Republican Candidates Have Accepted The "Big Oil" Lies

The chart above, from an AP survey, shows just how far from the truth the Republican candidates are when they talk about global climate change. They have either foolishly accepted the propaganda from the big will companies in their desire to please corporate America, or they have received (or hope to receive) a lot of money from the big oil companies -- primarily the Koch brothers and ExxonMobil.

It is the Koch brothers and ExxonMobil that have been most responsible for paying for and promoting the propaganda (lies) that deny global climate change. They have know for decades that the climate change is real (and is caused by overuse of fossil fuels), but they have funded a huge effort to fool the American people into believing that climate change is not happening. They don't care about the truth or the planet. They only care about their profits, and are perfectly willing to toss future generations under the bus to protect those profits.

And their propaganda effort has been pretty successful with Republican officials and the general public -- successful enough to create doubt in the minds of too many people, and keep the government from doing anything about the global climate change. Now there is a report showing just how successful the propaganda from the Koch brothers and ExxonMobil has been. Here is how that report is described by Natasha Geiling at Think Progress:

When it comes to climate deniers in the halls of Congress, some have suggested that their rejection of the scientific consensus on climate change stems from their financial ties to the fossil fuel industry. 

But it turns out that it’s not just members of Congress whose climate doubt may be traced back to corporate influence — a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that over the last 20 years, private funding has had an important influence on the overall polarization of climate change as a topic in the United States.

“The main thesis that corporate funding influences climate change issues is definitely something people have been writing about for a long time, but just not with the type of data to fully support these conclusions,” Justin Farrell, author of the study and a sociologist at Yale University, told ThinkProgress. “It confirms what we thought using comprehensive data and computational analyses.”

To understand how corporate funding has contributed to the polarization of climate change in the United States, Farrell looked at 20 years’ worth of data, analyzing articles, texts, and policy papers produced by 164 organizations and more than 4,500 individuals who do not accept the science of climate change (that climate change is either not happening or not a product of human activity). The study also looked at funding from two key contrarian entities: the Koch Family Foundationsand ExxonMobil. 

By analyzing both the networks of individuals and organizations that have participated in climate misinformation campaigns and the climate-related texts that those organizations produced between 1993 and 2013, Farrell found what he described to the Washington Post as an “ecosystem of influence” within groups that received corporate funding. Groups that received funding from Koch or Exxon were not only more likely to have written texts aimed at polarizing climate change, but were more likely to change the emphasis of their content over time. Beginning in 2008, groups that received funding were more likely than unfunded groups to produce texts stressing things like the idea that climate change is a long term cycle or that carbon dioxide is in fact good for the planet, key tenets of the climate misinformation campaign aimed at casting doubt on the scientific consensus. Groups that received funding consistently touted these themes, while groups with no funding didn’t show the same level of coordination.

“This funding has an impact on the nature and amount of what is going out in the climate misinformation effort,” Robert Brulle, a professor of sociology and environmental science at Drexel University who was not involved in the study, told ThinkProgress. “It’s stronger, and there’s more of it, and these organizations are at the core of the effort.”

The study comes out at a time when ExxonMobil is facing increasing public scrutiny for its role in misleading the public about climate change. Several prominent politicians have called for a Department of Justice investigation into whether or not Exxon purposefully mislead the public about climate change, based on information published in a recent Inside Climate News investigation which found that Exxon’s internal research confirmed in 1977 that climate change is caused by carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Earlier this month, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a subpoena to Exxon, demanding records relating to its climate research.

“[The study] gives credence and empirical strength to the argument that ExxonMobil made a concerted effort to promulgate climate misinformation, which they knew from their internal research was false,” Brulle said. 

But beyond Exxon, Brulle praised the paper for proving with data something that climate activists have long suspected: When it comes to climate misinformation, corporate funding plays a crucial role.

“We sort of always suspected that this was the case, that the funders were building and creating this effort, but this really demonstrates it empirically,” he said. “This is a very, very robust and interesting paper.”

Bernie Blasts The Extremism Of The Koch-Owned GOP

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) has never been one to mince words. He always tells the truth in plain unvarnished language that can be understood by anyone. His latest missive to his supporters is no different. In it, he lays out the truth about the extremist views of the Koch brothers -- and the fact that they have purchased a political party (the GOP). Here is what he has to say:

As a result of the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, billionaires and large corporations can now spend an unlimited amount of money to influence the political process. The results of that decision are clear.  In the coming months and years the Koch brothers and other extraordinarily wealthy families will spend billions of dollars to elect right-wing candidates to the Senate, the House, governors’ mansions and the presidency of the United States. These billionaires already own much of our economy. That, apparently, is not enough.  Now, they want to own the United States government as well.

Four years ago, the Supreme Court passed Citizens United.  A few weeks ago, they passed the equally horrendousMcCutcheon campaign finance decision which gives even more political power to the rich. Now, many Republicans want to push this Supreme Court to go even further.  In the name of “free speech,” they want the Court to eliminate allrestrictions on campaign spending -- a position that Justice Thomas supported in McCutcheon -- and a view supported by the Chairman of the Republican National Committee.  Not surprisingly, as it will give them the opportunity to buy politicians at will, this has always been the position of the Koch brothers.

The Koch brothers are the second wealthiest family in America, making most of their money in the fossil fuel industry.  According to Forbes Magazine, they saw their wealth increase last year from $68 billion to $80 billion.  In other words, under the “anti-business”, “socialist” and “oppressive” Obama administration, their wealth went up by $12 billion in one year. 

In their 2012 campaigns, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney each spent a little more than $1 billion.  For the Koch brothers, spending more than Obama and Romney combined  in an election would be a drop in the bucket.  They would hardly miss the few billion spent. 

Given the reality that the Koch brothers are now the most important and powerful players in American politics, it is important to know what they want and what their agenda is. 

Interestingly and not widely known, David Koch ran as the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate in 1980.  He believed that Ronald Reagan was much too liberal.  Despite Mr. Koch putting a substantial sum of money into the campaign, his ticket only received one percent of the vote.  Most Americans thought the Libertarian Party’s platform of 1980 was extremist and way out of touch with what the American people wanted and needed.

Fast-forward 34 years and the most significant reality of modern politics is how successful David Koch and like-minded billionaires have been in moving the Republican Party to the extreme right.  Amazingly, much of what was considered “extremist” and “kooky” in 1980 has become part of today’s mainstream Republican thinking.    

Let me give you just a few examples:

In 1980, Libertarian vice-presidential candidate David Koch ran on a platform that called for abolishing the minimum wage.  34 years ago, that was an extreme view of a fringe party that had the support of one percent of the American people. 

Today, not only does virtually every Republican in Congress oppose raising the $7.25 an hour minimum wage, many of them, including Republican leaders like Mitch McConnell and John McCain, are on record for abolishing the concept of the federal minimum wage.

In 1980, the platform of David Koch’s Libertarian Party favored “the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”  34 years ago, that was an extreme view of a fringe party that had the support of one percent of the American people. 

Today, the mainstream view of the Republican Party, as seen in the recently passed Ryan budget, is to end Medicare as we know it, cut Medicaid by more than $1.5 trillion over the next decade, and repeal the Affordable Care Act.  According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Under the Ryan plan, at least 40 million people -- 1 in 8 Americans -- would lose health insurance or fail to obtain insurance by 2024. Most of them would be people with low or moderate incomes.”

In 1980, the platform of David Koch’s Libertarian Party called for “the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system.”  34 years ago, that was an extreme view of a fringe party that had the support of one percent of the American people. 

Today, the mainstream view of the Republican Party is that “entitlement reform” is absolutely necessary.  For some, this means major cuts in Social Security.  For others who believe Social Security is unconstitutional or a Ponzi scheme this means the privatization of Social Security or abolishing this program completely for those who are under 60 years of age.

In 1980, David Koch’s Libertarian Party platform stated “We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes … We support the eventual repeal of all taxation … As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”  34 years ago, that was an extreme view of a fringe party that had the support of one percent of the American people. 

Today, 75 Republicans in the House have co-sponsored a bill that Paul Ryan has said “would eliminate taxes on wages, corporations, self-employment, capital gains, and gift and death taxes in favor of a personal-consumption tax.”

Here is what every American should be deeply concerned about.  The Koch brothers, through the expenditure of billions of dollars and the creation and support of dozens of extreme right organizations, have taken fringe extremist ideas and made them mainstream within the Republican Party.  And now with Citizens United (which is allowing them to pour unlimited sums of money into the political process) their power is greater than ever.

And let’s be very clear.  Their goal is not only to defund Obamacare, cut Social Security, oppose an increase in the minimum wage or cut federal funding for education.  Their world view and eventual goal is much greater than all of that.  They want to repeal every major piece of legislation that has been signed into law over the past 80 years that has protected the middle class, the elderly, the children, the sick, and the most vulnerable in this country.  Every piece of legislation! 

The truth is that the agenda of the Koch brothers is to move this country from a democratic society with a strong middle class to an oligarchic form of society in which the economic and political life of the nation are controlled by a handful of billionaire families.

Our great nation must not be hijacked by right-wing billionaires like the Koch brothers. 

For the sake of our children and our grandchildren, we must fight back.

Sincerely,

Senator Bernie Sanders

(The image of Bernie Sanders shown above is by DonkeyHotey.)

Hit The Koch Brothers Where It Hurts - In The Pocketbook

(This caricature of the right-wing extremist Koch brothers is by DonkeyHotey.)

David and Charles Koch are multi-billionaires, and they think they can use that money to buy a government that will tilt the economic playing field even more in their favor. Toward that end, these extremist right-wingers spent hundreds of millions of dollars in 2012 to get teabagger GOP politicians elected -- and it is expected they will spend just as much (or more) in 2014 and 2016.

It is time for ordinary American citizens to fight back, and show the Koch brothers that we want a democracy -- not a plutocracy with them giving all the orders. We can do this in a couple of ways. First, and most important, go to the polls and vote this November -- and vote against the right-wing Republicans being funded by the Koch brothers. If enough people show up at the polls, it won't matter how much money the Koch's spend.

Second, we can hit them in the pocketbook. Simply don't buy any products made by companies owned or controlled by the Koch brothers. If they are going to spend some of their profits trying to turn America into a fascist plutocracy, then make sure they don't make any of that profit off of you. Personally, I think this is something all moderates and progressives should be doing.  Here is a list of Koch brothers companies and products (from The Fifth Column).

Koch Industry Gasoline:

Chevron
Union
Union 76
Conoco

Koch Industry/Georgia-Pacific Products:

Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft ‘n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity fair napkins
Zee napkins

Koch Industry/Invista Products:

COMFOREL® fiberfill
COOLMAX® fabric
CORDURA® fabric
DACRON® fiber
POLYSHIELD® resin
SOLARMAX® fabric
SOMERELLE® bedding products
STAINMASTER® carpet
SUPPLEX® fabric
TACTEL® fiber
TACTESSE® carpet fiber
TERATE® polyols
TERATHANE® polyether glycol
THERMOLITE® fabric
PHENREZ® resin
POLARGUARD® fiber and
LYCRA® fiber

Georgia Pacific Building products

Dense Armor Drywall and Decking
ToughArmor Gypsum board
Georgia pacific Plytanium Plywood
Flexrock
Densglass sheathing
G/P Industrial plasters (some products used by a lot of crafters)-
Agricultural Plaster
Arts & Crafts Plaster
Dental Plaster
General Purpose Plaster
Glass-reinforced Gypsum (GRG)
Industrial Tooling Plaster
Investment Casting Plaster
Medical Plaster
Metal Casting Plaster
Pottery Plaster
FibreStrong Rim board
G/P Lam board
Blue Ribbon OSB Rated Sheathing
Blue Ribbon Sub-floor
DryGuard Enhanced OSB
Nautilus Wall Sheathing
Thermostat OSB Radiant Barrier Sheathing
Broadspan Engineered Wood Products
XJ 85 I-Joists
FireDefender Banded Cores
FireDefender FS
FireDefender Mineral Core
Hardboard and Thin MDF including Auto Hardboard,
Perforated Hardboard and Thin MDF
Wood Fiberboard -
Commercial Roof Fiberboard
Hushboard Sound Deadening Board
Regular Fiberboard Sheathing
Structural Fiberboard Sheathing

Koch Brothers

Who Benefits From Building The Keystone XL Pipeline ?

(This image of the Koch brothers is from the website mediamatters.org.)

The Republican right-wingers have been loudly beating the drum in support of building the Keystone XL pipeline. Their argument is that the pipeline will benefit the people of the United States -- by creating new jobs and by lowering the amount of oil the United States would need to import. Is that argument true?

Let's first take the jobs argument. While it's true that a few thousand jobs would be created to build the pipeline, those are only temporary jobs. The State Department has admitted that only about 35 permanent jobs would result from building the pipeline. In short, the job creation argument is a false one -- and even if you add the few temporary jobs to the extremely small amount of permanent jobs, it would not significantly affect the unemployment crisis in this country.

But even though the pipeline won't create jobs, it would be beneficial if it significantly lowered the amount of foreign oil the United States needed to import. Unfortunately, that is a bogus argument also. First, the oil flowing through the pipeline would be foreign oil, and not oil that originated in this country. The oil would come from Canada. Even if we set that aside, recognizing that Canada is a much friendlier nation than much of our other imported oil comes from, the argument still doesn't hold water.

The amount of oil that would flow through the pipeline is only a tiny fraction of the oil this country imports, and would not significantly reduce America's consumption of foreign oil -- even if all of that oil stayed in this country. But it's not going to stay in the United States. The companies receiving and refining that oil have refused to promise to keep it in the United States, and they refused because they intend to ship most (or all) of it to other countries (where they can get a higher price).

So the pipeline will not create a significant number of new jobs, and it will not significantly reduce American dependence on foreign oil. Add to this the fact that the pipeline is environmentally dangerous (since pipeline leaks are not rare, but a common occurrence that happens almost daily in this country), and it's easy to see that the people of the United States will NOT be benefitted by the building of the pipeline.

So who will the pipeline benefit? It turns out that the biggest supporters of right-wing policies and candidates (to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars) -- the Koch brothers -- would be the only Americans (outside of the big oil refiners on the Gulf Coast) to benefit. That's because the Koch brothers, through a subsidiary of Koch Industries, holds leases on at least 1.1 million acres of the tar sands oil in Canada. The pipeline would give them a much cheaper and easier way to get that oil to a refinery (so it can be refined and then sold overseas).

This shouldn't really surprise anyone. The Koch brothers fill the campaign coffers of right-wing candidates, and those candidates pay them back by campaigning for a pipeline that will fatten the already bulging bank accounts of the Koch brothers. It's exactly the kind of quid pro quo politics that shouldn't exist in a democracy. But then right-wingers aren't too enamored with democracy anyway -- much preferring a plutocracy that would benefit their rich friends.

Reps Loyal To The Koch Brothers

THE KOCH CAUCUS
REPRESENTATIVE KOCH CASH Akin, Todd (R-MO) $2000 Amash, Justin (R-MI) $2500 Brooks, Mo (R-AL) $0 Buerkle, Ann Marie (R-NY) $1250 Burton, Dan (R-IN) $0 Chabot, Steve (R-OH) $21000 Chaffetz, Jason (R-UT) $2500 Coffman, Mike (R-CO) $0 Flake, Jeff (R-AZ) $12300 Fleming, John (R-LA) $0 Franks, Trent (R-AZ) $7500 Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) $23000 Gowdy, Trey (R-SC) $7000 Graves, Tom (R-GA) $7500 Harris, Andy (R-MD) $15000 Herger, Wally (R-CA) $6000 Huelskamp, Tim (R-KS) $15900 Huizenga, Bill (R-MI) $2500 Jordan, Jim (R-OH) $5000 Labrador, Raul (R-ID) $3500	REPRESENTATIVE KOCH CASH Lamborn, Doug (R-CO) $20000 Landry, Jeff (R-LA) $0 Lummis, Cynthia (R-WY) $7500 Manzullo, Donald (R-IL) $0 Marchant, Kenny (R-TX) $19000 McClintock, Tom (R-CA) $1000 McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) $2500 Mulvaney, Mick (R-SC) $7000 Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) $24000 Pence, Mike (R-IN) $20750 Quayle, Benjamin (R-AZ) $6000 Ribble, Reid (R-WI) $10000 Ross, Dennis (R-FL) $12500 Schmidt, Jean (R-OH) $0 Schweikert, Dave (R-AZ) $10000 Southerland, Steve (R-FL) $5000 Stutzman, Marlin (R-IN) $2500 Walberg, Tim (R-MI) $27000 Walsh, Joe (R-IL) $0 Wilson, Joe (R-SC) $1000
All U.S. Representatives who were given perfect records from Americans For Prosperity for their 2011 votes. Lifetime Koch Industries political contributions, from Center for Responsive Politics data.

We all know that the House of Representatives has a Republican caucus and a teabagger caucus, both of which have tried to do serious damage to this country in recent months. But there is another group, or "caucus", in the House that may be even more pernicious than those two. The good folks over at Think Progress have dubbed it the Koch Caucus (because it is made up of representatives that always vote for what's good for the giant corporations, regardless of how much damage to small businesses and individual American citizens).

The chart above shows the representatives that were rated as voting with a "perfect" rating by the group Americans for Prosperity (an ultra-right-wing organization funded primarily by the ultra-rich Koch brothers). The chart also shows the amount of money each of them has received from Koch Industries.

These are the people who think corporations should get huge subsidies and shouldn't have to pay their fair share in taxes. They're also true believers that would like to cut or privatize Social Security, abolish Medicare, severely limit or completely eliminate unemployment benefits, abolish the EPA, eliminate the minimum wage, etc.

I suspect most of them are in safe Republican districts, but if possible, we need to make sure as many as possible do not get re-elected. If your congressperson is on the list, do what you can to see he/she is defeated in the coming election.