to/">his commuting expenses</a> so he could live in Maine while the company offices were in Dallas. Cost to the stockholders: $949,000 -- and by the way, the company was busy scrambling to avoid collapse. I'm sure the other employees got equally nice treatment.</p><p>Failing companies often seem to be the most generous. Take Countrywide, which gave it's new COO a <a href="http://www.footnoted.org/perk-city/fit-for-presidents-and-kings/">promotion bonus</a> just as the sub-prime mortgage business was heading for the dumper. Cost to the stockholders: $2.62 million. Oh, and when it comes to that housing crisis? Thank goodness executives don't have to worry. See, when housing prices were going up, companies bought executive homes at the market rate and gave any profit to the executive. When housing prices started to fall, shareholders covered any losses so the executives <em>still</em> made a profit. What's that you say? Housing slump? You must be joking.</p><p>For executives who wanted to avoid the whole mortgage mess, there were other options. The new CEO of Morgans Hotel Group signed up for a relatively stingy $750,000 a year. Of course the stockholders are coming his housing allowance, which is a mere <a href="http://www.footnoted.org/my-big-fat-deal/the-30k-nyc-apartment/">$30,000 a month</a>.</p></blockquote><p>Yup, Countrywide is on your side. As are so many other <a href="http://warongreed.org/">greedy members of the corporate kleptocracy</a> that has reloaded during the Bush years. Those content to see workers go without healthcare while they send their kid to school on a jet. </p><p>Nope. Nothing obscene there.</p><p>Hmm, what would the appropriate video metaphor be... </p></p>
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The Winner of the War on Greed contesthttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/22634-the-winner-of-the-war-on-greed-contest2008-07-08T05:22:35Zjgilliam
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<p><p>Two weeks ago, we released the "<a href="../blog/20619-war-on-greed-starring-henry-kravis-and-his-homes">War on Greed Starring Henry Kravis' Homes</a>" and asked what <em>you</em> would do with one of Kravis' mansions for a day during the holidays. </p><p>We received thousands of responses, but Carolyn's idea clearly stood out. </p><p>Listen to her story.. and Merry Christmas!</p></p>
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<a href="/blog/22634-the-winner-of-the-war-on-greed-contest">Watch the video</a>
Mayor.TV - Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson on "These Disastrous Bush Years"http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/21972-mayor-tv-salt-lake-city-mayor-rocky-anderson-on-these-disastrous-bush-years2008-03-22T21:54:48Zcliffschecter
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<p><p>Anderson talks about the very issues we have been discussing in our War On Greed campaign - ones that impact cities such as healthcare, wages, public education, poverty, etc., and how they have all been negatively impacted by Bush Administration policies skewed to enriching corporate fat cats while ignoring every other pressing need.</p><p>Good for the <a href="http://www.drummajorinstitute.org/">Drum Major Institute</a> and Nation Magazine for partnering on this <a href="http://www.mayortv.com/rocky_anderson/">Mayor.TV</a> effort. And let's hope it spurs further discussion of important economic issues ignored by an ignoramus.</p></p>
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It's time to hold the ideology accountable for its crimeshttp://bravenewfilms.org/blog/21971-it-s-time-to-hold-the-ideology-accountable-for-its-crimes2008-07-24T12:28:59Zjessehaff
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<p>Naomi Klein and Robert Greenwald discuss torture, accountability, private equity, the future of activism and the importance to get involved and take action.</p>
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War On Greed "Walkabout"http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/21206-war-on-greed-walkabout2008-03-22T21:54:47Zcliffschecter
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<p><p>Following up on our successful effort to expose the modern day robber barons who make billions and benefit from tax loopholes that allow them to get taxed at a lower rate than police officers, waiters or any other American working much much harder for much much less.</p><p>Here are your details:</p><blockquote><p>Throughout the day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, activists will be using walking video billboards, new technology that allows for street level viewing by passersby. The "War on Greed Walkabout" will include stops outside the offices of the buyout industry's lobbying group, the Private Equity Council, Capitol Hill, Metro stations, fire stations, and along the K St. corridor and the Carlyle Group Headquarters.</p><p><strong>To join in the fun, meet at 1800 Mass: 12/11 4:30pm, 12/12 8am, or 12/13 4pm</strong></p><p><strong>Note to reporters: if you would like to accompany the "War on Greed Walkabout" please contact SEIU's </strong><strong>Renee Asher</strong><strong> at <span class="skype_tb_injection"><span class="skype_tb_injectionIn"><span class="skype_tb_innerText">202-255-4251</span></span></span>.</strong></p></blockquote><p>Be there or be square...or Republican.</p><p>P.S. For a primer on the two-tier country we have become, go to Alternet and check out how <a href="http://www.alternet.org/workplace/70103/">this piece by Joshua Holland</a> on how the American Dream is still alive and well...in Finland.</p></p>
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