Charles Koch: I'm Fighting to Restore a Free Society

[CaseyJones]

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303978304579475860515021286?mod=hp _opinion&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB1000 1424052702303978304579475860515021286.html%3Fmod%3 Dhp_opinion

Instead of welcoming free debate, collectivists engage in character assassination.


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 at link

[TaftFan]

Without the Koch Bros., we would be much worse off.

[jkr]

prove it money bags...

https://secure.piryx.com/donate/b3y1Ooay/justinamash/

https://secure.thomasmassie.com/

https://secure.randpac.com/

[specsaregood]

prove it money bags...
did you read the article or just drive by to make snide remarks?

[jkr]

did you read the article or just drive by to make snide remarks?

drive by

read my edit, im cheer leading...here is his chance

[specsaregood]

prove it money bags...
https://secure.piryx.com/donate/b3y1Ooay/justinamash/

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/09/us-usa-politics-teaparty-idUSBREA280NO20140309


Americans for Prosperity, founded by the billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, has spent about $165,000 on television ads praising Amash for opposing Obamacare, a spokesman said.


They also maxed out for Rand's 2010 senate campaign and no doubt have donated since.

[The Free Hornet]

did you read the article or just drive by to make snide remarks?

Why? It is an article by Koch, not about Koch.

Research indicates they funded Romney and have nothing to do with advancing liberty:

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/876280/did_the_koch_machine_put_romney_over_the_top_in_wi sconsin


Nobody here is this fucking stupid:


HOT: Koch Brothers Ignore Ron Paul Give Cash to Bachmann
...
UPDATE: A friend reminds me that they also gave money to the candidate who ran against Rand Paul.

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2011/07/hot-koch-brothers-ignore-ron-paul-give.html

Or at least there is no excuse for the stupidity.

[compromise]

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303978304579475860515021286?mod=tr ending_now_1
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.

Enlarge Image

Getty Images
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.

[twomp]

So sending his goons at the SFL to attack Ron Paul is part of his plan to "restore a free society" huh? His version of a free society is he buys the government to clear the way for his pet projects.

[compromise]

So sending his goons at the SFL to attack Ron Paul is part of his plan to "restore a free society" huh? His version of a free society is he buys the government to clear the way for his pet projects.

I highly doubt he had any direct influence in SFL's disagreement with Ron.

[dillo]

The founding fathers would have shot people like the Koch's in duels, just because their shear amount of wealth made them threats to the republic. With that being said I think the Kochs get a lot of hate thats not warranted, however they claim to be for a lot of libertarian ideas and keep supporting teo-con after teo-con. I will wait a few cycles to see if they show their true colors, until then I won't judge.

[56ktarget]

Yes, because only collectivists engage in character assassination... even you guys have to admit the koch brothers are a complete joke...

[Spikender]

Yes, because only collectivists engage in character assassination... even you guys have to admit the koch brothers are a complete joke...

Without stating my position on this issue, I will ask you: how are they a complete joke in your opinion?

I'm curious to know.

[NIU Students for Liberty]

Without the Koch Bros., we would be much worse off.

Yeah, what would we ever do without them watering down libertarianism :rolleyes:

[green73]

Charles Koch has written an op-ed (http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303978304579475860515021286?mg=ren o64-wsj) in the Wall Street Journal in which he insists that he opposes crony capitalism. But the first example he offers to demonstrate his claim is actually a crony capitalist position.


“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.”

Koch characterizes a tax credit as a subsidy. If he had read and listened to his former ally Murray Rothbard more carefully (before turning on him and stealing his shares (http://www.lewrockwell.com/1970/01/david-gordon/why-the-koch-brothers-went-after-murray-rothbard/) in the Cato Institute) he would know that tax credits and other loopholes are not subsidies (https://mises.org/daily/6310/Long-Live-the-Loophole), but simply salutary decreases (however selective) of the state’s depredations. As Ludwig von Mises said (http://bastiat.mises.org/2012/11/what-ludwig-von-mises-taught-gottfried-haberler-who-taught-paul-samuelson-about-tax-loopholes/), capitalism breathes through loopholes.

It is taxation, and not tax relief, that drives up food and fuel prices, by hampering production, and thereby resulting in greater scarcity, which is reflected in higher real prices.

Repealing a tax credit is a tax hike. The tax hike Koch pushed for and got in 2011 probably hurt his competitors in the oil industry far more than his own empire, which is chiefly based on natural gas. This is a classic crony move that goes back to the Progressive Era: a market incumbent poses as an enlightened, public-minded businessman by “sacrificially” taking on burdens which just happen to burden competitors and potential upstarts even more.

https://medium.com/p/c8fe439638f8