Reply #437: RELATED IA - In politics, America on Koch (incl ALEC) Iowa State Daily Nov 3 [View All]

The Koch brothers have founded organizations such as American Legislative Exchange Council. The council brings lobbyists and legislators together three times a year to draft model bills, and for the past 20 years, Koch Industries has been on its corporate board. In 1994, Charles Koch was awarded the Adam Smith Award by ALEC for donations exceeding $1 million to the institute. Even though these meetings are held privately, we know some of their issues have included: Warming Up to Climate Change, Start Energy Independence Today, and Health Insurance Exchanges.

Many individuals suspect the Koch brothers of skewing politics toward private interests. Kert Davis is one of them as the president of research for Green Peace, and he asserts that, "Since 1998 we tracked over $50 million that they have sent to front groups and think tanks that have run a campaign against global warming and global warming science." Davis also asserts that the brothers have spent upwards of $50 million on lobbyists since 2006.

The Koch brothers also fund think tanks such as The Cato Institute, co-founded by Charles Koch in 1977, and since its foundation it has received $14 million from the brothers. The Cato Institute's main page has links on: "Let's Prize Climate Skepticism," "Abolish Central Banks" and "How Much Ivory Does This Tower Need? What We Spend On, and Get from, Higher Education."

The voice of the people and the integrity of the republic grows quiet under the voice of private interests in political affairs, especially when they have billions to spend. Whether you consider yourself a Republican or a Democrat, no matter what your ideology, it's your voice that matters. And yet, more than $2 billion a year are spent on lobbying and billions will go to campaigns for 2012. Money is the new voice of America, and we're being convinced to think, act and behave in accordance with that."