Harry Reid and the Koch Brothers

                Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has declared war on the Koch brothers and continues to attack them.  In fact, Senator Reid and other Democrats have been attacking the Koch brothers for more than four years with lies, lies, and more lies.  One of the lies Senator Reid told about the Koch brothers is that they do not pay any corporate taxes.  Senator Reid’s lie may sound somewhat familiar to you because he falsely accused Mitt Romney of not paying his taxes.  It appears that the Senator does not know the truth from a lie!

                What would cause the esteemed Senator Reid to hate the Koch brothers so much?  It appears that the Koch brothers, who have been involved in many charitable organizations, have decided to get involved with politics.  They are not only donating their considerable wealth to politics, but they are supporting conservative and libertarian causes!  Thus, they have incurred the wrath of Senator Reid.

                Here are a few important facts about these terrible Koch brothers.  The Koch family has made donations to “conservative and libertarian policy and advocacy groups in the United States, including think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute, and more recently Americans for Prosperity.  Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works are organizations with links to both the Kochs and the Tea Party movement.”

                The Koch brothers are sons of Fred C. Koch (1900-1967) and Mary Robinson Koch (1907-1990). Fred was a “chemical engineer and entrepreneur who founded the oil refinery firm that later became Koch Industries”; he was also a founding member of the John Birch Society.  The couple had four sons:  Frederick R. Koch (born in 1933; collector), Charles G. Koch (born 1935; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Koch Industries), David H. Koch (born 1940; Executive Vice President of Koch Industries), and William Koch (born 1940; businessman, sailor, and collector). 

                The Koch family controls Koch Industries, “the second largest privately owned company in the United States.”  The company was started by Fred C. Koch who “developed a new cracking method for the refinement of heavy oil into gasoline.  Koch Industries annual revenues have been `estimated to be one hundred billion dollars.’  Charles and David, the two brothers still with Koch Industries, are affiliated with the Koch family foundations.

                “The Koch family foundations are a related group of non-profit organizations that began with the establishment of the Fred and Mary Koch Foundation in 1953, and now include the Charles Koch Foundation, the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation and the Koch Cultural Trust.  The organizations collectively have a stated goal of `advancing liberty and freedom’ through the support of various causes which `further social progress and sustainable prosperity.’”

                Doug Ross posted a comic-book-type article entitled “The Koch Ness Monster” illustrated by Biff Spackle.  This article explains in pictures and words that numerous wealthy people are donating to Democrats – just as the Koch brothers donate to Republicans.  The article is done in such a way that any “low information voter can understand.”  

                Apparently, the Koch brothers and/or Koch Industries grew tired of being demonized by Democrats because Charles Koch wrote an op-ed piece to those who are attacking his character.  He began his article:  “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 education 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 19^th century, that Saul Alinsky famously advocated in the 20^th, 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….”

                The second half of Mr. Koch’s piece details the number of employees working for his company, the number of products they make, the number of jobs they create elsewhere, their business practices, etc.  The entire article is very interesting and informative.  I recommend that you read it IF you are really interested in knowing more about Koch Industries.

                I am grateful that Mr. Koch spoke out against the bullying tactics of Senator Reid and other Democrats.  I am grateful that he took the fight to them.  I hope that more conservatives and Republicans will stand up to the bullies who are using such awful tactics for political gain.  I am grateful that the Koch brothers are willing and able to use their vast wealth to spread the conservative/libertarian side of the debate.  I hope they will continue to fund the fight against the progressives who currently have control of our government.