Book: Sons of Wichita

Daniel Schulman - Sons of Wichita -- the "first biography of the Koch brothers."

This goes to Howard's contention that the Kochs weren't that involved with the John Birch Society:

Daniel Schulman wrote:

In 1960 Fred [Koch] self-published a short tract called 'A Business Man Looks at Communism,' which warned of an impending communist takeover. [...] Fred saw the specter of communism lurking behind everything from American foreign aid to tax-free non-profits, and from college campuses to churches. Even modern painters were part of the conspiracy: 'The idea is to make our civilization seem degraded, ugly, and hopeless.' According to Bill Koch, Fred found Pablo Picasso particluarly loathsome.[...]

The American civil rights movement also figured into the plot. 'The colored man looms large in the Communist plan to take over America,' Fred wrote [...]

On the morning of December 8, 1958 Fred Koch strode up the walkway to the sprawling brick Tudor home at 3650 Washington Boulevard. Fred was greeted by Marguerite Dice, the widow who had volunteered to host the meeting that would mark the birth of the John Birch Society. Fred found a seat in Dice's spacious living room [with ten others]. Robert Welsh had convened the meeting. He was a former candy company executive who in the mid-1950s had quit his job to devote himself full-time to fighting communism. [...]

When all the guests took their seats, Welch made his entrance toting a thick stack of note cards. Speaking for hours on end in his customary monotone, interrupted only by small breaks for food, Welch outlined the dizzying breadth of the communist conspiracy [...] Only as dusk fell on that first day in Indianapolis did Welch unveil his vision. Defeating this many-tentacled monster, Welch explained, required its own multipronged approach [...] Over the course of the two-day retreat, Welch succeeded in stirring the patriotic instincts of his guests, who had needed little convincing that the nation was on a destructive path. Fred Koch enthusiastically signed on, later joining the John Birch Society's National Council, along with most of the other attendees.

After Indianapolis Fred threw himself more vigorously than ever into the fight against communism. He besieged lawmakers with letters demanding they address the peril facing the nation. [...] Fred had taken on a high-profile role within the society, as one of its national leaders. Fred's chapter met frequently in the basement [hunting] trophy room of the Koch family's stone mansion. 'The room looks practically medieval,' recalled one visitor. 'It's walls are crowded with stuffed heads from the disappearing wildlife of Africa and North America.'

Charles joined the Birch Society in the early 1960s, and he held occasional political discussions of his own in the basement of his family's mansion. [...] Charles seemed to steer clear of the more hysterical claims being made by his father and other society luminaries, preferring to talk about big picture ideas. 'He didn't take the conspiracy stuff very seriously,' one participant in these discussions remembered. [...]

By the early 1960s, the John Birch Society had some 60,000 members, 58 full-time employees, and annual revenues of $1.6 million. It was growing rapidly -- and stirring up controversy across the nation.

NoCoPilot wrote:

This goes to Howard's contention that the Kochs weren't that involved with the John Birch Society:

I have never made that assertion. I merely pointed out on one occasion that the founding of the JBS has always been attributed to Robert Welch, not to one of the Kochs.

Did you know one of the members of the Board of Directors of Koch Industries was j. Howard Marshall, the husband of Anna Nicole Smith?

I didn't know that, but I did know that Smith's last doctor was an incompetent asshole. My sister fired him when he nearly killed my brother-in-law with his stupidity.

But back to the Kochs and their friends. Ever notice how anti-Communist fanatics tend to be very rich people? They don't really give a damn if anyone is pro-communist; they just can't handle anyone being anti-capitalist, because capitalism is where their undeserved wealth comes from. Hell, I doubt if half of those mongoloids even know what communism is; or socialism; or capitalism, for that matter. When you hear their speeches and read their scribblings, they are so full of errors and misconceptions that one wonders how they got through grade school.

I think I disagree.

The book makes it very clear that Charles Koch, the eldest son and scion of Koch Industries, is a brilliant businessman. Ruthless, and heartless, but brilliant. Unlike his father, Charles' aversion to "communism" (small c) is not knee-jerk JBS stuff but rather an aversion to what communism represents in its purest form: equality for all, public safety nets, concern for the poor and underprivileged. Since Charles, and his three brothers, were basically handed a multi-million-dollar inheritance at birth -- which, fairness states, he grew many times over -- the "privileged" status is something he cherishes highly and has no interest in sharing.

Hmm. Sounds like what I just said. He resents everything that capitalism suppresses. Such as concern for anyone other than one's self.

And what the fuck is a "brilliant" businessman? Is brilliance required to make lots of money? No it isn't. The easiest path to making money is starting with money, as the Kochs did. If the Koch brothers had started out with nothing, do you think their "brilliance" would have led them to where they are today?

Charles made smart purchases, he hired effective managers, he eliminated any distractions from the one-and-only goal of making lots and lots of money.

Lots of managers -- particularly second-generation managers who had their fortune handed to them -- have managed to kill their golden goose.  It takes some smarts to grow the business(es).

Your apparent admiration for the man is about to make me puke.

I can admire his business prowess without endorsing his politics or self-serving immorality.

What is to admire about business prowess? The man makes a lot of money - so fucking what? What has he contributed to society? Who has he helped besides himself? I must be un-American, because I have never been impressed by the ability to make lots of money. It's a talent that means nothing to me.

I guess I admire it in the abstract, like watching a weightlifter.  Useless skill, but obviously a skill nonetheless.

One I don't got.

Old school buddy of mine made his millions and retired at 40. Everybody he worked with hated his guts (including me at the time) but he was laser-focused on getting rich and did so. That takes drive and ambition and a certain willingness to be a super asshole.

I don't "admire" it so much as marvel at the accomplishment.

I remember as a youngster when summer was referred to as "polio season." I remember the kids in school with braces and crutches. Jonas Salk gave us the vaccine for polio. He sought and made no personal profit from it. He did not patent the vaccine. Now there was a brilliant man, and a man to be admired. The Kochs sell oil. Big fucking deal.

_Howard wrote:

The Kochs sell oil. Big fucking deal.

And more.

Listen, you and I may not agree with his libertarian politics, but you have to admit he's been very effective at creating the infrastructure (colleges, think tanks, Supreme Courts, Congressmen) to get these fringe views into the mainstream.  He's always thought long-term -- his "daylighting" of libertarianism started about 1977 -- and he's never been discouraged by failed-election-after-failed-election.  He KNOWS, is quoted in the book, that libertarianism is a tough sell.  The only people who benefit are the super-rich.

It's like selling refrigerators to the Eskimos.  Youy gotta admire his pluck.

No. I do not have to admire his pluck, or anything else about him. Regardless of his political/economic views, he has done nothing of which I am aware that has benefited anyone other than himself. He has done nothing admirable, as far as I am concerned. His life has been about increasing his personal fortune. Fuck him and everyone like him. They are of no value to anyone.

He's donated millions to NPR.

Whoopee.

The rich are different from you and me. Or me, anyway.

The book details the multiple multiple-million-dollar mansions each of the Kochs own, the private jets and yachts they own, the supercars they bought, the Americas Cup races they won, the lavish multi-million-dollar parties they threw which lasted several days and included hundreds of naked Swedish supermodels and all the champagne their guests could drink.

And of course, each of the four brothers has sued each of the others, and their mother, multiple times. It sounds like a Spinal Tap skit.

NoCoPilot wrote:

The rich are different from you and me.  Or me, anyway.

Yes they are, with a few exceptions. It is not having wealth that makes people assholes, but being an asshole from birth seems to be a common characteristic of very wealthy people.

I do not dislike people because they are wealthy. I knew Al Shugart and he was a hell of a nice guy. Not a billionaire (I don't think), but not exactly hurting. I have a buddy who goes by the nickname Fatboy, who is worth hundreds of millions. If you saw him in a pool hall in jeans and t-shirt, you would never guess he was anything other than a working-class slob.

I dislike people who are assholes. no matter their economic status. The Koch family are assholes. I don't like them. I don't care about their history; nothing excuses or justifies what they are.
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_Howard wrote:

NoCoPilot wrote:

The rich are different from you and me.  Or me, anyway.

Yes they are, with a few exceptions. It is not having wealth that makes people assholes, but being an asshole from birth seems to be a common characteristic of very wealthy people.

I do not dislike people because they are wealthy. I knew Al Shugart and he was a hell of a nice guy. Not a billionaire (I don't think), but not exactly hurting. I have a buddy who goes by the nickname Fatboy, who is worth hundreds of millions. If you saw him in a pool hall in jeans and t-shirt, you would never guess he was anything other than a working-class slob.

I dislike people who are assholes. no matter their economic status. The Koch family are assholes. I don't like them. I don't care about their history; nothing excuses or justifies what they are.
.

Exactly.
One of my dear friends who just married her long time girlfriend is fairly wealthy and she's one of the most compassionate and reasonable people you would ever meet. She's adorable as a person and ethical as a citizen. It's not the money, it's just that for whatever reason (maybe lack of parental attention to the topic) wealthy people have disproportionately become assholes. Maybe they are inculcated with Rand stuff the way the religious are inculcated?

One of my nieces was a nurse and was a very kind, caring and compassionate person. Her first two marriages failed, but the third has worked for some years now. She married a very wealthy man - good for her - but she has become the Queen Bitch of the Universe. Sad.

Money doesn't buy happiness. But it allows you to look for it in more places.

Money can't buy happiness. But it can rent a very good facsimile.

Jenni wrote:

_Howard wrote:

It is not having wealth that makes people assholes, but being an asshole from birth seems to be a common characteristic of very wealthy people.

It's not the money, it's just that for whatever reason wealthy people have disproportionately become assholes. Maybe they are inculcated with Rand stuff the way the religious are inculcated?

Wealth brings with it the insecurity of losing that wealth -- through taxation or bad investments -- as well as a nasty sense of entitlement. Too many wealthy people think they're wealthy because they're smarter or better than everyone else.

And in most cases that's not true.

In fact, a big percentage of billionaires in this world inherited most of their money.