Problem With Chamber of Commerce

In community upon community across America where Copperhead works, local small businesses reach out to their Chamber of Commerce affiliate with surety that the local ‘Chamber’ will join their opposition to a foolish and wasteful county, city or school “infrastructure” spending proposal.    With only one exception (McLean County, IL)  to date, they come back stunned to learn that not only will the local Chamber not voice any opposition to the extravagant proposal but they are most often going to publicly express their support for it.  “Well what have I paid my dues for all these years for, if they are not going to represent us, too,”  they often exclaim!  What they are learning the hard way is what former President Herbert Hoover tried to warn us of below –

“Among the early Roosevelt (FDR) fascist measures was the National Industry Recovery Act (NRA) of June 16, 1933.  The origins of this scheme are worth repeating.  These ideas were first suggested by Gerald Swope (of the General Electric Company) at a meeting of the electrical industry in the winter of 1932.  Following this, they were adopted by the United States Chamber of Commerce.  during the campaign of 1932, Henry I. Harriman, president of the body, urged that I agree to support these proposals, informing me that Mr. Roosevelt had agreed to do so.  I tried to show him that this stuff was pure fascism; that it was merely a remaking  of Mussolini’s “corporate state” and refused to agree to any of it.  He informed me that in view of my attitude, the business world would support Roosevelt with money and influence.  That for the most part, proved true.”   –Herbert Hoover, The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover: The Great Depression 1929-1941 (New York: Macmillian, 1962), p. 420
Under various Economic Stabilization Plans written in 1933, was that of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Under Welfare Proposals, according to Anthony Sutton, the Chamber called for master plans for “public works projects” –Anthony C. Sutton, Wall Street and FDR, (Arlington House Publishers, New Rochelle, New York, 1975) p. 132

These days local ‘Chambers’ are using indirect taxpayer money to set up phony ‘grass roots’ organizations to carry their water.   For more details see here.

The United States Chamber of Commerce has been bedded with the large corporate-America/government fascist-type “marriage” since the 1930s.  What local government wants they too often get….at least as local ‘Chambers’ mostly stand.  Meanwhile, the big contractors, big bond houses, etc. get to profit and the small businesses get to pay more property taxes and more dues to their local Chamber.  Don’t look to your local Chamber of Commerce to be of any assistance.  If you are  a small business, decide for yourself if you want to keep paying your local dues.

 

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