The central belief and fatal conceit of the current administration is that you are incapable of running your own life, but those in power are capable of running it for you. This is the essence of big government and collectivism.
Writes Charles Koch in today's Wall Street Journal. (It appears not to be locked behind a paywall, at least for now.)
Instead of encouraging free and open debate, collectivists strive to
discredit and intimidate opponents. They engage in character
assassination. (I should know, as the almost daily target of their
attacks.) This is the approach that
Arthur Schopenhauer
described in the 19th century, that Saul Alinsky
famously advocated in the 20th, and that so many despots have
infamously practiced. Such tactics are the antithesis of what is
required for a free society—and a telltale sign that the collectivists
do not have good answers.
Koch responded to the attacks from Harry Reid, et. al., with a clear explanation of what he has done and why he has done it. He sounds libertarian, in the good sense of the meaning.
Far from trying to rig the system, I have spent decades opposing
cronyism and all political favors, including mandates, subsidies and
protective tariffs—even when we benefit from them. I believe that
cronyism is nothing more than welfare for the rich and powerful, and
should be abolished.
Opposing cronyism, political favors, mandates, subsidies, protective tariffs, welfare for the rich - how could liberals not like that? It aligns with things liberals and progressives say they want.
The article goes on to describe Koch Industries, its size, its record of environmental awards, and so on. It is an interesting article written by a man we never hear from, and who has been demonized by those on the left who need a straw enemy.
