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Those who continue to deny the existence of an alliance between the business community and government need look no further than the City of Laguna Niguel (CA), where the local Chamber of Commerce is ensconced right in the new mega-million dollar Laguna Niguel City Hall!
This should really come as no surprise to anyone. For years, the local Chamber, not unlike its parent, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has been a mouthpiece for business interests to the detriment of the consumer. And these interests are clearly reflected in the Chamber’s endorsements of candidates for political office.
Is it any wonder that the individual who represents South Orange County in the California State Senate (Mimi Walters. R. Laguna Niguel) has once again received a zero percent (0%) rating by the non-partisan Consumer Federation of California? Walters was a predictable rubber stamp for the local Chamber when she served on the Laguna Niguel City Council in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
In 2009, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent over $140 million lobbying Congress, and about $50 million of that went to opposing a federal climate bill. The late Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple. Inc., stated “Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s frustrating to find the Chamber at odds with us in that effort.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is currently spending millions on various political campaigns throughout the United States in order to put its puppets into Congress—elected officials who will do the bidding for the giant corporations.
And, needless to say, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce heartily endorses the poster-child for job outsourcing, Mitt Romney. But then, why wouldn’t they? After all, they have common interests. Unfortunately their interests are inimical to those of the American people.
The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”
F the Chamber of Commerce and The Consumer! The Consumer needs to find something else to blow! and not really sure how this fits in but take this…
It’s Hip! It’s Cool! It’s Libertarian!
CONNOR KILPATRICK
Calling yourself a libertarian today is a lot like wearing a mullet back in the nineteen eighties. It sends a clear signal: business up front, party in the back.
You know, those guys who call themselves “socially liberal but fiscally conservative”? Yeah. It’s for them.
*Eddie,
Reminds of the days of Max Rafferty and Wilson Riles….running the California School System.
It was definitely a “Spy vs. Spy” world. The commies were infiltrating each and every school board in California. Was it the will of the people or the will of those that understood the system and de-based it from inside? Sadly, because folks were not paying attention, or didn’t have enough time to aggressive participate, our school system took a serious tumble and the great old dedicated teachers, all willing to do more without pay……were replaced by hardcore “pay me or play me” Union School Partisans.
We would say that the same thing has been happening to the various Chambers of Commerce throughout the country….let alone the State of California. Money is exchanged, new facilities are built, administrators are awarded bonuses and incentives to grow the chamber with “the right type” of members…..and so it goes.
Encouraging small business folks within each community to participate strongly many times winds up with people being literally driven out of those communities. It is a tragic hardball world so, the search can no longer be for supportive members, but great, dedicated and caring New Leadership! Identifying the elitist leadership and challenging that leadership – one by one…….can make a big difference. Will folks do that? We can pray!