The Billionaire's Tea Party

Check out the fellow 43 minutes in. He goes to Amazon, pulls up liberal books and gives them one star. No need to actually read them or contribute more than a shout down to the debate. Do those “liberal” books contain flawed facts or reasoning? That would require evidence and analysis. Apparently, that goes against his grain and perhaps against the grain of many in the Tea Party.

The USA recorded one of the steepest declines in concern about climate change/global warming among global markets over the four-year period from 2007 to 2011, dropping 14 percentage points. Today, less than half of Americans (48%) say they are concerned about climate change, which contrasts sharply with reported concern across the regions of the world: Latin America (90%), Middle East/Africa (80%), Asia Pacific (72%), and Europe (68%). Among the 21 percent of Americans who are decidedly not concerned, 63 percent indicated they believe natural variation—and not people—causes climate change/global warming. (Sustainability Survey: Global Warming Cools Off as Top Concern, Nielsen, 8/28/2011)

The anti-government fervor infusing the 2010 elections represents a political triumph for the Kochs. By giving money to “educate,” fund, and organize Tea Party protesters, they have helped turn their private agenda into a mass movement. New Yorker article reveals how the Koch Brothers funded the Cato Institute and George Mason University. Boycott Brawny paper towels. Try Bounty, Walgreens, CVS or Viva… all rated higher by Consumer Reports last I looked and you won’t be adding to the Koch war chest. (Boycott Koch Industries – Avoid These Brands)

The founder of the Mercatus Center is Richard Fink, formerly an economist. Fink heads Koch Industries’ lobbying operation in Washington. In addition, he is the president of the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, the president of the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, a director of the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation, and a director and co-founder, with David Koch, of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. (Covert Operations, The New Yorker, 8/30/2010)

The Koch Foundation also provides donations to George Mason University. Follow the money. See also, Despite its Rhetoric, Tea Party is a Tool of Corporate Interests, Report Says.