Charles Koch Speaks Out

[wu_shizzle]

Why Koch Industries Is Speaking Out

It's good to see that Charles himself is countering all the nonsense with truth.

[SubGod22]

:good:

[WstateU]

:good: :good:

[SFL]

:good: :good: :good:

[ABC]

The comments posted on the Wichita Eagle editorial blog are . . . interesting to say the least.

http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2011/03/koch-isnt-backing-down/

I have never understood the depth of the anti-Koch feelings among some folks. I understand people having different views, but the vitriol is weird.

[RoyalShock]

I enjoyed that read.

I particularly liked Koch's explanation of how his business has to play by the rules until he can change the rules. Forgive the reference but there is a certain Texas congressman I support who often gets rediculed for the same approach. But I won't go there. :)

Thanks for sharing the link, wu_shizz!

[ShockBand]

A good read, but I still don't trust corporations to look out for anything but their own self-interest. Any government's primary job is a responsibility to its individual citizens, not larger entities such as corporations or interest groups. The theories of how these austerity plans work are very appealing - how they play out in reality is another matter. Communism sounds good in theory, but it doesn't play well in reality.

We do need to get the deficit and debt under control in a responsible manner, and make many things with government leaner and more focused, but something in my gut tells me the current push won't play out well for some reason, but I can't articulate why. Maybe its the same thing as I tend to feel about the Shockers in STL.

The Democratic side certainly doesn't excite me either, maybe I just don't trust anyone anymore...

[Shirley Schmidt]

The Democratic side certainly doesn't excite me either, maybe I just don't trust anyone anymore...

A well founded mistrust, all either party does is pander to each base and tell them what they want to hear.

They blame each other for the problems that they jointly have made then go out to dinner together and s***w a few interns.

All on our payroll, it is a great job if you can get it.

[Maggie]

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.

:good: This is the problem. The improper combination of government and business (and this holds true for Unions as well).

Shockband, why would you expect anyone, corporation or otherwise, to look out for anything other than their own self-interest?

[ShockBand]

I don't, but I question whether it is the government's first job to look out for corporate interests over that of individual citizens. My opinion is that government is supposed to be of, by and for the people, not the corporation.

[Maggie]

“Government is supposed to be of, by and for the people…” What exactly does that mean?

[RoyalShock]

I don't, but I question whether it is the government's first job to look out for corporate interests over that of individual citizens. My opinion is that government is supposed to be of, by and for the people, not the corporation.

But here's the thing. From what I've been able to observe from my lowly perch is that when the government does anything (ie. regulation or any other action designed to help/protect the consumer or individual) it ends up doing exactly what Koch says: stifle competition and innovation, which ultimately harms everyone except the few (big) businesses that benefit from it.

Usually (not all the time) government getting out of the way and untying the hands of business and industry result in good things for both the business and by extention, the individuals. More jobs, lower costs, more competition, lower prices, higher wages.

[ShockBand]

I don't, but I question whether it is the government's first job to look out for corporate interests over that of individual citizens. My opinion is that government is supposed to be of, by and for the people, not the corporation.

But here's the thing. From what I've been able to observe from my lowly perch is that when the government does anything (ie. regulation or any other action designed to help/protect the consumer or individual) it ends up doing exactly what Koch says: stifle competition and innovation, which ultimately harms everyone except the few (big) businesses that benefit from it.

Usually (not all the time) government getting out of the way and untying the hands of business and industry result in good things for both the business and by extention, the individuals. More jobs, lower costs, more competition, lower prices, higher wages.

I know that is what I want to believe. I just don't know that I trust the business world any more than I do the government world. My thoughts are kind of rambling and disjointed today on all of this, I know. The fact that I am a public employee (teacher), but one who would prefer to see a government that is leaner and more focused, BUT a government that has what it takes to its job right and well, and how much of a role should government play in the needs of those less forturnate, etc, etc, etc, all leaves me very conflicted. Not sure why I am so jaded today.

[Maggie]

I don't, but I question whether it is the government's first job to look out for corporate interests over that of individual citizens. My opinion is that government is supposed to be of, by and for the people, not the corporation.

But here's the thing. From what I've been able to observe from my lowly perch is that when the government does anything (ie. regulation or any other action designed to help/protect the consumer or individual) it ends up doing exactly what Koch says: stifle competition and innovation, which ultimately harms everyone except the few (big) businesses that benefit from it.

Usually (not all the time) government getting out of the way and untying the hands of business and industry result in good things for both the business and by extention, the individuals. More jobs, lower costs, more competition, lower prices, higher wages.

I know that is what I want to believe. I just don't know that I trust the business world any more than I do the government world. My thoughts are kind of rambling and disjointed today on all of this, I know. The fact that I am a public employee (teacher), but one who would prefer to see a government that is leaner and more focused, BUT a government that has what it takes to its job right and well, and how much of a role should government play in the needs of those less forturnate, etc, etc, etc, all leaves me very conflicted. Not sure why I am so jaded today.

You didn’t answer my question. It was overly broad for your taste, perhaps…..hard to know where to begin. I understand.

You don’t trust government to do the right thing -- act in the public interest; you don’t trust corporations anymore than government to do the same thing. I don’t either. But do you trust your neighbor, the family you see at Sunday, or the person who you pass on the street on the way to your school? Given a true choice what would they choose? Should they be allowed to choose?

Decision are made, thousands of them over the course of a single day, they are made by you and me and the multitudes. Those decisions have an impact – they have an impact on otherwise disinterested corporations and even government action (or at least they should in the latter case).

If you allow an environment in which people and corporations can take advantage for their (or its) self interest – then you reap what you sow. That you are conflicted in current situation is a testament to your own integrity.

[ISASO]

You cannot legislate morality. You cannot force people to have integrity.

In the grand scheme of things, you simply cannot regulate everyone and everything so tightly that no one ever gets taken advantage of. With reasonable laws and blind justice, those who cross the line will be penalized eventually. Or word will spread among their customers, employees and business partners and they will fail because of that.

Who knows, if Bernie Madoff hadn't been arrested and locked away he might be dead today at the hands of one of his customers.

Freedom is worth the pain of occasional abuse. Our other choice for making everything right via command and control of the private sector...Stalinist Russia?

One thing is for sure. If the government gets too involved, very little will get truly fixed, but unintended consequences will abound. And it will be expensive and wasteful, leaving everyone to wonder later, "How stupid was that? When will we ever learn?"