Koch Bros Dark Industries?
I am feeling inspired to investigate the Koch Brothers as I feel for this left/right war that is destabilising democracy. The story of the Koch brothers raises issues about: equality, electoral influence, donations, suppression of dissent, attempts to smear reputations and climate denying and if this is a crime against humanity given life support systems.
For me it reveals how money can garner influence by paying for supporters, or simply the name can attract allegiances as people are influenced by money not ethics. It is the nature of a system that rewards profit, that admires success and curries influence as a result of the economic mantra that industries generate jobs and this creates security and stability. The interesting aspect to this is global warming which I note is often referred to as climate change. Closer to the truth is warming and this associates strongly with fossil fuels and extraction. It also raises the powerful impetus of self interest over global interest when very powerful people come together over a belief that serves them. I note the Koch brothers come from Wichita, Kansas and immediately I see the Wizard of Oz which I will remind readers of as real power has nothing to do with assets, portfolio’s, industries, profits or success. The real power is found in self realisation. Our excessive consumption is driven by infinite economic growth modelling not contained by physical limits, the belief that economic self interest is the generator of innovation and wealth and expansion of production is the goal regardless of real needs as marketing generates needs to ensure demand. Thus real needs on the planet are manipulated by technologies, marketing, strategic mapping all with trajectories of more rather than optimal and ecological output to meet real needs. This is what I call wholistic economics. The distortions that arise when individuals or organisations have disproportionate political influence means that rather than industries that no longer serve humanity given externalities that traverse tipping points, we find toxic industries continuing as their are weaknesses in the political system that responds to money not responsibility or conscience. This is the underlying problem that is felt in all countries across the world.
Jane Mayer wrote a book called Dark Money which is to inform the American public about the extreme right’s influence on American democracy. This has implications for Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zSy5lAxd0