| |
|
Thom's blog
America’s two-tiered justice system
Eight billion dollars is a lot of money, but a small price to pay to stay out of jail. As the New York Times reports today, corporations are on track to pay as much as $8 billion in fraud settlements this year to the U.S. government. That includes military contractors, banks, and pharmaceutical companies who systematically defrauded American taxpayers. The $8 billion they own is double the amount paid out in settlements last year – and an all-time record high.
But the important story is, despite the multiple acts of blatant fraud by corporate America resulting in record settlements – almost never does an executive go to prison. Pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Merck and defense contractors like ATK Launch Systems admitted to stealing tens of millions of dollars from taxpayers, yet not one CEO is facing criminal charges. Of course, if you or I walked into a 7-11 and stole a two-dollar Slurpee, we’re going to jail. But in America’s two-tiered justice system – the corporate elite are untouchable.
-Thom
(Is there any way to touch them? Tell us here.) |
|
|
|
Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 9pm and 11pm... Corporate fraud...too big to jail? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Need to Know: Corporate fraud...too big to jail?- Robert Weissman, President-Public Citizen 
Screwed: Raging Bulls: How Wall Street Got Addicted to Light-Speed Trading- Jerry Adler, Wired Magazine
The Best of the Rest of the News...
Houston Janitors' strike...will work for living wage- Josh Eidelson, Journalist / Contributor-In These Times (and Salon)
Daily Take: Why Would Anyone Proudly Call Themselves a Conservative?
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Please welcome Attorney Mike Papantonio, host of "Ring of Fire Radio" in for Thom this week 
Hour One: News of the day- Cliff Schecter, National Progressive PR Strategist / Nationally syndicated columnist-Al Jazeera English
The CEO plan to steal Social Security- Dean Baker, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
GOP gins up the hate machine- Adele Stan, Alternet
Hour Three: Media & Mitt's tax returns- John Amato, Journalist / Creator-Crooks and Liars
Dangerous medical implants- Ben Gordon, Attorney-Levin Law
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!!!!!!! (OCCUPY SOMETHING!!!!!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday's Daily Stack 
Attorney Mike Papantonio, host of "Ring of Fire Radio" in for Thom this week
Hour One: News of the day- Cliff Schecter, National Progressive PR Strategist / Nationally syndicated columnist-Al Jazeera English
Latest on the Sikh Temple shooter's neo-Nazi ties- Mark Potok, Southern Poverty Law Center
Hour Two: Latino voters and election 2012- Jeff Cruz, Latinos for a Secure Retirement.
Whistleblower lawsuits- James Kauffman, Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Rafferty & Proctor, P.A.
Hour Three: Dangers of anti-depressants- Kim Lambert, Attorney - Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Rafferty & Proctor, P.A.
Romney's false welfare attacks- Jen Psaki, Traveling Press Secretary-Obama Campaign 2012
|
|
|
Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: News of the day- Cliff Schecter, National Progressive PR Strategist / Nationally syndicated columnist-Al Jazeera English
How JP Morgan has been scamming consumers through their energy program- Tyson Slocumb, Public Citizen
Hour Two: "The Party is Over"- Mike Lofgren, former GOP Operative re his new book
GOP attack on unemployment benefits- Bryce Covert, The Roosevelt Institute
Hour Three: The dangers of the blockbuster drug Pradaxa- Attorney Ned McWilliams, Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Rafferty & Proctor - Attorney Roger Denton, Schlichter Bogard & Denton
GOP's ongoing war on women- Nancy Cohen, historian, political commentator & author of the book "Delirium"
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!!!!!!! (OCCUPY SOMETHING!!!!!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Show Info
Call Thom on the show at 1-866-987-THOM (8466) (0870 974 9686 from the UK, +1 503 796 2324 from outside the US or UK).
Sign up for Thom's podcasts.
Come on over to the free chat room, where Thom hangs out during the show.
Join in the discussions on Thom's free message board.
Blog or upload videos or audios at Thom's community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thom's Poll
Are wealthy corporate executives above the law?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Watch & Listen to Thom
Watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 8/7/12: Corporate Capitalism Will Kill Us All
Guest host Sam Sacks discusses the world food crisis and corporate capitalism with journalist and author Chris Hedges. Sacks also speaks with former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman about his upcoming 78-month prison sentence and what he thinks got him there, and tonight's "Daily Take" looks at how one specific word in the second amendment has turned America into a battlefield.
Thom Hartmann on the News - August 7, 2012
Jim Javinsky fills in for Thom Hartmann commenting on the news for Tuesday, August 7, 2012.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
