As a scientist, I keep multiple copies of data both electronic and handwritten tabulations because the one thing you NEVER want is someone to say that your data is false. If that were the case, not only would I, and everyone I work with have original data to back up the claims, but the ability to reproduce the data. Another benefit of having data is that you can look back at it for further information that was not included in any original questions, but might help later projects or a position might be changed later in the light of new evidence. The ONLY reason one might destroy data is to not have it seen or leaving the field entirely.

The inability to show the data with the documented efforts to destroy and manipulate data...

And I have had little doubt it will be passed in one fashion or another, we get all the taxes and care cuts for 4 years before the supposed benefits (since this was the only way to pass the bill). Make them force it through reconciliation to show that this is a huge power grab and hammer the points to the American people. We may be for no cut offs for pre-existing conditions, but are we for appointed boards that will make arbitrary cut offs, for example under 65 pacemaker, over 65 no pacemaker. Sexual reassignments covered, 1 year olds for liver transplant denied (read Zeke Emmanual's pathetic paper in Lancet, this is his suggestion)

Here is the first amendment as posted on Wikipedia:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"

The purpose of the SCOTUS decision was to lift restrictions on some corporations over other in regard to free speech. If a corporation owns a division which has a media component it can speak right up to the moment of the election, but other corporations must be silenced either 30 or 60 days prior to an election depending on the type of speech. What is wrong with corporations being able to speak...

Is the death penalty an option? New York doesn't allow the death penalty at this time. Are they planning on a Federal Death penalty? Does the administration even know?

Is there actually a bill to debate yet? Last time I checked, there was no actual bill. How are the Republicans going to argue against something that doesn't exist? I expect a lot of, well that's not in there, that's not what this bill does, but there isn't any actual bill to fact check against.

I appreciate your comments, but I am still holding to my principle(what I believe is ours as a nation) in this: Let the people decide. If we are bailing them out with $180 billion of taxpayer money (and the company isn't making a profit), the people should be able to have a say. And I don't think this should be used as a voice for a dictator (as was misunderstood before by someone else I think)

I have had an extreme amount of difficulty finding out a number of things about the companies I hold stock in, even information that is supposed to be made available. I don't have anything against people making a lot of money either, and I know and am related to a number of people who work in finance including cfo's of very large and well known companies who agree that these bonuses are not warranted in the current financial circumstances.

On an additional note, everyone knew this mess was coming. We were talking about the housing bubble 5 years before it occurred. EVERYONE in finance knew that subprime mortgages were being packaged with other loans to make the composite underlying assets difficult to track and price and...

MJ, Two points:

When was the last time you were informed that a shareholder meeting was about to occur? For me that's never, all I ever get are ballots, none of which have anything to do with executive compensation.

Second, I never said Obama should have anything to do with executive compensation, you did. We the people now own these companies, how about we vote through congress -or better yet a direct online vote -on these executives compensation? If we aren't propping up the company, then we have no say, but if we are giving $180 billion, I think THE PEOPLE should have a say.

Does anyone really have a problem with someone who takes their money, builds a company and decides to pay their employees lots of money?

The current outrage over bonuses is quite valid. Most of the uproar comes from citizens who pay their taxes and are now having those tax dollars given by the government to people who lost enormous sums of money, and only have a job because the tax payers are bailing out these corporations. No job = no bonus. If you are a shareholder and huge bonus are given out by a company that you own a share in and have no say over the bonuses being given out is completely legitimate because YOU OWN THE COMPANY AND IT IS YOUR MONEY BEING GIVEN AWAY!

Make no mistake about it, we are witnessing the...