Aug 31, 2010

The Koch Brothers And Social Security

I have seen an explosion of anti-Social Security articles in newspapers, magazines and blogs in recent months. No doubt, much of this is a genuine reflection of the widespread and undying opposition to Social Security among the 20% or so of Americans who are on the extreme right. However, the unprecedented volume and ferocity of the articles I am seeing has made me wonder what is going on.

I encourage you to read Jane Mayer's article in the New Yorker on the Koch brothers.They are secretive oil multi-billionaires who have spent tens of millions of dollars, perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars to promote their openly anarchist views -- and I do mean anarchist. They want government, apart from police, to disappear. The late William F. Buckley described their political philosophy as anarcho-totalitarianism. The Koch brothers founded and support most of the right wing think tanks. They have created many seemingly grassroot groups that are actually "astroturf."

There is no question that many of the virulent attacks on Social Security are coming from organizations founded, supported and largely controlled by the Koch brothers.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another less biased view

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2010/08/29/in-defense-of-the-kochtopus/

Anonymous said...

So, if people use their own resources to support their views and try to persuade others, there is something wrong? I don't remember the repeal of the 1st Amendment...Perhaps sometime you can comment on the role of the George Soros billions in support of more "progressive" causes and explain why those are "pure" billons versus the Koch "tainted" billions....

Nancy Ortiz said...

The issue raised by the Koch brothers' concerted attack on Social Security is that they have consistently done so over a period of time for no reason other than ideological oppostion to it.

These people use a variety of foundations and organizations to mount their attacks and have until recently been unknown to the majority of television viewers and internet users. Of course, the First Amendment is in full force and effect. It happens to be one part of the Constitution to which they particularly object, but never mind that.

The point here is that understanding who they are and what effect their political views have on their statements about SS or any other subject explains a lot. They are in the bond business, among other things, and like Peter Peterson stand to make a lot of money for anything that reduces or curtails the SS program. Nancy Ortiz

Anonymous said...

From Ms. Ortiz: "These people use a variety of foundations and organizations to mount their attacks and have until recently been unknown to the majority of television viewers and internet users."

Sounds like something I've heard about recently...wasn't that called "Journolist"??? Coordinated approaches/attacks based on "unknown coordination"?

It would seem to me that "sauce for the goose is good for the gander" - If the progressive viewpoint can be supported by private individuals working together to advance their views, then why not others? Progressives like to accuse others of being "unfair" when others use the same tactics used by progressives. Doesn't sound very progressive to me!

Anonymous said...

xref--George Soros--nuff said