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Speaker fees are a way of laundering bribes, plain and simple. Watch the docu on OxyCotin. Doctors who made the most in sales for the Sacklers got paid hundred

by Mizza 6y ago

Speaker fees are a way of laundering bribes, plain and simple. Watch the docu on OxyCotin. Doctors who made the most in sales for the Sacklers got paid hundreds of thousands to give lectures.. that literally nobody attended. They all kept giving the lectures, time after time.

this_user 6y ago
Pretty pointless to bribe someone who was a private citizen at that point, and who had no reasonably expectation of ever holding public office again.
- lazide 6y ago
  And yet, not only became a public office holder after, but a key one overseeing and influencing the industry giving her the nominal 'bribe'?
  - this_user 6y ago
    Which was in no shape or form foreseeable at the time. They might as well have given that money to a random person on the street in the expectation that they might be put in charge of the SEC.
    - Mizza 6y ago
      This is an absurd opinion. There was a very short list and her name was at the top.
- qznc 6y ago
  If you have a solid reputation, the promise of speaker fees is enough of a bribe. "A Lannister always pays his debts."
throwaway5752 6y ago
Just basic logical fallacy that "some people are bribed this way, ergo, she was bribed this way". This is a matter of public record, and she was made $7M in speaking fees in the past two years. It is a small percentage of her income, and not worth more a small fraction the future value of her reputation. The idea Yellen - one of just three living Fed chairs and one of the most influential figures in economics - would do political favors for $300k is honestly ridiculous. I have asked it elsewhere, but if you want to prevent this, you are making it illegal or disqualifying. I would personally like to know where the line would be drawn for public service. It seems like having an employment relationship would be far more influencing than a speaking engagement. It is important to emphasize this speech is disclosed and public knowledge.
- Mizza 6y ago
  Bribery doesn't have to work the way you imagine it, sacks full of cash being exchanged in a dark parking garage in exchange for vote. It's just a reminder - when it comes to time make that big decision, hey, remember who your friends are. I of course think it should be both illegal and disqualifying. The line is very clear - reception or accepting the promise of large sums of money should be disqualifying for positions of high office. Simple as.

by Mizza 6y ago

this_user 6y ago

Pretty pointless to bribe someone who was a private citizen at that point, and who had no reasonably expectation of ever holding public office again.

lazide 6y ago
And yet, not only became a public office holder after, but a key one overseeing and influencing the industry giving her the nominal 'bribe'?
- this_user 6y ago
  Which was in no shape or form foreseeable at the time. They might as well have given that money to a random person on the street in the expectation that they might be put in charge of the SEC.
  - Mizza 6y ago
    This is an absurd opinion. There was a very short list and her name was at the top.
qznc 6y ago
If you have a solid reputation, the promise of speaker fees is enough of a bribe. "A Lannister always pays his debts."

throwaway5752 6y ago

Just basic logical fallacy that "some people are bribed this way, ergo, she was bribed this way". This is a matter of public record, and she was made $7M in speaking fees in the past two years. It is a small percentage of her income, and not worth more a small fraction the future value of her reputation. The idea Yellen - one of just three living Fed chairs and one of the most influential figures in economics - would do political favors for $300k is honestly ridiculous. I have asked it elsewhere, but if you want to prevent this, you are making it illegal or disqualifying. I would personally like to know where the line would be drawn for public service. It seems like having an employment relationship would be far more influencing than a speaking engagement. It is important to emphasize this speech is disclosed and public knowledge.

Mizza 6y ago
Bribery doesn't have to work the way you imagine it, sacks full of cash being exchanged in a dark parking garage in exchange for vote. It's just a reminder - when it comes to time make that big decision, hey, remember who your friends are. I of course think it should be both illegal and disqualifying. The line is very clear - reception or accepting the promise of large sums of money should be disqualifying for positions of high office. Simple as.