"An inalienable right to profit off tragedy"?

[PDittie]

David Van Os, Democratic candidate for Texas Attorney General, sent me this yesterday.

News commentators, industry representatives, politicians, and other voices of the corporate-political-media establishment are somberly telling the rest of us to expect more increases in gasoline prices as a result of Hurricane Katrina. However, I have some questions for the political-corporate elites and their friends in the media punditry.

Who gave the big oil companies an unalienable right to profit off tragedy?

Do the oil companies have a God-given right to forever maximize their profits?

Why shouldn't the oil companies and their silk-stocking executives be expected to do their part to assist in relief efforts?

Why shouldn't the oil companies be expected to show some public spirit and reduce their profit expectations at this time of national distress?

Where are our public servants who should be calling on the oil companies to do their part?

Are our public officials too beholden to corporate industry to exert moral leadership on this matter?

[Melsky]

1. .

Are our public officials too beholden to corporate industry to exert moral leadership on this matter?

He pretty much hits it on the head here. It's not just that they are beholden, in many cases they are coroporate industry. If you own stock in a company that is profits from a war that you just happen to start, that is the biggest conflict of interest possible.

[sonias]

2. Amen

David gave us this same speech live last night at the AFL-CIO labor day fish fry. He has them painted with the right brush - greedy, heartless, soulless bastards. Fucking un-American corporate whores!

Sonia

[StellaBlue]

3. Thrilled

To hear a Democrat speaking the truth in Texas.

Until I looked at the website, I was convinced he must be a Green.

Go DAVID!!!

Forwarding the link to everyone I know!!! Even my Republican relatives are angry now!!!!!!

[PDittie]

4. Welcome to DU, StellaBlue!

:hi:

If David makes a speech somewhere near you, I highly recommend you go hear him. He's on fire like this all the time.

[StellaBlue]

5. Bravo

I certainly will keep an eye out... though I am currently looking for a job, so I can't be seen at a DEMOCRATIC political rally!

Lions and tiger and bears, oh MY!

Then again, this is from the lady who once stood outside the Governor's Mansion in colonial costume singing traditional patriotic American songs to * when he was holed up between the election and the coup in 2000. With a sign that said: "GEORGE III > GEORGE JR"