Why Koch Industries Is Speaking Out

[JohnEngland]

Good article by one of the Koch people. Them seem like decent people who understand the serious problems of the day. Shame they have to put up with immature clowns like the so-called "Anonymous" people.

Some extracts:

Years of tremendous overspending by federal, state and local governments have brought us face-to-face with an economic crisis. Federal spending will total at least $3.8 trillion this year—double what it was 10 years ago. And unlike in 2001, when there was a small federal surplus, this year's projected budget deficit is more than $1.6 trillion.

Several trillions more in debt have been accumulated by state and local governments. States are looking at a combined total of more than $130 billion in budget shortfalls this year. Next year, they will be in even worse shape as most so-called stimulus payments end.

For many years, I, my family and our company have contributed to a variety of intellectual and political causes working to solve these problems. Because of our activism, we've been vilified by various groups. Despite this criticism, we're determined to keep contributing and standing up for those politicians, like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who are taking these challenges seriously.

Both Democrats and Republicans have done a poor job of managing our finances. They've raised debt ceilings, floated bond issues, and delayed tough decisions.

Government spending on business only aggravates the problem. Too many businesses have successfully lobbied for special favors and treatment by seeking mandates for their products, subsidies (in the form of cash payments from the government), and regulations or tariffs to keep more efficient competitors at bay.

Crony capitalism is much easier than competing in an open market. But it erodes our overall standard of living and stifles entrepreneurs by rewarding the politically favored rather than those who provide what consumers want.

The purpose of business is to efficiently convert resources into products and services that make people's lives better. Businesses that fail to do so should be allowed to go bankrupt rather than be bailed out.

They also highlight how the boom-and-bust cycle becomes inevitable once the Federal Reserve and Government get involved. Critics of the Austrian school who say that it's crazy to believe that entire industries would be stupid enough to fall for a false boom (like the housing bubble) should read the following - businesses are forced into doing what they know is wrong:

Because every other company in a given industry is accepting market-distorting programs, Koch companies have had little option but to do so as well, simply to remain competitive and help sustain our 50,000 U.S.-based jobs. However, even when such policies benefit us, we only support the policies that enhance true economic freedom.

For example, because of government mandates, our refining business is essentially obligated to be in the ethanol business. We believe that ethanol—and every other product in the marketplace—should be required to compete on its own merits, without mandates, subsidies or protective tariffs. Such policies only increase the prices of those products, taxes and the cost of many other goods and services.

Well worth reading the whole article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...6170974226083178.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

 

[dannno]

Wow, that's a pretty good article.

 

[mczerone]

Bros. Koch are playing the political anarchy game. At the top of the heap there is no law except money, and the Bros. Koch are simply playing the game to keep the others from running away with the rulebook to progressive fantasyland.

That doesn't absolve them of all their wrongdoing, but it at least reminds people that at least they are unlike Soros, who uses his money in the political anarchy game to enforce social controls on the peons (you and me). The Bros. Koch are definitely more "conservative" than "libertarian", but they support more libertarian things than most other monied interests. Not since the Volcker Fund has there been such funding. Now a new billionaire needs to step up and be an open libertarian - or even anarchist - to outflank the Koch money and influence things not just away from progressive ideals, but actually TOWARD liberty.

 

[dannno]

Bros. Koch are playing the political anarchy game. At the top of the heap there is no law except money, and the Bros. Koch are simply playing the game to keep the others from running away with the rulebook to progressive fantasyland.

That doesn't absolve them of all their wrongdoing, but it at least reminds people that at least they are unlike Soros, who uses his money in the political anarchy game to enforce social controls on the peons (you and me). The Bros. Koch are definitely more "conservative" than "libertarian", but they support more libertarian things than most other monied interests. Not since the Volcker Fund has there been such funding. Now a new billionaire needs to step up and be an open libertarian - or even anarchist - to outflank the Koch money and influence things not just away from progressive ideals, but actually TOWARD liberty.

From the article you can see the Koch Bros. understand the business cycle from an Austrian perspective, they understand crony capitalism and are for economic liberty, they are against our overseas empire, they are against the Patriot Act, they are for equality in marriage..

Can you tell me what is bad about these guys exactly? One of my progressive friends isn't even speaking to me anymore because I defended them.. I don't know what is so bad about them.

They explained in their article why they accept govt. subsidies, because they wouldn't be able to remain competitive without them.. they would be sacrificing their business to the libertarian Gods.. but they don't lobby for special benefits and they don't encourage legislation that is anti-liberty.

 

[Cowlesy]

Recent studies show that the poorest 10% of the population living in countries with the greatest economic freedom have 10 times the per capita income of the poorest citizens in countries with the least economic freedom. In other words, society as a whole benefits from greater economic freedom.

Bingo.

Good op-ed, Mr. Koch.

 

[Aratus]

our D.C DEMs + REPs are still overspending

does trey grayson finally get the connection?
did he get a nice nod from the koch bros before his
harvard university job? my monday morning quarterbacking!

 

[TheDriver]

The Koch's are the Karl Rove's of the libertarian world, meaning: you shouldn't trust them. Sure they're right sometimes, but so is Karl.

 

[dannno]

The Koch's are the Karl Rove's of the libertarian world, meaning: you shouldn't trust them. Sure they're right sometimes, but so is Karl.

Can you give me an example??

 

[TheDriver]

Can you give me an example??

Sure, they donated $5000 bucks to Trey Grayson in the primary, during Rand Paul's race. Karl was right for backing Rand Paul after the primary victory, and so were the Koch's.

 

[dannno]

Sure, they donated $5000 bucks to Trey Grayson in the primary, during Rand Paul's race. Karl was right for backing Rand Paul after the primary victory, and so were the Koch's.

Do you have anything that might explain why one of my progressive friends isn't speaking to me after I stood up for them?

 

[JohnEngland]

Do you have anything that might explain why one of my progressive friends isn't speaking to me after I stood up for them?

Irrationality, probably? Perhaps your friend typically believes what the media tells him/her or maybe, without wanting to sound rude about this person, they haven't critically engaged the ideas enough yet (though let's be honest, many of us didn't start off understanding/supporting liberty. It takes time and being exposed to the ideas)?

You should probably show your friend this article. I suspect his/her criticisms are simply based on unfounded prejudices or, at best, poor understanding of economics.

 

[mczerone]

Do you have anything that might explain why one of my progressive friends isn't speaking to me after I stood up for them?

Progessives don't like them because they have money and they don't spend it in a way that they claim is in the name of govt support of the poor.

Some libertarians don't like them because they alienated Rothbard and tend to take the "beltway" view on controversial issues (like the Federal Reserve, war, and actively seeking a "minimal state" as their goal).

 

[TheDriver]

Do you have anything that might explain why one of my progressive friends isn't speaking to me after I stood up for them?

I amazed at you guys who think progressives can be reached, or are with us on some things. Imo, they're the worst to build coalitions with.

 

[dannno]

Irrationality, probably? Perhaps your friend typically believes what the media tells him/her or maybe, without wanting to sound rude about this person, they haven't critically engaged the ideas enough yet (though let's be honest, many of us didn't start off understanding/supporting liberty. It takes time and being exposed to the ideas)?

You should probably show your friend this article. I suspect his/her criticisms are simply based on unfounded prejudices or, at best, poor understanding of economics.

Ya so far that's all I got..

As far as sending them this article, I sent them the article in the thread "The Story Behind the Story"

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...y-Behind-the-Story-on-Wisconsin-Union-Protest

They wouldn't even read that article in the OP even though it explains the modus operandi for corrupt union BS..

 

[Thomas]

what exact candidates and orgs do they fund?

 

[dannno]

what exact candidates and orgs do they fund?

The easiest list I can find was from an article posted recently:


Ending foreign wars

Against Patriot Act

Against War on Drugs

For Marriage Equality

CATO

Reason

 

[MN Patriot]

There must be some massive liberal brainwashing program that ordered the Democrats they MUST HATE THE KOCH BROTHERS. I see Democrats wallowing in a Koch hatefest in the Yahoo! comment sections.

 

[Thomas]

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/frrth/stop_the_koch_brothers_they_are_trying_to_end_the/

 

[NewRightLibertarian]

There must be some massive liberal brainwashing program that ordered the Democrats they MUST HATE THE KOCH BROTHERS. I see Democrats wallowing in a Koch hatefest in the Yahoo! comment sections.

All they have to fall back on is how stupid the lowly American peasants are for 'voting against their interests' or how those evil billionaires are bankrolling the Tea Party. Their ideas are garbage, and on an equal battlefield ours are more popular and make more sense.

 

[mczerone]

All they have to fall back on is how stupid the lowly American peasants are for 'voting against their interests' or how those evil billionaires are bankrolling the Tea Party. Their ideas are garbage, and on an equal battlefield ours are more popular and make more sense.

What I find interesting is that the same damned things can be said about "the other side". Activist groups of both the left and right ultimately have financial ties to rich people, and both sides tend to promote policies that in nobody's interests.