in an alternate universe, AOC & Cruz work together

[dawp]

https://start.att.net/news/read/cat...ite_bill_to_ban_members_of_congress-rnewsweek

I'm shocked, shocked i tell ya, but if this actually goes through i'm all for it, it's about time to stop the revolving door.

 

[JEDIYoda]

That would be a step in the right direction!

 

[nickqt]

How would this be enforceable?

 

[ch33zw1z]

I'm not confident this will go anywhere until R's get the boot:

However, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced a bill in 2018 that sought to do what Cruz and Ocasio-Cortez discussed on Twitter Thursday. Warren's Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act would place a lifetime ban on former presidents, vice presidents, federal judges, Cabinet members and members of Congress from becoming lobbyists after the end of their political careers. All other government officials would have multi-year bans set that would prevent an individual from lobbying for at least two years after leaving a government post.

The bill also would have prevented government officials from owning individual stocks and require the president and vice president to place any "conflicted assets" in a blind trust, which would then be sold. Senior government officials and White House staff members would also be required to eliminate any privately-owned assets that could generate a conflict of interest, the bill says.

Warren's bill, as well as a companion House Bill introduced by Reps Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and John Sarbanes (D-Md.), did not advance out of committees during the 115th congressional session.

 

[Moonbeam]

I have always liked the opinion passed on to me many years ago by a conservative married couple I did business with regard to the revolving door afterlives of politicians. It was give them one term and then hang them.

There are just times when contempt for government is just the simple result of the fact that so many in government are contemptible.

 

[Blackjack200]

I like AOC, but she can be a real idiot sometimes.

 

[herm0016]

warrens went pretty far, cant own stock? how about cant own a controlling interest in a company over 500 employees or 10 million in gross revenue??

 

[brycejones]

I like AOC, but she can be a real idiot sometimes.

Ok, is she being an idiot in this instance in your opinion? If so why?

 

[brycejones]

warrens went pretty far, cant own stock? how about cant own a controlling interest in a company over 500 employees or 10 million in gross revenue??

I can own $20B in Apple stock and obviously not have a controlling interest in that company but have a huge incentive to shape policy that increases the value of that stake. I think Warren's proposal pushes that people are to be there to serve the public not themselves. Your proposal doesn't ensure that.

 

[herm0016]

I can own $20B in Apple stock and obviously not have a controlling interest in that company but have a huge incentive to shape policy that increases the value of that stake. I think Warren's proposal pushes that people are to be there to serve the public not themselves. Your proposal doesn't ensure that.

good point. whats your counter?

i dont think its right that you are not allowed to have any investments if you become president. large real estate holdings would be a conflict of interest I agree, but if I own one apartment complex somewhere?

I agree that its a problem that a lot of wealth is concentrated in the group of people that control the government. but I also want people that are smart with their money/investments/businesses to be in positions of power. so how do we reconcile those points?

 

[cytg111]

Simple. Ted is not an idiot. He is the rat that jumps ship to ship to ship. He knows AOC is integral to the future of American politics. So he plays nice with her.
Smart man.

 

[Greenman]

Good idea that won't go anywhere. Very few members of congress are going to cut off an enormous future income source. The top few might do it because they can still make vast amounts of money doing "speaking engagements", those require even less effort that lobbying. But the rank and file need to have a gig lined up for when they leave office.

 

[Oyeve]

For some reason AOC annoys the hell out of me. I ain't a repubtard but just gets on my last nerve.

 

[dainthomas]

For some reason AOC annoys the hell out of me. I ain't a repubtard but just gets on my last nerve.

Cool story.

 

[brycejones]

good point. whats your counter?

i dont think its right that you are not allowed to have any investments if you become president. large real estate holdings would be a conflict of interest I agree, but if I own one apartment complex somewhere?

I agree that its a problem that a lot of wealth is concentrated in the group of people that control the government. but I also want people that are smart with their money/investments/businesses to be in positions of power. so how do we reconcile those points?

My counter is I support her position. We should be able to have faith that elected officials are not making decisions that enrich themselves. How do you propose to do that without forcing them into a blind trust and divestment?

 

[Blackjack200]

Ok, is she being an idiot in this instance in your opinion? If so why?

Ted Cruz is a human piece of shit. He is irredeemable, one of the most loathsome political figures in Washington today, and that says quite a bit. So a good rule of thumb is that if he ever says something that sounds good, he's being disingenuous.

That politicians shouldn't be able to enrich themselves as lobbyists after leaving office is absurdly obvious. You don't need to make a big show of saying you're on board with Ted fucking Cruz to support reform. Libby Watson wrote up a good piece explaining why Ted Cruz is unlikely to champion a bill that actually attacks the root of the problem if you're really curious: https://splinternews.com/a-lobbying-ban-isn-t-enough-1835157399

But you don't even need to read it, Because if you're so credulous that you still need to be told that Ted goddamn Cruz is not a sincere, good-faith actor, it's really unlikely that this article will convince you.

 

[pcgeek11]

I think this would be a good first step. Politicians have way too many temptations that are allowed by law.