A counter-protest by those supposed populist teahadists is on its way to Wisconsin this weekend. But like every other major Tea Party event, this one isn't a spontaneous, grassroots uprising. Like all the others, it's sponsored by Koch Industries. Think Progress: A number of the big business interests standing with Walker are beneficiaries of his administration’s tax giveaways. But the greatest ally to Walker is the dirty energy company Koch Industries. In response to the growing protests in Madison, Koch fronts are busing in Tea Party protesters to support Walker and his union-busting campaign.... Koch Industries is a major player in Wisconsin: Koch owns a coal company subsidiary with facilities in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Ashland and Sheboygan; six timber plants throughout the state; and a large network of pipelines in Wisconsin. While Koch controls much of the infrastructure in the state, they have laid off workers to boost profits. At a time when Koch Industries owners David and Charles Koch awarded themselves an extra $11 billion of income from the company, Koch slashed jobs at their Green Bay plant....
Koch Industries was one of the biggest contributors to Walker’s gubernatorial campaign, funneling $43,000 over the course of last year. In return, Koch front groups are closely guiding the Walker agenda. The American Legislative Exchange Council, another Koch-funded group, advised Walker and the GOP legislature on its anti-labor legislation and its first corporate tax cuts.
And in an update to the post:
Koch's Americans for Prosperity group has launched a new website and petition called www.standwithwalker.com. The new site attacks all collective bargaining, not just for public sector unions. Koch's front group also declares: "In fact, every state should adopt Governor Scott Walker's common sense reforms."
So they're going to use their bought-and-paid-for "grassroots" movement to support their bought-and-paid-for governor. What's really pathetic is those delusional teabaggers who don't realize that they are going to be protesting against their own interests--against good-paying jobs; against half-way decent benefits; against the very American right to organize for a better life. What's really sad is that the people populating this "grassroots" movement are so brain-washed they don't see that they've been made dupes of corporate America.
