I wish, just ONCE, someone would ask Kerry

[Dover]

or anyone else in a position to become a leader of our government
what place organizations like Bilderberg, Davos, and other secretive, closed-to-the-public and press (except media mogules) meetings with corporate/business leadership had in a purported democracy?

We've heard all kinds of rhetoric about what will be done to curb corporate lobbying, tax evasion and influence of OUR government, but nothing about these ongoing meetings (which Kerry and many others have attended).

Then ask yourself why YOU don't want to know.

[Dover]

1. LOL! Silence......not ONE reply.

I can honestly say I expected as much. It's sort of the Emperor's clothes thing all over again, only it's about OUR candidate this time. And that is apparently off limits.

But I must say that I am truly shocked that no one has answered Khephra's post directed to anti-war people. What's the problem here?
I really would like to know where people are at with that.

[neoteric lefty]

2. hey

you are posting during people's lunch break, give 'em a break.

[jpgray]

3. At least he wants lobbyist meetings with officials to be made public

He could do a lot worse than that. But whether or not he will expose or end the secretive orgs such as you mention remains to be seen. Probably it would not make sense to use campaign time for strategically (few are aware of the issue), let alone how he feels about it ideologically.

[JPace]

4. Kerry......

"only it's about OUR candidate this time. And that is apparently off limits."

I wouldn't call it off limits....but making an issue of it is
not likely to help our candidate get elected. Kerry said
contributions from lobbyists amounted to less than 1% of
his take. It still does not make him clean....but then how
much cleaner is he than the repugs? My guess is a lot!

I don't know how we will ever get control over the influence
of the rich and big business in our government and probably
no candidate is (maybe one or two) pure in this area. However
I for one am not interested in anything that is going to weaken
the position of a Dem candidate this time around even if that
means hiding dirty laundry or anything else that needs minimizing.

Someone could call that two faced....I call it being realistic.
If we don't maximize our opportunities to support our candidate
we will have the election stolen again.

[sangh0]

5. Are you kidding?

Don't you realize that ALL Americans have the freedom of association and freedom of speech, and that include businesspeople?

Then ask yourself why YOU don't want to know

I know why I don't want any candidate to even think about regulating business meetings - It's unconstitutional

on edit: I would have answered much sooner, but the chicken curry I ordered was so good I had to lick the plate. It was a big plate.

[sangh0]

7. Dover, where'd ya go?

You seemed pretty interested in this when you started. You were enxious enough to complain that people weren't responding, and now you're not.

[Dover]

9. I'm not talking just about regulation, I'm talking about corporations

making decisions and grooming our leaders. Sorry but that's not in the Constitution.

P.S. Had to go pick up my car, which was being fixed. Didn't mean to leave the thread hanging...

[sangh0]

13. I have no idea what you're talking about

I see it has something to do with corps. and with meetings, but what is the govt supposed to do about businesses making decisions?

And what is that reference to "grooming our leaders" about? Is that what they're doing at those closed meetings? If so, how do you know if they're closed meetings?

You're not making much sense. Could you clearly explain what it is you're having a problem with?

[Dover]

16. Well, I'd suggest doing a search on any of those I've mentioned.

There are other annual meetings where government, media, and corporations gather.

You are correct, I have no proof. But the little bit of info that the press HAS managed to glean from these meetings is a rough accounting of WHO attends. And it's interesting that many of them have ended up eventually in high office (ie. president). Clinton went there early in his political career, Kerry, Dodd, and others as well. Kissinger is a regular in attendence. These are people who are setting policy for this country. And just like Cheney's secret energy task force meeting, we are not permitted to know what issues and interests are being discussed and decided. And that's really my point. That all this lip service by both parties about transparency is bogus, and that their corporate hosts at these meetings like it that way.

[buckeye1]

6. Art Bell here.

Its a great show topic. Dumber is always better.

[Dover]

10. Really? Why don't you tell me what part of my question is Art Bellish?

Are you suggesting these documented annual meetings don't occur?
Or do you think nothing significant gets planned at them, when corporations and government meet?

[Jack_Dawson]

8. What are you talking about?

-Ignorant Guy

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Uzybone]

12. Sorry

I dont know what you speak off. Who are these guys? And how can anyone stop business people from having secret meetings?

[Dover]

14. Once again, it's not just that business people are meeting in secret

it's that either government officials are meeting WITH them, and or, that what comes out of the secret meetings is directing foreign and other government policy (like the oil company's interests for instance). Cheney did something similar when he met with the energy industry people and wouldn't reveal who was there. In other words it's not a transparent system. We the people have no input and often no knowledge of these things, and the corporations have no accountability to us.

How do people feel about Kerry or other government leaders attending these secretive meetings?

[zulchzulu]

15. Simple question: If they are secret meetings, why do you know about them?

I liked the Art Bell quote. Seems appropriate...

[Dover]

17. Well then maybe you can answer why you think the Art Bell quote is

appropriate. What about this strikes you as Bellish? Do you think that these meetings don't occur? They are documented by the press, though they are not permitted to go inside.

Do you have any problem with Cheney's secretive energy task force meetings or do you think we should know who was counseling him on energy policy?

Because that is ultimately my point.

[KoKo]

18. Exactly! When will they "bare the secrets" answer the whispers out there?

Why shouldn't we expect that? Why not? Why are these "untouchable subjects?" They are "Democrats, FGS!"

[Dover]

19. Thanks KoKo. Whether some poster's ignorance about thisis feigned or real

I do not know. If it's real I hope they will do a search and get up to speed a bit. If it's feigned ignorance, then you really have to wonder why they are so quick to undermine efforts to illuminate it and discuss it openly. What's the danger?

People who have been up in arms about the secretiveness and lack of transparency in government and business ought to know about the Bilderberg, Davos and other meetings and that people from both political parties participate.

I know that lot of WTO activists are up in arms about those closed meetings as well.

I'm not suggesting that the intentions of those in power who make these secretive decisions are necessarily working against our interests, but there is simply no accountability or way for us to know or decide if we are in agreement.

[KoKo]

20. Exactly! Open it up. Tell us why Bildebergers and the Rest are not

fodder for conspiracy theorists. If all this isn't Conspiracy then why the heck don't you explain to us what you are doing and WHY you are doing it?

Is it because they think so few of us know about it all, or are they "covering it." Either way, our government and electorate is healthier for the knowledge.

There's just too much weird stuff going on for some of us not to be alarmed.

What about that weird religious sect in DC where Senators/House Members go to stay or have meetings. It was in the "New Yorker" Mag. for GS! It was weird. Some Fundie Group where our Congressmen go to be waited on by females who aren't part of the group and where everyone is into Jesus?

There is alot of very bizarre stuff out there. And, given that we on DU would seem sort of "bizarre to some" out there......we've gotta figure that our Power Center in DC (if it's into much of what we've learned) must be really out there on the edge. :shrug:

Talk to us.....Dem Candidates. Tell us what you know!