If we're using the loose definition of "thug," I'd say the U.S. government has been a bunch of thugs ever since it stopped being isolationist and the Cold War began. listening to its citizens

Well they arent being bullied around,  they are being asked to show why this is going to cost them all this money.  But thats not what I asked.   I saked if you would rather have these companies bully around the government?  Way to skirt around the questions though

AT&T should not have to back up there claims. If AT&T wanted to just close there doors and walk away, they have that right. 

And what in the world do you think the government is going to do if AT&T proves they will fall under hardship? Give them money? Give me a break.

What will happen, is the CEO will sit there, and get yelled at for 6 hours by congressmen. It's not an invitation, it's an order. I am sure the CEO of AT&T can't just say to congress "Thanks for the offer, but I am not interested."

Besides, AT&T is a multi billion dollar successful company. Who do you think has a better accounting department? Them, or the federal government?Explaining how the expenditure of money effects profit to Congress, is like explaining how a computer works to a dog. They won't understand.

Companies can not bully the government. They have no means to do so. The best they can do is by off corrupt government officials. 

And If anyone should be bulling anyone, the American people should be bulling the Government. They work for us. Doesn't seem to be working that way now does it?

Companies can not bully the government. They have no means to do so. The best they can do is by off corrupt government officials. 

And If anyone should be bulling anyone, the American people should be bulling the Government. They work for us. Doesn't seem to be working that way now does it?

I dunno, tell the goverment that they are so vital that they need hundreds of billions of dollars ASAP or your country's economy will collapse, and then take the money to make huge profits and use those profits to give each other huge bonuses and then tell the government to not fuck with us again, and then go back to to doing the exact same thing they did initially to get the economy in trouble completely? Banks seem completely capable of bullying.

Seriously, do you even own a videogame system?

I don't think you get it (big surprise).

The government is not questioning that AT&T will have to pay a find of 1 billion dollars. No one is. A high school kid can figure that out. What AT&T said is that doing so will cause then to have to restructure how they do things.

Congress didn't like that answer, so they are asking to look at there internal organization to see if that's true. I say "fuck you" government. AT&T does not answer to you. You are not the end all be all of the US. You work for us, not the other way around.

Where does the US Government get off telling a company that's breaking no laws, that they have to prove to them that cutting benefits is the best course of action for AT&T?

It's insane. What have we become? We are only the US by name. The country I was born in is dead, and we killed ourselves. Fuck I am upset.

So what are the odds this ends with a new corporate tax break?

I know what you mean mafoo. This new health bill is going to cost me 3.5million dollars over the span of 2 years.

What, you want me to prove it?

WTF i don't answer to you.

You set a date for me to bring in all of my information to prove my point?

omg it's a public execution! Thug! you don't take me for my word. I can't claim i'm going to lose a lot of money? this isn't my america. This isn't where i was born! this is russia/china/cuba/france!

^the above dramatization is pretty much what is going on right now.

Let's be serious. AT&T is making a huge statement by saying they're going to lose a billion. Are you saying you would rather them continue making claims and have nothing done? Congress is looking into the matter. They're not brining in the swat cars and saying AT&T is harboring terrorists. They're just trying to find out what's going on. The america you were born in would have most likely called them Red commy spies. This is just one company making a statement, the government asking how they got their statement, and some people blowing something way out of proportion. If i was going to lose a billion, i'd be pretty happy that the government wants to hear me out.