{"id":763,"date":"2011-02-02T19:14:46","date_gmt":"2011-02-02T19:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/apagansblog\/2011\/02\/on-the-kochs-and-freedom.html"},"modified":"2011-02-02T19:14:46","modified_gmt":"2011-02-02T19:14:46","slug":"on-the-kochs-and-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/apagansblog\/2011\/02\/on-the-kochs-and-freedom.html","title":{"rendered":"On the Kochs and Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

When the New Yorker interviewed me about an article<\/a>  they were preparing over the political impact of Charles and David Koch, I emphasized
\nthat when I knew Charles Koch in my high school and early college years, he
\nwas a sincere libertarian, not a garden variety right winger or
\noligarch.  Ideas and ethics mattered.  So did science.  For him libertarianism meant commitment to a non-coercive society.  Charles<\/span> had set me on my
\nintellectual career through his generosity, and come out publicly against the
\nVietnam War in a state and city where that was considered unpatriotic.  <\/span>My personal memories of him were
\nentirely pleasant.  <\/span><\/p>\n

In later years it seemed to me both of us had moved away
\nfrom libertarianism, me towards a more generic liberalism but always from an ethical position that opposed coercion, he in more
\nconservative right wing directions.  But I thought Charles still might be a
\nlibertarian trying to find a way to be effective in culturally inhospitable Kansas.  <\/span>I did my best<\/a> to put as sympathetic a
\nface on the Kochs’ activities as I could, given that I opposed most of what Koch supported politicians stood for.  <\/span>(I say “most” because maybe they stand
\nfor something worthwhile I haven’t heard about.)  <\/span><\/p>\n

Recent events in California<\/a> as well as their rather selective approach to freedom of speech (also in previous link) have
\ndemonstrated to me that there seems to be little libertarianism left in the
\nKochs beyond rhetoric as well as considerable abuse of the power of their immense wealth to
\nharass with lawsuits and hired goons. 
\n<\/span>The linked article indicates even the sanctity of contracts and
\nvoluntary agreement, libertarianism’s most holy grail, can be overridden when Koch
\nmoney finds it inconvenient. <\/span><\/p>\n

It’s sad as well as scary.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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