Reasonable people who don’t follow politics closely can be forgiven for dismissing Democrats’ focus on the Koch brothers as just a political tactic– not unlike the Republicans’ attacks on George Soros. They’re all rich and politically active. So what?
Senator Bernie Sanders begs to differ–and so should we. Sanders points out that the brothers are worth 80 billion dollars (including an increase of 12 billion in the last year alone), and he points to the extent of their involvement in the political process–and the degree to which they have used their enormous resources to misinform and confuse, most recently funding political spots that flat-out lie about the Affordable Care Act, which–along with Medicare and Medicaid– they are intent upon repealing. (I guess when poor people get health care, it offends their peculiar version of justice.)
David Koch ran as the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate in 1980. And Sanders suggests we take a look at the platform on which he ran:
- “We urge the repeal of federal campaign finance laws, and the immediate abolition of the despotic Federal Election Commission.”
- “We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
- “We oppose any compulsory insurance or tax-supported plan to provide health services, including those which finance abortion services.”
- “We also favor the deregulation of the medical insurance industry.”
- “We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary.”
- “We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”
- “We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes.”
- “We support the eventual repeal of all taxation.”
- “As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”
- “We support repeal of all laws which impede the ability of any person to find employment, such as minimum wage laws.”
- “We advocate the complete separation of education and State. Government schools lead to the indoctrination of children and interfere with the free choice of individuals. Government ownership, operation, regulation, and subsidy of schools and colleges should be ended.”
- “We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws.”
- “We support the repeal of all taxes on the income or property of private schools, whether profit or non-profit.”
- “We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.”
- “We support abolition of the Department of Energy.”
- “We call for the dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation, including the Department of Transportation.”
- “We demand the return of America’s railroad system to private ownership. We call for the privatization of the public roads and national highway system.”
- “We specifically oppose laws requiring an individual to buy or use so-called “self-protection” equipment such as safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets.”
- “We advocate the abolition of the Federal Aviation Administration.”
- “We advocate the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration.”
- “We support an end to all subsidies for child-bearing built into our present laws, including all welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported services for children.”
- “We oppose all government welfare, relief projects, and ‘aid to the poor’ programs. All these government programs are privacy-invading, paternalistic, demeaning, and inefficient. The proper source of help for such persons is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.”
- “We call for the privatization of the inland waterways, and of the distribution system that brings water to industry, agriculture and households.”
- “We call for the repeal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”
- “We call for the abolition of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
- “We support the repeal of all state usury laws.”
The Koch brothers want to repeal every major piece of legislation that levels the playing field or protects the middle class, the elderly, children, the sick, and the most vulnerable in this country, and thanks to Citizens United and McCutcheon, they can spend unlimited amounts of money to buy the American government they want.
They’ve realized that the Libertarian party can’t deliver their particular version of “liberty”–but properly funded, they hope the GOP can.
They may be right.
If this is not a typical rant of an Adolph Hitler clone – what is? I have never been afraid of my own country till recently, since November 2008 in fact when the GOP began active political warfare, bought and paid for. I remain proud of the small part I played in the support and election of President Barack Obama – twice. I only regret that he cannot run for a third term in office because I know of no other qualified Democrat and the thought of any Republican we are currently being subjected to is looking hell in the face. This country is doomed if that happens; we are more at risk now than prior to, during and after the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. There has never been so much money available to individuals to purchase politicians and elections. It is not myself I fear for but my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all future geneations. I am almost 77 years old and won’t have to live through much of the destruction if elections go the way it appears they will. I will struggle to survive long enough to keep going to the polls on election day to TRY to make things better for future generations. Sheila; I am long past being jaundiced, jaded or disbelieving in what is before my eyes today. Beyond here there be dragons!
There is not just one word that describes David Koch’s 26 platform points in 1980. Privatizing inland waterways and the distribution system of water to industry, agriculture and households. Why did he ignore air and sunlight? Gov. Daniels must have put a smile on David’s face when the toll road was sold. Mayor Ballard kept him smiling when he sold the parking meters. How many adjectives are needed to expose David Koch?
I don’t know… I look at that this and see an upside: on so many of their agenda items, they have completely and irretrievably lost. Moreover, to the extent they swindle GOP candidates to choose the siren song of their money to adhere to truly crazy-town positions, it may actually guarantee they will not expand their base or numbers (and it truly puts the White House beyond their reach). I agree completely that Citizens Untied is a terrible decision and gives the Kocks and their ilk more sway than they deserve, but imagine if they used their money to advocate minor, chopping away reforms (I know they do this a bit as well) instead of the outlandish list of goals above. But for gerrymandering, the GOP, even with Kock money, would be the minority party – and shrinking – in Congress.
Like the Bush family, these guys were born on third base and firmly believe THEY hit a triple. Spoiled selfish jerks. Why on earth a major political party would fall in bed with these pampered babies is a real mystery. I guess they have NO moral center at all. Lets hope the party that stands with working people has a chance at defeating them.
Let’s see – if we privatize things like the postal service and roads , then there will be postal service and roads for those who can afford private deliveries and toll roads to the drug store with unsafe drugs, and insufficient tolls to support roads to the rural families who produce our food supply. I hope the Koch brothers have a garden.
Lifting the standard of living for everyone increases the number of products the Koch brothers can sell. The common good includes them too.
E pluribus unum – This is what SHOULD be the motto of the United States but Congress changed it to “in God we trust” in 1956 which is exactly what Goldwater warned us about many moons ago.
wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_pluribus_unum
If the Koch brothers don’t like America so much, why don’t they go to another country that needs a few kings to take over and use their billions to start their own utopia? And I’m totally serious with that question. At least Soros uses his billions to better serve our citizens.
Why do they want to destroy this country the way the framers set it up? It’s was a brilliant plan for Democracy until they got their money grubbing hands in the politics of it.
And it appears that the SCOTUS has been bought and paid for with their recent rulings.
I know my time here is temporary but what they are doing to this country absolutely scares the bejesus out of me and my spouse. We will retire in a civilized country that has socialized medicine, public transportation for the many and fair taxes. The weather will probably suck. Because as I’ve said over and over, taxes are what you pay to live in a civilized society.
The term “abolishonist” originally had a positive connotation. Koch has moved it to negataive depths that are unimaginable – even for one of the Kochs, Tea Partiers, NRA and for what passes as the GOP these days. People may have paid more attention to his campaign platform had he listed what he stood FOR; it would have been a much shorter list and been read by more people.
I knew the Koch’s were scary. I just didn’t know how incredibly scary they are! If they dislike the USA so much, maybe they should go somewhere else!!!
Considering Governor Pence seems to be receiving significant support from the Koch Brothers, I was not surprised that he is the Keynote speaker at the upcoming annual Wisconsin GOP convention. When Governor Pence launched his proposed 10% tax cut during a prior legislative session, his own party rejected the idea, and Koch Brother’s SuperPac “Americans for Prosperity” produced an extensive media campaign to support Pence’s proposal. Governor Pence’s alignment to the Koch Brothers should be a reason for Indiana voters to reject Pence in the future. The Koch Brothers anti government agenda doesn’t serve Hoosiers well but is consistent with the decisions that Pence made to reject Health exchanges for needy Hoosiers. Shameful.
Wow what a platform for David Koch. His proposals are positively Medieval it what his vision of America would look like. I am sure David and his Brother would set themselves up as some form of Royalty.
Here is a bit of history –
King Theodoric to the Senate of the City of Rome
We hear with sorrow, by the report of the Provincial judges, that you the Fathers of the State, who ought to set an example to your sons (the ordinary citizens), have been so remiss in the payment of taxes that on this first collection nothing, or next to nothing, has been brought in from any Senatorial house. Thus a crushing weight has fallen on the lower orders, who have had to make good your deficiencies and have been distraught by the violence of the tax gatherers.
Now then, oh Conscript Fathers, who owe as much duty to the Republic as we do, pay the taxes for which each of you is liable, to the Procurators appointed in each Province, by three installments. Or, if you prefer to do so-and it used to be accounted a privilege pay all at once into the chest of the Vicarius. And let this following edict be published, that all the Provincials may know that they are not to be imposed upon and that they are invited to state their grievances.
From Wiki – Theodoric, was king of the Germanic Ostrogoths (475–526),[1] ruler of Italy (493–526).
The Senators of Rome were the wealthy aristocracy of their time (Kochs and Waltons). Times may change but the tax dodging and avoidance for any responsibility to support the state do not by the wealthy.
My thanks to the Koch brothers for an historical document which honestly displays their agenda. Now maybe they can spread the contents of their agenda on every front page of every newspaper in the country (I’ll even contribute to that!). Everyone ought to know exactly what the Koch brothers stand for and who they support. Then let them openly contribute as much as they please to any or all candidates of their choice, and we will list those folks on the other side of the newspapers which display the agenda. Then let’s vote! The results should be sweet.
Our federal government is bought and paid for. It’s time to take this fights to the states. Our founders gave us a way to amend our Constitution without going through a corrupt Congress. Join us at wolf-pac.com/volunteer. Or send an email to indiana@wolf-pac.com