Greenwald writes: "Even though the Koch brothers' businesses put 4.4 million people at risk with pollutants, the Kochs have poured millions into lobbyists' coffers and political contributions to ensure their bottom line stays unchanged by the most basic safety precaution."
Billionaire activist David Koch. (photo: Getty Images)
Do the Koch Brothers Want a Toxic Disaster?
24 August 11
och Industries and its army of subsidiary corporations operate 57 chemical facilities in the US and have fought in and out of Congress to avoid a comprehensive safety solution that would mitigate fallout from any natural and man-made disasters, according to a new investigation from Greenpeace.
Even though the Koch brothers' businesses put 4.4 million people at risk with pollutants, the Kochs have poured millions into lobbyists' coffers and political contributions to ensure their bottom line stays unchanged by the most basic safety precaution.
The latest chapter of the Koch brothers disdain for public service and safety confirms much of what we've learned through our Koch Brothers Exposed campaign, which has linked the billionaire right wing brothers to disastrous oil spills, devastating land grabs and attacks on Social Security and public education.
The Kochs' disregard for chemical safety policy, and their tactics they employ to duck responsibility and fund policy beneficial to their businesses and their bottom line is a well-oiled machine they've deployed elsewhere in scores of public policy debates. But their assault against potential safety legislation is heightened because the brothers are directly pouring money into Congress. Politicians of both parties on key committees in both chambers of Congress with control over safety legislation have been on the receiving end of KochPAC donations. When the Koch brothers can pollute at will and disregard the safety of so many non-billionaires, one has to inform others and take action to stop the sale of our democracy.
That's exactly what we're doing. I invite you to join the investigation at our Koch Brothers Exposed page on Facebook, where we're educating folks about the brothers' vast influence on our democracy.
The Greenpeace report is a terrific primer. In light of the brothers' refusal to protect its chemical facilities, the report's discovery of a Koch subsidiary's water, air, hazardous waste, pesticide, emergency planning and preparedness violations - 680 in all - is beyond belief. But that's the Koch way. (The brothers' subsidiary Invista, was ordered to pay $1.7 million for these 680 violations.)
The Koch record is further impugned with their position favoring formaldehyde. The brothers use the carcinogen to make fibers and certain materials. Formaldehyde exposure leads to cancer, and just like the brothers' position against Social Security or safety regulations, the Koch brothers fought (and lost) the battle to rightfully classify formaldehyde as a cancer causing chemical. If and when a fact like that causes the Kochs to lose a few dollars, we've seen them do everything they can to discredit and rewrite history and the public record.
The Koch brothers have billions at their disposal, but by educating others and taking action we can stop the sale of our government. Democracy is not a spectator sport so be part of our movement at our Koch Brothers Exposed page on Facebook.
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I would like to have someone do a piece on "Just what do the Koch brothers actually want"? (Other than more money).
I've never advocated killing anyone and war makes me sick -- but if somebody offed the Koch brothers I would not blink an eye!
They are sick people who inherited $$ and then wined/dined Scalia/Thomas before the Supremes passed the 2010 "person hood" -- HOW CAN UNLIMITED $$ = Free Speech (1st Amendment rights)----
Now, listen to this: Walker (WIS) and Cantor (Senator) -- are NOW saying they need money from the FEDERAL government for "disasters" in their states!!!!!!!!!!
And they think that money is coming from the poor (SS & Medicare, Education, and all the "entitlements we paid for) ----
President Obama: When you give you PLAN next month --- these creeps have given you all the amunition you need to MAKE SURE YOUR PLAN is sound and that (if/when the GOP/TP says "no" as usual) you will have to give a quick/concise speach of YOU SAID: "this" and they SAID "no" -- and WHY -- and they asked for $$ in August 24, 2011.
Just matke it simple and direct. Small one syllable words with a 1. 2. 3.. etc. Then post it on the WEB (ETC)
YES YOU CAN WIN against these BIGGOTS
Anyone know if these brothers are involved in providing fracking materials or are involved in the process?
Henry Kissinger
Dick Cheney
Donald Rumsfeld
The entire Bush family
Such as the Koch brothers
Every person who has tickled countries into accepting oil companies
Paul Wolfowitz
Bill Kristol
All who signed the PNAC
Condoleza Rice
David Rockefeller
Eric Prince
Hillary Clinton
A bunch of folks that are already dead
Karl Rove
There are many more. Remember trash Can Man in the book "The Shining"? One of my favorite characters. (not in the movie)
Gladys, to your comment: I looooooove it!
No cows are grazer of grasses. They are not well equipped to metabolize grains (corn is a grain even though the plant is a grass type) When cows eat corn the product becomes fat. Fat that tastes so good when barbecued, then kills us in evolutionary revenge.
Hope they eat it too
Lots of info on GMO, start reading as it may be available next year!
Ah, capitalism.
In the long run the invisible hand of capitalism will most often supply the winner between persons that make bad products and those that make ones that are better.
Unfortunately, there could be numerous deaths that occur while we wait until that slow moving invisible hand corrects things. Additionally, if the persons making a bad product manipulate the market through tactics like monopolies and black mail, the invisible hand is slowed down even more.
Too many lives are at risk to wait for that damned hand to get around to fixing things. We need regulations and the rule of law to protect ensure that making safer, better products is the entry fee into the game of capitalism. Dangerous, bad product makers need not apply.
But they want to destroy the USA -- maybe they, like Hitler, are delusional - who want to be "KING"! psycho-pathetic (can't remember the psych term they gave Hitler - but it fits)
Here's one who did:
http://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/
Surely they must be correct that formaldehyde and other chemicals are not bad for our health. Besides if you are afraid of breathing it, don't work in the plants that use it. Or at least buy a mask.
So why are we and especially the Koch Brothers paying taxes to create rules and regulations that would prevent them from using so-called toxic chemicals? And the insult of using their tax dollars to make laws that make it harder for them to make more money.
I get it now. Someone please put me in touch with Warren Buffett so I can explain to him what I just figured out. Lets do it fast before we raise taxes on these Koch-Suckers and even worse send them to jail.
Interesting story. I am not sure what your point is, but what I get out it is that corporations can get away with manipulative lies that natural persons would be prosecuted for.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinion/tolesv1.html?name=Toles&date=20040517
Keep using freon as it can make an ozone hole in your life!
Agree Barbara - but they have BOUGHT the Supremes == but maybe someone will "do it" and send them to HELL.
They are behind the "union busting" and all who want to down SS/Education/Me dicare/ etc.
I mean, when the air is unbreathable without a specially-evolv ed set of gills, when the oceans are toxic sinks, unsuitable for even sailing their yachts on, and the land is flattened, barren, infertile and unsustainable, what kind of quality of life are these people lookin' at?
Do they build little armed satellites to circle the planet in their rarefied atmosphere, nestling on their piles of cash -or they build off-planet tax havens on the moon- whilst the rest of gasp for existence?
You can't eat, drink or breathe money and power.
They really are pathetic y'know, if you take the broad view. Our combined task is to stop 'em screwing it up for not just ourselves but the other life-forms we share this wonderful mother-planet with.
That, they have no right to do!
Of course they are better than all of us put together. The Koch Brothers are the quintessential Rich, White Guys.
Just because they may not have broken any laws is meaningless when they can have laws made to their liking.
I guess it proves that being smart and making all that money can be exclusive of one another.
I'm sure they are covered.
I'm sure one of their companies makes toxic waste cleanup supplies and equipment, and another makes pills for treating the cancer and other diseases they cause, and another sells medical equipment to hospitals.
And if all else fails, I'm sure they also own many cemeteries and funeral homes, headstone carvers, and cremation companies.
Scum like the Kochs make money no matter what happens, no matter who dies.
Capitalism at work.
EAT THE RICH!
Would you also try to reduce the world's population so that YOU can be a survivor, or do you care about the world beyond yourself? Think about it.
Their money cannot buy them peace, their money cannot buy good health, their money cannot reverse their age, their money cannot buy them longetivity and
they cannot spend it where they are going.
Tell the Koch brothers to take this message to the bank and deposit it.
light and drink some of this Formaldehyde for us.
Watched a news show saying that nothing has harmed us for years, decades and the companies have used same chemicals. Not so. They are using more of, mixing more because the lobby and buy off the good ole FDA. So perhaps the FDA would also like to join the Kochs and expose their Families for us to the Chemicals that are so safe in all our products.
That would be so Noble.
{ay attention to what you buy. Remember people Like Kochs are dumping their waste products in Lakes near you ask NJ... Yes Polluters don't stop at manufacturing, they do not want to pay the cost to do the right dumping with permits so they dump along roads, and they do it all the time everywhere...
We have been telling you for years and you say we do not know what we are talking about. But time to trash the Koch Bros and you are experts.
Bernie Sanders---- you have a few months left to put you name on the ballot and run for President. There are a few other good people in Congress who you can pick for VP (such as the Sen from OR -- his name eludes me)
You are "for the people" and there is no doubt about your understanding of the REAL constitution - which does not allow people to buy our government to get what they want (put us poor, plain people on the road to nowhere)---- My g-d ---- Please keep showing up on TV on ALL stations with your statements of truth.
Then all you anti-TP/GOP - get out and vote and get all your neighbors/frien ds/relatives, strangers -- to vote
Dems have lost more elections from simply not voting.
BTW Cantor said if the East Coast (From Irene) needs $$, they can get $$ from CUTS!
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