Frank Knapp Jr.: Restoring balance between Wall Street and Main Street
Column by Frank Knapp Jr.
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The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce and small business organizations and owners across this country want Wall Street Reform. But you wouldn’t know that from the attention the media gives to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is the mouthpiece for the big financial institutions that oppose reform.
The U.S. Chamber purports to represent small businesses. However, the reality is quite different. The July/August edition of the Washington Monthly features an eye-opening story on Tom Donohue, the CEO of the U.S. Chamber, who has a plaque on his desk that reads, “SHOW ME THE MONEY.” In 2008, a third of the Chamber’s revenues came from just 19 big companies. Read more
Jim Webb: The case for financial reform
Column by Jim Webb
www.webb.senate.gov
In the early days of our republic, President Andrew Jackson established an important principle of American-style democracy – that we should measure the health of our society not at its apex, but at its base. That focus has been lost, as many on Wall Street have accumulated vast wealth while the middle class falls steadily behind. When regions of Virginia are experiencing more than 21 percent unemployment and so many working Americans continue to struggle in this economy, it is only just that our leaders protect the interests of America’s working people. Read more
David Hills and Michael Lent: Financial reform
Column by David Hills and Michael Lent
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Millions of America’s small business owners suffer from bad practices on Wall Street – something often given short shrift in debate about creation of a consumer financial protection agency. Read more
Aaron Dorfman: Healthy democracy needs philanthropy
Posted by afp on July 14, 2010 · Leave a Comment
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When those who speak for regular folks – you, me and everyday working people – are outspent in Washington, even the most welcome legislation tends to serve the rich and powerful. As the country anticipates President Obama signing financial reform legislation, the scorecard is so starkly out of balance that it’s shameful. While a coalition of national and community-based organizations was able to raise $3 million to advocate for average people, the financial industry was spending $1.4 million a day on lobbying efforts. Read more
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with charitable giving, financial reform, philanthropy, u.s. philanthropy