You don't want to discuss anything, bukaroo. You just want to repeat Dirty, greedy Harry's hypocritical rant against the Koch brothers. Which I am not defending, BTW. While he, you and the rest of the leftist/liberal/progressive hypocrits ignore the same influence buying from Soros and Steyer. My point is that the money needs to be taken out of politics.

Wrong, Buffalo breath! I would like to discuss this. I'm new here. You don't know me from Adam's house cat. For you to make the assumption that I don't want to discuss anything is rather closed-minded. I can't help what others have done or said to you to make you paint me with such a wide brush. And, for you to immediately jump into name-calling, DOSENT indicate very much knowledge of the facts on your part. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

I, too, would like to see the BIG PAC money removed from politics; along with lobbyists.

Also, this isn't a rant from Dirty Harry. Bernie Sanders wrote the original article, not Reid. Get your facts straight, please.

Reid is the one that continually rants about the evil Koch brothers and thier money, while ignoring the same or worse in those that support the leftist/liberal/progressive hypocritical agenda with their money.. I know who wrote the bullshit! And for you too ignore what Soros and Steyer, et al do makes you a hypocrit, also.

I happen to agree with about 75% of that list.
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Well, suppose you stop your rhetorical ranting and make a verifiable listing of what/to whom Soros and Steyer have donated to, and compare it to the myriad of organizations the Koch's have begun and/or funded, then put it out here for all of to read and comment on.

I can understand that you actually doing your own research may go against everything you hold holy. But, by doing your own research, you have the opportunity to see and learn that there are other opinions out there that are just as viable as yours. Or, Heaven forbid, you may even find out that your beliefs are not as viable as you were lead to believe they are. I presume that your beliefs/ comments/ ideals/ political positions are given to you to parrot as you've presented nothing to support them other than name-calling, empty political rhetoric and broad, sweeping, unsubstantiated generalizations.

I couldn't care less what Reid says about the Koch brothers. He's no worse or better than McConnell and Boehner and their tirades against Obama and the Dems.

What 25% do you not agree with? Perhaps, that could become the basis for some common ground.

Another old adage goes: "it takes one to know one." Remember that the next time you want to call me a hypocrite. (You may also want to check your spelling on that word.) In the mean-time, kindly refrain from calling me names. This is the 2nd time I've made that request of you. :thumbdown:

How many of you know just how engrained the Koch brothers' political agenda is in today's conservative politics? How many of you know that, in 1980, David Koch was the Libertarian Party's vice presidential candidate? How many of you know what the platform of the Libertarian Party was, in 1980?

Senator Bernie Sanders went back in time to 1980, when David Koch ran as the Vice Presidential candidate on the Libertarian ticket. He found their platform for that year, and published it again. It is a manifesto of what David and Charles Koch expect to receive in return for their large investment in American politics.

Here is the list:

We urge the repeal of federal campaign finance laws, and the immediate abolition of the despotic Federal Election Commission.”
“We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“We oppose any compulsory insurance or tax-supported plan to provide health services, including those which finance abortion services.”
“We also favor the deregulation of the medical insurance industry.”
“We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary.”
“We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”
“We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes.”
“We support the eventual repeal of all taxation.”
“As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”
“We support repeal of all law which impede the ability of any person to find employment, such as minimum wage laws.”
“We advocate the complete separation of education and State. Government schools lead to the indoctrination of children and interfere with the free choice of individuals. Government ownership, operation, regulation, and subsidy of schools and colleges should be ended.”
“We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws.”
“We support the repeal of all taxes on the income or property of private schools, whether profit or non-profit.”
“We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.”
“We support abolition of the Department of Energy.”
“We call for the dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation, including the Department of Transportation.”
“We demand the return of America's railroad system to private ownership. We call for the privatization of the public roads and national highway system.”
“We specifically oppose laws requiring an individual to buy or use so-called "self-protection" equipment such as safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets.”
“We advocate the abolition of the Federal Aviation Administration.”
“We advocate the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration.”
“We support an end to all subsidies for child-bearing built into our present laws, including all welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported services for children.”
“We oppose all government welfare, relief projects, and ‘aid to the poor’ programs. All these government programs are privacy-invading, paternalistic, demeaning, and inefficient. The proper source of help for such persons is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.”
“We call for the privatization of the inland waterways, and of the distribution system that brings water to industry, agriculture and households.”
“We call for the repeal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”
“We call for the abolition of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
“We support the repeal of all state usury laws.

If these two could just crown themselves Dictators of the World, they would. I have honestly never encountered more evil, fascist human beings and hope a day comes where they're viewed as fringe crazies instead of legitimate political actors. They've spawned an entire generation of "me-me-me" types who actually think these are brilliant ideas, thanks to Ron Paul.

Every single one of these ideas is rooted in John Birch Society dogma. Just because Fred Koch left the Birchers back in the day doesn't mean he abandoned their overall goals. His sons are just expanding capacity for them now, not abandoning their principles.

Think about the consequences of no FAA air traffic controllers. No FDA to gauge the safety of our food and medicines. No one to make car manufacturers build safe cars and trucks. Seat belts and air bags will become things of the past. No EPA to keep our manufacturers from polluting our air and water. No one to make our manufacturers provide safe working environments for their employees. With no taxes at all, who pays for the police, fire departments, teachers, our military, our military equipment?

Be careful people. You may just get more than you bargained for if you allow the Koch brothers to control your political party.

I suggest you keep this list handy. You're going to need it in the days to come.