Charles and David Koch, with a combined wealth of $50 billion, are two of the richest men in the country. With more than $100 billion in annual revenues, Koch Industries is a mammoth energy and manufacturing conglomerate. They operate oil refineries in Alaska, Texas and Minnesota. They control 4,000 miles of pipelines. They own Georgia-Pacific. They have 70,000 employees in 60 countries.

But it's because of their political activity that the brothers Koch have recently gained notoriety. Together, they're probably the nation's biggest political donors. Nobody else -- not George Soros, not Bill Gates, not even Sheldon Adelson -- comes close. And their influence is everywhere. They're major funders of two conservative think tanks, the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute. They've created pseudo-scientific research centers on many college campuses, like the Mercatus Center of George Mason University. They're the sugar daddies behind two powerful political organizations, FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity -- which is currently running anti-Obama TV ads in 10 states. They were the money bags behind the tea party. They put up the funds to oppose new mining safety regulations in West Virginia, overturn tough mileage standards in California, and elect Scott Walker in Wisconsin. And, by my count, they're principal sources of funding for at least 57 conservative political action groups.



Koch brothers driving anti-Obama hate machine - chicagotribune.com

And they should be stopped.
We used to have laws in this country against monopoly, well I'd say these dudes have a clear monopoly over this country.
McCain tried to push campaign finance reform and look what he got for it. He got vilified (probably with Koch bros money) by his own party.
Public funding of campaigns and public equal air time for speeches and ads/debates is a must if we are to go forward as a free economy, a free society.

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On a more positive note, people still can't order dialysis w/o a referral.

Although it's from Chicago Tribune, it's actually a diatribe from Lefty pundit Bill Press, who actually complains of rightwing media bias and tells Tim Tebow to "STFU"...The only ones who will buy this are the ones already in the choir...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Wow, another "The Koch Bros are evil and must be destroyed" thread from a liberal source.

I don't know much about the Koch's, but if they get the whack-a-do left all worked up, I approve of them.

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"The ultimate decision about what is accepted as right and wrong will be made not by individual human wisdom but by the disappearance of the groups that have adhered to the "wrong" beliefs."
-- F.A. Hayek

You are so right! The brothers Koch must be stopped from exercising their Constitutional rights. Yes comrade, exceptions and examples must be made in the interest of the State.

You guys are so ate up with it I'll just move on.

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On a more positive note, people still can't order dialysis w/o a referral.

you're the one commenting on stifling free speech.

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Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.

Donald Trump

The problem is you don't care it's happening you only care about stopping the message you don't like. If it was a left wing message you would be all for it.

My goodness! Is there an award we can recommend them for? If not, we should coin one in their honor at once!

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“Quod scripsi, scripsi"

“Serpent's breath, charm of death and life, thy omen of making!”

Are the Koch brothers from the South, too? If so, we can label them racists as well.

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