The Anatomy Of Corporate Propaganda

Before I begin, I must admit to being a little frustrated with our lack of critical thinking and our readiness to accept information and analysis if it's packaged in a way that pleases us. This character flaw is not limited to one political party or the other, and I believe it's partially an artifact of decades of consumerism and self-indulgence. There are simply not enough people asking the hard questions these days, and that is one of the heralds of a civilization in decline.

Now that I've gotten my ubiquitous lecture out of the way, let's explore the way corporations engineer the propaganda we are fed by their puppets. If you take a look at Civitas' CLC Conference schedule, you'll notice the Leadership Institute's presence, no doubt trolling for more future white supremacists or other rabble-rousers to insinuate into our college campuses. Or is it "Campi"? Whatever. You know what I'm talking about. You'll also notice that I was right about their motives for having Carrie Prejean speak during lunch; the lady that preceded her spoke about the dangers of homosexuality and the need for a DOMA. Big surprise.

But what I really wanted to call your attention to was one of the morning breakout sessions:

Career Opportunity: The Koch Associate Program Information Session with the Koch Foundation

Here are just a few examples of what Koch expects from its paid Associates:

Policy Analysts will help to inform elected decisionmakers, the media, and citizens about the costs and burden of government. Individuals with well-rounded skill sets who can make a positive impact and help move projects forward will make a successful analyst.

The Communications Associate is responsible for publicizing research and analysis through outreach to the media and public policy community. The Associate will expand presence in both traditional media and online/new media.

As a Legal Fellow, the Associate will work closely with scholars, exploring market-based solutions to current regulatory policy issues and gaining the skills and experience necessary to effect policy change.

Public Policy Associate-Develop data and information to utilize when working with legislators and volunteers to influence public policy and community perception.

The organization hopes to effectively engage policymakers, the media and the public in Washington and beyond. The Development Associate will now focus on the education of these core constituencies on energy and environmental issues from a free-market perspective.

There are several more, but you get the picture. Why are these activities so important to Koch? Because a great deal of their $90 billion net worth is tied up in oil refineries and leaky pipelines:

Koch Industries Inc., will pay the largest civil fine ever imposed on a company under any federal environmental law to resolve claims related to more than 300 oil spills from its pipelines and oil facilities in six states, the Justice Department and the U.S. EPA announced. A settlement filed today requires Koch, the second-largest privately held company in the United States, to pay a $30 million civil penalty, improve its leak-prevention programs and spend $5 million on environmental projects.

Koch Industries, headquartered in Wichita, Kan., owns and operates extensive underground and above ground pipelines that transport crude oil and related products in the Midwest. Most of the spills at issue in the settlement occurred in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. In one case, almost 100,000 gallons of oil was spilled in Texas and caused a 12-mile oil slick on Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay.

Complaints filed in 1995 and 1997 allege that Koch unlawfully allowed some 3 million gallons of crude oil and related products to leak from its pipelines into ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, or onto adjacent shorelines, from 1990 to 1997. Most of the spills were caused by corrosion of pipelines in rural areas. The governments allege that Koch could have prevented the corrosion by proper operation and maintenance.

Koch's negligence has also had horrific consequences:

In 1996, a rusty Koch pipeline leaked flammable butane near a Texas residential neighborhood. Warned by the smell of gas, two teenagers drove their truck toward the nearest payphone to call for help, but they never made it. Sparks from their truck ignited the gas cloud and the two burned alive. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that "the probable cause of this accident was the failure of Koch to adequately protect its pipeline from corrosion" and the ineffectiveness of Koch's program to educate local residents about how to respond during a pipeline leak.

Koch's need for budding young propagandists is apparent, but how do they position them for maximum effectiveness? Well, that requires partners:

The Koch Associate Program partners with dozens of non-profit organizations committed to advancing liberty. Our partners vary from state-based think tanks to national policy organizations to small start-ups.

The following organizations are partners for the 2009-10 Koch Associate Program: (I've narrowed the list to a few jewels)

Americans for Prosperity Foundation

John Locke Foundation

John W. Pope Civitas Institute

John William Pope Center for Higher Education

John William Pope Foundation

In closing, I have a couple of things to say. The first is another appeal to the General Assembly members reading this to remember what I've posted here the next time you're perusing policy recommendations from JLF or Civitas. These corporate connections do matter, and directly influence the information produced by these organizations.

The second thing is: I don't have any of these connections. I've not been subsidized or sponsored or indoctrinated by any corporation, foundation or wealthy individual, I'm just an idiot with a keyboard. But this idiot is counting on his elected officials to use the brains that God gave them and not rely on corporate propaganda to make their decisions. Don't let me down.