A number of billionaires are flooding our democracy with their money, drowning out the voices of the rest of us. But Charles and David Koch are in a class by themselves. Theyre using their fortune -- theyre the fifth and sixth richest people in the world -- to create their own political machine designed to protect and advance their financial interests. The Koch machine includes: 1. Political front groups pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into elections at every level of our democracy, while disguising the sources of the money. 2. Giant advertising campaigns to convince Americans climate change is a myth, the Affordable Care Act will harm them, unions are bad, and wealthy people deserve tax cuts. 3. A network of think tanks designed to come up with findings the Kochs want. For example, over $23 million for studies arguing we should abolish the minimum wage or keep it where it is forever. 4. A campaign to suppress the votes of minorities. In the last presidential election, funding white poll-watchers where minorities vote, leading to complaints of voter intimidation. And peddling a Voter ID bill to state legislators across the country, designed to make it harder for many to vote. 5. A nationwide effort to bust unions. Funding anti-union campaigns in states like Wisconsin, and pushing an anti-union law thats been used in dozens of states to undermine workers collective bargaining rights. And 6. A long-term strategy to unravel Americas campaign finance laws, even organizing secret meetings with sympathetic Supreme Court justices. opednews/articles/Break-The-Koch-Machine-by-Robert-Reich-Elections_Koch-Brothers_Petition_Political-140627-31.html
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 18:57:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015