Charles Koch Quotes
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.
Koch, Charles G. "Corporate Cronyism Harms America." The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 9 Sept. 2012.
He and his brother were the largest political contributors in the United States, so they had enormous influence on Republicans (they only made political contributions to conservative organizations).
Brandeis was U. S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, 1856-1941, who wrote that competition would control prices if only healthy competition could be maintained—the problem was resolved by both increasing competition and much more stringent regulation of corporations.
Rove had bridged the traditional gap between the right wing Religious fundamentalists and large business, industrial, heavy donors to the party. These groups usually diverged on economic policy and cultural values however Rove had convinced both that they should tolerate the other for the sake of maintaining power for President George W. Bush who delivered enough to each to hold them in coalition. Rove’s style tended to moralize everything for the religious right including their cooperation with major exploiters of economic self-interest. Rove’s religious tactics which were so successful was a subject of great interest and analysis, especially since Rove himself was an agnostic.
The “regulation” to which Franklin objected was not the type of regulation we have today. It was generally limited to the granting of monopolies to individuals or their companies if they would institute a service that was perceived as beneficial by the public as a whole. For example, a company might build steamboats and provide regular service across a river or along it. The company would argue that the initial cost and investment is so great, that they are entitled to a period of protection so that they can be sure of getting their investment back. In most cases, they would have made the investment, monopoly or not, and in many cases the public officials are unsophisticated and make a bad deal; in others there was (and is) outright corruption. Countries like Norway, have been so burned by the problem Franklin observed, that they try to avoid even government monopolies of service. They for example, have private and public light rail commuter lines which continuously compete against each other.
Charles de Ganahl Koch is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. As of April 2021, he was ranked as the 15th-richest person in the world on Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of $63.1 billion. Koch has been co-owner, chairman, and chief executive officer of Koch Industries since 1967, while his late brother David Koch served as executive vice president. Charles and David each owned 42% of the conglomerate. The brothers inherited the business from their father, Fred C. Koch, then expanded the business. Originally involved exclusively in oil refining and chemicals, Koch Industries now includes process and pollution control equipment and technologies, polymers and fibers, minerals, fertilizers, commodity trading and services, forest and consumer products, and ranching. The businesses produce a wide variety of well-known brands, such as Stainmaster carpet, the Lycra brand of spandex fiber, Quilted Northern tissue, and Dixie Cup.
