4 ms·

Not a Trump fan at all here, but technically I think it's more the other way around. Trump is buying up Goldman, rather than they buying him. I have yet to see

Not a Trump fan at all here, but technically I think it's more the other way around. Trump is buying up Goldman, rather than they buying him. I have yet to see a clear line of influence from Goldman to Trump personally. It seems more like he's hiring old buddies for potential future favors from them. Reverse lobbying! You heard it here first!

kemiller 10y ago
How is giving Goldman people government positions buying them if not by giving them the power to set rules as they like? It's not like they are in it for the cushy gov't benefits.
- IgorPartola 10y ago
  I am saying the causality here is backwards (I think). It is not the case that Goldman did something for Trump so now he has to make these appointments. It is that he is giving them these appointments so they return the favor in the future. I think he is doing this for future business needs after he is done being president, but I am sure it could be any number of other reasons.
- powertower 10y ago
  These corporations are huge, with many many employees (over 30 thousand just at Goldman Sachs). Just because you used to work for Goldman in the past, does not mean you are a current and future supporter of Goldman. Nor does it mean that you are a bad person. Trump is hiring people that know how these companies work from the inside-out. Which is the exact type of person you need to be able to deal with these companies head-on.
  - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
    That has to be a self-delusion of the highest magnitude ever recorded. "Sure he's let the fox run the henhouse; but who knows better than a fox?"
    - forgetsusername 10y ago
      Assuming that anyone who works for GS, or banking in general, are homogenous in morals and ethics and ability is equally delusional.
      - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
        These guys are not 'anyone'. That's just deliberately ignoring the point.
    - tropo 10y ago
      Tom Wheeler had been a telecom CEO and lobbyist prior to running the FCC. He turned out OK, solidly reining in the industry he had worked for. He knew what to watch out for, and didn't need to rely on lobbyists to explain things to him. So it works. Integrity and patriotism matter of course. Diversifying investments prior to taking office would help reduce temptation.
r00fus 10y ago
Corruption is by association, not direction. So Trump's involvement with Goldman at all is indication of a quid-pro-quo that stinks of corruption. Trump may be right about H1Bs, but he's knee deep in corruptive patterns. The details will come out when those "old buddies" start doing their "former" businesses huge favors.
- davidf18 10y ago
  > but he's knee deep in corruptive patterns. Well, you might be right, but it helps to cite evidence to your assertions.
  - r00fus 10y ago
    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/goldman-sachs-power-white-house-231998 http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/goldman-sachs-power-wh...
    - davidf18 10y ago
      I see allegations, but no true corruption. Could you please cite a specific example? Hiring a Goldman banker is no proof of corruption.
      - r00fus 10y ago
        I said corruptive patterns, ie, things commonly associated with corruption, like hiring insiders from the very companies the agency is regulating.
        mememachine 10y ago
        Insiders tend to be knowledgeable

kemiller 10y ago

How is giving Goldman people government positions buying them if not by giving them the power to set rules as they like? It's not like they are in it for the cushy gov't benefits.

IgorPartola 10y ago
I am saying the causality here is backwards (I think). It is not the case that Goldman did something for Trump so now he has to make these appointments. It is that he is giving them these appointments so they return the favor in the future. I think he is doing this for future business needs after he is done being president, but I am sure it could be any number of other reasons.
powertower 10y ago
These corporations are huge, with many many employees (over 30 thousand just at Goldman Sachs). Just because you used to work for Goldman in the past, does not mean you are a current and future supporter of Goldman. Nor does it mean that you are a bad person. Trump is hiring people that know how these companies work from the inside-out. Which is the exact type of person you need to be able to deal with these companies head-on.
- JoeAltmaier 10y ago
  That has to be a self-delusion of the highest magnitude ever recorded. "Sure he's let the fox run the henhouse; but who knows better than a fox?"
  - forgetsusername 10y ago
    Assuming that anyone who works for GS, or banking in general, are homogenous in morals and ethics and ability is equally delusional.
    - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
      These guys are not 'anyone'. That's just deliberately ignoring the point.
  - tropo 10y ago
    Tom Wheeler had been a telecom CEO and lobbyist prior to running the FCC. He turned out OK, solidly reining in the industry he had worked for. He knew what to watch out for, and didn't need to rely on lobbyists to explain things to him. So it works. Integrity and patriotism matter of course. Diversifying investments prior to taking office would help reduce temptation.

r00fus 10y ago

Corruption is by association, not direction. So Trump's involvement with Goldman at all is indication of a quid-pro-quo that stinks of corruption. Trump may be right about H1Bs, but he's knee deep in corruptive patterns. The details will come out when those "old buddies" start doing their "former" businesses huge favors.

davidf18 10y ago
> but he's knee deep in corruptive patterns. Well, you might be right, but it helps to cite evidence to your assertions.
- r00fus 10y ago
  http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/goldman-sachs-power-white-house-231998 http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/goldman-sachs-power-wh...
  - davidf18 10y ago
    I see allegations, but no true corruption. Could you please cite a specific example? Hiring a Goldman banker is no proof of corruption.
    - r00fus 10y ago
      I said corruptive patterns, ie, things commonly associated with corruption, like hiring insiders from the very companies the agency is regulating.
      - mememachine 10y ago
        Insiders tend to be knowledgeable