Recent studies showed that most young people gather their political ideologies and views based off reports from comedian/reporters Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. Their influence is widespread and people must learn how to determine what is sarcasm or what is intended to open people’s eyes. Before viewing this clip I had never heard of the Koch brothers or Koch industries. After this clip I googled them and saw the amount of money they spent on the most recent elections. These men use their wealth and a monetary donation of $290 million, so that they can elect officials who will help them keep their wealth and business ethics. The commercial that Stewart’s show doctored based off the initial commercial shows the lack of responsibility these men feel in keeping the environment clean. They are not upfront about the organizations that they give their money too. This clip reminded me of the corruption that occurs daily amongst politicians and those looking to not better the nation, but only help themselves
This clip clearly illustrates the corruption that is amongst our government and elite. The wealthy use their wealth to protect their income and mask the harm they cause the rest of us. This clip does a great job of using sarcasm to reveal the true intentions of wealthy corporations such as Kock industries. I never thought of it that way. I thought that by protecting their wealth it simply meant ensuring that their corporation constantly gained profit through for example, protecting their workers but it goes far beyond that. Kock Industries is just the first of many wealthy businesses that use their money in politics to make sure the political officials that help them keep their wealth are elected while refusing to show the public the true harm it does to the planet and people. It's important that people learn about the corruption within these wealthy corporations and politics so we too can stop feeding and supporting these sneaky wealthy people. This was truly eye opening.
This clip simply reinforces what we read in “Who Rules America?” how the corporate rich is really triumphing and having more influence in politics than regular, everyday citizens. This encompasses the title of the class, how in a supposedly democratic system, a man with more economic resources and wealth has more of a say in American politics than the average, everyday person. This kind of participation among the brothers helps insinuate American inequality, and keeps the poor in a vicious cycle that they can’t escape from.
I agree with Matthew, the first thing I thought of while watching the video was Who Rules America. An entire chapter is devoted to corporate America and the influence on the government. The money that the corporations have has become the main incentive for influencing policy decisions and candidate selection. We live in a Democracy where each and every one of its citizens has a voice, yet the rich are the ones that pose influence for most policies. This is another factor that increases the inequality in the US.
This clip is a clear demonstration of the claim that "money is power". The Koch brothers devote, according to the clip, huge amounts of money to politicians to influence their voting, and alongside own many companies that rule in day to day industry. That is power. Controlling the means of production and not being able to be stopped because their money is their fuel. Having such great influence because of money is easy to maintain, even when it occurs against what the people actually want.
Also, I'm glad I now who is responsible for relocating my polar bear.
The clip shows how money controls politics. We live in a democracy but it is controlled by individuals of corporate America. These big corporations shape our politics and show what they believe should be the image that should be projected to the media.
This clip is a prime example of how the corporate community sets the agenda for what we see and what is really being done. False advertisement is frown upon on a small scale. For example vibram shoes receiving much backlash when it was proven that their finger shoes were actually horrible of your back. However, when the koch brothers release an ad to paint a more desirable picture than the actual one it is ok? Money is power and the more money in the conversation the more the rules are bent in their favor. John Stewart does a great job of laying out the true behind the fake image put out into the world. These types of shows are good for the public to see because someone has to stand up to the fluff. Someone needs to speak the true and not worry about the backlash. If these people are in the schools,they are basically shaping the minds of the youth. Kendall Heatley
This was my first time learning about the Koch Brothers and I must say they don't seem like the nicest folk. I have heard their name mentioned in the past few years and after watching this clip and looking them online it seems as if they are they are the poster boys for the "1 percent". They have somehow risen up to power and the fact that they want to control more of our country and overtur laws that protect the middle class is appalling. This website offers a pretty good explanation of what their beliefs are. Very troubling.
I think the Koch brothers are a prime example of what Domhoff speaks about in "Who Rules America" The 1 percent consistently uses their wealth to influence politics and in the Koch brother's case it is can be detrimental to the structure of our society. They are funding the right wing Tea Party which is seeking to eliminate many of the programs that are essential to the middle class.
When asked my opinion about the Koch brothers, I have two different beliefs and arguments about their actions. My first belief is that what the Koch brothers are doing is unethical. Through a complex system of politics and business, the Koch brothers are able to fund certain candidates' advertisements and campaigns. Many people believe that because the Koch brothers have hundreds of millions of dollars to to spend at their exposure, they are "buying ballots" and ultimately buying GOP seats in congress. This scenario does expose the flaw in American politics (and society in general) that the more capital one has, the more powerful and influential they are. However, my other opinion about the Koch brothers is a little different. Whether you believe that what the Koch brothers are doing is unethical or not, you cannot pin the blame on them. If there was any one thing to blame, it's the system. Super PACs allow any entity to donate unlimited amounts of money to campaigns or organizations. If America wanted to outlaw what the Koch brothers are doing, they should attack the the system, not the players.
As many of you have already noted, this clip does reflect some of the points that G. William Domhoff makes in "Who Rules America". Those who have money are able to use it to influence things like politics and in doing so they are able to have their ideologies passed off to the masses. This continues to work in their favor and keeps them at the top of the pyramid unless those same masses (whether followers or not) either become aware of the corruption that is taking place and/or do something about it.
This reminds of the recent Monsanto commercials that I have seen on television. Monsanto is a large agricultural biotechnology corporation that is know for producing many of the bioengineered seeds used to grow crops and other plants. They are also infamous for their use of GMO's and chemicals that go into the food that we eventually consume. Their commercial was just like the one in the Jon Stewart clip. It portrayed happy people, sunshine, and pristine crops. This is a coat of sugar on what they are actually doing and the commercial obviously seeks to show people how much "good" the company is doing/ will do. A bunch of hogwash is what it really is. But it is up to people to be able to decipher fact from fiction.
The Koch brothers are prime examples of the elite controlling our government through never ending money and corruption. This is exactly what G. William Domhoff was talking about in Who Rules America? It is tragic that our democratic system is not truly democratic, because the members of the elite, upper class have more control over our government and society than those of other social classes. People say that money cannot buy happiness, but Domhoff was right, it can buy our government.
This satirical piece shows the seriousness of how the rich dominate politics in America through campaign donations. The add mocks the PR move of the Koch industries, where they try to show the company as being a staple in American life and well-being. The mock add talks about robber barons, which points to the idea that the Koch brothers engage in disingenuous business practices. The mock add builds on this by showing the negative effects of the company's insistence of using fossil fuels.
The Koch brothers represent a larger problem. Incredibly wealth members of American society are able to have a disproportionate influence in American political and economic activities. Another example is Sheldon Adelson, who essentially funded Newt Gingrich's message in the 2012 elections. This disproportionate influence allows for policies that favor this small group of people, allowing them to maintain or augment their status as society's elites.
I think my biggest takeaway here is the power of advertising combined with a lack of knowledge. I have heard of the Koch industries before but when I saw this commercial live when I watched this episode of The Daily Show, I didn't make the connection between the brothers who I've heard are "evil" (as john Stewart also put it) and the actual ad. I think it just shows that its really easy to control peoples images and influence peoples feelings toward something. If Jon Stewart hadn't pointed it out I wouldn't have noticed anything wrong with the ad or really even acknowledged it, especially because it was during the commercial break of a show whose opinions align with mine. Jon Stewart even pointed out that without the full story the ad may have even seemed inspiring and uplifting to some. - Ana Kyriakos
This clip seems to be showing the ability to hide true intentions through advertising. Despite the Koch brothers using their influence to further their own causes, the commercial masks that by making itself out to be a stand up company. If it weren't for the actual background information on the company provided by The Daily Show most people would be none the wiser about what this company is actually like. This to can lead back to the fact that the Koch brothers are so wealthy which allows them to create advertisements which show them in such a positive light.
The commercial is using advertising to manipulate the public in believing that they are friendly to the environment and to people. I think that they use a baby so you would perceive the company as being an innocent child that can do no harm to no one, even if they messed up it was out of pure innocence and they really did not mean it. John Stewart shows through comedy the true harm the two brothers are doing to the environment and how much power they have. First I believe there should be a cap on wealth in the United States and to spend close to 237 million dollars to manipulate elections should be illegal. Everyone can be corrupted by wealth and it seems that they are corrupting the right people to get what they want. This is a prime example of inequality for the everyday citizen does not have the power to control our government in doing what we truly want, which is to be for the people by the people. Instead it is more like for the few to control the people. -Joshua Zidek
It is sad that American politics are not based on what the people want but rather based on who gives the most money to the government (lobbiests). The Koch brothers are a prime example of this, as they sway the public with ethereal images of the environment and the good they are doing for this country. In reality, the Koch brothers could care less about what the people of this country want and are only out to profit themselves. This can be directly related back to Domhoff's Who Rules America? The answer is, those with the most money.
The relationship between wealth and political influence in the U.S. is one that is borderline undemocratic. This clip highlights the Koch brothers and Koch industries, a very wealthy conglomerate that uses its money for political influence. It gains this influence through campaign financing and donations through PACs and super PACs. They reap the rewards of their investment, when their money helps political leaders get elected, these representatives will vote for laws that are in the interest of the Koch brothers. This relationship between wealthy corporations and politicians highlights inequality in the country because it is an example of how the rich are able to use their money to gain political influence. If the rich are able to have a hand in politics, the policies they lobby for benefit themselves usually at expense of the middle or poor classes. Laws in the U.S. are influenced by money which serves to widen the gap of inequality in the U.S.
It’s insane that there are not clearly define limits that are properly enforced to stop billionaires like the Koch bothers and other like them from unfairly influencing politics. They are able to throw money at the politician of their picking, and if they get elected then they will of course have some influence over policies. Although each American citizen gets one vote, instances such as this show that the USA and several other countries around the world are not democratic. Although rich individuals like the Koch brothers cannot buy more votes, they can give millions of dollars to a candidate of their choice; the more money a candidate has to use the greater the chance of them being elected. One top of this they have an advertising campaign to make the public believe that they care for the environment.
This clip does a very good job of manipulating the public into believing something that is not true. This clip seems to be showing the ability to hide true intentions through advertising. Despite the Koch brothers using their influence to further their own causes, the commercial masks that by making itself out to be a stand up company. If it weren't for the actual background information on the company provided by The Daily Show most people would be none the wiser about what this company is actually like. This to can lead back to the fact that the Koch brothers are so wealthy which allows them to create advertisements which show them in such a positive light. Caitlin Crouse
This clip really made me question if our country is truly a democracy or not. Yes every has the opportunity to vote. However it is almost like corporations like Koch are able to buy politics and elections. I do believe this is just one example of many corporations who do this type of behavior. This is because corporations lobby for politicians that will sign legislation that benefit there company.
It’s really interesting how companies sugarcoat themselves to cover their asses for the public interest. If commercials were truthful and honest as the parody on Stewart’s show suggests, how would our country look today? The connection between the corporate companies, lobbyists and government officials would look different. Not only would they not be able to completely hide their connections, but the public would be able to have a clearly image of the representatives that they voted into offices.
This clip points out the obvious, “money is power”. In order to have power, you have to have money and what comes with that is respect from others. Money is the most powerful tool a person has because for one it lets your voice to be heard. Money controls everything which is sad but that’s what creates motivation and separates us into groups and allows for us to have leadership. The clips show how the rich have more influence in politics and the citizens. Money helps large corporations shape society and its influence on a political stand point that frames societies points of view.
It is quite discomforting to see the commercial first and then talk through how they use money to gain power. If I would have seen the commercial by itself I would have never thought anything bad about it, or the CEO's of the company. The information that the public receives was nothing like the truth. It made me think about the commercial Walmart has tried to put out since they receive attention for being such crappy employers. In this case, money is used to buy power and to keep the status quo.
Jon Stewart shows the corruption of businesses in this episode through his comedy. Before watching this clip, I too did not know anything about the Koch brothers. However, I learned that they, along with many other business owners, have tried to corrupt consumers and and the public. After watching this video, I also searched the Koch brothers on google so that I can learn more about them and what they have been doing. I learned that the Koch brothers have recently been reported to sneaking conservative ideas into schools by influencing what is taught to children. It has been reported that Koch brothers have spent millions of dollars funding the change in curriculum for history classes. They wanted to enforce the history teachers to teach more about American exceptionalism to students by strictly teaching about the Bill of Rights or the Constitution. I believe that paying millions of dollars to change education to enforce conservative ideas upon students is uncalled for and unethical. Education should be something that should not be biased (should not be liberal or conservative), but rather something with diversity. The fact that the government would allow this type of change to a student's education to be more "American-friendly" because a high ranking member of society flashes a lot of money shows how corrupted America really is
The Koch brothers are a pair of the most powerful people backing the Republican party. Their wealth literally translates into power because as the clip mentions they essentially "own" politicians and possess the ability to influence elections and legislation. Their industry is harmful in a number of ways but it makes money and that is all thats important. They are the reason why campaign finance is in need of reform to get the big money out of politics and let every citizen have an equal ability to influence the results regardless of wealth.
Along with what everyone else has mentioned, I think this clip speaks volumes on the influence of media.I didn't realize how necessary it is to hire people to make you look good, but when you've been as corrupt as the Koch brothers, you need professionals to maintain whatever good image you've got going on. Our channels of media sources are great in numbers and unfortunately in quality as well. They're very convincing and people like John Stewart have taken on a great challenge at deciphering the very thing he was probably hired to do. We kind of need people like John Stewart to point out these inconsistencies and provide transparency and honesty for once. As a communications major, I've become very critical of what I am shown but that was a skill taught to me and if you don't have access to things like a comm class at UMD, then you're set up to be a blind sheep.
I have never heard of the Koch Brothers before this clip, so it was very interesting to find out who they really are. I knew politics was going to come into play just because it was on the daily show. But when the show did their own version of the commercial, you were able to get a REAL sense of what the organization was about. I liked this because if I just saw the regular commercial I wouldn't have thought anything of it but now that I REALLY know what the company is for, and when they showed the quote about how the minimum wage could lead to Nazi-ism, I was perplexed. I honestly don't even know what to say about that because it was just too weird.
Abby, I believe so myself that minim wage could lead to Nazism. The poor will be manipulated that it is not the government that is causing their minim wage but other ethnic groups. Such as illegal migrants from Mexico. The poor in our country believe that they are taking away their jobs which is causing hatred towards them. That can distract them from what is really going on in our country. Might even lead to a modern day Nazi group to go after them. -Joshua Zidek
It's really scary that these guy seem to have a hand in all of America's most important industries. You kind of get the feeling that were the Koch brothers to suddenly withdraw their ubiquitous support, the country would, at least a little bit for a little while, would fall into some sort of y2k bug type of panic. Recently (if you believe in some reports) the Koch brothers have even been attempting to infiltrate the curriculum of schools in certain districts. As we have learned money=power and vice versa, and the power to control resources (including education) has led and will lead to more insidious results, particularly in the case of the Koch brothers.
I think the Koch brothers are a perfect example of controlling the government through money. They make it clear that money is power and use it to overall make themselves more rich. It is also mind-blowing how they can portray themselves as such good people, a great company with great intentions, here to help the American people, when the end result is quite the opposite.
The Koch brothers represent what is wrong with our voting system, and how our government can't effectively work, while stuff like this is going on. They insure that the people being voted for are in their pockets, so as not to disrupt their business and monetary gains. Until there is a limit on contributions to elected officials, we will always have a huge problem in our government.
I agree that setting limits on contributions to elected officials would be beneficial, but I'm not sure it would be effective. People like the Koch brothers could always divide their funds and make donations technically under different names that equate to the same amount. Maybe levying taxes on donations?
Koch Industries seems to be another byproduct of financial hemorrhaging, shrouded by smiling faces and a well organized PR system. I found it interesting that a large amount of their own wealth, is a result of "Dark Money", sourced mainly from political campaigns supporting and lobbying handouts. This serves as another signal of miscarriage of equality within our society.
The Koch brothers are a perfect example of the 'Power Elite,' They have their hands in everything, especially when it comes to public policy. No campaign finance restrictions have a huge part in this. They are the prodigy image of a trickle down economy, these brothers are why are economy is limited to the rich, they do not believe in unions are middle out economics. -Crash
Finding that many politicians are directly influenced by their extremely high campaign contributions is shocking to me. Obviously everyone should be free to express their views through monetary contributions. However, their is a huge difference in 10 dollars and millions of dollars and their effects on politicians. As a government and politics major this disappoints me. I believe that politicians should act on behalf of the people, but apparently they are acting on behalf of the people who put money in their pockets. This is a loss for democracy
Endeavors that bare similar resemblance to those spearheaded by the Koch Brothers are some of the main dilemmas plaguing the nation, holding it back from it's true potential. The fact that the Koch Brothers hide behind the curtain of folly carrying out these "top secret" missions, with a yearning for power, ignited by greed. They construct and manipulate the system in a conniving and disrespectful manner towards the average civilian. This level of deceit is almost overwhelming, as they hold bonds on the political leaders that should to be holding close societies best interest, doing what is best for the country. The world is being stunted in numerous facets by the same people who want the most power, that is not a good combination. - M. Smith
Recent reports have come out showing that the Koch brothers have as much money invested in the 2016 presidential election as either the Republican or Democratic parties. The fact that a family has enough money to influence an election as much as a whole major political party in the most powerful country in the world is startling. This clip brought up the issue earlier when they showed that the Koch Brothers Industries invested money into commercials after the Daily Show which typically points out the dirtiness of their actions. They spend money on things that are counteractive to what the United States needs to do to be great and instead promotes the things that will make them even more rich. It's very very sickening.
Recent reports have come out showing that the Koch brothers have as much money invested in the 2016 presidential election as either the Republican or Democratic parties. The fact that a family has enough money to influence an election as much as a whole major political party in the most powerful country in the world is startling. This clip brought up the issue earlier when they showed that the Koch Brothers Industries invested money into commercials after the Daily Show which typically points out the dirtiness of their actions. They spend money on things that are counteractive to what the United States needs to do to be great and instead promotes the things that will make them even more rich. It's very very sickening.
I've been hearing so much about the Koch brothers lately. Honestly, they worry me. Nobody should have that much power and influence, no matter what their beliefs may be. It completely compromises democracy. And if the video has is accurate, then they already have by buying elections and politicians.. I believe what bothers me even more about the situation is that soo many people don't even care about it. The Koch brothers are giving a $1 million dollar donation to UMD for a business building or something along those lines. The last thing we need is a Koch anything on campus, we certainly don't need anyone like that having decision making power at our institution.
When I first truly learned about Political Action Committees, how campaigns and politicians are funded, and the supposed “restrictions” on these donations, it simply amazed me. There are so many ways to get around those “restrictions” and Koch Industries is the perfect example. I tried to explain it to my father, and he too was astonished. All Americans who vote in this system should know exactly how our “democratic” system works. The first step is understanding that America is NOT and does NOT run on a democratic system. We are a Republic. Your vote counts, but not as much as you would think. You do NOT directly vote for the President, the Electoral College votes for the President, on your behalf (supposedly). As citizens, we do not directly vote on any national matter, we simply choose people to make these decisions for us. Secondly, all voters and non-voters should know that money is power in this country and it always will be, therefore if you do not have the money to make things happen in the political world, it will not happen. The people we elect to make important decisions are heavily impacted by this fact, while all of them may not be corrupt, a good enough amount are corrupt and make decisions solely based on how they will personally benefit. Koch Industries exploits the nature of our governmental system and exploits the people who believe they work for a company who “cares about the people”. The feat of caring about the well-being of all people is impossible for the Koch brothers who want to lower minimum wage.
After I saw the clip, I went and did a little research about the Kock Industries. I did not know that Kock industry existed, so while I was looking for info, I saw that as the chip said, it is a big industry that truly influence not only the US, but also the world. I saw different websites that said" Do not buy Kock's products, here is the list of the companies. I was surprise that it was not just one website but many. Also, there was a application that one can download to may it easier for customers to know which products was made by the Kock Industry. So, although I do not watch these type of shows regularly, I think that what the speaker was saying its true. Kock not only influence the American's votes, but also many regulations within the environment's policies and many other aspects that I never thought of. I know that these kind of influence is hard to change, and it would take time. However, I really hope it changes, at least a bit, for the sake of our environment. What is happening with global warming is a really concern thing for the us. I am always trying to help within what is going on with the polar bears, and to know that the Kock brothers are one of the responsible, I get really mad. How can two brothers have such a big influence withing America is truly a fact that there is social inequality withing America society. And that is not only influence America, but the entire world. Its something that really makes me concern about our future.
This is a perfect ad for campaign finance reform if I ever saw one. The CRP (which is non-partisan, independent and non-profit) has a database of campaign contributions, showing for instance that Koch Idustries (through PAC:s and individual contributions) were the main contributors to James Inhofe's campaign for the Senate. This is the same Senator who is the chairman of the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee and who took a snowball into Congress in February to "disprove" global warming by saying that it was very cold in DC that week and therefore global warming doesn't exist. And this is just one of the many politicians that the Koch brothers are backing. While I think boycotts against Koch Industries products are good, I think campaign finance reform needs to go a lot further if the situation is going to change. - Malin Niklasson
This video clip points to two main phenomenon which threaten American democracy and society. The first one is the fact that large corporations like the Koch Industries, are allowed through campaign ’campaign contributions’ to political candidates in elections (which are very expensive on a state level making it almost impossible for a candidate to run without getting financial support from large corporations). What this does is that it allows companies to have an extra influence on the policies since the majority of the politicians are financially dependent on contributions (which they might not get if they are not obedient). The other one is that large corporations are also very much controlling the media which, as we know, make their profit primarily through advertising. This might seem not harmful but in reality it does influence the content of the media to a large degree. What Stewart does in this clip, if the Koch Industries indeed did purchase advertising time on his channel, is nothing short of a protest. By criticizing the one who indirectly pays his salary, he makes a statement and most likely Comedy Central loses a company willing to advertise. - Visar Berisha
This clip brought attention to many of the problems in society that continue to go unanswered and to this day are still not very clear to many Americans. The major influence that large corporations like Koch Industries have on policies has gone unnoticed and this short clip brings it to light. As taxpayers it is important for us to know how are tax money is being used and ensuring that it is being used properly to improve our nation. The ridiculous amount of control that these large corporations have on the media is vital when it comes to explaining why advertisements have been so successful. A successful advertisement is always judged by the amount of money it brings in so the influence that large corporations can have on the media is extremely important.
I have to say first that I am bias towards the daily show because I absolutely love it. I had heard about the Koch brothers but I did not know what they had done for everyone to have started talking about them. I like hearing what is going on through this show because it makes me feel like I have a break from being worried and depressed about the reality that is the US. Clearly the government system is rigged but yet we are taught to believe that the US is the best example democracy.
The idea that we live in a fine democratic nation is a joke. The fact that you can essentially buy a president makes me realize how ineffective our form of government really is. I believe that there should be a limit to how much a person can donate to campaigns and the like. But knowing this country, I am sure some loopholes would be found to exploit that system in favor of the wealthy as well. -Damarr Gordon
This video did not really tell me much besides the obvious that the Koch brothers basically own the entire world. It does make me wonder however how they were able to gain such power. Also it makes me wonder how they were able to gain so much power. Koch Industries seems like a corporation that could be deemed "too big to fail" since they have some kind of influence in the lives of Americans from birth through death. I wonder if it is really the Koch brothers' fault that they have gained so much power and influence or if it is the nature of American capitalism. We allow companies to become larger and larger through deregulation and then fault them for taking advantage of this system. You can look at the late Citizens United Supreme Court Case that protected and gave unlimited donations to politicians under the guise of freedom of speech as an enabler for this level of corporate control.
The Koch Brothers are everything that is wrong with campaign finance in America. The video shows how their enormous wealth and use of dark-money PAC's to fund the conservative agenda is corrupting politics. -Gregory Brown
There are a number of politicians who are very influenced by large corporations, mainly because they are providing them with their campaign funding. There are a number of organizations that are similar to the Koch Brothers in this country that are preventing America from reaching it’s true potential mainly because these large corporations have a desire for power which is ignited by greed. Organizations such as these are spending money on things such as advertisements, which are irrelevant to the American people.
This clip demonstrates the relationship between the wealthy and politics and who really holds power in America. It is sad how much influence these large corporations really have on American politics unknown to the American public. Videos and articles like this make me question a lot of our political system, who makes our decisions and the way our government is run.
Well, I did not know how much the Koch brothers are a part of my life. The sad part is that there are so many organization that are “running” our daily lives, and we are not aware of them. That is too much power for two people to have in America.
This just reinforces the idea that the rules (which are made to keep everyone free and give everyone power) don’t really stop the rich from exerting their influence on the world. With their resources, they are in a good position to exploit loopholes and have the ability to adapt their empires to achieve this. Ironically, the 99% without money and connections are limited the most.
I remember our professor mentioning the Koch Brothers once and decided to do a little research, and what I found almost terrified me. Being in a society where money is the most valued thing, I am not surprised by this video. But what scares me is how few people have ownership over most of the money that circulates through our country, and those same individuals don't share the same views as I do. This just means that as long as there are people in the world who are easily influenced by money, then people like the Koch Brothers will eventually be able to run my life, if they already aren't. It sounds like Jon wasn't too thrilled about having the brothers as sponsors, but again he obviously has no control in the situation, which is exactly how most of us 99% feel.
Politics and Government was never meant to be based around money and power. Everything has become so convoluted and intertwined. These organizations that run our lives were meant to secure our rights and freedoms, and instead they are the very thing that is policing us, rendering us prisoners.
There are a number of politicians who are very influenced by large corporations, mainly because they are providing them with their campaign funding. There are a number of organizations that are similar to the Koch Brothers in this country that are preventing America from reaching it’s true potential mainly because these large corporations have a desire for power which is ignited by greed. Organizations such as these are spending money on things such as advertisements, which are irrelevant to the American people.
I completely agree with Jon Stewart's comments on the Koch Brothers and their business practices. I feel as though our society sometimes forgets how much control big business has over our lives and the political power they hold. It is frightening that businesses like the Koch Brothers have such an influence on our day-to-day lives and also have selfish intentions. Rather than using their power to benefit our society, they instead manipulate their control to make the most profit for themselves and mold their consumers to be blinded to this manipulation. This video enticed me to have a better understanding of what big companies are influencing my life on a daily basis.
Recent studies showed that most young people gather their political ideologies and views based off reports from comedian/reporters Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. Their influence is widespread and people must learn how to determine what is sarcasm or what is intended to open people’s eyes. Before viewing this clip I had never heard of the Koch brothers or Koch industries. After this clip I googled them and saw the amount of money they spent on the most recent elections. These men use their wealth and a monetary donation of $290 million, so that they can elect officials who will help them keep their wealth and business ethics. The commercial that Stewart’s show doctored based off the initial commercial shows the lack of responsibility these men feel in keeping the environment clean. They are not upfront about the organizations that they give their money too. This clip reminded me of the corruption that occurs daily amongst politicians and those looking to not better the nation, but only help themselves
ReplyDeleteThis clip clearly illustrates the corruption that is amongst our government and elite. The wealthy use their wealth to protect their income and mask the harm they cause the rest of us. This clip does a great job of using sarcasm to reveal the true intentions of wealthy corporations such as Kock industries. I never thought of it that way. I thought that by protecting their wealth it simply meant ensuring that their corporation constantly gained profit through for example, protecting their workers but it goes far beyond that. Kock Industries is just the first of many wealthy businesses that use their money in politics to make sure the political officials that help them keep their wealth are elected while refusing to show the public the true harm it does to the planet and people. It's important that people learn about the corruption within these wealthy corporations and politics so we too can stop feeding and supporting these sneaky wealthy people. This was truly eye opening.
ReplyDeleteThis clip simply reinforces what we read in “Who Rules America?” how the corporate rich is really triumphing and having more influence in politics than regular, everyday citizens. This encompasses the title of the class, how in a supposedly democratic system, a man with more economic resources and wealth has more of a say in American politics than the average, everyday person. This kind of participation among the brothers helps insinuate American inequality, and keeps the poor in a vicious cycle that they can’t escape from.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matthew, the first thing I thought of while watching the video was Who Rules America. An entire chapter is devoted to corporate America and the influence on the government. The money that the corporations have has become the main incentive for influencing policy decisions and candidate selection. We live in a Democracy where each and every one of its citizens has a voice, yet the rich are the ones that pose influence for most policies. This is another factor that increases the inequality in the US.
ReplyDeleteThis clip is a clear demonstration of the claim that "money is power". The Koch brothers devote, according to the clip, huge amounts of money to politicians to influence their voting, and alongside own many companies that rule in day to day industry. That is power. Controlling the means of production and not being able to be stopped because their money is their fuel. Having such great influence because of money is easy to maintain, even when it occurs against what the people actually want.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm glad I now who is responsible for relocating my polar bear.
The clip shows how money controls politics. We live in a democracy but it is controlled by individuals of corporate America. These big corporations shape our politics and show what they believe should be the image that should be projected to the media.
ReplyDeleteThis clip is a prime example of how the corporate community sets the agenda for what we see and what is really being done. False advertisement is frown upon on a small scale. For example vibram shoes receiving much backlash when it was proven that their finger shoes were actually horrible of your back. However, when the koch brothers release an ad to paint a more desirable picture than the actual one it is ok? Money is power and the more money in the conversation the more the rules are bent in their favor. John Stewart does a great job of laying out the true behind the fake image put out into the world. These types of shows are good for the public to see because someone has to stand up to the fluff. Someone needs to speak the true and not worry about the backlash. If these people are in the schools,they are basically shaping the minds of the youth.
ReplyDeleteKendall Heatley
This was my first time learning about the Koch Brothers and I must say they don't seem like the nicest folk. I have heard their name mentioned in the past few years and after watching this clip and looking them online it seems as if they are they are the poster boys for the "1 percent". They have somehow risen up to power and the fact that they want to control more of our country and overtur laws that protect the middle class is appalling. This website offers a pretty good explanation of what their beliefs are. Very troubling.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sanders.senate.gov/koch-brothers
Trini92
I think the Koch brothers are a prime example of what Domhoff speaks about in "Who Rules America" The 1 percent consistently uses their wealth to influence politics and in the Koch brother's case it is can be detrimental to the structure of our society. They are funding the right wing Tea Party which is seeking to eliminate many of the programs that are essential to the middle class.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked my opinion about the Koch brothers, I have two different beliefs and arguments about their actions. My first belief is that what the Koch brothers are doing is unethical. Through a complex system of politics and business, the Koch brothers are able to fund certain candidates' advertisements and campaigns. Many people believe that because the Koch brothers have hundreds of millions of dollars to to spend at their exposure, they are "buying ballots" and ultimately buying GOP seats in congress. This scenario does expose the flaw in American politics (and society in general) that the more capital one has, the more powerful and influential they are.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my other opinion about the Koch brothers is a little different. Whether you believe that what the Koch brothers are doing is unethical or not, you cannot pin the blame on them. If there was any one thing to blame, it's the system. Super PACs allow any entity to donate unlimited amounts of money to campaigns or organizations. If America wanted to outlaw what the Koch brothers are doing, they should attack the the system, not the players.
As many of you have already noted, this clip does reflect some of the points that G. William Domhoff makes in "Who Rules America". Those who have money are able to use it to influence things like politics and in doing so they are able to have their ideologies passed off to the masses. This continues to work in their favor and keeps them at the top of the pyramid unless those same masses (whether followers or not) either become aware of the corruption that is taking place and/or do something about it.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds of the recent Monsanto commercials that I have seen on television. Monsanto is a large agricultural biotechnology corporation that is know for producing many of the bioengineered seeds used to grow crops and other plants. They are also infamous for their use of GMO's and chemicals that go into the food that we eventually consume. Their commercial was just like the one in the Jon Stewart clip. It portrayed happy people, sunshine, and pristine crops. This is a coat of sugar on what they are actually doing and the commercial obviously seeks to show people how much "good" the company is doing/ will do. A bunch of hogwash is what it really is. But it is up to people to be able to decipher fact from fiction.
The Koch brothers are prime examples of the elite controlling our government through never ending money and corruption. This is exactly what G. William Domhoff was talking about in Who Rules America? It is tragic that our democratic system is not truly democratic, because the members of the elite, upper class have more control over our government and society than those of other social classes. People say that money cannot buy happiness, but Domhoff was right, it can buy our government.
ReplyDeleteLindsey Stalnaker
This satirical piece shows the seriousness of how the rich dominate politics in America through campaign donations. The add mocks the PR move of the Koch industries, where they try to show the company as being a staple in American life and well-being. The mock add talks about robber barons, which points to the idea that the Koch brothers engage in disingenuous business practices. The mock add builds on this by showing the negative effects of the company's insistence of using fossil fuels.
ReplyDeleteThe Koch brothers represent a larger problem. Incredibly wealth members of American society are able to have a disproportionate influence in American political and economic activities. Another example is Sheldon Adelson, who essentially funded Newt Gingrich's message in the 2012 elections. This disproportionate influence allows for policies that favor this small group of people, allowing them to maintain or augment their status as society's elites.
I think my biggest takeaway here is the power of advertising combined with a lack of knowledge. I have heard of the Koch industries before but when I saw this commercial live when I watched this episode of The Daily Show, I didn't make the connection between the brothers who I've heard are "evil" (as john Stewart also put it) and the actual ad. I think it just shows that its really easy to control peoples images and influence peoples feelings toward something. If Jon Stewart hadn't pointed it out I wouldn't have noticed anything wrong with the ad or really even acknowledged it, especially because it was during the commercial break of a show whose opinions align with mine. Jon Stewart even pointed out that without the full story the ad may have even seemed inspiring and uplifting to some.
ReplyDelete- Ana Kyriakos
This clip seems to be showing the ability to hide true intentions through advertising. Despite the Koch brothers using their influence to further their own causes, the commercial masks that by making itself out to be a stand up company. If it weren't for the actual background information on the company provided by The Daily Show most people would be none the wiser about what this company is actually like. This to can lead back to the fact that the Koch brothers are so wealthy which allows them to create advertisements which show them in such a positive light.
ReplyDelete-Matt Fera
The commercial is using advertising to manipulate the public in believing that they are friendly to the environment and to people. I think that they use a baby so you would perceive the company as being an innocent child that can do no harm to no one, even if they messed up it was out of pure innocence and they really did not mean it. John Stewart shows through comedy the true harm the two brothers are doing to the environment and how much power they have. First I believe there should be a cap on wealth in the United States and to spend close to 237 million dollars to manipulate elections should be illegal. Everyone can be corrupted by wealth and it seems that they are corrupting the right people to get what they want. This is a prime example of inequality for the everyday citizen does not have the power to control our government in doing what we truly want, which is to be for the people by the people. Instead it is more like for the few to control the people.
ReplyDelete-Joshua Zidek
It is sad that American politics are not based on what the people want but rather based on who gives the most money to the government (lobbiests). The Koch brothers are a prime example of this, as they sway the public with ethereal images of the environment and the good they are doing for this country. In reality, the Koch brothers could care less about what the people of this country want and are only out to profit themselves. This can be directly related back to Domhoff's Who Rules America? The answer is, those with the most money.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between wealth and political influence in the U.S. is one that is borderline undemocratic. This clip highlights the Koch brothers and Koch industries, a very wealthy conglomerate that uses its money for political influence. It gains this influence through campaign financing and donations through PACs and super PACs. They reap the rewards of their investment, when their money helps political leaders get elected, these representatives will vote for laws that are in the interest of the Koch brothers. This relationship between wealthy corporations and politicians highlights inequality in the country because it is an example of how the rich are able to use their money to gain political influence. If the rich are able to have a hand in politics, the policies they lobby for benefit themselves usually at expense of the middle or poor classes. Laws in the U.S. are influenced by money which serves to widen the gap of inequality in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteIt’s insane that there are not clearly define limits that are properly enforced to stop billionaires like the Koch bothers and other like them from unfairly influencing politics. They are able to throw money at the politician of their picking, and if they get elected then they will of course have some influence over policies. Although each American citizen gets one vote, instances such as this show that the USA and several other countries around the world are not democratic. Although rich individuals like the Koch brothers cannot buy more votes, they can give millions of dollars to a candidate of their choice; the more money a candidate has to use the greater the chance of them being elected. One top of this they have an advertising campaign to make the public believe that they care for the environment.
ReplyDeleteThis clip does a very good job of manipulating the public into believing something that is not true. This clip seems to be showing the ability to hide true intentions through advertising. Despite the Koch brothers using their influence to further their own causes, the commercial masks that by making itself out to be a stand up company. If it weren't for the actual background information on the company provided by The Daily Show most people would be none the wiser about what this company is actually like. This to can lead back to the fact that the Koch brothers are so wealthy which allows them to create advertisements which show them in such a positive light.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin Crouse
This clip really made me question if our country is truly a democracy or not. Yes every has the opportunity to vote. However it is almost like corporations like Koch are able to buy politics and elections. I do believe this is just one example of many corporations who do this type of behavior. This is because corporations lobby for politicians that will sign legislation that benefit there company.
ReplyDeleteIt’s really interesting how companies sugarcoat themselves to cover their asses for the public interest. If commercials were truthful and honest as the parody on Stewart’s show suggests, how would our country look today? The connection between the corporate companies, lobbyists and government officials would look different. Not only would they not be able to completely hide their connections, but the public would be able to have a clearly image of the representatives that they voted into offices.
ReplyDeleteThis clip points out the obvious, “money is power”. In order to have power, you have to have money and what comes with that is respect from others. Money is the most powerful tool a person has because for one it lets your voice to be heard. Money controls everything which is sad but that’s what creates motivation and separates us into groups and allows for us to have leadership. The clips show how the rich have more influence in politics and the citizens. Money helps large corporations shape society and its influence on a political stand point that frames societies points of view.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite discomforting to see the commercial first and then talk through how they use money to gain power. If I would have seen the commercial by itself I would have never thought anything bad about it, or the CEO's of the company. The information that the public receives was nothing like the truth. It made me think about the commercial Walmart has tried to put out since they receive attention for being such crappy employers. In this case, money is used to buy power and to keep the status quo.
ReplyDeleteJon Stewart shows the corruption of businesses in this episode through his comedy. Before watching this clip, I too did not know anything about the Koch brothers. However, I learned that they, along with many other business owners, have tried to corrupt consumers and and the public. After watching this video, I also searched the Koch brothers on google so that I can learn more about them and what they have been doing. I learned that the Koch brothers have recently been reported to sneaking conservative ideas into schools by influencing what is taught to children. It has been reported that Koch brothers have spent millions of dollars funding the change in curriculum for history classes. They wanted to enforce the history teachers to teach more about American exceptionalism to students by strictly teaching about the Bill of Rights or the Constitution. I believe that paying millions of dollars to change education to enforce conservative ideas upon students is uncalled for and unethical. Education should be something that should not be biased (should not be liberal or conservative), but rather something with diversity. The fact that the government would allow this type of change to a student's education to be more "American-friendly" because a high ranking member of society flashes a lot of money shows how corrupted America really is
ReplyDeleteThe Koch brothers are a pair of the most powerful people backing the Republican party. Their wealth literally translates into power because as the clip mentions they essentially "own" politicians and possess the ability to influence elections and legislation. Their industry is harmful in a number of ways but it makes money and that is all thats important. They are the reason why campaign finance is in need of reform to get the big money out of politics and let every citizen have an equal ability to influence the results regardless of wealth.
ReplyDeleteJack O'Connor
Along with what everyone else has mentioned, I think this clip speaks volumes on the influence of media.I didn't realize how necessary it is to hire people to make you look good, but when you've been as corrupt as the Koch brothers, you need professionals to maintain whatever good image you've got going on. Our channels of media sources are great in numbers and unfortunately in quality as well. They're very convincing and people like John Stewart have taken on a great challenge at deciphering the very thing he was probably hired to do. We kind of need people like John Stewart to point out these inconsistencies and provide transparency and honesty for once. As a communications major, I've become very critical of what I am shown but that was a skill taught to me and if you don't have access to things like a comm class at UMD, then you're set up to be a blind sheep.
ReplyDelete-Semira Tesfai
I have never heard of the Koch Brothers before this clip, so it was very interesting to find out who they really are. I knew politics was going to come into play just because it was on the daily show. But when the show did their own version of the commercial, you were able to get a REAL sense of what the organization was about. I liked this because if I just saw the regular commercial I wouldn't have thought anything of it but now that I REALLY know what the company is for, and when they showed the quote about how the minimum wage could lead to Nazi-ism, I was perplexed. I honestly don't even know what to say about that because it was just too weird.
ReplyDeleteAbby, I believe so myself that minim wage could lead to Nazism. The poor will be manipulated that it is not the government that is causing their minim wage but other ethnic groups. Such as illegal migrants from Mexico. The poor in our country believe that they are taking away their jobs which is causing hatred towards them. That can distract them from what is really going on in our country. Might even lead to a modern day Nazi group to go after them.
ReplyDelete-Joshua Zidek
It's really scary that these guy seem to have a hand in all of America's most important industries. You kind of get the feeling that were the Koch brothers to suddenly withdraw their ubiquitous support, the country would, at least a little bit for a little while, would fall into some sort of y2k bug type of panic. Recently (if you believe in some reports) the Koch brothers have even been attempting to infiltrate the curriculum of schools in certain districts. As we have learned money=power and vice versa, and the power to control resources (including education) has led and will lead to more insidious results, particularly in the case of the Koch brothers.
ReplyDeleteLindsay Bonaparte
I think the Koch brothers are a perfect example of controlling the government through money. They make it clear that money is power and use it to overall make themselves more rich. It is also mind-blowing how they can portray themselves as such good people, a great company with great intentions, here to help the American people, when the end result is quite the opposite.
ReplyDelete- Hannah Lamotte
The Koch brothers represent what is wrong with our voting system, and how our government can't effectively work, while stuff like this is going on. They insure that the people being voted for are in their pockets, so as not to disrupt their business and monetary gains. Until there is a limit on contributions to elected officials, we will always have a huge problem in our government.
ReplyDeleteMichael Lerche
I agree that setting limits on contributions to elected officials would be beneficial, but I'm not sure it would be effective. People like the Koch brothers could always divide their funds and make donations technically under different names that equate to the same amount. Maybe levying taxes on donations?
DeleteKoch Industries seems to be another byproduct of financial hemorrhaging, shrouded by smiling faces and a well organized PR system. I found it interesting that a large amount of their own wealth, is a result of "Dark Money", sourced mainly from political campaigns supporting and lobbying handouts. This serves as another signal of miscarriage of equality within our society.
ReplyDeleteThe Koch brothers are a perfect example of the 'Power Elite,' They have their hands in everything, especially when it comes to public policy. No campaign finance restrictions have a huge part in this. They are the prodigy image of a trickle down economy, these brothers are why are economy is limited to the rich, they do not believe in unions are middle out economics.
ReplyDelete-Crash
Finding that many politicians are directly influenced by their extremely high campaign contributions is shocking to me. Obviously everyone should be free to express their views through monetary contributions. However, their is a huge difference in 10 dollars and millions of dollars and their effects on politicians. As a government and politics major this disappoints me. I believe that politicians should act on behalf of the people, but apparently they are acting on behalf of the people who put money in their pockets. This is a loss for democracy
ReplyDeleteEndeavors that bare similar resemblance to those spearheaded by the Koch Brothers are some of the main dilemmas plaguing the nation, holding it back from it's true potential. The fact that the Koch Brothers hide behind the curtain of folly carrying out these "top secret" missions, with a yearning for power, ignited by greed. They construct and manipulate the system in a conniving and disrespectful manner towards the average civilian. This level of deceit is almost overwhelming, as they hold bonds on the political leaders that should to be holding close societies best interest, doing what is best for the country. The world is being stunted in numerous facets by the same people who want the most power, that is not a good combination. - M. Smith
ReplyDeleteRecent reports have come out showing that the Koch brothers have as much money invested in the 2016 presidential election as either the Republican or Democratic parties. The fact that a family has enough money to influence an election as much as a whole major political party in the most powerful country in the world is startling. This clip brought up the issue earlier when they showed that the Koch Brothers Industries invested money into commercials after the Daily Show which typically points out the dirtiness of their actions. They spend money on things that are counteractive to what the United States needs to do to be great and instead promotes the things that will make them even more rich. It's very very sickening.
ReplyDeleteRecent reports have come out showing that the Koch brothers have as much money invested in the 2016 presidential election as either the Republican or Democratic parties. The fact that a family has enough money to influence an election as much as a whole major political party in the most powerful country in the world is startling. This clip brought up the issue earlier when they showed that the Koch Brothers Industries invested money into commercials after the Daily Show which typically points out the dirtiness of their actions. They spend money on things that are counteractive to what the United States needs to do to be great and instead promotes the things that will make them even more rich. It's very very sickening.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing so much about the Koch brothers lately. Honestly, they worry me. Nobody should have that much power and influence, no matter what their beliefs may be. It completely compromises democracy. And if the video has is accurate, then they already have by buying elections and politicians.. I believe what bothers me even more about the situation is that soo many people don't even care about it. The Koch brothers are giving a $1 million dollar donation to UMD for a business building or something along those lines. The last thing we need is a Koch anything on campus, we certainly don't need anyone like that having decision making power at our institution.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first truly learned about Political Action Committees, how campaigns and politicians are funded, and the supposed “restrictions” on these donations, it simply amazed me. There are so many ways to get around those “restrictions” and Koch Industries is the perfect example. I tried to explain it to my father, and he too was astonished. All Americans who vote in this system should know exactly how our “democratic” system works. The first step is understanding that America is NOT and does NOT run on a democratic system. We are a Republic. Your vote counts, but not as much as you would think. You do NOT directly vote for the President, the Electoral College votes for the President, on your behalf (supposedly). As citizens, we do not directly vote on any national matter, we simply choose people to make these decisions for us. Secondly, all voters and non-voters should know that money is power in this country and it always will be, therefore if you do not have the money to make things happen in the political world, it will not happen. The people we elect to make important decisions are heavily impacted by this fact, while all of them may not be corrupt, a good enough amount are corrupt and make decisions solely based on how they will personally benefit. Koch Industries exploits the nature of our governmental system and exploits the people who believe they work for a company who “cares about the people”. The feat of caring about the well-being of all people is impossible for the Koch brothers who want to lower minimum wage.
ReplyDeleteAfter I saw the clip, I went and did a little research about the Kock Industries. I did not know that Kock industry existed, so while I was looking for info, I saw that as the chip said, it is a big industry that truly influence not only the US, but also the world. I saw different websites that said" Do not buy Kock's products, here is the list of the companies. I was surprise that it was not just one website but many. Also, there was a application that one can download to may it easier for customers to know which products was made by the Kock Industry. So, although I do not watch these type of shows regularly, I think that what the speaker was saying its true. Kock not only influence the American's votes, but also many regulations within the environment's policies and many other aspects that I never thought of. I know that these kind of influence is hard to change, and it would take time. However, I really hope it changes, at least a bit, for the sake of our environment. What is happening with global warming is a really concern thing for the us. I am always trying to help within what is going on with the polar bears, and to know that the Kock brothers are one of the responsible, I get really mad. How can two brothers have such a big influence withing America is truly a fact that there is social inequality withing America society. And that is not only influence America, but the entire world. Its something that really makes me concern about our future.
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect ad for campaign finance reform if I ever saw one. The CRP (which is non-partisan, independent and non-profit) has a database of campaign contributions, showing for instance that Koch Idustries (through PAC:s and individual contributions) were the main contributors to James Inhofe's campaign for the Senate. This is the same Senator who is the chairman of the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee and who took a snowball into Congress in February to "disprove" global warming by saying that it was very cold in DC that week and therefore global warming doesn't exist. And this is just one of the many politicians that the Koch brothers are backing. While I think boycotts against Koch Industries products are good, I think campaign finance reform needs to go a lot further if the situation is going to change. - Malin Niklasson
ReplyDeleteThis video clip points to two main phenomenon which threaten American democracy and society. The first one is the fact that large corporations like the Koch Industries, are allowed through campaign ’campaign contributions’ to political candidates in elections (which are very expensive on a state level making it almost impossible for a candidate to run without getting financial support from large corporations). What this does is that it allows companies to have an extra influence on the policies since the majority of the politicians are financially dependent on contributions (which they might not get if they are not obedient). The other one is that large corporations are also very much controlling the media which, as we know, make their profit primarily through advertising. This might seem not harmful but in reality it does influence the content of the media to a large degree. What Stewart does in this clip, if the Koch Industries indeed did purchase advertising time on his channel, is nothing short of a protest. By criticizing the one who indirectly pays his salary, he makes a statement and most likely Comedy Central loses a company willing to advertise. - Visar Berisha
ReplyDeleteThis clip brought attention to many of the problems in society that continue to go unanswered and to this day are still not very clear to many Americans. The major influence that large corporations like Koch Industries have on policies has gone unnoticed and this short clip brings it to light. As taxpayers it is important for us to know how are tax money is being used and ensuring that it is being used properly to improve our nation. The ridiculous amount of control that these large corporations have on the media is vital when it comes to explaining why advertisements have been so successful. A successful advertisement is always judged by the amount of money it brings in so the influence that large corporations can have on the media is extremely important.
ReplyDeleteI have to say first that I am bias towards the daily show because I absolutely love it. I had heard about the Koch brothers but I did not know what they had done for everyone to have started talking about them. I like hearing what is going on through this show because it makes me feel like I have a break from being worried and depressed about the reality that is the US. Clearly the government system is rigged but yet we are taught to believe that the US is the best example democracy.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that we live in a fine democratic nation is a joke. The fact that you can essentially buy a president makes me realize how ineffective our form of government really is. I believe that there should be a limit to how much a person can donate to campaigns and the like. But knowing this country, I am sure some loopholes would be found to exploit that system in favor of the wealthy as well. -Damarr Gordon
ReplyDeleteThis video did not really tell me much besides the obvious that the Koch brothers basically own the entire world. It does make me wonder however how they were able to gain such power. Also it makes me wonder how they were able to gain so much power. Koch Industries seems like a corporation that could be deemed "too big to fail" since they have some kind of influence in the lives of Americans from birth through death. I wonder if it is really the Koch brothers' fault that they have gained so much power and influence or if it is the nature of American capitalism. We allow companies to become larger and larger through deregulation and then fault them for taking advantage of this system. You can look at the late Citizens United Supreme Court Case that protected and gave unlimited donations to politicians under the guise of freedom of speech as an enabler for this level of corporate control.
ReplyDeleteThe Koch Brothers are everything that is wrong with campaign finance in America. The video shows how their enormous wealth and use of dark-money PAC's to fund the conservative agenda is corrupting politics.
ReplyDelete-Gregory Brown
There are a number of politicians who are very influenced by large corporations, mainly because they are providing them with their campaign funding. There are a number of organizations that are similar to the Koch Brothers in this country that are preventing America from reaching it’s true potential mainly because these large corporations have a desire for power which is ignited by greed. Organizations such as these are spending money on things such as advertisements, which are irrelevant to the American people.
ReplyDeleteThis clip demonstrates the relationship between the wealthy and politics and who really holds power in America. It is sad how much influence these large corporations really have on American politics unknown to the American public. Videos and articles like this make me question a lot of our political system, who makes our decisions and the way our government is run.
ReplyDeleteWell, I did not know how much the Koch brothers are a part of my life. The sad part is that there are so many organization that are “running” our daily lives, and we are not aware of them. That is too much power for two people to have in America.
ReplyDeleteThis just reinforces the idea that the rules (which are made to keep everyone free and give everyone power) don’t really stop the rich from exerting their influence on the world. With their resources, they are in a good position to exploit loopholes and have the ability to adapt their empires to achieve this. Ironically, the 99% without money and connections are limited the most.
ReplyDeleteI remember our professor mentioning the Koch Brothers once and decided to do a little research, and what I found almost terrified me. Being in a society where money is the most valued thing, I am not surprised by this video. But what scares me is how few people have ownership over most of the money that circulates through our country, and those same individuals don't share the same views as I do. This just means that as long as there are people in the world who are easily influenced by money, then people like the Koch Brothers will eventually be able to run my life, if they already aren't. It sounds like Jon wasn't too thrilled about having the brothers as sponsors, but again he obviously has no control in the situation, which is exactly how most of us 99% feel.
ReplyDeletePolitics and Government was never meant to be based around money and power. Everything has become so convoluted and intertwined. These organizations that run our lives were meant to secure our rights and freedoms, and instead they are the very thing that is policing us, rendering us prisoners.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of politicians who are very influenced by large corporations, mainly because they are providing them with their campaign funding. There are a number of organizations that are similar to the Koch Brothers in this country that are preventing America from reaching it’s true potential mainly because these large corporations have a desire for power which is ignited by greed. Organizations such as these are spending money on things such as advertisements, which are irrelevant to the American people.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Jon Stewart's comments on the Koch Brothers and their business practices. I feel as though our society sometimes forgets how much control big business has over our lives and the political power they hold. It is frightening that businesses like the Koch Brothers have such an influence on our day-to-day lives and also have selfish intentions. Rather than using their power to benefit our society, they instead manipulate their control to make the most profit for themselves and mold their consumers to be blinded to this manipulation. This video enticed me to have a better understanding of what big companies are influencing my life on a daily basis.
ReplyDelete