Americans for Posterity. In your face, David Koch.

Five cousins

by Len Bahr, Ph.D.

Anthropologists have identified at least two human subspecies that coexisted with and even interbred with our forebears within the last 30,000 and 12,000 years, respectively. These cousins, alas no longer with us, were the large boned, cold natured northern European Homo neanderthalensis and the hobbit-sized Homo floresiensis.

In addition to these two extinct forms I hereby claim to have identified two extant human cousins, one based on amazing physical attributes and one on perverse anti-social personality traits.

First, I see an apparent subspecies of superhumans distinguished by virtue of their unprecedented athletic prowess…strength, coordination, agility, balance and flexibility comparable to our arboreal primate cousins, such as Gibbons, that are far more comfortable aloft than on the ground. Members of this elite clan have been on vivid display during the London Summer Olympics gymnastic competition.

At the other end of the spectrum I see a subspecies of subhumans distinguished by ideology rather than physical attributes, a clan of non-kindred spirits with perverse anti-social beliefs. This aberrant group has become an aging white political cult during this hyper political year, the me generation tea party. This subspecies is characterized by an unprecedented level of selfishness and greed, which is the primary subject of this post.

   Prosperity and greed

‘Prosperity’ is defined by Wikipedia as the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and/or successful social status. These descriptors of ‘achievement’ may help Donald Trump get up in the morning but they sure don’t float my boat. Whenever I encounter a Hummer on the highway I wonder why the driver isn’t ashamed, rather than proud. Different strokes, I suppose.

On March 12 I posted a critical essay about a former acquaintance from Baton Rouge named Philip Ellender, grandson of the late Louisiana Congressman Allen Ellender. Phillip has unfortunately crossed over to the environmental dark side, becoming a professional shill for Charles and David Koch, owners of Koch Industries in Wichita, Kansas, the second largest private company in America. In 2004 David Koch created the deep-pocketed lobbying organization known as Americans for Prosperity (AFP), that was described as follows by Wikipedia:

AFP is a Washington D.C.–based political advocacy group…that promotes pro-business economic policy and opposes government regulation. AFP was a major supporter of Republican candidates in the 2010 election cycle and is heavily involved in political activities aimed at reducing regulation of the oil and gas industry.

In a March 2 story on the political influence of the Koch brothers in Slate.com, David Weigel wrote:

…David (Koch) has found tremendous success with Americans for Prosperity, which in the Tea Party era evolved into one of the most powerful conservative organizations in electoral politics. (It has spent seven figures so far this year on TV ads against Barack Obama.) Draw your conclusions.

I’m struck by the fact that David Koch, a 71 year old highly educated Libertarian, would use as facile a slogan as Americans for Prosperity as an organizing principle around which to rally a political cause. Preaching prosperity amounts to promoting the personal gratification of a minority of elite Americans.

AFP exemplifies the class warfare mentality for which conservatives accuse progressives, competition not just with the living but with future folks. The leaders of Americans for Prosperity stand unapologetically for the acquisition of material wealth and the utter disregard for future generations.

1. Ben Taylor says:

   August 2, 2012 at 5:48 am

   I hope that the Kochs and others of their ilk who have worked to manipulate the public’s perceptions of global warming (and science in general) eventually have the tables turned on them. Wouldn’t it be something if an American public beset with persistant drought and heat waves that wreck agricultural economies and the general sense of well being begin to focus their popular ire on these characters?

   reply
2. Ezra says:

   July 31, 2012 at 2:00 pm

   Your new website definitely needs an interactive webmap ;)

   reply
   • Admin says:

     July 31, 2012 at 2:20 pm

     I agree, Ezra but haven’t a clue how to provide same! Can you help?

     reply