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Thom's blog
Finally - A CEO Goes to Jail for Killing People
 On Monday, a federal jury sentenced the former owner of the now defunct Peanut Corporation of America to 28 years in prison for his role in one of the largest salmonella outbreaks in U.S. history. The outbreak happened in 2008 and 2009. It was blamed for nine deaths and hundreds of cases of salmonella, and it triggered one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history. The 28 year sentence is the stiffest punishment that a producer has ever received in a case of foodborne illness. But Parnell wasn't charged with killing or sickening anybody - even though the outbreak was connected to at least 9 deaths across 5 states. No - even though his actions led to the equivalent of a killing spree across multiple states - he was charged for 67 counts of defrauding customers. But this case is actually even more basic than fraud. At its roots is the simple motivator that has tainted business dealings since the beginning of time. Greed. As District Judge W. Louis Sands explained about the case: "these acts were driven simply by the desire to profit and to protect profits notwithstanding the known risks [from Salmonella]. This is commonly and accurately referred to as greed." And that shouldn't be surprising to anyone - for-profit corporations exist first and foremost to make money. Even our founding fathers knew that. James Madison wrote in 1817 that "there is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by…corporations. The power of all corporations ought to be limited in this respect. The growing wealth acquired by them never fails to be a source of abuses." And for over a century - from the founding of America until the late 19th century - states maintained control over corporations and corporate power in order to keep that "source of abuses" in check. |
Wednesday's Daily Stack 
Quote: " Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system." - Pope Francis. Bible: " Matthew 6:24" " No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money". Bible: " Isaiah 48:17" " Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go". Bible: " John 13:29" " Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.".
Bible: " Jeremiah 22:3" " This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place". Bible: " Matthew 7:15" " "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves". Bible: " Jeremiah 23:1" " Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD". Speech: " I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King, Jr., 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. Bible: " Deuteronomy 8:17-18" " You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.". Bible: " Matthew 25:40-45" " “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ...". Bible: " Matthew 22:39" " And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'". Article: " Constitution of the United States" Article 6 section 3. " The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Hour Two: Trump vs. The Club for Growth - when the elephants fight, the mice get trampled?
Bible: " Luke 12:48" " ... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked". Bible: " 3 John 1:2" " Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.".
Hour Three: Hottest Year on Record, plus AP on Climate "Deniers"- Dr. Joe Romm, Climate Progress 
Quote: " It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it's just an oligarchy with unlimited political bribery being at the essence of getting the nominations for president or elected president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and Congress members. So now we've just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election's over'." - President Jimmy Carter on unlimited money in politics on the Thom Hartmann Program, 28 July 2015. Bible: " 1 Timothy 6:10" " For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs". Quote: " ... if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. ..." - Barry M. Goldwater. |
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Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET
Brian Malone will tell us about his film Patriocracy... how bad is it in Washington?
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Thom's Poll
Is it wrong for House Republicans to boycott the Pope's speech?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Finally - A CEO Goes to Jail for Killing People
Politics Panel: Is the GOP Anti-Christian or Merely Anti-Jesus?
Greedy Drug Companies Are Harming Americans
More Radioactive Waste Heading Our Way
The Good - The Bad - and the Very Very Macrotously Ugly!
Politics Panel: The Democratic Party Is Turning Away Bernie Supporters?
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 9/22/15: The GOP’s Pope Problem
Tonight’s politics panel talks the Republican’s awkwardness with the Pope’s visit, Ben Carson’s walking back of his Muslim President comment, and what Scott Walker’s exit from the presidential race means for the GOP. Thom discusses out of control drug prices and Bernie’s plan to lower them with the Campaign for America’s Future Richard Eskow, the latest Fukushima news with Beyond Nuclear’s Kevin Kamps, and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom discusses how the Peanut Corporation should’ve been given the corporate death penalty.
Pope Francis Passes By the Hartmann Studio!
Society Forgets the Memories They Write Down...
The Similarities Between Bernie Sanders and Pope Francis...
Caller: What About Jailing Former GM Execs?
Caller: Bernie Sanders is Not Electable...
Conservatives...It's all About the Money
Caller: The Price of Epinephrine has Risen Exponentially!
Time for Big Pharma to go Not For Profit...
Clinton Camp to Biden Camp: Don't Bother!
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