Wednesday, June 13, 2018

A Letter From David Koch

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist

In this day and age of electronic communications, the once ubiquitous practice of direct mail fundraising is fast becoming a thing of the past.  Why should organizations and hucksters put a stamp on an envelope when it is much simpler and more cost effective just to press a button and send out thousands of appeals at one time - with no stamps at all?

But the occasional begging letter still makes its way into my mailbox - the one that sits patiently out by the road in front of my house.  A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had received a letter from a scam organization that was encouraging me to go to the internet and support them - with a donation - because of their support for Ol' Roy Blunt, one of my United States Senators and the recipient of a phony award presented by the begging organization.

The letter regarding Blunt seemed to be directed at the one remaining class of people who might not be totally internet savvy - the elderly.  Yesterday I received another letter of questionable merit which, if I were a betting person, I would wager was also intended for old timers like me.

Yesterday's letter was from David H. Koch, the Executive Vice President of Koch Industries.  It was mailed by and for a group founded by the billionaire Koch and his billionaire brother - Americans for Prosperity - out of Arlington, Virginia.  And although the envelope was packed and somewhat heavier than an ordinary letter, it came with just one stamp affixed, a special one for use by non-profit organizations.  Special rates for special people, I suppose.

David's letter was an appeal for money for Americans for Prosperity, an appeal that was eight full pages in length.  I was "invited" to send in a donation and to join "this all-out battle for freedom."  Freedom, as some say, is not free, apparently.  And where else but in the United States would billionaires have balls big enough to go asking senior citizens on fixed incomes to send them money? It warmed my heart to know that soulless bastards like David Koch actually needed something from little people like me.

David's letter praised the "free enterprise" that helped to build the billionaire class to which he is a member.  He also snarled that times are so perilous that an "avowed socialist" like Bernie Sanders could mount a serious political campaign in the United States.  Then he posited a list of six areas in which Americans for Prosperity has already had significant influence.  To wit:


  • Confirmations:  AFP pushed for the confirmation of Justice Gorsuch and is continuing its "unique grassroots efforts to support the confirmation of federal judges who will respect the Constitution and restore our freedoms."  Thus, one must suppose, providing us with a judiciary based on the judicial underpinnings of grifters like Antonin Scalia, a man who died while in the process of accepting a bribe.
  • Regulation:  An effort primarily directed at repealing regulations enacted by the administration of President Obama and replacing them with free enterprise models free of regulation.   Goodbye net neutrality, hello corporate control of the internet.
  • Taxes and Spending:  The tax "reform" plan enacted by Congress and signed by Trump was actively supported by AFP.  No surprise there.  The rich grew richer at the expense of the poor - as the god of unrestrained capitalism so ordained.
  • Healthcare:  David brags that "Thanks to our activists, we're involved with stakeholders in Washington to help develop healthcare reforms that will result in accessible, affordable, and patient-centered healthcare for all Americans."  That malarky was immediately followed by a statement that AFP helped defeat "Obamacare Medicaid expansions" in Kansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia - and began rolling back Medicaid expansions in Arkansas and Ohio.    People who believe that the Kochs or AFP  are interested in providing Americans with affordable and accessible healthcare probably need to have their heads examined - although if they live in Red states, they would have no affordable way of getting that done.
  • Labor Reform:  Something David Koch sees as "winning Right-to-Work victories" in places like Missouri and Kentucky.  Meanwhile, Missouri voters are preparing to try to negate that particular Koch/AFP victory at the polls.
  • School Choice:  AFP and the billionaire Koch worked to pass education savings accounts in Arizona - a tax dodge that takes money away from public schools - and they are working to expand charter schools - another ploy to defund and destroy public education.
And to help fund this master plot to rape and bankrupt America, David Koch wants me to send him a few dollars.  What a deal!

David Koch's letter did come with a postage-paid return envelope which I will stuff some of my other junk mail and send back to him.  It's the least I can do - and Daddy Warbucks can pay the postage!

(I am left to wonder how these clowns are coming up with my name and address.  I have never contributed to any conservative candidate or organization, nor have I never been to a white nationalist rally or any other Trump event.  Somebody has sold my mailing information to these right-wing slugs, most likely a group with a national base whose membership is primarily old folks.  AARP, I'm thinking that you fit that bill.  It may be about time for me to cancel my membership - again.)

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