“On average, dishonest employees steal 5.5 times more than shoplifters.”
So goes the scare-story that viewers see on the “Business Solutions” webpage of ADT, America’s top security firm that was just jointly purchased by the oil billionaire Koch brothers, who have more money than Bill Gates and outspend the GOP on their own political influence network.
As petroleum prices linger at record lows—and Charles and David Koch’s attempt to purchase a new President who instantly approves the Keystone XL pipeline and eliminates the EPA remains almost a year away—Washington’s two top donors are preparing to profit from America’s growing economic insecurity and ecological instability.
Worse, not only is Koch Industries capitalizing on everyone’s increasing misery, but their buying America’s biggest private surveillance corporation raises larger concerns in light of the fact that Koch “has quietly built a secretive operation that conducts surveillance and intelligence gathering on its liberal opponents.”
GROWING PROFITS FROM INCREASING INEQUALITY
America’s 20 wealthiest people now own more wealth than the bottom half of the American population combined.
The Kochs lately claim to be gravely concerned about poor people, as seen in their throwing millions of dollars at “anti-poverty” initiatives such as handing out turkeys, offering classes in “couponing,” and giving away college scholarship (all attached with ideological training).
Koch’s election-year efforts have been widely derided as the antithesis of philanthropy, and now their leveraged buy-out of a businesses that makes its money by exploiting people’s insecurity exposes how the billionaire brothers try to play both sides of the war on poverty.
It is downright deceitful for Koch to claim they aim to address inequality when in fact they are financially supporting politicians that push policies exacerbating inequality while investing in firms that profit from rising crime rates and people’s economic insecurity.
Koch-funded candidates such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz and House Speaker Paul Ryan promote policies like the “flat tax” which would treat top income-earners the same as the lowest, yet would be much more burdensome on people who earn less.
America’s foremost funder of the radical right is now an investor in “surveillance services,” so they will be making money from monitoring employees—whether in the factory, office or shop. Koch cameras will be watching workers on the job at a time when public service unions are being challenges in the Supreme Court by a Koch-funded attack group.
Combined with Koch-funded attacks against workers’ rights, minimum wage, and public employee unions, the brothers may be the biggest force against working class and poor people today.
EXTREME WEATHER MAY MAKE MORE MONEY FOR KOCH
ADT also provides “CO monitoring and flood alerts, which can help with storm preparedness thanks to a water protection detector.”
Koch appears to be betting that global warming’s intensification of extreme weather could cause an increase in Americans’ demands for “more security” against the fires and floods that scientists say are associated with global warming, which is caused by the very carbon emissions Koch is so strongly opposed to cutting.
“Our sensors alert you as soon as rising water appears in your home, and our Monitoring Centers guarantee you fast response to keep your water damage to a minimum.”
Perhaps the indigenous community flooded out of their traditional territory in coastal Louisiana could have used this service, although they’ve been acutely aware and loudly warning local authorities about the rising sea levels for awhile.
ADT also offers “instant climate control” so that, “With our smart thermostat controller connected to your home, you never have to get up to cool down. Adjust your home’s temperature from your smartphone or tablet.”
Imagine the growing market for this device if the Koch’s investments in 2016 elections result in a new President who approves the Keystone XL pipeline to connect Kochs’ two million acres in the Alberta tar sands to global oil markets, which will in turn warm our endangered planet even more.
CRIME PAYS FOR KOCH
Koch Industries’ investment arm, Koch Equities Development, is only one investor, albeit a very important one, in ADT: KED’s $750 million is a “preferred investment” as part of a $6.9 billion buy-out deal.
But investors are watching closely since Koch’s foray into acquisitions and leveraged buy-outs is new, and could escalate if banks and private equity firms squeezed by today’s financial market turmoil keeps them on the sidelines.
Koch could be investing in other areas to make money; renewable energy development is booming but Koch appears to be ideologically opposed to the idea.
Yet Koch Industries looks like it is financially positioned mainly to monetize its massive tar sands assets in Alberta, Canada.
Carrying more personal carbon risk than any other individuals on the planet, Koch is investing in America’s political process to purchase influence over all three branches of government, pledging to spend almost $1 billion in 2016 elections.