Thread: HAWT OFF THE PRESS!
Koch Docs curator @thelisagraves is out with a report on Charles Koch's attempts to kill off the US Postal Service, since the 1970's. Published by @PubInterest @itstruenorth:
inthepublicinterest.org/the-billionair…
Let's take a look at the findings.
Koch Docs curator @thelisagraves is out with a report on Charles Koch's attempts to kill off the US Postal Service, since the 1970's. Published by @PubInterest @itstruenorth:
inthepublicinterest.org/the-billionair…
Let's take a look at the findings.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth Here's a gorgeous little timeline of how events unfolded.
A new and largely unknown Libertarian publication called Reason Magazine was starting to call for an end to the US Postal Service in the late 1960's.
Koch Industries CEO & Chairman Charles Koch liked the idea.
A new and largely unknown Libertarian publication called Reason Magazine was starting to call for an end to the US Postal Service in the late 1960's.
Koch Industries CEO & Chairman Charles Koch liked the idea.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth The USPS is one of few gov't agencies guaranteed in the US Constitution.
It's self-sufficient, there is *zero taxpayer support*
Our society & economy depend on it. USPS circulates 500 million mailings / day, to urban and rural areas alike.
Moar fax:
facts.usps.com/one-day/#:~:te….
It's self-sufficient, there is *zero taxpayer support*
Our society & economy depend on it. USPS circulates 500 million mailings / day, to urban and rural areas alike.
Moar fax:
facts.usps.com/one-day/#:~:te….
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth The #COVID19 pandemic shows how crucial USPS is for the fundamental right to vote.
Vote-by-Mail is perhaps the most secure & accessible method, according to research published by 3 think tanks w B-names:
bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/is-voting…
brennancenter.org/our-work/analy…
brookings.edu/policy2020/vot…
Vote-by-Mail is perhaps the most secure & accessible method, according to research published by 3 think tanks w B-names:
bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/is-voting…
brennancenter.org/our-work/analy…
brookings.edu/policy2020/vot…
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth The two largest employers in the United States are:
1. Walmart, with ~$6 billion in gov't subsidies per year
2. The USPS. Did we mention that USPS is self-sustaining, not dependent on taxpayers...?!
Oh, we did already say that. Well, it's worth repeating.
Tell yr friends!
1. Walmart, with ~$6 billion in gov't subsidies per year
2. The USPS. Did we mention that USPS is self-sustaining, not dependent on taxpayers...?!
Oh, we did already say that. Well, it's worth repeating.
Tell yr friends!
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth So why is Charles Koch such a grinch and wants to kill off the USPS, when it is proven effective, cost-effective, diverse, popular, and trusted?
Well, Koch started going on an ideological "privatization" rampage since the 1960's.
Well, Koch started going on an ideological "privatization" rampage since the 1960's.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth Using the corporate fortune he inherited from his father...
--a fortune made in part by building oil refineries for Stalin and Hitler--
...Mr. Koch has helped keep unpopular, fringe ideas on life support for decades, often until they are championed by politicians he funds.
--a fortune made in part by building oil refineries for Stalin and Hitler--
...Mr. Koch has helped keep unpopular, fringe ideas on life support for decades, often until they are championed by politicians he funds.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth Reason Mag was beating war drums against USPS.
As Robert Poole purchased Reason in 1970, he acknowledged relying on funds from:
-Charles Koch,
-Koch Ind exec George Pearson, Mr. Koch's top advisor,
-@TheIHS, which Koch took over in 1973
Source:
web.archive.org/web/2020070918…
As Robert Poole purchased Reason in 1970, he acknowledged relying on funds from:
-Charles Koch,
-Koch Ind exec George Pearson, Mr. Koch's top advisor,
-@TheIHS, which Koch took over in 1973
Source:
web.archive.org/web/2020070918…
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS Charles Koch's foundations continue to fund Reason, to this day.
Since 1986, IRS tax records indicate over $4.6 million in funding to the Reason Foundation, and that's probably not the total.
The late David Koch served on Reason's board for many years, into his final years.
Since 1986, IRS tax records indicate over $4.6 million in funding to the Reason Foundation, and that's probably not the total.
The late David Koch served on Reason's board for many years, into his final years.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS Speaking of David Koch, who largely followed the lead of his controlling older brother Charles:
David Koch ran for US Vice President on the 1980 Libertarian ticket. Both Koch bros heavily financed the effort. The platform included abolishing USPS:
kochdocs.org/2019/11/01/197…
David Koch ran for US Vice President on the 1980 Libertarian ticket. Both Koch bros heavily financed the effort. The platform included abolishing USPS:
kochdocs.org/2019/11/01/197…
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS Thankfully, they firmly lost the 1980 election.
So Charles Koch doubled down on fake grassroots strategies, outside of the political system.
His new right-hand man, Koch Ind exec Richard Fink, launched "Citizens for a Sound Economy" to prop up Koch's unpopular ideas.
So Charles Koch doubled down on fake grassroots strategies, outside of the political system.
His new right-hand man, Koch Ind exec Richard Fink, launched "Citizens for a Sound Economy" to prop up Koch's unpopular ideas.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS Citizens for a Sound Economy did PR for Koch's unpopular ideas.
(Today, it's called "Americans for Prosperity.")
CSE had a symbiotic relationship w the Reagan admin.
Fink was appointed to Reagan's Privatization Commission, and USPS was targeted:
industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#…
(Today, it's called "Americans for Prosperity.")
CSE had a symbiotic relationship w the Reagan admin.
Fink was appointed to Reagan's Privatization Commission, and USPS was targeted:
industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#…
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS Koch exec Richard Fink & his group Citizens for a Sound Economy helped get James C. Miller III appointed to Reagan's Office of Mgmt & Budget.
While at OMB, Miller worked w Koch's Cato Institute to attack the USPS.
From p.10 of Lisa's report:
While at OMB, Miller worked w Koch's Cato Institute to attack the USPS.
From p.10 of Lisa's report:
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS ...look at this guy for a sec.
While at Reagan's OMB, James C. Miller III tried to classify KETCHUP--a sugary tomato sludge--as a "vegetable" in U.S. school lunch programs.
As reported by @latimes, 1985:
latimes.com/archives/la-xp…
While at Reagan's OMB, James C. Miller III tried to classify KETCHUP--a sugary tomato sludge--as a "vegetable" in U.S. school lunch programs.
As reported by @latimes, 1985:
latimes.com/archives/la-xp…
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes No surprise - Miller's career has been a revolving door between government and Charles Koch's groups.
Starting with Citizens for a Sound Economy, and ongoing today with Americans for Prosperity.
Starting with Citizens for a Sound Economy, and ongoing today with Americans for Prosperity.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes Miller's attacks on USPS included work with Sen. Susan Collins & the G.W. Bush admin, in 2006.
Collins helped Miller become chairman of USPS board of governors. (Yuck).
Congress+Collins attacked the USPS, loading it up w debt, in law signed by Bush.
Collins' top donor? UPS.
Collins helped Miller become chairman of USPS board of governors. (Yuck).
Congress+Collins attacked the USPS, loading it up w debt, in law signed by Bush.
Collins' top donor? UPS.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes Today, decades Citizens for a Sound Economy was reformed as Americans for Prosperity, AFP continues to attack the USPS.
The CARES Act could keep USPS afloat, during unprecedented stress from #COVID19.
AFP wants CARES, & USPS, to die, as for-profit corporations are bailed out.
The CARES Act could keep USPS afloat, during unprecedented stress from #COVID19.
AFP wants CARES, & USPS, to die, as for-profit corporations are bailed out.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes It's not just AFP.
Other orgs Mr. Koch controls or funds, have helped attack USPS:
Mercatus (Koch-controlled)
mercatus.org/expert_comment…
Cato (Koch-founded):
cato.org/blog/usps-priv…
ALEC (Koch Ind on board):
alecexposed.org/wiki/Express_M…
Heritage (Koch $):
apwu.org/news/heritage-…
Other orgs Mr. Koch controls or funds, have helped attack USPS:
Mercatus (Koch-controlled)
mercatus.org/expert_comment…
Cato (Koch-founded):
cato.org/blog/usps-priv…
ALEC (Koch Ind on board):
alecexposed.org/wiki/Express_M…
Heritage (Koch $):
apwu.org/news/heritage-…
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes For more info on history of efforts to undermine the USPS, check out this great segment by @iamjohnoliver @lastweektonight:
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes @iamjohnoliver @LastWeekTonight Finally, check out the first article to break this report on Koch vs. USPS, from reporter @brittanyagibson @theprospect:
prospect.org/power/one-bill…
PS: Did you know the term "privatization" hails from Nazi Germany...?
Yikes, but...of course it does.
prospect.org/power/one-bill…
PS: Did you know the term "privatization" hails from Nazi Germany...?
Yikes, but...of course it does.
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes @iamjohnoliver @LastWeekTonight @brittanyagibson @TheProspect DERP. CORRECTION:
I meant the *HEROES Act* the pending Congressional bill that includes relief for Postal Service, during the COVID-19 & related economic crisis:
naps.org/Post/Heroes-Ac…
The tweet w AFP letter was about HEROES Act.
Not the CARES Act.
My error!
-Connor
I meant the *HEROES Act* the pending Congressional bill that includes relief for Postal Service, during the COVID-19 & related economic crisis:
naps.org/Post/Heroes-Ac…
The tweet w AFP letter was about HEROES Act.
Not the CARES Act.
My error!
-Connor
@thelisagraves @PubInterest @itstruenorth @TheIHS @latimes Note correction to this Tweet at end of thread:
AFP opposes the *HEROES Act,* aka HR 6800.
(The CARES Act already passed, that was the first big COVID relief legislative package.)
And, Tweet was missing a word: "Today, decades *after*..."
Sorry!
AFP opposes the *HEROES Act,* aka HR 6800.
(The CARES Act already passed, that was the first big COVID relief legislative package.)
And, Tweet was missing a word: "Today, decades *after*..."
Sorry!
