中新網北京10月21日電(蔣鯉)美國《紐約時報》披露,從2019年到2021年,美國國會里近百名議員在進行股票證券交易時,疑似利用職權提前獲取內幕消息。
另有《華爾街日報》報道稱,經其調查發現,數千名美國政府行政部門官員報告持有或交易的股票,會因其所在部門的決定而出現漲跌。
據《華爾街日報》分析,約240名衞生機構和國防部(疫苗推廣的關鍵參與者)聯邦官員報告稱,他們擁有總計900萬到2800萬美元的藥品、製造和生物技術公司的股票,這些公司在2020年和2021年贏得了與新冠疫情相關的聯邦合同。
美國政府官員利用提前掌握的政策信息謀求個人利益,把國會當成致富的場所,憑藉自己對政策變化的瞭解,找準時間購買和拋售股票,賺得盆滿缽滿。新冠疫情、烏克蘭危機……在這些“股神”眼裏都是生意。
烏克蘭危機前夕,不少國會議員提前購入美國軍工企業的股票。危機不斷升級,拜登政府向烏克蘭提供了大量軍事援助,這些股票也迎來大漲。
瞭解內幕的美國議員們把他們接觸到的有利信息轉化為金錢,這不僅違反了聯邦證券法,還破壞了公眾對市場公平性的信任和信心。
儘管大多數美國民眾都支持禁止議員炒股,並呼籲國會立法來阻止這一現象,但美國兩黨絕大部分議員紛紛站出來反對,甚至美國眾議院院長南希•佩洛西也公開表示反對這種禁令。
在巨大的利益面前,國會進行自我監管的可能性極低。早在2012年,美國就通過了《停止利用國會消息交易法案》,禁止議員進行內幕交易,然而這部法律處罰力度極低,幾乎沒有震懾力。
其實,從國會議員利用“內幕消息”進行股票交易,到總統和議員席位競選用錢鋪路,都印證了美式民主是“金錢民主”、“錢主政治”,這種民主更代表富人的利益。美國國會大多數議員都是百萬富翁,很多國會議員拼了命地要勝選連任,美國的決策到底為誰服務不言自明。
美國政客們為了當選,拉票時説得天花爛墜,選舉完後就把民眾拋一邊。手握權力者投機鑽營,通過非法手段聚攏財富,標榜“自由、公平”的“美式民主”聽上去冠冕堂皇,但是掀開其所謂的“美式民主”面紗,人們發現,它早已被金錢淹沒。(完)
‘Insider dealing’ uncovers ‘money-dominated’ U.S. democracy
(ECNS) – The New York Times has reported that at least 97 current members of Congress are suspected of using insider information to buy and sell stocks from 2019 to 2021.
And according to an investigation conducted by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), thousands of federal officials were found to have been making decisions in their respective government agencies that had a direct effect on stocks they owned or traded.
WSJ’s analysis found that about 240 officials at health agencies and the Pentagon, a key player in the vaccine rollout, reported owning a total of between $9 million and $28 million in stocks of drug, manufacturing and biotechnology companies that won federal contracts related to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021.
U.S. government officials use the Congress as a tool to make their fortunes, using insider information to trade stocks. The Covid-19 pandemic, Ukraine crisis and other global events have become their business opportunities.
Members of the Congress purchased energy and defense stocks prior to the Ukraine crisis and these stocks rose greatly after the U.S. announced it would provide military assistance to Ukraine.
These people cash in on insider information, which has violated U.S. Federal Securities Laws and destroyed public confidence and trust in a fair market.
Although the public supports the ban on their trading stocks and call on the Congress to legislate, the majority of both parties disagree to this proposal, with even Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, publicly opposing such kind of ban.
Self-supervision of the Congress is hardly possible in the face of huge interests. In fact, in 2012, the Congress passed a STOCK Act to make it illegal for its members to engage in insider trading. However, it has showed very low deterrence due to its light punishment.
Either insider trading or money-manipulated President and Congress member election has proved that U.S.-style democracy is dominated by money, which protects the interests of the wealthy more than that of the ordinary people.
The Congress members, most of whom are millionaires, are desperate to win re-election, which further confirms that government decisions works for the rich.
U.S. politicians indulge in empty talk when canvassing but don’t care about the voters after they win elections. Those in power speculate and gain wealth by illegal means. The U.S.-style democracy which boasts freedom and fairness has already been kidnapped by money.