Usually they trade their knowledge, for money or power, and no one notices --
But not always:
Insider-Trading Ring Bust May Fuel Hedge-Fund Concern By David Scheer - March 2, 2007
March 2, (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government's accusations that Morgan Stanley, UBS AG and Bear Stearns Cos. employees were central figures in an insider-trading ring illustrate why regulators and lawmakers are suspicious of Wall Street's relationship with hedge funds.
Prosecutors in New York and Washington yesterday brought criminal charges against 13 people, claiming that an executive at UBS and a former compliance lawyer at Morgan Stanley tipped off hedge-fund traders and brokers to new analyst ratings and secret takeover talks. Bear Stearns was home to at least four professionals who traded on information leaked from inside the two firms, according to a complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
White Collar Crime, is not any less heinous, because they commit it with a Keyboard, instead of a Handgun. Yet more often than not, in the Wild West of electronic casinos, these criminals can make "a killing", without having to pull that trigger themselves ... without ever having to worry about ever facing their "day in court" ...
(health care, stimulus, and the auto industry... - promoted by poligirl)
Note: This was posted earlier at DailyKos as The Answer for the Auto Industry is Simple Arithmetic. The painful question is, with single payer health care for all off the table, how is it that such a small move still seems so foreign?
The automakers are being forced to prove to the government that they can become a sustainable industry. The banks that have failed specifically because of our government's deregulation did not have to pass that test and after trillions in taxpayer money, banking sustainability is still not assured.
Of course the media and our representatives will never discuss the fact that the auto manufactures of other nations biggest advantage over our domestic auto makers are the exorbitant employee and retiree medical benefits that make American cars and trucks so expensive.
One thing the media and representatives will bring up and bring up often is the impotence of the auto industry to America. They aren't working very hard to find answers but you can't go through a day without the reminder that auto parts manufacturers and car dealerships employ many Americans.
Now with a government throwing around hundreds of billions in a stimulus plan and trillions at the banking industry the simple arithmetic of subsidizing the auto worker's medical cost is obvious and far more stimulating that anything they have tried so far. So what is the problem?
U.S. PIRG, the federation of Public Interest Research Groups, has just released its new study on Health-Care Costs -- and the News is NOT Good. (Big Surprise, huh?)
Skyrocketing Health-Care Costs Could Double Premiums for Many Americans By Steven Reinberg - HealthDay Reporter, WashingtonPost
Jan 28, 2009
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Unless health-care reform becomes a reality, most Americans can expect to pay health insurance premiums that will double by 2016, a new report claims.
Left unchecked, the costs of employer-paid health insurance will jump from $11,381 to $24,291 in the next seven years, according to the report, which was released Wednesday by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).
I'm sure no one was snoring throughout the tepid, boorish speeches from the DLCers at the Democratic Party's national convention in Denver, but according to reports, they might as well have been. Then Dennis Kucinich spoke, and got the people revved up.
(more on Congress - and go Heather - our EENR endorsed candidate! - promoted by poligirl)
One thing Progressives have constantly been up in arms about since we helped the Democrats win back Congress in 2006 is the FISA fight. Many of us think that this bill was completely unneccesary, and that it was a bad idea. It wasn't that we needed new, broad ranging powers for the Federal Government to keep us safe, we just needed a competent administration in place to use laws already in place to protect us. That is what failed us on that terrible day of 9-11-01.
He is fulfilling a promise he made months ago. He was supposed to be on the show but got tied up at a local event. So he promised to come on the show at a later date.
Well after Dennis Kucinich put forward his Articles of Impeachment, they figured NOW was a good time to have him on the show.
Equal Time Radio is a small local progressive talk show that is self funded. It is based in an area near Tacoma WA. Their show can be heard every Friday from Noon to 1pm PDT / 3pm to 4pm EDT and Dennis Kucinich will get the first half of the show.
He is fulfilling a promise he made months ago. He was supposed to be on the show but got tied up at a local event. So he promised to come on the show at a later date.
Well after Dennis Kucinich put forward his Articles of Impeachment, they figured NOW was a good time to have him on the show.
Equal Time Radio is a small local progressive talk show that is self funded. It is based in an area near Tacoma WA. Their show can be heard every Friday from Noon to 1pm PDT and Dennis Kucinich will get the first half of the show.
In the Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle, and Everett areas of WA state, just tune into 1180 AM this Friday (and every Friday) from Noon to 1pm. They can also be heard live online by going to Equal Time Radio's website and clicking on the KLAY banner on the left. All shows are also archived and available on the Equal Time website. They usually get the show up online no later then Sunday but usually it will happen by the end of the day on Friday.
KLAY 1180 AM is the home station for Equal Time Radio. Most shows are self funded and ETR is the ONLY Progressive/Liberal/Democratic talk radio show on KLAY.
Remember to support local progressive radio. Join Dennis Kucinich on Equal Time Radio, this Friday from Noon to 1pm PDT, talking about IMPEACHMENT!
The clerk is reading the articles of impeachment in the House right now and I have now heard that Congressman Wexler has signed on as a co-sponsor.
I also have heard rumblings that it may actually be voted on in the next couple of days. Now, given the amount of power that the Speaker has, I wonder how accurate that is; however, the pressure has definitely been upped.
Senator Richard Durbin
Former Majority Leader Tom Daschle
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller
Oprah Winfrey
Iowa Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald
Former Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Gordon Fischer
Ted Sorensen
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
Alabama Rep. Artur Davis
New Hampshire Rep. Paul Hodes
Smith left out John and Jackie Norris, who in my opinion did more for Obama's campaign in Iowa than Tom Miller, Mike Fitzgerald and Gordon Fischer combined. (I explain why here.)
But that's not the point of this diary. It's Saturday night on a holiday weekend, so just for fun, I'm starting a discussion about which Democratic presidential candidate had the best celebrity supporters--that is, people famous outside the political realm.
Follow me after the jump if you care to hear more.
Please see the update at the end of this diary, with letters to the Chinese people and the world from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On Monday, March 31, a large group of Tibetans, Americans of Tibetan ancestry, and other American supporters gathered at Lafayette Park outside the White House in Washington, DC to ask President Bush to make a statement for human rights and refused to attend the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics in protest of Chinese government oppression of Tibet.
I have been very moved by the mostly nonviolent struggle of the Tibetans to regain their freedom, and by the strength and compassion shown by the Dalai Lama in urging them to maintain nonviolence at all times. I decided it was important to go and stand in solidarity with them. This is my report on the event.
Being sick is no fun. Especially when you're unemployed and can't afford to go see a doctor. Anyway, join me below the fold as I suggest something that's been on my mind for a while.
On Monday, March 31, a large group of Tibetans, Americans of Tibetan ancestry, and other American supporters 
