Source: Wichita Eagle
It seems as if more information came out about the Koch
brothers over the weekend. The Wichita Eagle published this
article on October 11, 2012. On the Wichita Eagle website (Kansas.com) it said
that this was an exclusive and only part 1 of an extensive interview. I am
hoping for more articles out of this of course. As you may know I have been
interesting in the Koch family for quite some time and did a historical net
worth of Charles and David
here, a Koch
family history, the
$1.3 billion lawsuit between all the Koch brothers, growth
in the 1990’s, as
well as current growth, even
David Koch dating.
There was not only the original article that came out but
also some photo galleries that can be seen here
and here.
Some separate articles are quotes
from Charles Koch, David
Koch, and Dr.
Richard Fink (executive Vice President of Koch Industries). Growing up the
Koch family had a strict dinner policy. At 6:30 a big bell would ring and they
had to come into the house and sit down with parents. David admits he was
scared when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the 1990’s. He actually believed
he wouldn't be around very long. His prostate cancer is under control and David
has generously funded causes to help find a cure for prostate cancer as he donated
$25 million to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. As part of his legacy
David wants people to know he tried his best to make the world a better place
and improve the lives of others.
What we learn in all this recent news is how the Koch
brothers have been personally targeted by the Obama administration for using
their first amendment rights to speak out against the administration. Wichita
Eagle mentioned the death threats in this
article. Not only has Charles and David Koch (David said he
got 100 creditable death threats) been getting death threats but employees
as well. Of course these death threats are from deranged people who don’t
actually have all the facts and watch MSNBC all day, read Media Matters online,
and listen to fools like Ed Schultz on the radio. I haven’t even heard of
President Obama getting death threats and you would think that would be likely
with all these so called “racists” out there. At any rate, the death threats on
the Koch family have caused them to hire more security for them and their
family (tax increase of course). The
article mentions how Austan Goolsbee (Obama’s chief economic adviser claimed
Koch Industries was not paying their taxes (which is actually a crime under
federal law to disclose confidential tax information). Stephanie Cutter Obama’s
chief campaign manager claimed she “was going to call their BS”. Apparently,
Ms. Cutter has not seen a video where Koch Industries calls Cutter on her BS here. This video
talks about the falsehoods associated in a
Bloomberg article that discussed the dealing Koch had in Iran. In May 2012
David Axelrod called the Koch brothers “contract killers”.
Also it is learned that Dr. Richard Fink told the Koch
brothers in January 2009 around the same time when President Barack Obama was
sworn into office that there would be a price to pay for taking on the
president. One of the risks might be to put Koch Industries at risk as well as
the family legacy. The government does have the power to do much harm to Koch
Industries as it can “randomly” audit the company, refuse permits, or treat
them in a way that would not be business friendly. David Koch talks about how
we will have inflation by buying bonds to finance debt. This has forced interest rates to very low
rates and as Charles points out really doesn't help the people who save money
(Koch praised John Allison’s new
book on the financial crisis which I am currently reading). Fink points out
that the interest alone due to China by 2025 will be enough money to fund China’s
military budget.
Another interesting point that people forget is that
Charles and David Koch are more libertarians than anyone thinks. Charles even
admits that if Democrats supported free markets and limited government they
would donate to them (it just so happens that the people who endorse free
markets are Republicans). They support people who want limited government,
strong property rights, and people who want everyone to prosper. Both
Republicans and Democrats have failed this test and Charles points out that
even under Romney the country will just decline as a slower rate compared to Obama.
Although people claim that the Koch
brothers want more deregulation to make more money this is a foolish statement.
If markets are deregulated allowing more competitors into the same businesses
as Koch how does that benefit them if they would face even greater competition?
It is actually against their self interests to want more competitive markets.
However, the Koch brothers rise to higher morals and want a system that makes
the world a better place for everyone.
Dr. Richard Fink was looking to fund a free-market
organization and went to Koch (after buying a $1,200 plane ticket to Wichita).
Fink wore a polyester based suit and made a presentation to Charles in 1977 in
search of seed funding of $150,000. Charles admits the fact that Fink wore a polyester
suit helped (petroleum based which Koch has businesses in). Then there were the
invitation only economic seminars which the first one in Chicago with only 17
people having nonstop lectures (people couldn't even taken bathroom breaks).
Clearly, the Koch brothers have benefited society
through their charities (they donate to the arts, medical institutions, and
schools). In addition creating a business that now has 60,000 employees they
create products that people use every day (toilet paper, Dixie paper cups,
along with blended gasoline). David Koch’s technology group is even making
water cleaner to drink. I really admire them for their success in not only
running a business but promoting an economic system that really would lift
people out of poverty and increase the standard of living for everyone. To the
Koch brothers I tip my hat to both of you.
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