America For Purchase

In the 21st century, America is selling itself to foreign investors, big government, and taking advantage of its citizens by big oil companies, huge pharmaceutical companies, special interest lobbyists and a host of wealthy Americans, all receiving huge tax breaks; while the ‘new’ middle and lower income Americans foot the bill. This governmental approach is unprecedented in annuals of American history. “America For Purchase”
For example, US Government statistics found at http://www.economyincrisis.com provides evidence of foreign ownership of American companies: (another example – “America For Purchase”)

• Sound recording industries – 97%
• Commodity contracts dealing and brokerage – 79%
• Motion picture and sound recording industries – 75%
• Metal ore mining – 65%
• Motion picture and video industries – 64%
• Wineries and distilleries – 64%
• Database, directory, and other publishers – 63%
• Book publishers – 63%
• Cement, concrete, lime, and gypsum product – 62%
• Engine, turbine and power transmission equipment – 57%
• Rubber product – 53%
• Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing – 53%
• Plastics and rubber products manufacturing – 52%
• Plastics product – 51%
• Other insurance related activities – 51%
• Boiler, tank, and shipping container – 50%
• Glass and glass product – 48%
• Coal mining – 48%
• Sugar and confectionery product – 48%
• Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying – 47%
• Advertising and related services – 41%
• Pharmaceutical and medicine – 40%
• Clay, refractory, and other nonmetallic mineral products – 40%
• Securities brokerage – 38%
• Other general purpose machinery – 37%
• Audio and video equipment mfg and reproducing magnetic and optical media – 36%
• Support activities for mining – 36%
• Soap, cleaning compound, and toilet preparation – 32%
• Chemical manufacturing – 30%
• Industrial machinery – 30%
• Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities – 30%
• Other food – 29%
• Motor vehicles and parts – 29%
• Machinery manufacturing – 28%
• Other electrical equipment and component – 28%
• Securities and commodity exchanges and other financial investment activities – 27%
• Architectural, engineering, and related services – 26%
• Credit card issuing and other consumer credit – 26%
• Petroleum refineries (including integrated) – 25%
• Navigational, measuring, electro medical, and control instruments – 25%
• Petroleum and coal products manufacturing – 25%
• Transportation equipment manufacturing – 25%
• Commercial and service industry machinery – 25%
• Basic chemical – 24%
• Investment banking and securities dealing – 24%
• Semiconductor and other electronic component – 23%
• Paint, coating, and adhesive – 22%
• Printing and related support activities – 21%
• Chemical product and preparation – 20%
• Iron, steel mills, and steel products – 20%
• Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery – 20%
• Publishing industries – 20%
• Medical equipment and supplies – 20%

American consumers continue to pay a huge price as big oil companies’ profit soar. The 2nd quarter of 2007, Exxon Mobile’s profits increased 32% over just a year ago, equating to more than $7.6 billion. BP’s profit during this same time period jumped 38% totaling $6.7 billion and Conoco Phillips profits increased 56% of more than $3 billion. All of this while none of these big oil companies have built refineries in the US in over 30 years. Many analysts suggest the public is drastically overpaying what it costs to produce, as verbalized by Joan Claybrook, president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. “America For Purchase”

The US Pharmaceutical companies also record huge profits while at the same time spending millions on lobbying efforts to influence Congress from negotiating drug prices for Medicare. Drug companies spent $155 million on lobbying efforts in 2007 alone. All Americans should benefit from lower drug prices negotiated in the same way as the US government does for the Veteran’s Administration, which demonstrates the government will not pay higher prices for drugs for the VA, but it supports higher prices for all other Americans. I suggest this makes absolutely no sense. “America For Purchase”

Where will this all end? I remember the days of the 1960 are when people actually ‘demonstrated’ their fundamental right to protest in order to foster change. Whether one believes the cause for demonstration, it cannot be ignored that many voices of the people, in one accord, actually made a difference. With determination, faith and a sense of collective unison, Americans can and must be heard. Interested Americans should stay in contact with their US Representatives and voice their concerns on these and other issues. An easy way to contact US Congressional Representatives is to send an email or write a letter.

This information may be found at http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

America is NOT for sale…

Filed under: U S Economy, U S Government