Corporate Accountability

An AgriBiz consultant walks into a government official’s home office, hands him an envelope full of hundreds, exchanges short pleasantries, shakes hands, and walks back out. Leaving the government official’s doorstep, the Agribiz guy whisks his hands across the front of his crisp Armani suit jacket, as if to clean the dust off of himself. more »

The top five Wall Street banks – three of whom racked up record losses – have announced that they are paying their employees a record $39 billion in year-end bonuses. So much for pay for performance. more »

Democratic leaders in the House are currently sketching out the details of an economic stimulus package designed to soften the blow later this year of the now-apparent recession.

But Robert Kuttner, founding co-editor of The American Prospect and the author of “The Squandering of America,” is warning that the Democrats should seize the opportunity – and take the political risk – of offering a bold and robust plan to not only stimulate the economy in the short run but reform the economy in the long run. more »

On Friday, PBS' The Newshour caught up with our old friend Nancy Nord, the toy industry's good friend heading up your Consumer Product Safety Commission.

And she was in full corporate hack mode, spinning like a top:

Toys are one of safest products in the American marketplace. And the toys on the shelves this year, right now, have gone through more inspections and more testing than in any years past. So, parents, I think, can shop with confidence this year.

Which sounded particularly ridiculous, since the news piece began with a New Hampshire activist who had found lead, asbestos, cadmium and mercury in toys she purchased, yet could not even get a response to her findings from Nord's agency. more »

Another sorry day for the Sunday shows as they go 0-for-3 for the Watchdog. more »