http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/the-koch-brothers-intelligence-agency-215943 The Koch Intelligence Agency As the billionaires’ network works to reshape U.S. politics, it keeps a close eye on the left. By Kenneth P. Vogel | 11/18/15 The political network helmed by Charles and David Koch has quietly built a secretive operation that conducts surveillance and intelligence gathering on its liberal opponents, viewing it as a key strategic tool in its efforts to reshape American public life. … The competitive intelligence team has a staff of 25, including one former CIA analyst, and operates from one of the non-descript Koch network offices clustered near the Courthouse metro stop in suburban Arlington, Va. It has provided network officials with documents detailing confidential voter-mobilization plans by major Democrat-aligned groups. It also sends regular “intelligence briefing" … … he did not dispute that the effort is a focus for the Koch network as it tries to rebound from the disappointment of the 2012 elections and gears up to spend a jaw-dropping $889 million on policy and political battles headed into November 2016. … The increasingly robust Koch network has seized on significant tactical advantages afforded to big-money independent organizations ― but not party committees ― in modern politics. Unlike party committees, which are mostly subject to five-figure donation limits, donor disclosure and all manner of campaign finance laws and party rules, the Koch network of non-profit groups and for-profit companies can accept unlimited cash without disclosing donors and faces few spending restrictions. ...And most rationalist will probably stay away from the polls yet again - because the system is soo corrupt and they don't want to dirty their hands. Thus every year our system gets more corrupt as we continue blithely handing over yet more power to ruthless sociopaths such as the mega-bucks-blinded Koch bros.
I think the Koch’s have also been extraordinarily successful at getting the people they want in our government, from a grass roots level up. This is quite cost-effective for them, and the USA is getting redder and redder. The Koch’s are also very adept at effective propaganda (e.g., lots of slick nationally televised advertisements) that presents them as benevolent. Also, I saw one of the Koch brother’s interviewed recently. He came across as a kind, thoughtful man, simply interested in the well-being of his country. Now that’s scary.
So, I share the sense of dread that the odds are overwhelmingly in the favor of the Koch types. OTOH, I think that progressives and rational independents who give in to cynicism, or a sense of hopelessness, and don’t even bother to vote, are pussies.
The Democratic Party establishment is also to blame for being pussies, and not developing a 50 state strategy for re-gaining lost ground.