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Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and StickYou with the Bill)

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And you thought old Sam Walton built his empire mostly through good honest American hard work and cunning...think again! Subsidies given to corporations, by the government, equate to what David Cay Johnston says is "Corporate socialism". It is also called "Corporate welfare". And it happens all the time.

He talks about how other business entities steal property from people, and other businesses, through mis-use of eminent domain. One example he gives is the Bush/Texas Ranger stadium that ruined people's lives by stealing their property...houses and businesses...where the stadium was built.

The "wealthy elite" propaganda machine keeps right-wing minds spinning with the specter of sleazy poor women, with 10 kids, getting welfare checks every month.....doesn't even come close to what it costs the taxpayer to support "corporate socialism". Socialism is a bad word that has been pounded into our fears...left over from the bad old "Duck and Cover" days of the cold war. Talk about Psy-Ops....and they are still at it.

Our government gives tax incentives to corporations to send our jobs overseas. Then the profits from these overseas entities get stuck into off-shore accounts which "hides", and avoids, US taxation. The little guy gets stuck with all the taxes. And the IRS goes after the little guy because he is relatively defenseless because he can't afford the lawyers like the big boys can. Besides, they're all in on it...the banks, the corporations, the politicians.

Now that our economy is in shambles, so many people have lost their jobs to offshore, etc., who is going to pay the taxes? Not those without a job. Who is going to buy all of the goods or services....not those without a job. I wonder what new trick for screwing the people the wealthy have in store for us now that there is no one left to pay the taxes...except them? Oh yes, there is always "Soylent Green"!

Free Lunch is full of documentation and examples that show how the very wealthiest politicians, corporations,and other individuals have milked US tax payers by using and abusing US Law, using subsidies for great profit. Sam Walton, George W., Enron, and many others are cited for a great fleecing of America. Through intimidation and finagling, The wealthiest have enriched themselves.

I ask: How long will American taxpayers put of with this abuse and misuse of our tax dollars? Does anyone in America even have a conscience? Who will stand up for what is right? Who will demand what is right and just?

Like many jobless people: I don't want a bailout, I just need work. And even if I did get a bailout, I wouldn't party with it.
What is wrong with people? How can they be so very selfish and ruin America with their greed and lack of principles?
The wealthiest don't get it. How much do they even contribute to charities to help others? How do they sleep at night, knowing that their greed has contributed to the economic downturn?

with him when he died? How about "Kennie Boy" Lay? How much does Dick Cheney plan to take with him? Criminal, greedy politicians, lawyers & business executives, further staining forever those noble professions. Lots of entertaining stories of unchecked avarice. Railroads, utilities, real estate & the list goes on. Maybe a few years ago this might have been shocking. No more. Now it's just sad. Dick Cheney, the most visible, goes to the head of the list. Not only is he greedy, he's mean. And a liar. A mean, nasty liar. The author, David Johnston, becomes lazy about 3/4th of the way through. He starts spouting statistics like he's reading the census. The top 10% of the top 10% of the top 10%. Yeah we get it. His conclusion? The rich get richer & the poor get poorer. Wow. Who knew?

Get this book: it will make you wonder why the middle class receives so little individual welfare with no apologies to the rich.