Why Koch Industries Is Speaking Out - Crony capitalism and bloated government prevent entrepreneurs from producing the products and services that make people's lives better.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704288304576170974226083178.
html?mod=googlenews_wsj

By CHARLES G. KOCH
Years of tremendous overspending by federal, state and local governments
have brought us face-to-face with an economic crisis. Federal spending
will total at least $3.8 trillion this year—double what it was 10 years
ago. And unlike in 2001, when there was a small federal surplus, this
year's projected budget deficit is more than $1.6 trillion.

Several trillions more in debt have been accumulated by state and local
governments. States are looking at a combined total of more than $130
billion in budget shortfalls this year. Next year, they will be in even
worse shape as most so-called stimulus payments end.

For many years, I, my family and our company have contributed to a variety
of intellectual and political causes working to solve these problems.
Because of our activism, we've been vilified by various groups. Despite
this criticism, we're determined to keep contributing and standing up for
those politicians, like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who are taking these
challenges seriously.

Both Democrats and Republicans have done a poor job of managing our
finances. They've raised debt ceilings, floated bond issues, and delayed
tough decisions.

In spite of looming bankruptcy, President Obama and many in Congress have
tiptoed around the issue of overspending by suggesting relatively minor
cuts in mostly discretionary items. There have been few serious proposals
for necessary cuts in military and entitlement programs, even though these
account for about three-fourths of all federal spending.

Yes, some House leaders have suggested cutting spending to 2008 levels.
But getting back to a balanced budget would mean a return to at least 2003
spending levels—and would still leave us with the problem of paying off
our enormous debts.

Federal data indicate how urgently we need reform: The unfunded
liabilities of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid already exceed $106
trillion. That's well over $300,000 for every man, woman and child in
America (and exceeds the combined value of every U.S. bank account, stock
certificate, building and piece of personal or public property).

The Congressional Budget Office has warned that the interest on our
federal debt is "poised to skyrocket." Even Federal Reserve Chairman Ben
Bernanke is sounding alarms. Yet the White House insists that substantial
spending cuts would hurt the economy and increase unemployment.

Plenty of compelling examples indicate just the opposite. When Canada
recently reduced its federal spending to 11.3% of GDP from 17.5% eight
years earlier, the economy rebounded and unemployment dropped. By
comparison, our federal spending is 25% of GDP.

Government spending on business only aggravates the problem. Too many
businesses have successfully lobbied for special favors and treatment by
seeking mandates for their products, subsidies (in the form of cash
payments from the government), and regulations or tariffs to keep more
efficient competitors at bay.

Crony capitalism is much easier than competing in an open market. But it
erodes our overall standard of living and stifles entrepreneurs by
rewarding the politically favored rather than those who provide what
consumers want.

The purpose of business is to efficiently convert resources into products
and services that make people's lives better. Businesses that fail to do
so should be allowed to go bankrupt rather than be bailed out.

But what about jobs that are lost when businesses go under? It's important
to remember that not all jobs are the same. In business, real jobs
profitably produce goods and services that people value more highly than
their alternatives. Subsidizing inefficient jobs is costly, wastes
resources, and weakens our economy.

Because every other company in a given industry is accepting market-
distorting programs, Koch companies have had little option but to do so as
well, simply to remain competitive and help sustain our 50,000 U.S.-based
jobs. However, even when such policies benefit us, we only support the
policies that enhance true economic freedom.

For example, because of government mandates, our refining business is
essentially obligated to be in the ethanol business. We believe that
ethanol—and every other product in the marketplace—should be required to
compete on its own merits, without mandates, subsidies or protective
tariffs. Such policies only increase the prices of those products, taxes
and the cost of many other goods and services.

Our elected officials would do well to remember that the most prosperous
countries are those that allow consumers—not governments—to direct the use
of resources. Allowing the government to pick winners and losers hurts
almost everyone, especially our poorest citizens.

Recent studies show that the poorest 10% of the population living in
countries with the greatest economic freedom have 10 times the per capita
income of the poorest citizens in countries with the least economic
freedom. In other words, society as a whole benefits from greater economic
freedom.

Even though it affects our business, as a matter of principle our company
has been outspoken in defense of economic freedom. This country would be
much better off if every company would do the same. Instead, we see far
too many businesses that paint their tails white and run with the
antelope.

I am confident that businesses like ours will hire more people and invest
in more equipment when our country's financial future looks more
promising. Laying the groundwork for smaller, smarter government,
especially at the federal level, is going to be tough. But it is essential
for getting us back on the path to long-term prosperity.

Mr. Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, Inc. He's the author of
"The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's
Largest Private Company" (Wiley, 2007).



--
Obama's black racist USAG appointee.

Eric Holder, racist black United States Attorney General drops voter
intimidation charges against the Black Panthers, "You are about to be
ruled by the black man, cracker!"

Eric Holder, prejudiced black United States Attorney General settles the
hate crime debate, "Whites Not Protected by Hate Crime Laws."

Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact, to
former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel of New
York's million dollar tax evasion. On December 3, 2010, Congress voted to
censure Rangel for 11 ethics violations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
fought removal of Charles B. Rangel from the House Ways and Means
Committee.

Felony President. 18 USC, Sec. 600. Promise of employment or other
benefit for political activity

Obama violated the law by trying to buy Joe Sestak off with a political
appointment in exchange for not pursuing an election bid to replace Arlen
Specter. Obama violated the law by trying to buy former Colorado House
Speaker Andrew Romanoff off last fall to see if he'd be interested in an
administration job -- instead of running against Sen. Michael Bennet.

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Sucky HMO health care prevents entrepreneurs from hiring people.
Everyone's forced to work for big, established companies that can
(ahem) collectively bargain with their HMOs for good terms.

Big industry loves a weak job market because they don't need to pay
their drones anything above subsistence wages. So to hell with unions,
public education, worker's rights, campaign finance reform, etc.

Duh.

On 3/3/2011 1:39 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704288304576170974226083178.
html?mod=googlenews_wsj

By CHARLES G. KOCH

Charles Koch? ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

On Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:28:14 -0800, China Blue Condition
<chine.bleu@yahoo.com> wrote:

In article <Xns9E9D8AE1645BB6F089P2473@202.177.16.121>,
"Leroy N. Soetoro" <leroysoetoro@usurper.org> wrote:

Because of our activism, we've been vilified by various groups. Despite
this criticism, we're determined to keep contributing and standing up for
those politicians, like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who are taking these
challenges seriously.

Crony capitalism is much easier than competing in an open market. But it
erodes our overall standard of living and stifles entrepreneurs by
rewarding the politically favored rather than those who provide what
consumers want.

What exactly is 'crony capitalism'?

The "good old boy network". Favoratism, nepotism, exclusionary
tactics to keep the wealth concentrated.

Corruption, in other words.