Koch Industries … one of the wealthiest businesses in the world, privately owned by a far-right libertarian klan who are spending furiously to undermine the very concept of representative democracy. The Koch brothers have their hands (filthy) dirty in funding global warming denial efforts (with Koch funding skewing even Smithsonian museum halls into climate skeptic deceit), attacks on science that shows Koch businesses threatening Americans’ health, Koch efforts to dupe hundreds of thousands (millions) of outraged Americans into anti-Obama/anti-Democratic mania with funding of astro-turf groups like Americans For Prosperity, and have been funding (heavily) campaign efforts to even further open the floodgates to profiting off polluting the air we breathe and water we drink.
Koch Industries is (and the Koch Brothers are) one of the major funders behind Proposition 23 in California, which would seek to kill off California’s innovative approach to tackle climate change mitigation imperatives and opportunities. The all-out attack on Californians has created a serious backlash — with investors, newspapers, politicians, and myriads of citizens reacting with strong outrage to opposed Prop 23. (Even to the extent that the fossil-foolish funders of Proposition 26, which should also be voted down, are trying to distance themselves from Proposition 23.)
Starting to gain some visibility today: a Cal State L.A. debate team alumnus, former student leader and Marine Corps veteran Joel Francis challenged Charles Koch to a debate on Proposition 23.
I’d like to challenge you to a public debate.
You pick the terms.
And, I’ll meet you. Anytime. Anywhere in the State.
Francis wants Koch to explain why he is spending $10s of millions to meddle with democracy in a state he doesn’t even live in.
Joel states: “Silence isn’t an option …” Sadly, it has been for far too long for the Koch brothers — silence about how they have abused laws and our political system for their benefit and others detriment.
Koch Industries is powerful and pervasive in American society yet most Americans are utterly unaware of its existence.
And, despite damning articles about the Koch brothers in The New Yorker and items showing up in New York Times coverage, the role that the Koch brothers and their allies have played — and play to play — in using their wealth to skew and distort American politics remains outside the scope of decent societies dinner conversations.
Perhaps Joel Francis might play a role in changing that.
Joel has challenged Koch’s Kourage.
As CEO of one of America’s largest privately held companies, I know that you can’t be afraid of just one college student.
It remains unKnown whether Koch has the Kourage to face down “just one college student”.
Other coverage of Francis’ challenge:
- Student Leader Challenges Charles Koch of Koch Industries to Debate Prop 23
- Fed up, California student forces debate with Koch Bros on Prop 23
- CSULA Student Challenges Koch Brothers to Debate
- Charles Koch Challenged To Debate Prop 23 By California Student Leader Joel Francis
And, an excellent discussion worth your time: It’s important that everyone associated with George Mason U. suffer the stigma of the Koch Bros.’ Mercatus Institute