The Koch brother who dropped out of the family business calls it "organized crime"

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/69-69/5366-koch-brother-koch-industries-an-qorganized-crimeq-operation

Just what is this Koch Industries? Should it be called a "company?" If so we need to re-think the idea of what a company and a business is supposed to be. Even the brother of Koch Industries owners David and Charles Koch called the company an "organized crime" operation.

Koch money is a key driver of the conservative movement. Almost every <1> conservative-movement rock <2> you turn over <3> has Koch money <4> crawling around <5> under it. As the movement becomes more and more of a pay-to-play operation, conservatives of every stripe do more and more to protect and enrich the Koch operation. This has included blocking, disrupting and avoiding official investigations of accusations. It also includes funding front groups to advance the political and financial interests of the company and its owners.

[aquart]

1. Didn't the two evil brothers buy out their other two brothers?

For a paltry billion?

Seriously, the evil Koch brothers are proof that punitive inheritance taxes are vital to democracy.

[tblue37]

41. Although our foolish country is returning to the idea of family dynasties in politics now,

after the American Revolution we understood for a long time that political power should not be directly inherited, as it was with the monarchs and high nobility.

But we never managed to reach the next step in comprehension--that over time (and not all that much time even), inherited wealth beyond a certain point is equivalent to inherent rule in politics, so allowing obscene fortunes to accumulate and then get passed down without taxing them adequately is the same as allowing for royalty and high nobility, though it might take two or three generations for that to show up clearly enough for many people to see.

[abelenkpe]

49. + 1000 nt

[ellenrr]

2. of course they are organized crime. So is Congress.

[fasttense]

10. We voted in the congress. We had NO vote on the Koch brothers'

billionaire status. A few lucky sperms and eggs were the only ones who got a vote on the Koch brothers.

[louis-t]

38. NOW you're getting to the heart of it.

My response to teabaggers lately has been "If a politician does something you don't like, you can vote them out of office, but when the Koch Bros. own everything and you don't like what they do, how are you going to get rid of them?"

[rtassi]

51. If you call ..

choosing from the revolving door of corporate kiss asses voting ...

[cui bono]

63. If you believe that every vote counts and every vote was counted.

And that everyone who was eligible to vote was allowed to vote.

It's all rigged.

[defendandprotect]

78. We still voting on computers so who knows?

[Javaman]

86. When just about all of our "elected officials" are controlled by people

like the koch brothers, how and you say with a straight face that those two morons aren't elected?

[Jackpine Radical]

33. Especially since Congress is becoming a subsidiary of the Koch Brothers.

It was Koch money that fuelled the Tea Party and the campaigns that ousted people like Russ Feingold.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KansDem]

60. Perhaps we should rename it "Kochgress?"

I was thinking about "Corpgress," but Kochgress is so much more definitive...

[valerief]

61. Love it! nt

[BadgerKid]

64. More like "Regress."

Our country/society is apparently going down a few notches in the near term.

[KansDem]

66. You have a point...

I remember years ago reading on the wall of a men's room stall (in a bar):

If "pro" is the opposite of "con"
Then "progress" is the opposite of "Congress."

[drm604]

3. I wish I could K&R this a billion times.

The Kochs and others like them are responsible for so many of our troubles. We can never have real justice as long as so few people control so much wealth. Someone who can buy their way out of any legal or criminal trouble can continue to increase their wealth and power unchecked. This can lead to exponential growth in wealth and power. It's a real and present danger.

Stories like the ones in this article should be on the broadcast network news every night. People like Rachel Maddow are wonderful and I watch her every night but she's largely preaching to a relatively small choir.

I don't know what the answer is but public awareness is part of it, and that does seem to be happening. Talk about the Kochs and their crimes needs to be encouraged and somehow pushed more and more into the mainstream.

There are two of them and millions of us. Surely something can be done.

[tblue37]

43. aquart had a post here on DU some time ago in which he said

"No man should be so wealthy that he has nothing left to buy but the government."

[CoffeeCat]

54. and it sucks raw eggs...

...that we have a government that is so cowardly, spineless, ignorant
and disrespectful of our Constitution and our democracy.

There always has been--and there will always be-corrupt bastards with money who can pay off the
politicians. The problem is that we live in a day and age where our politicians are FREAKS
and dysfunctional clowns.

They have no class or integrity. They are clowns with charisma and they've sold our democracy
to enrich themselves and to amass power.

Government is supposed to serve "WE THE PEOPLE" and the public interest. That is impossible
when the government serves the corporations.

I just read an article that described the movie-theater industry's revolt against a bill that
would require them to disclose the ingredients in movie-theater popcorn. They don't want to
do this, so who do they run to? Our government. They're lobbying our government to keep secret
the unhealthy and harmful substances in the popcorn and buttery flavoring.

The fact that these jerks run to our elected officials, like babies running to daddy when they
want a candy-bar at Walmart---shows us the system we've got going. "Daddy! Daddy! Help us!
The bad people are being mean cutting into our profits!"

It's pathetic!

[socialist_n_TN]

67. I remember that. It said it all........

Props to aquart. Now what do we do about it?

[SpiralHawk]

4. RepubliBaggers (R) have been such massive SUCKERS

They are going to be pissed if and when they ever wake up to the reality of how they have been suckered by the billionaire cronies & croooks.

[Raksha]

15. If and when they ever wake up indeed. Waking them up is next to impossible.

Their thought processes are so warped by cognitive dissonance it's impossible to get through to them. And it's exacerbated by the propaganda they are fed daily and have become addicted to.

[abelenkpe]

50. Nothing will wake up my teabagger relatives

they'll fight to the end to support the party that has doesn't have their best interests at heart in any way shape or form.

I blame their lack of education, they all either dropped out of HS or were notorious D students.

[Paka]

56. I'm not sure we can blame it all on lack of education.

My teabagger relatives all have college degrees, but they still can't see through the propaganda.

[glinda]

73. If TV had more real educational programs people wold learn something instead of "dysfunction".

[Wednesdays]

81. Education is relative

Too many people get through college without learning a single thing outside their chosen field. That's because they see college only as a ticket to higher income, not as a means to better themselves as people.

[JDPriestly]

24. I know a few who have already gone through that reawakening process.

They are outraged. They are the reason that MSNBC's viewership has risen.

[MadMaddie]

62. That is good to hear!

[russspeakeasy]

37. By the time they wake up...it will be too late.

[FiveGoodMen]

55. They will never wake up.

Faith cannot be fixed.

[liberalla]

5. KICK KICK KICK KICK KICK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:wow:
What a collection of real horror stories. I knew some of this stuff, but there's a lot that I didn't... geez, I hope karma catches up to them soon. I wouldn't mind a few indictments too.

[GreydeeThos]

6. K&R

[druidity33]

7. Does Koch still supply the Strategic Petrol Reserve?

If he does, we're playing with fire there...

:(

[Sanity Claws]

8. The link doesn't work

It says I don't have permission to access the story.
Is it available somewhere else?

[arendt]

9. Ditto n/t

[hlthe2b]

11. Link gives me a 409 "forbidden" error.

[hlthe2b]

13. Link fixed now....

[PA Democrat]

12. The Kochs have let their GREED destroy their family.

Now they will destroy the country if we don't stop them.


Throughout the seventies, Charles and David continued to build Koch Industries. In 1980, William, with assistance from Freddie, attempted to take over the company from Charles, who, they felt, had assumed autocratic control. In retaliation, the company’s board, which answered to Charles, fired William. (“Charles runs it all with an iron hand,” Bruce Bartlett, the economist, told me.) Lawsuits were filed, with William and Freddie on one side and Charles and David on the other. In 1983, Charles and David bought out their brothers’ share in the company for nearly a billion dollars. But the antagonism remained, and litigation continued for seventeen more years, with the brothers hiring rival private investigators; in 1990, they walked past one another with stony expressions at their mother’s funeral. Eventually, Freddie moved to Monaco, which has no income tax. He bought historic estates in France, Austria, and elsewhere, filling them with art, antiques, opera scores, and literary manuscripts. William founded his own energy company, Oxbow, and turned to yachting; he spent an estimated sixty-five million dollars to win the America’s Cup, in 1992.



Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer#ixzz1HQk2NXPO

[TBF]

16. Greed? Maybe if you take away the capitalism you'd lose the greed. Just a thought. nt

[PatSeg]

32. I'm not so sure

It is very possible that "greed" will just be manifested in other equally destructive ways. If their underlying motivation is power and control, they will adapt that need to whatever environment they occupy. Of course, if such sociopaths lived in a society that did not tolerate or encourage such people, they probably wouldn't be successful in their endeavors.

[glinda]

74. Sociopathic behavior must be a mutant dominant gene.

[felix_numinous]

14. K&R

[Snoutport]

17. kickity

[blindpig]

18. Organized crime, capitalism....

the only difference is societal sanction. And guess who controls society?

[JustAnotherGen]

19. You know

That comparison is totally unfair to Henry Hill, Paul Castellano, Sam Giancana, Sammy Gingello, etc. etc. etc. ;-) ;-) :-)

[JDPriestly]

25. You are right. The Mafia dreamed of completely dominating

gambling, prostitution, drugs, Murder Incorporated, bank robbery and liquor.

The Koch Brothers dream of dominating everything right down to every uterus in the world.

[glinda]

75. Maybe they funded the round up of the mafia. Less competition.

[DeSwiss]

20. CAPITALISM is a crime against society. - K&R n/t

[raouldukelives]

21. K&R

[samsingh]

stop drinking coors - i did

[samsingh]

22. stop drinking coors - i did

[tpsbmam]

23. Huge K&R! Tweeted, fb posted, sending as far and wide as I can. nt

[highplainsdem]

26. That article is originally from OurFuture.org. Here's the correct link:

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011031120/koch-and-native-american-reservation-oil-theft

[highplainsdem]

27. K&R

[Omaha Steve]

28. K&R!

[UTUSN]

29. You have to dig way down in the link to find the dude's name: William

**************QUOTE***************

.... William Koch, brother of company owners David and Charles, called the company an "organized crime" operation:

Koch says that Koch Industries engaged in "(o)rganized crime. And management driven from the top down."

"It was – was my family company. I was out of it," he says. "But that’s what appalled me so much... I did not want my family, my legacy, my father’s legacy to be based upon organized crime." ....

***********UNQUOTE*********

[guruoo]

30. Koch brother William funded front group to fight wind power...

Koch donated $1.5 million to Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound<18> . Its goal is to prevent the construction of Cape Wind, a wind power project located in Nantucket Sound, near Koch's Cape Cod house.

Osterville billionaire oil man behind stealth move to stop the wind farm

Did Bill Koch supply the extra $60,000 to destroy the entire offshore wind power industry

By Walter Brooks

Is Oyster Harbors' Coal and Oil Billionaire Bill Koch hiding a $60,000 lobbying expenditure to get Don Young’s Amendment in the Coast Guard Bill?
It certainly appears that way, looking at some newly released Lobbying Disclosure forms which link the head of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound to this stealth move.
It’s a convoluted tale to tell, apparently purposefully so.

Koch’s coal and oil products company, Oxbow Corporation, uses the lobbying firm of U.S. Strategies to serve its interests up on Capitol Hill.
Last year, not surprisingly, U.S. Strategies filed reports about receiving lobbying money from Oxbow to lobby on such things as coal extraction and oil drilling.

U.S. Strategies actually specializes in lobbying for healthcare companies, Oxbow appears to be their only energy client.

Koch to Kessler to kill the wind

Here’s where it gets interesting. Earlier this year, a flurry of Lobbying Disclosure forms were filed that listed U.S. Strategies as the lobbying client of another lobbying company, Kessler & Associates Business Services. Click the top document on the right to read the start of this effort to hide the $60,000 which would cast a large shadow over the "Sound keeper's" reputation to protect Nantucket Sound.

More... http://www.capecodtoday.com/news343.htm

[Raksha]

36. So William Koch isn't so squeaky-clean either (understatement),

just not quite as much of a corporate criminal as Charles and David. I guess everything's relative.

[Beartracks]

39. Sounds like a rich NIMBY maneuver.

Not necessarily pro- or anti-wind, just all-business. But definitely NIMBY.

---------------------------------

[bluestate10]

65. Ted Kennedy opposed the wind farm.

William Koch is a billionaire and funded the last successful US defense of the America's Cup. He seems to be mostly an east coaster. He has a checkered history with mistresses and wives. His politics seem to be more toward the moderate side.

[LibGranny]

31. Don't buy Koch Brothers products -

I can't give you a complete list but I know they make Brawny papertowels and Georgia Pacific wood products. Lots of other products - I'll see if I can find a comprehensive list and post it. Might not break tham but maybe we could put a dent in their pocketbook!

[axollot]

40. Every time I hear this it frustrates me. GP was recently bought by them

and our family needs it to survive. We need to do more than boycott because these guys will just shut these UNION/FAIR WAGE factories down putting families like ours and many others just like it on the street while not putting a dent in Koch industries who own everything. Dow Chem, lycra and yes the list is huge. STOP BEATING UP ON GP ONLY THOUGH. FOR THE LOVE OF HUMANITY WE HAVE *NOTHING* ELSE HERE IN FLORIDA.

Thanks
Sandy

[socialist_n_TN]

70. I'm am not unsympathetic at ALL...........

being presently unemployed, but just start making preparations because it WILL get worse before it gets better.

[axollot]

82. Of course you're not. I empathize w/your situation at least and

it will get worst before it gets better. However, I don't enjoy bringing people down because *I* am down - And I don't want to destroy working families in a pathetic attempt to get back at billionaires that will get a tax break for loss of profits.

Good luck.
Sandy

[bluestate10]

68. Some Koch affiliated products.

Brawny paper towels
Northern toilet paper
Stainmaster carpets
Lycra
Vanity Fair napkins
Dixie cups

Check with restaurants that you buy from. Koch affiliated companies supply run of the mill napkins. Check beef sources, the Kochs owned cattle raising operations.

[axollot]

83. More than just GP products - they've only owned them for less

than 5 years.

They do own a lot of petroleum products tho. However, if we want to sink working families while not making a dent in what Koch does (and give them more tax dollars because of it) than you should be ashamed.

Talked to Thom Hartmann about this once too he made a valid point about how short sighted these boycotts are because for example in radio - he needs advertisers to be heard, any advertiser is a good one if it allows voices on the left to be heard - as it is we have an up hill battle against the voices on the right.

There has to be a better way - that's all. I don't like them in the slightest but putting thousands of working families on the unemployment line is a really shitty way to do it.

[myrna minx]

34. K&R n/t

[Harriety]

35. Their hired help must be very afraid

Organized crime huh. That's why the T-baggers in office do what they are told. They don't want to wind up down river wearing a pair of ce-ment shoes.

[bertman]

42. K & R

[Uncle Joe]

44. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, eridani.

[OneBlueSky]

45. Bill Koch was on the Board of an arts organization I worked for . . .

many years ago . . . it was a nonprofit performing arts group in New England . . . I think his participation was more of a "name on the letterhead" kind of thing; I don't believe he attended Board meetings, and I can't recall ever having met him in person . . . still, he was a generous contributor, so I'm glad to learn that he's the "good" Koch brother . . .

his company, Koch Carbon, was privately held and dealt in all kinds of commodities (coal, lumber, etc.) on a global scale . . . btw, he pronounced it "Coke" . . . I assume he rest of the brothers do as well . . .

[KamaAina]

47. We need to get this guy front and center

Rachel? Are you there?

[polichick]

53. Yes, Rachel is the one who could really run with this!

[Mr. Sparkle]

48. How did they fly under the radar for so long?

It is quite astonishing.

[riverbendviewgal]

52. I think the Kochs own Stephen Harper

I am so sad the Kochs are taking over northern Ontario...

I must finish reading my fellow Canadian, Naomi Klien's Shock Doctrine

[glinda]

76. I hope the vote of no confidence will shore up opposition to them.

[pacalo]

57. K&R.

[Faygo Kid]

58. If you never read this New Yorker article about the Koch brothers, please do so now.

Absolutely stunning, and a must read. These guys own the GOP.

Covert Operations
The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama.

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer#ixzz1HT2fCDyM

[eridani]

80. Excellent

We are going to have to bring the fight to them by naming and shaming them.

[Raine]

59. Interesting ... THANKS for posting it! nt

:thumbsup:

[PA Democrat]

69. Illustration of the web of influence of the Koch crime family

[ck4829]

71. Kick

[certainot]

72. kochs may be new to the GOP game in terms of hands on

because when the GOP lost the white house, the rove group lost control, at least temporarily, of the main cog in the GOP propaganda machine- the talk radio monopoly- and that allowed the kochs and their money influence to interfere with more conservative strategy - hence the teabaggers and the walkers and snyders.

[defendandprotect]

77. Unregulated capitalism is organized crime --

[axollot]

84. 10/4 to that hun! The way our government works right now is a form

of organised crime too. Like no bid contracts to a corporation a politician benefits from financially. This isnt a Democracy we are fascists and the facade to hide that slide right off with Walker's attack on teachers and public employees.

But, I really get pissed off when DU gets one tracked minded about boycotting Koch products, (especially naming only 1 company and one they have owned for a short time) not because I want to protect the Koch family but the working families (like ours, who work for a company they purchased recently) that work for them. They are the largest private company in US history! I would LOVE to see those men in jail and those companies under the Koch Industries heading become independent of them again. (They own the largest cattle ranch in the world too - in TX!)

To put it another way - I wouldnt go after Governors like Walker by attacking employees of Wisconsin. It doesnt take skin off of Walker's nose but sure would hurt the working families in that state.

Cheers
Sandy

[avaistheone1]

79. k&r

[eowyn_of_rohan]

85. K&R