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Koch in his own words
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MalibuGuru



Joined: 11 Nov 1993
Posts: 9293

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 1:49 am    Post subject: Koch in his own words Reply with quote

By Charles G. Koch

Updated April 2, 2014 7:47 p.m. ET

I have devoted most of my life to understanding the principles that enable people to improve their lives. It is those principles—the principles of a free society—that have shaped my life, my family, our company and America itself.

Unfortunately, the fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law and personal freedom are under attack by the nation's own government. That's why, if we want to restore a free society and create greater well-being and opportunity for all Americans, we have no choice but to fight for those principles. I have been doing so for more than 50 years, primarily through educational efforts. It was only in the past decade that I realized the need to also engage in the political process.

A truly free society is based on a vision of respect for people and what they value. In a truly free society, any business that disrespects its customers will fail, and deserves to do so. The same should be true of any government that disrespects its citizens. The central belief and fatal conceit of the current administration is that you are incapable of running your own life, but those in power are capable of running it for you. This is the essence of big government and collectivism.

More than 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson warned that this could happen. "The natural progress of things," Jefferson wrote, "is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." He knew that no government could possibly run citizens' lives for the better. The more government tries to control, the greater the disaster, as shown by the current health-care debacle. Collectivists (those who stand for government control of the means of production and how people live their lives) promise heaven but deliver hell. For them, the promised end justifies the means.

Instead of encouraging free and open debate, collectivists strive to discredit and intimidate opponents. They engage in character assassination. (I should know, as the almost daily target of their attacks.) This is the approach that Arthur Schopenhauer described in the 19th century, that Saul Alinsky famously advocated in the 20th, and that so many despots have infamously practiced. Such tactics are the antithesis of what is required for a free society—and a telltale sign that the collectivists do not have good answers.

Rather than try to understand my vision for a free society or accurately report the facts about Koch Industries, our critics would have you believe we're "un-American" and trying to "rig the system," that we're against "environmental protection" or eager to "end workplace safety standards." These falsehoods remind me of the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan's observation, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts." Here are some facts about my philosophy and our company:

Koch companies employ 60,000 Americans, who make many thousands of products that Americans want and need. According to government figures, our employees and the 143,000 additional American jobs they support generate nearly $11.7 billion in compensation and benefits. About one-third of our U.S.-based employees are union members.

Koch employees have earned well over 700 awards for environmental, health and safety excellence since 2009, many of them from the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. EPA officials have commended us for our "commitment to a cleaner environment" and called us "a model for other companies."

Our refineries have consistently ranked among the best in the nation for low per-barrel emissions. In 2012, our Total Case Incident Rate (an important safety measure) was 67% better than a Bureau of Labor Statistics average for peer industries. Even so, we have never rested on our laurels. We believe there is always room for innovation and improvement.

Far from trying to rig the system, I have spent decades opposing cronyism and all political favors, including mandates, subsidies and protective tariffs—even when we benefit from them. I believe that cronyism is nothing more than welfare for the rich and powerful, and should be abolished.

Koch Industries was the only major producer in the ethanol industry to argue for the demise of the ethanol tax credit in 2011. That government handout (which cost taxpayers billions) needlessly drove up food and fuel prices as well as other costs for consumers—many of whom were poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Now the mandate needs to go, so that consumers and the marketplace are the ones who decide the future of ethanol.

Instead of fostering a system that enables people to help themselves, America is now saddled with a system that destroys value, raises costs, hinders innovation and relegates millions of citizens to a life of poverty, dependency and hopelessness. This is what happens when elected officials believe that people's lives are better run by politicians and regulators than by the people themselves. Those in power fail to see that more government means less liberty, and liberty is the essence of what it means to be American. Love of liberty is the American ideal.

If more businesses (and elected officials) were to embrace a vision of creating real value for people in a principled way, our nation would be far better off—not just today, but for generations to come. I'm dedicated to fighting for that vision. I'm convinced most Americans believe it's worth fighting for, too.
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keycocker



Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 3598

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 3:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like it when Koch and Koch speak of each of their own visions.
I agree with them 100%
I don't like much the nonstop assigning of spurious opinions to anyone they don't like. Demonizing Dems is beneath them in my view but makes them popular with the Hate All Things Obama crowd.
They tailor speeches to that group.
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J64TWB



Joined: 24 Dec 2013
Posts: 1685

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

He is just pimping himself and validating how he is going to throw his money around and fight till death, and then some I am sure. Probably boasting about the supreme court decision to allow money to rule elections.

Americas new divide is what's ruining us, he is perpetuating it, as are others. All started by Iraq.
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How can anyone who takes money from George Soros complain about the Koch Bros.?

And is there even one line of Steve's post that strikes discord in any good American's mind or heart?
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rigitrite



Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 520
Location: Kansas City

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I have devoted most of my life to understanding the principles that enable people to improve their lives. It is those principles—the principles of a free society—that have shaped my life, my family, our company and America itself.


You mean like having clean air to breathe and clean water to drink? Those kinds of freedoms? Or do you mean "free to rape the environment and not have to pay to clean up my mess" kind of freedoms?

If this world were "The Lorax", then the Koch brothers would be the Once-ler, except without the cathartic "my God.....what have I done???" at the end.

BTW, horrible company to do business with. Like trying to build a complex lego model in a small room with only elephants doing the construction and howler monkeys doing the management.

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pueno



Joined: 03 Mar 2007
Posts: 2807

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

rigitrite wrote:
...and howler monkeys doing the management.

What, John Bolton works there?
.
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MalibuGuru



Joined: 11 Nov 1993
Posts: 9293

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I for one had never heard of the Koch brothers before Mac started up on them. If he and a handful of other traditionalists were to fall in lock step with Soros, America as we know it would be doomed.

You on the left like conformity. Kind of like Obama purging the military. It came out recently that he's fired any top commander who wouldn't go along with DADT. Now this is not about DADT. This is about personal freedom IMO. Once you have everyone lining up with the powerful, we all lose.

The Supremes yesterday made it legal for Soros and Koch to pour money into politics. In their zeal the conservative justices have destroyed the conservative America they supposedly represent. What an irony. Obama raised much more "big" money than either of his competitors. How sad the justices think corporations are conservative. They are not. They are oligarchs who would follow Lenin, Reagan, Chairman Mao, or Hitler if it helped the bottom line.
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mac



Joined: 07 Mar 1999
Posts: 17744
Location: Berkeley, California

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How sad:

Quote:
I for one had never heard of the Koch brothers before Mac started up on them.


My father changed from Republican to Independent, and ultimately Democrat, after Goldwater would not disavow the John Birch Society. The elder Koch was one of the founders. If you think he wasn't racist, you need to read more and listen to less talk radio. If you never heard of the Koch's before me, you need to read more and listen to less talk radio.

I agree with much of the rest of your posting--money is corrosive. If you want to make the case that Obama got more big money than either McCain or Romney, you should actually do a little research and show it. Absent that, you're just another mrgybe bragging about how much you know without really trying to communicate.

But the difficulty is that there are no permanent solutions--only endless efforts. There are corrupt people in government, business, NGO's, and for sure in churches--of all religions. (Note the troubles for the Catholic bishop in Atlanta who built a mansion, finished just in time for the pope who thinks it is difficult for a rich man to get to heaven, or a camel to pass through the eye of an eagle.) America's institutions are, in my opinion, less corrupt than nearly all other countries. But the elevation of money to a religion, and a corporation to a citizen, is a mistake.
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keycocker



Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 3598

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Supreme decision, along with Citizens United has the enthusiastic support of the GOP.
More evidence that party has abandoned conservatives and wants our country to be ruled completely by rich people.

If. Bard is right the GOP is OK with rich Dems completely taking over.
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windoggi



Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Posts: 2743

PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stevenbard wrote:
I for one had never heard of the Koch brothers before Mac started up on them.
You're kidding right?
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