ChesusRice
Well-Known Member
You've probably seen their building around town. Maybe you've noticed the logo on display at businesses in your community. But you just took the Chamber of Commerce for granted. Maybe you just thought they were always busy little bees, keeping communities across America safe for business with a tie and a cheery smile. It all looks official enough, perhaps governmental even. Why question it? Because that's what a critical society does: questions everything. Let's get the bottom of the Chamber of Commerce.
It's a lobbying organization.
It is often assumed to be a U.S. government agency, but this is simply not the case. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents thousands of business and trade organizations in U.S. politics. In fact, it's the biggest lobbyist in America. In 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent over $136 million on lobbying.
Creation
Despite its independence from the U.S. government, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was created by a U.S. president - President Taft - in 1912 as a response and hopeful counterbalance to the labor movement happening at that time.
Positions
As a lobby group, the Chamber takes positions on issues. A couple that might be considered controversial would be their position on climate change (they oppose any legislation that would attempt to curb or reverse climate change), their support of such Internet-stifling bills as SOPA, their opposition to the Affordable Care Act (often referred to as Obamacare), and their opposition to any sort of regulations on financial institutions.
Campaign Contributions
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spends a lot of its money on ads or direct campaign contributions to state politicians - governors, legislators, mayors, etc. Even though the Chamber is officially known as a "nonpartisan" organization, 90% of that money goes to Republicans.
Logic
The Chamber has taken the opposite view than common sense on a lot of historical issues in America. For example, they opposed going to war with Hitler, they accused FDR of trying to Sovietize the U.S. with his New Deal legislation, they sided with Joe McCarthy on his hunt for commies in the U.S., they have rallied against OSHA and workplace safety regulations and fought for employers to be able to not hire pregnant women.
Sue-Happy
Ever heard of America as a "Sue Happy Society." Everybody is just looking for an excuse to sue somebody else. That women made how much from McDonalds by spilling coffee on her lap!? Well, that was perhaps the Chambers most successful PR campaign - to convince you that you shouldn't sue big business when you get screwed because you don't want to be one of those people.
Amnesty
Despite the Chamber's near lock-step with Republicans and conservatives, they are in favor of amnesty for America's 12 or so million undocumented residents.
Obamacare
In an effort to de-legitimize the Affordable Care Act, the Chamber - along with a few other organizations - was exposed by the Washington Post to be looking for a "well-known" economist that they would pay $50,000 to write a report outlining how Obamacare would be economically disastrous.
False Ads
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of FactCheck.org's biggest offenders. Since 2010, you can find over 200 misleading or patently false ad campaigns by the Chamber.
Donors
The Chamber is not required to disclose how much money it receives from donors, who those donors are and it can spend its money anyway it wants. It full non-accountability and though it has been questioned repeatedly, particularly in 2010 when there were rumors it was taking foreign money donations and using it for campaign contributions (which is illegal). But the Justice Department declined to investigate given that there is no evidence of where the Chamber's money comes from or how much.
http://www.answers.com/article/1188312/10-shocking-facts-that-may-surprise-you-about-the-chamber-of-commerce
It's a lobbying organization.
It is often assumed to be a U.S. government agency, but this is simply not the case. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents thousands of business and trade organizations in U.S. politics. In fact, it's the biggest lobbyist in America. In 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent over $136 million on lobbying.
Creation
Despite its independence from the U.S. government, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was created by a U.S. president - President Taft - in 1912 as a response and hopeful counterbalance to the labor movement happening at that time.
Positions
As a lobby group, the Chamber takes positions on issues. A couple that might be considered controversial would be their position on climate change (they oppose any legislation that would attempt to curb or reverse climate change), their support of such Internet-stifling bills as SOPA, their opposition to the Affordable Care Act (often referred to as Obamacare), and their opposition to any sort of regulations on financial institutions.
Campaign Contributions
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spends a lot of its money on ads or direct campaign contributions to state politicians - governors, legislators, mayors, etc. Even though the Chamber is officially known as a "nonpartisan" organization, 90% of that money goes to Republicans.
Logic
The Chamber has taken the opposite view than common sense on a lot of historical issues in America. For example, they opposed going to war with Hitler, they accused FDR of trying to Sovietize the U.S. with his New Deal legislation, they sided with Joe McCarthy on his hunt for commies in the U.S., they have rallied against OSHA and workplace safety regulations and fought for employers to be able to not hire pregnant women.
Sue-Happy
Ever heard of America as a "Sue Happy Society." Everybody is just looking for an excuse to sue somebody else. That women made how much from McDonalds by spilling coffee on her lap!? Well, that was perhaps the Chambers most successful PR campaign - to convince you that you shouldn't sue big business when you get screwed because you don't want to be one of those people.
Amnesty
Despite the Chamber's near lock-step with Republicans and conservatives, they are in favor of amnesty for America's 12 or so million undocumented residents.
Obamacare
In an effort to de-legitimize the Affordable Care Act, the Chamber - along with a few other organizations - was exposed by the Washington Post to be looking for a "well-known" economist that they would pay $50,000 to write a report outlining how Obamacare would be economically disastrous.
False Ads
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of FactCheck.org's biggest offenders. Since 2010, you can find over 200 misleading or patently false ad campaigns by the Chamber.
Donors
The Chamber is not required to disclose how much money it receives from donors, who those donors are and it can spend its money anyway it wants. It full non-accountability and though it has been questioned repeatedly, particularly in 2010 when there were rumors it was taking foreign money donations and using it for campaign contributions (which is illegal). But the Justice Department declined to investigate given that there is no evidence of where the Chamber's money comes from or how much.
http://www.answers.com/article/1188312/10-shocking-facts-that-may-surprise-you-about-the-chamber-of-commerce
