The other day we shared AU's blockbuster journalism exposing the Koch Brothers and others. This is a work in progress and will build over time, hopefully taking us for an easier-to-understand walk through the financial skirting of our democracy. I promise you this gets really interesting as we go deeper into the many Koch money funnels.
Please tweet and facebook to spread this important information so many have worked to compile.
Also, I think it would help others dropping in to view this diary if more people would share their thoughts about this topic. I am curious why so few comment. Don't let fear stop you, k? Share your thoughts, ideas for solutions, and just plain anger of what is happening to our democratic process. Thank you!!
KOCH BROTHERS POLITICAL INFLUENCE PEDDLING
If you haven't read the diary and/or American University's blockbuster do. So many questions are answered once we learn the truth of what these hard-core Libertarians are doing with their $Billions.
And, to add insult to injury, Congress passed IRS codes to allow these very same Trusts and Foundations to be TAX EXEMPT and allow those donating to them to take a Charitable Tax deduction. The Reagan and Bush tax cuts for the wealthy help fuel organizations using what would have been tax revenues for the country to subvert our democracy.
In the above-linked diary, I promised to produce Muckety Maps to help visual learners more easily see how corporations and politicians are joining forces without offering us a seat at their table. Last century, the marriage between corporations and politicians was called fascism, although governments controlled the corporations under Mussolini.
The Koch version, made possible with the cooperation of US $Billionaires and their corporations simply reverses the roles. Corporations are running our government both in DC and at the State level. It's really the root of all this Austerity drivel. The 1% want to destroy the pesky social safety net that requires them to pay taxes, to destroy governments that make all those pesky rules about clean air, water, and workers rights and safety, and to make the rest of us their impoverished, poorly educated servants. They dream of a Dickensian world they can rule with nothing to curtail their insatiable, greedy lusts.
I will link this diary to the original diary so that the over 3,000 people that have added the article to facebook will be able to link here.
This will be a work in progress. I have spent over 100 hours pouring through the Muckety Maps at this point. Sadly, the deeper I dig the more I come to the conclusion that the corporation/political collusion is endemic and even bordering on epidemic.
We do not have to feel alone. This is happening in countries throughout Europe and around the world.
Democracy is becoming a quaint concept where we get to show up and vote once in a while for candidates chosen by the 1%, who will march to the corporate beat openly flouting and voting for policies that harm the citizens of their countries.
We have to stop this and I know we can.
But first we have to swallow the medicine: The Facts and information we need in order to know who we are up against, how they play, and what is the root purpose for doing so.
I strongly believe that when the majority of people understand the true peril of what is happening here and elsewhere, there will be an uproar.
It is time for good people, with no Ivy League connections or corporate loyalties to be able to afford to run for public office if they feel called to serve this country. Good grief, we would have a better government if we simply picked people randomly from a lottery!
Democracy works but not when the deck is so heavily stacked against the majority of citizens.
These charts show how and who is stacking the deck. This will appear long because the charts are large. Peruse the charts and, when you find an organization or person you want to dig a little deeper, do, and then share with us.
And DO keep coming back, this work will grow over the next few weeks. you will be shocked when you learn what I have learned.
Here are THE MAPS FOR THE KOCH CLUB and the organizations used to politically influence peddle on behalf of Koch Industries and a Libertarian philosophy.
Disclaimer: I rearranged the items found at the Muckety Map links to make them easier to read. I cannot and do not attest to the accuracy of Muckety Maps presentations.
PURPOSE of the MAPS: To help people visualize the scope, people involved, and connections of both organizations and people to the organization being presented.
HINTS: To see an enlarged Flickr screen, double click on the picture. When you open the enlarged Flickr picture, you will find a link to the original and very interactive Muckety Map as well as supporting information I provide. Both are provided to assist researchers. Also, you can use GUIDESTAR to look up IRS documents for any non-profit organization you are interested in.
THE KOCH CLUB
Let's start with the money machine,
Koch Industries.
Note: At the end of the diary you will learn an easy way to view the 990 IRS filings for these foundations, etc. See GUIDESTAR BELOW. I searched and provide the 2011 filings for Donors Trust and ALEC. Find out how they spend their money by perusing the 990 IRS Filing forms.
The map is organized as follows, going counter clockwise, beginning with the box for Georgia Pacific:
1. Koch Industries businesses are on the left.
2. Elaine Marshall and J Howard Marshell are Koch Industries shareholders.
3. Indicators that Koch Industries are involved as defense contractors and in the oil and gas industry.
4. The Names at the bottom of the map, in gold colored boxes are the Key Officers and Dept Heads of Koch Industries
5. The teal blue boxes are the Koch lobbying firms, which include Nancy Mitchell Pfotenhauer who is a big power player.
6. Note the turquoise box above the lobbyists, reference to 10 subsidiaries. I will do a Muckety Map for these. Check for Koch Industries, 10 Subsidiaries.
7. Koch Industries is noted as major contributer to Scott Walker, and a contributor to James Inhofe and the Republican State Leadership Committee. see map below.
8. Much of David and Charles wealth was inherited from their father, Fred C Koch. The sons are co-Directors of Fred's Foundation.
9. Richard H Fink is the Koch Brother's right hand man. See this Muckety Map for him.
10. Lastly, at the top of this map, the teal colored box for Koch Companies Public Sector. I will do a separate MMap for this, too.
11. Joseph W Moeller is the CEO for Georgia-Pacific. The light blue boxes are the names of product lines produced by Georgia-Pacific.
You will notice that there is a box for 10 Koch Subsidiaries. It is helpful to have the names of other Koch businesses because they, too, can donate to the Koch Brothers' favorite causes.
There is quite a bit of background research under some of the Flickr pics of the Muckety Maps I have rearranged. Double click to view larger image and the background information:
Koch Industries contributes to the Republican State Leadership Committee, as seen on the Koch Industries Muckety Map for RSLC
seen here:
Question:
Why are CORPORATIONS the funders for RSLC? And we wonder how corporations like Koch Industries have bought state and federal governments.
Are we now the United Corporations of America?
I don't care what party you affiliate with, this is just wrong.
Our democracy has been bought and paid for, imo.
I tried to find a Muckety Map for an equivalent Democratic non-profit but didn't find one. If you find one, please let me know, to be fair and balanced.
David Koch Map, notice Americans for Prosperity, the backer for the Tea Party.
Here's the Americans for Prosperity Foundation interactive map. Double click to view larger version of pic below.
Yes, the WalMart Waltons also backed Americans for Prosperity. This is where the Waltons and the Koch Brothers work together.
And even JUDICIAL ELECTIONS are being influenced by funds passing through Americans for Prosperity
Here are a few more connections for Americans for Prosperity, a very busy wealthy organization:
Please notice the Donors Trust box in the 1st American for Prosperity Map above. Here's the interactive map for Donors Trust. Double click pic below to see larger version and an explanation of the map layout. DONORS TRUST (Kochs, with the help of other Billionaires and Millionaires) HELPS SUPPORT ALEC, the group writing laws being rubber stamped by GOP Governors across the country!
At the top of this map are the FUNDERS of the Donors Trust. With the exception o the Rauner Family and Knowledge and Progress Fund, the other FUNDERS also donate to the organizations listed on the right hand side of the screen.
The Rauner Family and Knowledge and Progress Fund only FUND Donors Trust on this Map. You would have to double click to see what other associations each has.
The Searl Freedom Trust donates to most of the organizations listed on the lower right side of the screen, beneath the FUNDER Foundations and Trusts.
All the other organizations, etc. on this map receive money from Donors Trust AND directly from the funders of Donors Trust. In short, the FUNDERS fund directly as well as funnel funds through Donors Trust.
Speaking of ALEC, check out the top 10 original Donors:
Are you surprised to learn that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also funding ALEC?
A little known foundation is another funnel for the Kochs & Walton money: The Goldwater Institute, that funnels their money into the State Policy Network, which sounds like an ALEC-like function seen in these two maps
Freedom Works also funnels money into the State Policy Network and Glenn Beck. Citizens for a Sound Economy is a Koch Brothers group.
Just for fun, not connected with AU's amazing journalism, here's the Walton Family Foundation. The Kochs money is connected to the Charter School movement as well. But really, Charter Schools could be called The Walton Schools because the Waltons are pouring nearly $1 Billion dollars to promote and build the schools.
I wanted you to see this now that we know the Waltons and the Kochs are working together
And Michelle Rhee and her new husband found their way into the Waltons deep pockets
Ok, I will do a separate diary about the Waltons. I have found some great stuff!
Well, that's enough for today. I will return to the Muckety Maps to support the AU article tomorrow.
This is an ongoing project. You might want to BOOKMARK THIS LINK as this diary will disappear into the Dkos archives quickly. If you have already BOOKMARKED the original diary,
Koch Brothers Influence Peddling Exposed - Blockbuster Journalism
there is a link in the Influence Peddling diary to this diary.
Any contributions of information will be greatly appreciated.
AGAIN, THESE MAPS/CHARTS ARE BEING PROVIDED TO HELP VISUALIZE THE INFLUENCE PEDDLING AS PRESENTED IN THIS American University article
Koch millions spread influence through nonprofits, colleges
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Some other great resources to use to uncover influence peddling by the Koch Brothers, The Billionaire Boys & Girls, corporations, and the politicians carrying their water:
SOURCE WATCH: Koch Family Foundations
SOURCE WATCH: ALEC
KOCH WATCH: KOCH BROTHERS BILLIONAIRES Corrupting Democracy
GuideStar - You have to join, but it's free. You can search GuideStar to find the IRS 990-PF (Private Foundation) and 990 IRS forms required to be filed by the IRS. Sadly, the GuideStar IRS 990s are not searchable, but it's really helpful to see how these foundations spend their money.
Here's the 990 IRS for Donors Trust You can learn how Donors Trust spends it $42 million by perusing this 990 IRS form.
Here's the 990 IRS for ALEC which took in $7,759,834 in contributions and grants for 2011. If you search GuideStar for "American Legislative Exchange Council" or any organization, you will also find a listing of the people involved by clicking on the "PEOPLE" file tab.
I know this is lengthy, but here is the listing for the 2011 ALEC Board of Directors. NOTE how many and which POLITICIANS were on the ALEC Board in 2011
ALEC Board of Directors
Name Institution Affiliation
Tom Craddick Representative (Texas)
John Del Giorno GlaxoSmithKline
Bernard McKay Intuit, Inc.
Dolores Mertz Representative (Iowa)
Owen Johnson Senator (New York)
Susan Wagle Senator (Kansas)
Raymond Bracy Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Patrick Thomas United Parcel Service
Donald Bohn Johnson & Johnson
William Raggio Senator (Nevada)
Kenneth Lane DIAGEO
Val Stevens Senator (Washington)
Noble Ellington Representative (Louisiana)
Liston Barfield Representative (South Carolina)
Jerry Watson American Bail Coalition
James Epperson, Jr. AT&T
Sandra Oliver Bayer Corporation
John Piscopo Representative (Connecticut)
Kevin Murphy ExxonMobil Chemical Company
Dean Rhoads Senator (Nevada)
William Howell Speaker (Virginia)
Ronald Scheberle PEB Emeritus
Jeffrey Bond Phrma
W. Preston Baldwin, III Centerpoint 360
Mike Morgan Consultant
Steve McDaniel Representative (Tennessee)
Phil Montgomery Representative (Wisconsin)
Harold Brubaker Representative (North Carolina)
Matthew T. Echols The Coca-Cola Company
Jane Cunningham Senator (Missouri)
William Hewes III Senator (Mississippi)
Roland Spies State Farm Insurance Companies
William Smith Pfizer, Inc.
Lisa "Sano" Blocker Energy Future Holdings
David Frizzell Representative (Indiana)
David Powers Reynolds American, Inc.
Russell Smoldon Salt River Project
Toby Spangler Altria Client Services, Inc.
Derek Crawford Kraft
Kelly Mader Peabody Energy
Bob McAdam Darden Resaurants
William Hamzy Representative (Connecticut)
Curry Todd Representative (Tennessee)
Linda Upmeyer Representative (Iowa)
Curt Bramble Senator (Utah)
Steve Faris Senator (Arkansas)
Robert Burns Senator (Arizona)
MAYBE WE NEED TO take the Anti-ALEC Pledge
You can do your part by tweeting and facebooking this information far and wide.
NOW, BACK TO PROVIDING LINKS TO THOSE MENTIONED IN THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY'S BLOCKBUSTER Exposé - "Koch Brothers Influence Peddlng" article
I think the above charts help provide an overall picture of the Koch Club mentioned in the AU Article.
Let's continue: