Pro-Toyota Government Influence
in [Toyota]
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From: Mike Hunter on 9 Feb 2010 10:09 (Cross posting deleted, automatically) His comment was just one more YABUT excuse to deflect from the fact Toyota has been ordered to recall 5.4 MILLION unsafe vehicles all around the world. LOL "jim beam" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote in message news:wM2dnU3JCLrHQe3WnZ2dnUVZ_jadnZ2d(a)speakeasy.net... > On 02/08/2010 11:18 AM, Ed White wrote: >> I've seen a few persons speculating that there was a secret government >> consipracy behind all the recent Toyota problems. In light of this >> speculation I thought the following article was interesting: >> >> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_toyota_s_friends >> >> THE INFLUENCE GAME: Toyota's powerful DC friends >> >> By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer Sharon Theimer, Associated >> Press Writer ? Mon Feb 8, 10:19 am ET >> >> WASHINGTON ? The lawmakers now investigating Toyota's recall include a >> senator who was so eager to lure the Japanese automaker to his state >> that he tramped along through fields as its executives scouted plant >> sites, and a congresswoman who owes much of her wealth to a Toyota >> supplier. >> >> They and others on the congressional committees investigating Toyota's >> massive recall represent states where Toyota has factories and the >> coveted well-paying manufacturing jobs they bring. Some members of >> Congress have been such cheerleaders for Toyota that the public may >> wonder how they can act objectively as government watchdogs for auto >> safety and oversight. The company's executives include a former >> employee of the federal agency that is supposed to oversee the >> automaker. >> >> Toyota has sought to sow good will and win allies with lobbying, >> charitable giving, racing in the American-as-apple pie NASCAR series >> and, perhaps most important, creating jobs. Will those connections pay >> off as it tries to minimize fallout from its problems? >> >> see more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_toyota_s_friends > > > interestingly, [or perhaps not for a shill], you forgot to cite the > article comparing gm & frod's monetary political contributions vs. > toyota's. our domestics are each contributing >20x more than the > politically naive japanese. > >
From: Mike Hunter on 9 Feb 2010 10:09 (Cross posting deleted, automatically) His comment was just one more YABUT excuse to deflect from the fact Toyota has been ordered to recall 5.4 MILLION unsafe vehicles all around the world. LOL "C. E. White" <cewhite3(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message news:hkrr0u$u1q$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > "jim beam" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote in message > news:wM2dnU3JCLrHQe3WnZ2dnUVZ_jadnZ2d(a)speakeasy.net... > >>> see more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_toyota_s_friends >> >> interestingly, [or perhaps not for a shill], you forgot to cite the >> article comparing gm & frod's monetary political contributions vs. >> toyota's. our domestics are each contributing >20x more than the >> politically naive japanese. > > Care to cite a reference? And are you including contributions from > suppliers, dealers, distributors, etc.? I suspect dealers have more > political clout with congress than manufacturers. > > You might want to read: > > http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/gm-stops-political-contributions/ > > "With 2008 in the rear-view mirror, GM has decided to halt all political > contributions...." > > From http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toyota > > "Lobbying > > "Through its subsidiaries Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America & > Toyota Motor Sales USA, the Toyota Motor Corporation spent over $4.1 > million in lobbying expenses in the first three quarters of 2008. They > hired a number of influential lobbying firms, including: Brown, Rudnick et > al; Capitol Hill Consulting; National Environmental Strategies, & Decker, > Garman et al. [6] The issues that Toyota spent money attempting to > influence ranged from: Labor, Antitrust & Workplace Issues; Environmental, > Clean Air & Water, Energy & Nuclear Power; and Trade, Taxes, Banking, > Copyright, Patent, & Trademark.[7] The Automotive Industry as a whole > spent $49.5 million on lobbying in the first three quarters of 2008, of > which Toyota contributed nearly a tenth.[8]" > > From what I can tell from other reports, both Ford and GM have cut back on > lobbying. While I suspect both still spend more than Toyota, I doubt it is > anywhere near 20x. Based on older numbers, at the most Ford was 2X more > than Toyota on lobbying. And none of the car companies spend all that much > on direct campaign contributions. From > http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2011012070.html : > > "Toyota has not been a big player in U.S. campaigns. Its U.S. employees > contributed roughly $30,000 to federal candidates in 2007-08, compared > with about $880,000 from Ford employees and about $799,000 from GM > workers. > "Unlike rivals Ford and GM, Toyota doesn't have a political-action > committee (PAC) to dole out campaign contributions. Toyota's PAC would > have difficulty distinguishing itself from Toyota's Japanese management to > the degree needed to be legal under U.S. campaign-finance laws. > > "That makes Toyota an unwitting example of an issue that has become a hot > topic in Washington in recent days: foreign companies with U.S. > subsidiaries and their involvement in U.S. elections. The Supreme Court > ruled last month that U.S. corporations and unions can spend treasury > money on election ads attacking federal candidates. Some Democrats > including President Obama argue the ruling would let foreign corporations > with U.S. subsidiaries sneak into U.S. election activities, and they plan > legislation to close such a loophole." > > Ed > >
From: jim beam on 9 Feb 2010 22:58 On 02/09/2010 06:12 AM, C. E. White wrote: > "jim beam"<me(a)privacy.net> wrote in message > news:wM2dnU3JCLrHQe3WnZ2dnUVZ_jadnZ2d(a)speakeasy.net... > >>> see more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_toyota_s_friends >> >> interestingly, [or perhaps not for a shill], you forgot to cite the >> article comparing gm& frod's monetary political contributions vs. >> toyota's. our domestics are each contributing>20x more than the >> politically naive japanese. > > Care to cite a reference? "Toyota has not been a big player in U.S. campaigns. Its U.S. employees contributed roughly $30,000 to federal candidates in 2007-08, compared with about $880,000 from Ford Motor Co. employees and about $799,000 from GM workers." http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iB9n2zIAFo58dMIO_mooOh1WV7bAD9DO84N80 > And are you including contributions from > suppliers, dealers, distributors, etc.? I suspect dealers have more > political clout with congress than manufacturers. > > You might want to read: > > http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/gm-stops-political-contributions/ > > "With 2008 in the rear-view mirror, GM has decided to halt all > political contributions...." > > From http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toyota > > "Lobbying > > "Through its subsidiaries Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America& > Toyota Motor Sales USA, the Toyota Motor Corporation spent over $4.1 > million in lobbying expenses in the first three quarters of 2008. They > hired a number of influential lobbying firms, including: Brown, > Rudnick et al; Capitol Hill Consulting; National Environmental > Strategies,& Decker, Garman et al. [6] The issues that Toyota spent > money attempting to influence ranged from: Labor, Antitrust& > Workplace Issues; Environmental, Clean Air& Water, Energy& Nuclear > Power; and Trade, Taxes, Banking, Copyright, Patent,& Trademark.[7] > The Automotive Industry as a whole spent $49.5 million on lobbying in > the first three quarters of 2008, of which Toyota contributed nearly a > tenth.[8]" > > From what I can tell from other reports, yeah, all those highly credible sources that are blowing a huge storm over toyota's two fatal crashes, while the hundreds that have perished at the hands of frod are completely ignored. > both Ford and GM have cut > back on lobbying. While I suspect both still spend more than Toyota, I > doubt it is anywhere near 20x. Based on older numbers, at the most > Ford was 2X more than Toyota on lobbying. er, see below... > And none of the car > companies spend all that much on direct campaign contributions. From > http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2011012070.html : > > "Toyota has not been a big player in U.S. campaigns. Its U.S. > employees contributed roughly $30,000 to federal candidates in > 2007-08, compared with about $880,000 from Ford employees and about > $799,000 from GM workers. your old math teachers failed you. english teachers too if you can't read your own cite. > "Unlike rivals Ford and GM, Toyota doesn't have a political-action > committee (PAC) to dole out campaign contributions. Toyota's PAC would > have difficulty distinguishing itself from Toyota's Japanese > management to the degree needed to be legal under U.S. > campaign-finance laws. > > "That makes Toyota an unwitting example of an issue that has become a > hot topic in Washington in recent days: foreign companies with U.S. > subsidiaries and their involvement in U.S. elections. The Supreme > Court ruled last month that U.S. corporations and unions can spend > treasury money on election ads attacking federal candidates. Some > Democrats including President Obama argue the ruling would let foreign > corporations with U.S. subsidiaries sneak into U.S. election > activities, and they plan legislation to close such a loophole." i think we should close the loophole on politicians being allowed to accept any form of funding from anyone but private individuals - and limit to $1000. we should also revoke this b.s. about companies having the same legal rights as people - that's the most incredible political red herring ever foisted on, and swallowed by, the american public.
From: C. E. White on 11 Feb 2010 08:12
"jim beam" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote in message news:L_GdnSeNH9ths-_WnZ2dnUVZ_gednZ2d(a)speakeasy.net... > On 02/09/2010 06:12 AM, C. E. White wrote: >> "jim beam"<me(a)privacy.net> wrote in message >> news:wM2dnU3JCLrHQe3WnZ2dnUVZ_jadnZ2d(a)speakeasy.net... >> >>>> see more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_toyota_s_friends >>> >>> interestingly, [or perhaps not for a shill], you forgot to cite >>> the >>> article comparing gm& frod's monetary political contributions vs. >>> toyota's. our domestics are each contributing>20x more than the >>> politically naive japanese. >> >> Care to cite a reference? > > "Toyota has not been a big player in U.S. campaigns. Its U.S. > employees contributed roughly $30,000 to federal candidates in > 2007-08, compared with about $880,000 from Ford Motor Co. employees > and about $799,000 from GM workers." > > http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iB9n2zIAFo58dMIO_mooOh1WV7bAD9DO84N80 Geez..I cited this for you.... And notice this is talking about contributions from Ford "employees." This is not the same as contributions from "Ford." Employees might contribute to many different candidates for many different reasons that have nothing to do with Ford goals. >> And are you including contributions from >> suppliers, dealers, distributors, etc.? I suspect dealers have more >> political clout with congress than manufacturers. >> >> You might want to read: >> >> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/gm-stops-political-contributions/ >> >> "With 2008 in the rear-view mirror, GM has decided to halt all >> political contributions...." >> >> From http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Toyota >> >> "Lobbying >> >> "Through its subsidiaries Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America& >> Toyota Motor Sales USA, the Toyota Motor Corporation spent over >> $4.1 >> million in lobbying expenses in the first three quarters of 2008. >> They >> hired a number of influential lobbying firms, including: Brown, >> Rudnick et al; Capitol Hill Consulting; National Environmental >> Strategies,& Decker, Garman et al. [6] The issues that Toyota >> spent >> money attempting to influence ranged from: Labor, Antitrust& >> Workplace Issues; Environmental, Clean Air& Water, Energy& >> Nuclear >> Power; and Trade, Taxes, Banking, Copyright, Patent,& >> Trademark.[7] >> The Automotive Industry as a whole spent $49.5 million on lobbying >> in >> the first three quarters of 2008, of which Toyota contributed >> nearly a >> tenth.[8]" >> >> From what I can tell from other reports, > > yeah, all those highly credible sources that are blowing a huge > storm over toyota's two fatal crashes, while the hundreds that have > perished at the hands of frod are completely ignored. Hundreds have perished driving cars from every brand. Why is that some people want to try and make Toyota look good by saying current Totoyas are almost as good as Fords from the 70's? Go back and compare the death rates for Toyotas in the 1970's and Fords in the 1970s and tell me how good Toyotas were back then. Toyotas in the 1970s were slow, rust bucket, death traps. But they sold so few, they didn't rate the sort of press attention Fords did back then. Trying to prop Toyota up by comparing modern Toyotas to domestic cars built 30 to 40 years ago is silly and weak. >> both Ford and GM have cut >> back on lobbying. While I suspect both still spend more than >> Toyota, I >> doubt it is anywhere near 20x. Based on older numbers, at the most >> Ford was 2X more than Toyota on lobbying. > > er, see below... I said lobbying...see below.... > >> And none of the car >> companies spend all that much on direct campaign contributions. >> From >> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2011012070.html : >> >> "Toyota has not been a big player in U.S. campaigns. Its U.S. >> employees contributed roughly $30,000 to federal candidates in >> 2007-08, compared with about $880,000 from Ford employees and about >> $799,000 from GM workers. > > your old math teachers failed you. english teachers too if you > can't read your own cite. That cite said Ford "employees," not Ford. There is a deifference. The $880,000 would include contributions from union memebers and non-union members that work for Ford and probably isn't concentrated on any specific issue. Toyota doesn't have any where near as many US employees as Ford, so not surprisingly, Toyota employees (who are mostly non-union) can't contribute nearly as much. Go back and read the relative amounts spent on lobbying by Toyota and Ford. For sure Ford spends a lot more on lobbying, but not 20X. Ed |