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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKoch brothers: Really good report from Al Jazeera on the Koch brothers influence
in our politics and governance of our nation.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/10/2011102683719370179.html
http://bcove.me/s6gj8ypc for video. Video won't embed for me so click on link.
The Kochs founded and provide millions to Americans for Prosperity, a political organisation that builds grassroots support for conservative causes and candidates. Americans for Prosperity, which has 35 state chapters and claims to have about two million members, has close ties to Tea Party groups and played a key role in opposing Obama's health care initiative.
Last year, Americans for Prosperity spent at least half a million dollars supporting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's efforts to cut social spending and roll back collective bargaining rights for public employee unions. The legislation passed by Walker makes it more difficult for unions, which are major backers of Democratic candidates, to secure funds for political purposes. Americans for Prosperity is also very active in a battle against unions in Ohio, another important 2012 presidential state. Its president, Tim Phillips, says that the organisation is winning in Wisconsin and around the country "because on the policies of economic freedom, we're right". He refused to tell People & Power reporter Bob Abeshouse how much the organisation is spending to combat the unions.
The Kochs have also poured millions into think tanks and academia to influence the battle over ideas. According to Kert Davies, the director of research for Greenpeace in the US, the Kochs have spent more than $50m since 1998 on "various front groups and think tanks who ... oppose the consensus view that climate change is real, urgent and we have to do something about it". As operators of oil pipelines and refineries, the Kochs have opposed all efforts to encourage alternative sources of energy by imposing a tax on fossil fuels.
Watch the whole report and tell me why the Justice Department or Congress doesn't investigate them for treason.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)but really, watch it or read it. The November elections could be very compromised by these clowns. We need to focus on them and perhaps find what ever nefarious doings they are up to in secret.
physioex
(6,890 posts)There have been several well done shows such as this on Bloomberg. I will watch this later.
Bennyboy
(10,440 posts)Premier today:
http://www.kochbrothersexposed.com/
Cleita
(75,480 posts)Yes, this is going to take enough and massive protest relentlessly done to fight the power they have at their fingertips, but I would like to see the legal courts go after them too.
qb
(5,924 posts)to cover.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)The RWingers have been trying to get AJ off the internet and the alternative cable channels by limiting the times they can stream and air their news programs. They've been accused of being a mouthpiece for Al Queda and all other kinds of nonsense because their reports are often pretty critical of what's going on in the USA and Great Britain as well as other parts of the world, not just the Middle East.