Booz Allen et al donate campaign cash. Politicians praise surveillance. What does Occam’s Razor say?

[marmar]

from In These Times:


How Cash Secretly Rules Surveillance Policy
Booz Allen et al donate campaign cash. Politicians praise surveillance. What does Occam’s Razor say?

BY David Sirota


Have you noticed anything missing in the political discourse about the National Security Administration’s unprecedented mass surveillance? There’s certainly been a robust discussion about the balance between security and liberty, and there’s at least been some conversation about the intelligence community’s potential criminality and constitutional violations. But there have only been veiled, indirect references to how cash undoubtedly tilts the debate against those who challenge the national security state.

Those indirect references have come in stories about Booz Allen Hamilton, the security contractor that employed Edward Snowden. CNN Money notes that 99 percent of the firm’s multibillion-dollar annual revenues now come from the federal government. Those revenues are part of a larger and growing economic sector within the military-industrial complex—a sector that, according to author Tim Shorrock, is “a $56 billion-a-year industry.”

For the most part, this is where the political discourse about money stops. We are told that there are high-minded, principled debates about security. We are also told of this massively profitable private industry making billions a year from the policy decisions that emerge from such a debate. Yet, few in the Washington press corps are willing to mention that politicians’ attacks on surveillance critics may have nothing to do with principle and everything to do with shilling for campaign donors.

For a taste of what that kind of institutionalized corruption looks like, peruse InfluenceExplorer.com to see how much Booz Allen Hamilton and its parent company The Carlyle Group spend. As you’ll see, from Barack Obama to John McCain, many of the politicians now publicly defending the surveillance state have taken huge sums of money from the firms. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/article/15250/how_cash_secretly_rules_surveillance_policy/

[Autumn]

1. Booz Allen also has access to the politicians data, e mails, phone calls, etc.

Politicians praise surveillance, that says a lot right there.

[cantbeserious]

2. Follow The Money And One Learns How The Oligarchs And Corporations Own And Control The Politicians

eom

[sabrina 1]

14. Don't forget Clapper, former CEO of Booz Allen, now Director of Intelligence. Some

good reporter needs to take a look at what 'recommendations Clapper has been making to Congress regarding funding for 'Security' and how much of that money has gone to his former, and most likely future employer.

[scarletwoman]

3. This is exactly what I brought up a month ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022979901

I don't care whether you approve or disapprove of Edward Snowden's leaks. What REALLY outrages me

is that fucking PRIVATE CONTRACTORS are carrying out this surveillance. PRIVATE CONTRACTORS who are beholden to no-one, who work for PROFIT, whose owners amass huge fortunes doing the bidding of the MIC/National Security State - THESE are the people who are being given access to all this data collection!

THESE are the people who can spend whatever they like IN SECRET to influence our elections and our entire political process. THESE are the people who can spend endless money on lobbyists to make sure that THEY get Defense Department contracts, who can spend endless money on lobbyists to make sure that secret surveillance continues to be approved by Congress.

Do you really think this just fine, just peachy? Do you really think that THIS is how a true democracy should work? Do you really think that giving private, for profit companies access to the apparatus of State Security is okay? Do you really think we should just trust THEM?

[ReRe]

9. Hear! Hear!!

It's a massive uncontrollable money machine, scarletwoman. Money for the profiteers. the speculators, the big time gamblers & risk takers. This is no longer our government. We are now a Corporation. And our government is the one that let it happen. And of course, the government turns around and blames it on The People. It's The People's fault. How can it be The People's fault when they (the government) did all this behind closed doors, in secrecy? We don't have an informed People. Behind closed doors and a bought and paid for news media who started dumping investigative journalism decades ago. It damn sure isn't a democracy anymore. Just call it USF: The United States of Fascism!

[bobduca]

4. It's like a perpetual motion machine

Simple Math: if your committee oversees black budgets in the hundreds of billions...

Who will notice when said contractor makes kickbacks to the re-election committee to the tune of several hundred thousand?

We can even give them special names like "Pioneers" or the less folksy "Bundlers"

[mick063]

5. No worries

The gatekeepers will be here very soon to provide a link which exonerates all that have a (D) by their name. Probed further, we will find it is 12 year old Republican policy that collectively coerces us into this untenable position. We are simply helpless to do anything about it since this has been going on for such a long period of time. Further, we are very shocked that more people aren't aware this has been happening. Besides, a wise man in a long dark robe has declared this to be legal.

/shrug

Let's talk about that creep Snowden now.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

6. Rec

[cantbeserious]

7. Beware Wise Men In Dark Robes

eom

[GoneFishin]

12. +1,000,000

[GoneFishin]

13. Oh. You forgot "David Sirota leaves the toilet seat up".

[Skittles]

16. it's NOT THE 'D' - it's 'O' <----------- MAKE THE DISTINCTON

[mick063]

17. I fail to understand your point.

I put (D) for a reason.

In other words, I would cry foul if it was Franklin Roosevelt himself.

[JEB]

8. So its all about grubbing money

From the garden patch known as the US Treasury. Lying thieving criminals.

[ReRe]

10. David Sirota reveals InfluenceExplorer.com!

K&R

marmar, thanks so much for this article from David Sirota!!! What an amazing search engine that each and every DU needs to have access to! http://www.InfluenceExplorer.com

[kentuck]

11. "CNN Money notes that 99 percent of the firm’s multibillion-dollar annual revenues ..."

"... now come from the federal government."

They must use the other 1% to donate back to their sugar daddies.

[mick063]

15. Corporate Socialism

Vastly different than plain old Socialism.

[Initech]

18. This is why we need to get money out of politics!! NOW!