tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post3644664878222569897..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Where Eagles DaredKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-18382149861506812982015-02-09T21:41:04.762-05:002015-02-09T21:41:04.762-05:00Meredith,
I'm working on a post on the pluton...Meredith,<br /><br />I'm working on a post on the plutonomy for tomorrow. Karen Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-83341353142727054982015-02-09T14:44:03.807-05:002015-02-09T14:44:03.807-05:00Karen, thank you for your post on Sandy Socolow.
...Karen, thank you for your post on Sandy Socolow.<br /><br />Did you read the nyt page 1 article on feb 8, Stream of Foreign Wealth Flows to NY Elite Real Estate.<br /><br />The reporter, Louise Story replied to a commenter who said NY more than other cities respects fairness and the rule of law and decency. The reporter agreed saying NY and the US have strong ‘rule of law’. Her own family uses LLC real estate purchases. <br /><br />Here’s the thread<br /><br />Antonio New York Yesterday<br />The Times found: ■ Nearly half of the most expensive residential properties in the United States are now purchased anonymously through shell companies. -<br />However, beside privacy, such shell companies are generally set up to limit exposure to possible lawsuits and to US inheritance taxes.<br />It does not mean that foreign undesirable are tolerated.<br />While no place is perfect, I don`t know of any other city where fairness and the rules of law and decency are more respected and feared more than in New York City.<br /><br />Reporter reply<br /><br />Louise Story is an NYTimes reporter Investigations Reporter 10 hours ago<br />Antonio,<br />Indeed with how widespread purchasing through shell companies has become, there are a wide variety of reasons people use them, such as avoiding exposure to suits and for inheritance reasons. In fact, I know about the decision to use an LLC to purchase real estate because my family has done so. The property was purchased by several family members and the LLC was the easiest way to handle a multi-party transaction. You are right to note that rule of law in New York - and in the US in general - is among the strongest it is in the world. It's good to look at these things in a global context.<br />Thanks for reading,<br />Louise<br /><br />My reply to reporter<br /><br />Louise, <br />I’m taken aback. "You are right to note that rule of law in New York - and in the US in general - is among the strongest it is in the world. It's good to look at these things in a global context."<br /><br />What strong laws? The ones that protect NY’s working and middle class from one of he widest wealth gaps in the nation? That protect minorities from police killing them? This from a NYT reporter? I'm really surprised.<br /><br />And the US in a global context? Compared to what, Rumania, Bulgaria, Russia, Somalia? <br /><br />Have you seen OECD comparisons? Compared to dozens of other countries, the US has the widest wealth gap, the lowest taxes and regulations on business, the highest death rate from guns, the most unequally distributed health care, (bankruptcies unknown elsewhere), and a shameful criminal justice system.(highest world incarceration rate). Well that’s law and order?<br /><br />And we’re the only democracy without publicly financed elections with free media time for candidates. <br /><br />Er, see Princeton's Martin Gilen's study of who influences most of our laws---they are very strong laws--for the top elite. <br /><br />Meredith NYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-58724667540015883702015-02-09T07:46:11.600-05:002015-02-09T07:46:11.600-05:00Here's something that would make Sandy Socolow...Here's something that would make Sandy Socolow proud. <br /><br />Investigative reporters at the NYT and Guardian are doing reports on a most deserving and rich target - the wealthy. What a happy coincidence! <br /><br />'Towers of Secrecy' is a 5-part report. A link to Part 1 is pasted here. It is subtitled 'Stream of Foreign Wealth Flows to Elite New York Real Estate'. <br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/nyregion/stream-of-foreign-wealth-flows-to-time-warner-condos.html?module=RelatedCoverage<br /><br />The other is from the Guardian called HSBC Files and it appears to be a 2-part report. <br /><br />'HSBC Files Show How Swiss Bank Helped Clients Dodge Taxes and Hide Millions'<br /><br />'Data in Massive Cache of Leaked Secret Bank Account Files Lift Lid on Questionable Practices at Subsidiary of One of World’s Biggest Financial Institutions'<br /><br />http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/08/hsbc-files-expose-swiss-bank-clients-dodge-taxes-hide-millionsannenigmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-42208471939441254322015-02-09T03:46:40.007-05:002015-02-09T03:46:40.007-05:00@Denis
Your post is lovely.@Denis<br />Your post is lovely.Patricia M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-76654432995865851622015-02-09T01:22:59.049-05:002015-02-09T01:22:59.049-05:00Karen,
Thanks for Socolow post which i will read ...Karen, <br />Thanks for Socolow post which i will read in detail. I went to his obit after Ms. Dowd cited him, I read about him in a book re Ed Murrow, I think, discussing CBS etc. Tho he came after I guess.<br /><br />But I can't resist passing this along below re Sunday nyt page 1 article on foreign wealth buying up NY condos. The nyt reporter replied to a comment asking....what's so bad about LLC real estate shells? In a place as 'fair and decent' as NY!<br />I know little about this but I was shocked at Louise Story's sentence about the US & NY 'strong rule of law' whatever that means. And I replied. Er, her family buys real estate with LLCs. It's easier? <br /><br />Here's the thread.<br /><br />Antonio New York 13 hours ago<br />The Times found: ■ Nearly half of the most expensive residential properties in the United States are now purchased anonymously through shell companies. -<br />However, beside privacy, such shell companies are generally set up to limit exposure to possible lawsuits and to US inheritance taxes.<br />It does not mean that foreign undesirable are tolerated.<br />While no place is perfect, I don`t know of any other city where fairness and the rules of law and decency are more respected and feared more than in New York City.<br /><br />FlagReply 2Recommend Share this comment on FacebookShare this comment on Twitter<br />Louise Story is an NYTimes reporter Investigations Reporter 10 hours ago<br />Antonio,<br />Indeed with how widespread purchasing through shell companies has become, there are a wide variety of reasons people use them, such as avoiding exposure to suits and for inheritance reasons. In fact, I know about the decision to use an LLC to purchase real estate because my family has done so. The property was purchased by several family members and the LLC was the easiest way to handle a multi-party transaction. You are right to note that rule of law in New York - and in the US in general - is among the strongest it is in the world. It's good to look at these things in a global context.<br />Thanks for reading,<br />Louise<br /><br />FlagIn Reply to Antonio Reply 6Recommend Share this comment on FacebookShare this comment on Twitter<br /><br /><br />Meredith NYC Pending Approval<br />Louise, <br />I’m taken aback. "You are right to note that rule of law in New York - and in the US in general - is among the strongest it is in the world. It's good to look at these things in a global context."<br /><br />What strong laws? The ones that protect NY’s working and middle class from one of he widest wealth gaps in the nation? That protect minorities from police killing them? This from a NYT reporter? I'm really surprised.<br /><br />And the US in a global context? Compared to what, Rumania, Bulgaria, Russia, Somalia? <br /><br />Have you seen OECD comparisons? Compared to dozens of other countries, the US has the widest wealth gap, the lowest taxes and regulations on business, the highest death rate from guns, the most unequally distributed health care, (bankruptcies unknown elsewhere), and a shameful criminal justice system.(highest world incarceration rate). Well, that’s law and order?<br /><br />And we’re the only democracy without publicly financed elections with free media time for candidates. <br /><br />Er, see Princeton's Martin Gilen's study of who influences most of our laws---they are very strong laws--for the top elite. Meredith NYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-58722115785206921082015-02-09T00:06:53.850-05:002015-02-09T00:06:53.850-05:00@ Ste-vo: Like your comment a lot.
P.S. There...@ Ste-vo: Like your comment a lot. <br /><br />P.S. There was a time when television newsrooms were under the management of news divisions rather than they way they are now - within the entertainment divisions. <br /><br />Re journalists, please remember I.F. Stone ("I. F. Stone's Weekly" - who, when blacklisted, put out a weekly newsletter from1953 to1971): <br /><br />"I made no claims to inside stuff. I tried to give information which could be documented, so the reader could check it for himself...Reporters tend to be absorbed by the bureaucracies they cover; they take on the habits, attitudes, and even accents of the military or the diplomatic corps. Should a reporter resist the pressure, there are many ways to get rid of him...But a reporter covering the whole capital on his own — particularly if he is his own employer — is immune from these pressures."<br /><br />http://www.ifstone.org<br />Patricia M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-39940424593280768612015-02-08T20:24:24.925-05:002015-02-08T20:24:24.925-05:00I had never heard of Sandy Socolow until I read ab...I had never heard of Sandy Socolow until I read about his recent death.<br /><br />But I do remember watching “Uncle Walter,” "the most trusted man in America." It was indeed a ritual. <br /><br />I will never forget his famous commentary in February of 1968 that turned public opinion against the Vietnam War. <br /><br />I cannot even begin to image any of today’s prima donnas - sycophants and stenographers - making any such commentaries about our Middle East follies. They have been too damn interested in embedding themselves. <br /><br />Contrast them to the reporting of the “Murrow Boys” during WW2. Lynne Olson’s Citizens of London relates how Edward R. Murrow hired his own band of correspondents to create CBS news, who helped shape and sustain America’s wartime alliance with Britain. Eric Sevareid, mentioned by Jay, was one of them. Sevareid once said, ““Never underestimate your listener's intelligence, or overestimate your listener's information.”<br /><br />The last of the so-called "Murrow Boys," puts Sandy Socolow in perspective. <br /><br />Many of their names are so familiar. I remember listening to them on radio newscasts as a young lad.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murrow's_Boys<br /><br />Gone are the days of tuning in to be informed about local and national and world issues; replaced instead by "Breaking News!"/fear-based ballyhoo/if it bleeds it leads news.<br /><br />My sincere condolences to Nan Socolow and her family. <br /><br />Thank you for sharing your poem celebrating your husband’s courage under fire.<br /><br />“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” - Mark TwainDenis Nevillenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-83928239011448139672015-02-08T20:20:52.370-05:002015-02-08T20:20:52.370-05:00This was my comment to Ms. Dowd.
""I mus...This was my comment to Ms. Dowd.<br />""I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book." ~ Groucho Marx<br />Ste-vonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-42851981942924621882015-02-08T13:50:52.041-05:002015-02-08T13:50:52.041-05:00Great post and great comment to the Times.
Anot...Great post and great comment to the Times. <br /><br />Another commentator from that golden age of journalism was Eric Sevareid, whose mind seems to have been shaped by degrees in the classics and philosophy. Actually, his B.A. was in political science, and while reporting in Europe he took more courses in places like the Sorbonne. Sevareid usually followed Cronkite’s delivery with an essay that put the day’s news in perspective.<br /><br />Perspective––what’s that? As for gutsiness, there is more daring adventure in Sevareid’s autobiographical “Not So Wild a Dream” than all of Brian Williams’s Walter Mitty reports.<br /><br />Socolow, the administrator, never got the recognition he deserves, I suppose, because he worked behind the camera. A pity pretty-boy Brian Williams is the only dumb domino falling away from the “news team” at NBC. We should hope for the day Brian Williams’s bosses and coaches are bumped out of their high station by a new generation of journalists with the probity of Murrow’s––and Socolow’s––Boys.Jay–Ottawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360356126450612113noreply@blogger.com