They didn't "amass" a fortune. They inherited it from the father who "amassed" it dealing with Stalin and undermining his own country.
Let's be accurate about this little family of thugs.
168
The name “Koch” very well may, if history is still written in 75 years, be viewed in much the same way as the names “Hitler”, “Stalin”, “Mao” etc. The massive funding of climate change denial politics and the use of millions to pervert democracy to foster the unfettered use of fossil fuels to the detriment of the world (and all in the name of a fanatical true believer political philosophy) may result in as many or more deaths in coming years as did the “true beliefs” of that illustrious threesome.
99
To get a better idea of what 'great' people the Kochs are, just read Jane Mayer's book Dark Money.
They are ruthless, even to their own blood siblings. Raised by a Nazi sympathizing nanny their vision of America is not one shared by most Americans. Look up the Libertarian platform as espoused by David when he ran as that party's VP in 1980. I don't imagine most Americans would sign on for much of that. As for their philanthropy, it's really just a huge tax dodge.
The NYT rules of 'civility' prevent me from articulating further my feelings of the Koch's though from what I can tell the nicer of the two elder brothers is no longer with us.
93
"Billionaire David Koch, Who Condemned Poor "Welfare Queens" While Personally Receiving Massive Welfare Subsidies from U.S. Taxpayers, Dies"
https://www.alternet.org/2015/03/exposing-americas-billionaire-welfare-ranchers/
There. Fixed the headline for ya.
128
An old wise man said once, if one's life is dedicated to helping his fellow humans, this life's value is greater than the tallest mountain, however a life or greed and avarice is worthless, less important than the life of a fly. By this standard the life of David Koch was less important than the life of a fruit-fly.
96
I love the obits in the Times. Here is a man which I have little in common economically and politically. I found so much to admire and respect in his accomplishments and the way he lived his life.
We would have bonded over an exchange of Elks club jokes. I could have gone toe to toe with him.
4
The Kochs have created thousands of jobs, contributed to critical American infrastructure, donated hundreds of millions of dollars to philanthropy, and exercised their 1st Amendment rights to influence American politics in the way they thought was best.
May we all aspire to do the same.
10
We often hear negatives when one speaks of the Koch brothers, and rightly so. I am no fan, believe me. They have contributed in no small way to the rampant greed and self-serving philosophy of the Republican Party, directly to that man taking up precious space in the Oval Office. Yet David seemed to have had a soul, indeed, perhaps even a conscience. Quite an enigma, this man was. While he and his brother wreaked havoc from climate change to politics, David also gave millions to worthy causes as medical research and the arts. Well, the time has come for his final judgement. That is not for me to decide. Yet I hope he made his peace at the end and that his final destination will both forgive and be merciful.
367
He started giving to the arts when he got cancer. That doesn't compensate for a lifetime of doing his best to make money destroying the environment. I'm not giving him a pass.
359
@Kathy Lollock
He got tax write-offs for the "millions" he gave away. If he really had a conscience or a soul he would have, by any means necessary, stopped his family's reprehensible environmental destruction and democracy-undermining political influence.
365
@Kathy Lollock - David memorialized his own survival in his contributions to medicine, and his cultural indulgences went to pretty ballerinas and obsequious fawning displays of fealty from the Lincoln Center recipients.
PS. I prefer the Aaron & Irene Diamond method that funded finding a cure for AIDS, educating minorities, supporting the Arts, and giving away all of their wealth. That was beneficent egoism. Koch's was mere vanity.
210
David Koch was worth over $40 billion yet somehow, it wasn't enough. He and his brother had to buy the Republican Party so they could continue to rape the environment and cripple government for their own profit. Exhibit A for a 90% tax rate on billionaires.
83
I don’t know why everyone is being so polite. This man crippled our efforts to combat climate change and attempted to dismantle the foundations of our democracy. And we’re offering condolences? Few people have attacked America as effectively as he did. And now, we’re seeing the effects. The Earth is nearing the point of no return, and the Senate is full of Republicans willing to do nothing. This man deserves no sympathy from me.
871
@John
The point is that, even were you to have a change of heart, it seems highly unlikely that he would really care very much about whether you felt that he deserved your sympathy or not; as at this juncture he would certainly derive little or no benefit from, it.
5
@John I totally agree with you. This man (and his brother, still alive) obscenely used their money to buy influence to enrich themselves further, buy political pawns, fight climate change, and attack our liberal democracy by payrolling sinister rightists who have destroyed any sense of the common good. May this man not rest in peace for having done so much damage to our world that it is beyond repair.
55
@Patrick McCord it doesn't take any faith at all, all it takes is a little common sense. We are spoiling the planet in the name of profit. I wonder how much oil and resources will become available when the ice melts and who will reap the rewards. Seems more profitable to keep denying climate change.
15
How does a billionaire living in NYC fund opposition to public transportation improvement initiatives and still sleep at night. Doesn’t he realize that while he is in a private car service most of his workers rely on affordable public transport. He can claim that he is simply supporting libertarian ideals; it must be easy to say that from the back seat of a limousine. Shame on him.
511
@Mpc
perspective ;
If you change the way you look at things. The things you look at change.
Thanks for the USA to produce such a man
4
@Mpc
And it's really was in his earthly, limo-riding interest: more public transport, less traffic; maximizes limo's potential swiftness.
Of course, if the limo has a well-stocked bar and everybody's waiting for you, more tolerable, perhaps.
2
@Mpc
I’ve known a few very affluent people and those that adore them. I don’t want to make generalizations, but I will here in this respect. The very rich believe that those who don’t have money don’t matters. The very fact that people don’t have money is the evidence itself of their inferiority. Thus, they are undeserving, and their voices don’t matter. “Stupid” is a word the very rich will use often to refer to ordinary, working folks. It makes it a lot easier to sleep at night thinking in this manner rather than acknowledging that they are recipients of privilege married to a certain ruthlessness that allows them extra power in a society that pretends to be egalitarian.
21
I am not sympathetic to arguments about Koch's philanthropic support of the arts and medicine. First, the amount he gave was a mere pittance of his capacity and second, much of his gifting came in the wake of his marriage. He basically "bought" his wife a prime spot on the social register, a place to wear ballgowns and have her pictures taken, a place for his children to congregate with acceptable peers and potential future spouses. Support of the medical arts reflected a self-interest in his own experience with cancer. When people look at his marble-etched name around the city, most will reflect negatively on Koch's legacy... in some ways I feel sorry for his children as they grow up to discover what the world thinks of their father and family. Perhaps they will not care, living in their bubble of obscene wealth.
443
@Name
I once commented to my Rabbi about what I thought was the admirable generosity of one of our Temple members. Rabbi smiled and replied, "It's one of his tax write offs."
33
There is not enough space in your paper to describe all the damage the Koch brothers have done. Or the anger I feel toward them and their minions. This guy will live on in the chambers of horrors that he created. Pure poison— oil, money, greed, corruption, on and on and on throughout the whole wide world. There is not a living being on this planet— humans and all the critters— who is not worse off for these guys being here.
63
All Americans owe David Koch a debt of gratitude, for publicizing libertarian ideas. Libertarians are closest to the Founding Fathers and their wise belief that "the government that governs least, governs best". In this today's confused times, where people seem to want to turn JFK's admonition on its head (so it reads "ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you"), it's useful to remember that the most violent and destructive governments of all time (Hitler; Mao;Stalin) were all governments that purported to guarantee every citizen a job, a living wage, free education, free healthcare etc., provided only that each citizen worshipped and obeyed that government. Many today would like to see the government take over all aspects of civil and economic life, provide for all wants etc., but history shows why that never works, and ends in failure (eg Venezuela) or violence. Libertarians best remember that the Bill of Rights limits the government, not empowers it.
151
@Richard. Libertarian ideas about individuality and freedom do not in general fit into a complex, over populated society like ours. As we have gone from a country where you could often do as you please without affecting your neighbors to one where we are packed in like ants, we will and have had to, give up much our ability to act as though there is no one around. Example. In crowded cities you have to have pollution controls on autos and most everything else in order to live in that proximity to each other. In an agrarian society where neighbors are few and far between you don't. As crowding goes up, freedom goes down, by necessity. Libertarians just don't get that. The world they want disappeared decades ago. We need regs just to survive now.
620
@Richard Nope, I owe this self serving billionaire nothing but distain. I shed not one tear for him and his family. They continue to rip off our country by paying little if no taxes and promoting policies and people that work to make government the tool of the rich. Nope, I owe him nothing.
816
It’s hard to understand why anyone would believe that all Americans owe this man and his ill a debt of gratitude. When you consider the immense damage that he his done to the country and its citizens in order to further his own self-serving agenda, history will not judge him and his family kindly.
602
He knew that human caused climate change is real. He was intelligent enough, with a solid scientific education, to understand that. He still worked to discredit that knowledge with his financial power, endangering the future of this planet.
That is criminal. I do not shed one tear.
15
There are so many reasons people are sad and mourn. Ponder what if. They heap accolades on the deceased. Regret was humming throughout this country today. But not for this man. Those of us who live day to day, week to week play games in our minds. At least I know I do and I am pretty sure I’m not alone. What if we had the means at our disposal? When people are hungry, we would feed them. When they are sick we try to heal them. Common decency. You give any way possible you can. To whoever needs help. Isn’t that what god would want? Greed is a terrible thing.
5
The Koch’s shouldn’t be afforded this ‘libertarian’ free pass. Whatever their theory of politics, they still chose to unequivocally support the most heinous and destructive version of a political party in American history. Had they called their GOP puppets to account to important libertarian social positions, like decriminalizing drugs, police reform, gay rights, they might have done some good and merited some respect.
But their libertarianism was the same hypocrisy as ever spouted by GOP operatives. They abandoned libertarianism’s social dimension in favor of winning the religious right so they could reap the financial windfalls they sought. Whether they dreamed in libertarian colors matters not. They lived something different, and supported a racist and toxically religious movement.
6
Death is the prime democratic institution. All roads lead to it. Let this inform us so we leave better legacies.
5
His "philanthropy" always seemed like a bad joke. He was buying applause for himself.
If youth is wasted on the young, money is wasted on rich meanies like Koch.
And please note: A great many people absolutely REFUSE to refer to the Lincoln Center performing-arts space he "bought" as anything other than "The New York State Theater." They can plaster his name all over the building, but it won't make any difference - it will always be The New York State Theater.
But there is something VERY apropos in the title "The David Koch Dinosaur Wing" at the Museum of Natural History!! Yep, he was an old dinosaur, big and rich and smug in his power - and now GONE. And he doesn't matter anymore, other than for the legacy of cruelty and damage he left behind.
10
The Koch dependence that was created by our wonderful free market system may well take centuries to recover from if we have the time?
3
Wait. The Koch’s gave $100 million since the 1970s and they are the bad guys ? How much is Tom Steyer investing in his own candidacy?
Being Libertarian minded it bothers me that some people think we are conservative, when in fact we have a lot of 'liberal' ideas that irk conservatives. Like support of same sex marriage and not discriminating against LGBQT folks.
He supported drug legalization and had been working hard to overhaul our unfair sentencing laws, which by the way have targeted minorities the most! He did NOT oppose sane firearms laws that would keep firearms out of the hands of unstable people, including white nationalists!
As a viewer and donor to PBS I also appreciated that he donated to PBS, and to the American Museum of Natural History in New York for the David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing and to the National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian in Washington, for the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils He LOVED real science!
3
Our dependence on Koch just may be in recovery even if it takes another 100 years
1
If there is just one person most responsible for having trump as president it is clearly David Koch.
6
Libertarian philosophy is a genuinely anarchistic philosophy. It kills society.
If you want to be a Libertarian, move somewhere to the woods, have your own hospitals, fire brigade, farm, army, ...
Otherwise accept we are social beings. We depend on each other.
7
I originally became aware of Global Warming during the first earth day 1970.
This obscene vulture capitalist is responsible for orchestrating the sham of climate denial.
We could have protected the planet from many catastrophes if we started back then.
All the climate change damage, from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, and the deaths caused by them, now and in the future are due to this selfish vulture capitalist and those who,along with him, sold their souls for his ill gotten money.
6
He showered philanthropies with glittering monuments like buildings and water fountains, yet his boy Sam Brownback has destroyed the Kansas public education even his fellow Kansans including the judges and legislators, no liberal themselves, have to reverse course.
But why would there be any surprises? No matter how tyrannical his father - Fred Koch was a staunch anti-communist but chose to build refineries for the Soviet! - he was a product of an elite, including Deerfield. Did he really know or care if the commoners are drinking unsafe water?
4
Perhaps in the future as society has to deal with climate change at the level of a disaster movie [which always begins with a scientist being ignored], the wealth of the Koch family will be confiscated as "proceeds of environmental crimes".
5
At the end of the game the king and the pawn both go back in the box
9
42 billion dollars in assets! Significant, but not proportionally so, sums to philanthropy. Probably more to political agendas. Ultimately, however, the libertarian philosophy says, that money is mine. Morally, it cannot justify that any human beings should possess such wealth while a significant portion of the world’s peoples go to bed hungry each night. Much of his political agenda was indeed self-serving, a contradiction to the plight of many of his fellow New Yorkers, most of with whom he probably never interacted.
16
My mom always made us give 10% of any cash gifts to a charity. There was one rule; give anonymously.
When I see a wealthy person’s name on a building I want to be sick. They gave for reasons other than a sense of charity. Their gift was to shore up their ego and their desire to have others be made aware of their importance.
We see this everyday and everywhere.
I’m tired of this “they’re a good person” because they gave a tiny amount of their wealth away. Many of these gifts are to avoid taxes and pursue social engineering.
If the funds help you avoid taxes then our representative government cannot take these funds and spend them based on the priorities of and for the American people.
28
Are there no progressive billionaires who can marshal resources equivalent to the Koch brothers to build political infrastructure that would counter their activities? Why is there no progressive equivalent to the American Legislative Exchange Council, for example, or the Cato Institute?
10
Money always trumps rights within the scope of modern day American Libertarianism. To the point, the libertarianism that the Koch brothers paid for and supported is Corporate Statism. Their organization of (conservative) state legislators and corporate lobbyists combine to draft and model state legislation that members customize to loosen environmental regulations, upend progressive taxation and corporate tax laws, weaken labor unions, fight transportation initiatives, upset private rights of women, and oppose gun safety laws. Its a new State, the Corporate State, that supports profits above people and law. The Koch Brothers started a new formula to support and feed the Corporate State by way of it’s “organization” namely, ALEC. Fear it dear sister. Fear it!
6
A few commenters have pointed out that libertarianism is simply the prelude to boss rule, i.e., rule by the few who have the money to hire gangsters to enforce their will. The weak government they want would have no power or desire to interfere. That's how feudalism began in the early Middle Ages.
19
We are rid of an evil man. He was in a position to speed positive change in the world, and, his philanthropy notwithstanding, he did not. He aggressively impeded progress on dealing with climate change and environmental destruction as he equally aggressively sought to subvert American democratic government with his extremist, John Birch-derived, self-serving faux-libertarian views. He had no loyalty to the very society that provided him the arena for the success he had.
He and his brother Charles embody the pernicious effects of vast wealth applied with destructive intent and a lack of social responsibility. They are the poster children for much higher taxes on extreme wealth, comprehensive business and environmental regulation, and the elimination of dark money from politics.
27
I shed no tears. He has done irreparable harm in his 79 years to further his own interests.
20
I've never understood why someone with BILLIONS of dollars -- the sheer volume of that amount of money is unfathomable -- would want to spend their time messing in other people's lives. I would have simply enjoyed mine and tried to help as many people as possible. Thinking that you are making their lives better when clearly you were not is hubris on steroids. I would not go so far to say that I'm glad he's dead (and, in some ways he isn't because his money will live on), but I will say that he wasn't a nice human being.
15
As a libertarian D. Koch was also for gay rights and abortion rights.
But he contiguously supported the candidates who try to first prevent then abolish these right because he cared less about these rights than his own pocket which he filled with the votes of the politicians he bought.
Interesting, isn't it for a libertarian to act this way? Money trumps rights.
42
So much money and yet so poor of character, integrity and spiritual life.
Our actions recorded into our consciousness follow us into the next life. I have no doubts where he is headed to. May he find the error in his ways.
24
The Kochs demonstrate why humans have earned their fate. They are the product of a system that defines the new path to absolute power, and through the cumulative progress of technology, magnifies it beyond what any emperor of the past could imagine. For what purpose? Some fever dream — does it matter what? It is the power that enthralls, inspires, subverts, terrorizes, and ultimately shines reflected glory on the triumphant rise of humans to the thrones of gods.
We can't live without it so we will let it destroy us.
13
Fantastically wealthy though Koch may have been, death is the great equalizer. One wonders, if like Greeks of old, he was interred with "charitable" recompense for the ferryman Charon, a platinum credit card on each eye perhaps, to avoid sitting on the lower decks with the huddle of ghostly riffraff crossing the river Styx. Destination? Elysium or Tartarus, perhaps either is preferred over the Trumpian universe Koch helped create.
25
My condolences to the Koch family.
But, given the influence of the unelected "Alec" over elected state governments, the manufactured paranoia of the far right over a mythical liberal "deep state" is ironic, if not downright laughable.
21
His philanthropy was an attempt to whitewash the reality of who he really was: a right-wing arsonist.
The world is a better place without him, although the damage he did is probably irreversible.
60
"David Koch Was the Ultimate Climate Change Denier" - Christopher Leonard, NYT 8-23-19. As Naomi Oreskes et. al. state in Scientific American 8-19-19, scientists have been underestimating the pace of climate change, in part to avoid being labeled as alarmists by climate deniers. There's no longer any doubt among real scientists that climate change is an existential threat to human civilization. Putting all that together means David Koch and Charles Koch have done more damage to human civilization - perhaps irreparable - than anyone alive.
95
I presume the reference to “real” scientists is for those scientists who are trying to prove (1) the rate at which the climate is changing is faster than its natural rate of change and (2) the difference between its natural rate of change and the accelerated pace of climate change is caused by human activity. And I guess “fake” scientists are the ones checking on the “real” scientists work. But that is how scientific progress is designed to work. “real” scientists proposed theories and “fake” scientists try to prove or disprove these theories. Einstein theory of relativity has been challenged and proven right for the last 100 years (the latest proof in recent years was the detection of gravitational waves as predicted by his theories). Challenging Einstein theories is still real scientific work. Six hundred years ago scientists accepted the theory that the earth was the center of the universe and even had very complicated equations to prove it. One scientist, Galileo, challenged the accepted theories, and he turned out to be right. That is scientific progress. But in these days of fast food and instant everything, the pace of science is an anachronism.
@ghsalb
The climate has been changing for millions of years, nearly all of that time without any help from humanity.
It is not about 'climate change'. It is about the habitability of the Earth for humanity (other species, unfortunately, are now just caught up in the plight of humankind own fate).
We could go extinct.
Or we could go down to a more sustainable population (at least 1 billion or less).
Or things can just keep going on with some degree of adaptability of where and how humans can survive.
Only we humans really care which it is.
Earth is a non-sentient organism that will carry on regardless of what we do.
4
Koch loathed government “intrusions" apparently. Roads, airports, bridges, national parks, that kind of thing. No doubt he avoided using them. All the while, he junked the environment and tore out the heart of the American political system. Self-serving, greedy hypocrite.
118
The Evil that men do lives after them.
The Good is interred with their bones.
Shakespeare
70
“Twenty-seven years ago,” the statement said, “David was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and given a grim prognosis of a few years to live. David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay.”
How wonderful he had health coverage for 27 years of brilliant doctors and state of the art medications. Health coverage that his libertarian beliefs would deny to millions of US citizens. His hypocrisy is staggering. He deserves zero praise or adulation. No amount of good works can ever compensate for the devastation he wrought on our beautiful planet.
139
This man literally fought to ensure our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have less of a future. No tears, no way for this one.
119
Where, oh where, is the leadership for a positive vision for the future of our world? Why are the billionaire oligarchs so reactionary or idiosyncratic in their approach? To me, one of the great mysteries, and sorrows, of our age. Please help us, and the future of our great planet.
23
I feel sympathy for the family.
But I just feel that Mr. Koch did not do humanity any favors.
As I'm sure many have stated before me, he didn't advocate for the environment, he didn't support people who were good presidents (G.W. Bush especially - we're still suffering the repercussions of his ill advised decisions - and of course we now have Mr. Trump). Billionaires, such as the Koch brothers, could have left much more and better contributions than that which they have.
31
David Koch's death, as the Amazon forest burns, seems so timely.
I hope it also heralds the end of an era. He at once pursued a strident libertarian polick, while getting stinking rich off hidden subsidies.
As Alex Lightman has elsewhere noted (and my own analyses are adding detail): fossil fuel industries are not profitable, at all, on any scale, once you put against them their legitimate other costs: corruption ($T0.2 / year), direct subsidies, armies and wars, and the direct health effects.
Koch was a dinosaur, and while it will take ages for the damage he wrought to be undone, it WILL be undone.
42
@John Connor Ryan:
I agree with the sentiments of your comment, up to your last claim:
Given the horrific fires in Argentina, the *rapidly* melting glaciers in Iceland, Greenland, and Antarctica, the continuous 24x7 poisoning of our atmosphere by factories, coal mining, cars, the swiftly diminishing forests, ever larger degrees of overpopulation, and overfishing and waste, it's extremely doubtful that the ever more toxic and severe harms humans are inflicting on our tiny, fragile home will in fact be reversed -- at least not in time to save ourselves and a host of other species.
Fret not, though: in our wake the insects will once again rule unchallenged and unchecked, at least until the Ultimate End, that being the Sun's exhaustion of its fuel.
And to think: had we, as species, only had the intelligence and spiritual awareness to eradicate the diseases of War, and their source -- prejudice -- we might well have flourished to the heights of our innate capacities for love, beauty, and mutual harmony among all tribes, creeds and cultures on this beautiful world . . .
Self-inflicted, we've failed the test.
3
Hope he now regrets, watching from above, the consequence of what he had been doing with his money.
25
Philanthropist , all the money he gave to museums , and the arts or hospitals will ever wipe away the evil he did not only in America , but the rest of the world . The Koch industries is guilty of creating policies , bought and paid for against our political system , and the environment . No amount of charitable contributions can erase the permanent and obscene damage done . Money=power and that equals corruption ; The Metropolitan Museum charges $25 entrance fee to non New Yorkers when it used to be far less , He taught them well . And he was the lesser of the Koch legacies of greed .
52
RIP sir you lived a great life and were a wonderfully generous philanthropist. You walked your talk; most people in the limelight do not. As an educated, conservative, engineer you excelled in business and many in the world were just jealous of your wealth, success, and your accomplishments. You were correct about small government and to closely watch one's money as the gov't will deceptively steal in the form of taxes.
10
Sorry, @Jan, Koch earned these comments. Nobody is jealous of his wealth. That logic would require the same envy toward Warren Buffet, Bill and Melinda Gates, Steve Jobs, George Soros, Tom Steyer, and Michael Bloomberg.
He inherited a fortune and protected it by building, with his brother, a well=greased political machine. There's nothing admirable about greed or bribery.
2
The Koch family’s attempt turn the US into a type of privatized, neoliberal feudalism has been very successful. In some ways they represent the most dangerous threat to true democracy. By utilizing dark money in order to outright purchase politicians and replace them with lobbyists as the de facto legislators, the Koch family have managed to thwart everything the founding fathers were so worried about. From their think tanks to Citizens United to “Right to Work”, the Koch family has managed to convince Americans to give up theirs voice, power, share of US resources, and political stake in the nation for fear that liberal, commie Bolshevik boogie men will get them in the night. The Koch family has been among the greatest players in US history to make sure that the nation will be and continue to remain a plutocracy. Rest in peace David Koch. If there is any incarnation for us after life, may you learn that all individuals have value, not only the rich and powerful.
46
Does this mean that true liberty now exists for public officials on the right?
4
Enough with the good wishes. I'm glad he's gone. I think those who willfully deny climate change in order to make profits are criminals against humanity. They need to be tried and jailed.
74
You can put colored sprinkles on a cow pie and it's still a cow pie. After reading Jane Mayer's "Dark Money", it would be hypocritical of me to anesthetize the part of my brain that would allow me to deem this a loss.
44
David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay.” Meanwhile, Americans without access to "brilliant doctors, state of the art medications" and no health insurance will die.
42
The Koch brothers are despicable villains who have inflicted catastrophic damage on this country and the environment. Read “Dark Money.” I can’t muster one ounce of sympathy or admiration for this man and am relieved he is gone.
66
At least he lived to see the logical conclusion of his life's work: elevating an incompetent conman to the presidency.
55
It is not always the better part of wisdom to speak respectfully of the dead, especially when in life the dead man was as destructive as David Koch. Could the Times's obituary have trod any more timidly over the man's life and times? One imagines this same editorial crew reporting in April 1865: "The admired Shakespearan actor John Wilkes Booth died today after being cornered in a barn and shot by federal authorities. Booth, scion of a distinguished family of American thespians, was a staunch defender of the Confederacy and managed to wring a measure of satisfaction after its defeat by assassinating President Abraham Lincoln 10 days ago." Perhaps the is paper loathe to alienate all the arts institutions that took money from the Koch brothers? David and Charles — two of the most powerful anti-republicans ever to enjoy American citizenship.
30
No, it’s just timidity and a noble policy of not criticizing those who can no longer defend themselves. Fortunately there are other forums in which to discuss their many sins.
5
The man is dead. He gave hundred of millions to medical research instituons and to performing arts. He was an engineer and not a Wall Street banker. Can’t he get some credit!? Give me a break.
7
No. These gifts were simply put distractions.
18
A life well wasted. So much money and potential to do good and make a difference but nothing was achieved.
60
Lots achieved. Nothing good.
34
Unfortunately the truth be told David and his brother worked tirelessly to destroy Democracy and for that they will be remembered.
79
I had a personal relationship sort of with David Koch. I'm 26 years old teaching tennis at a exclusive club on east river in NYC... and David is a member.. He always brought very caucasian female models to accompany him to his tennis lesson, I never once had his date my fellow pro always had that privilege...
Years later, supporting Kamala and not speaking to relatives due to the occupant in the white house..
I reflect back to hitting tennis balls with a human being that could change MY LIFE until Im no more..
He wasn't very nice and I never received a tip... EVER..
Of course, I never instructed him...maybe I could have reason with him..taught him HUMANITY.. its a game just like TRump $$$ power play...
21
A man refuses to pay taxes, fights against basic health care for the poor, drives down wages for working class people, and funds "research" to deny the climate change that ultimately led to the incineration of my home and my entire town, and the New York Times calls him a "philanthropist"?
101
@Katherine ~
Thank you for calling the NYT's attention to this. A definition of philanthropist is "a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes."
In actuality, he caused more obstruction to the common good with his extreme political actions. The good causes he supported were nothing but a tax dodge and a smokescreen for his bad business behavior.
36
Preach!
Too true!
8
Maybe he will learn how to be a decent human being in the next life.
16
I’m still upset with PBS who had an episode of Frontline ready to air when the wrong people heard about it and its criticism of the Koch Brothers. The decision was made not to air the program, due to its honest appraisal of who the Kochs were, and what they stood for. This was too much for PBS, who depended heavily on the Kochs’ contributions.
Shame on PBS.
45
@Wayne
One might also say "Shame on the Koch brothers" for creating a situation in which PBS became so underfunded in the first place that they depended on largess of the corrupt-wealthy to operate. Had PBS decided to go ahead with their accurate story, many other PBS programs might never have been broadcast to the public.
19
@Wayne
I actually checked and found that Nova devoted one episode to climate change last year. I was surprised given the Koch's funding for that program. Someone actually did a study several years ago and found that Charlie Rose (who?) featured far more conservative guests than liberal, probably because of the influence of funding.
7
@Wayne. There was another PBS documentary about 6 or 7 years ago called , I think, Park Avenue, which was more about him and other residents of his Park Ave building. Was withdrawn after one airing because of complaints from residents like Koch and Alice Tisch. I was out of country at time but heard about it, yet was never able to find it on TV, online, anywhere
Alice Tisch was so mad that when she encountered someone connected with film in a store in SoHo she went up to that person and started yelling at that person about how much she contributes to society by, for example, hiring wait staff for her Park Ave. parties.
7
So much money, and he could have done so much good but he didn’t. Spare me the moral relaivism from the perrspecive of privilege. He did a lot of harm. Those with money and power can decide how to use it for societal good. He failed miserably.
44
Samuel Ramey, "a bass with the New York City Opera"? Yes, he sang there a lot, particularly in his early career, but "internationally acclaimed opera star" would be closer to the mark.
At least Mr. Koch also appreciated and supported the arts and other cultural institutions, and tried to do something for cancer treatment. And at least he didn't pretend to like that vulgarian Donald Trump.
4
Hate to simply boil it down to his Climate Denying stance... but, REALLY??
Sooo---thanks for putting so much of your ridiculous gobs of money to furthering causes for the survival of humanity. /s
9
I. Am. So. Sad. Not.
28
Patriot Act anyone?
4
Eulogy does not work. The picture depicts the Koch as Ayn Ryan dystopia.
10
China, a country reformed itself and built its economy to compete with US within half a century because of big government control. Chinese citizens fully understand the government's role in financing, directing the economical growth using tight control of its population of 1.4 billion people, no criticism/ freedom of speech by citizens will be tolerated. America went through the Great Depression, a consequence of excesses and control by American industrial and business titans. Libertarians like the Koch brothers will be history as climate change deepens it grip, threatening our world with extinction and climate catastrophe. Their philanthropy was used as a tool to build their power and influence. Their generosity cannot and should not excuse their live long promotion for higher profit at any cost to the environment and people's health. In the end we all have to face the consequence of our actions. The Koch dynasty will have mixed judgements by historians.
9
I wondered how far I'd have to read before encountering the shameless cherry picking (or pick-pocketing, more like) of the famous JFK quot..."ask not, etc)"
I will point out that JFK reduced the marginal rate from 92% to 70%. We were rebuilding the Europe that Hitler destroyed and creating a postwar boom in our country. A Republican, was POTUS at the time.
Lastly, the entire Kennedy family has been dedicated to the needs of those less fortunate, every single generation from the beginning of their historical wealth.To this day. Both JFK and RFK were committed to actually doing something to create a "rise in all boats" another Kennedy axiom the Republicans have shamelessly propagandized for their own selfish ends.
Another unfortunate effect of the horrible income equality is that by and large, the wealthy share little of their vast wealth to the common good because there's no need to ; they don't need the tax deduction; they already have the deductions with our horrible tax policies of today.
18
Good riddance to another selfish man determined to enrich himself at the expense of our planet and the health of the human race.
50
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.”
We really are all the same.
6
re Publish this story every day. Vote Blue; no matter who
20
No.
It matters who.
FDR would have agreed.
Bernie2020
3
Death, the great equalizer.
15
The different tone between NYT picks and Reader Picks is telling.
This guy could have single handedly saved the MET museum from having to charge out of town folks full price. Instead, he did a vanity project plastering his name on the fountains out front.
28
@Noel Instead, he gave Met $$$ to refurbish fountains in front of bldg and they named the previously noname fountains the David H Koch Fountains.
1
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, than god he is no longer with us",
Rudy Ray Moore
11
The Koch brothers have done untold damage to this country and to the world. It's why no one or two people should have the power their money bought them. It's okay to be a contrary voice balanced by many other voices--but to have a few voices able to amplify their limited ideas and world views to gargantuan proportions? It's not good for any system. It's all about balance and the balance was lost because of the Koch money. Their private interests were served, but we were not.
32
This article leads with a telling quote: “Twenty-seven years ago, David was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and given a grim prognosis of a few years to live. David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay."
Let us please acknowledge that folks who do not have endless supplies of money or the resources to afford 27 years worth of doctors appointments and medications--like the millions of Americans the Kochs have worked hard to prevent from getting Obamacare or Medicaid via the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, FreedomWorks, and Americans for Prosperity--do not commonly live for 27 years after a diagnosis of prostate cancer or any other cancer for that matter.
It was not the doctors nor state of the art medications that kept Mr. Koch alive, it was his on-going access to those doctors and medicines, in addition to his endless supply of resources, that kept him alive. How ironic that a man with so many healthcare needs would work so hard to prevent others from getting that same level of care.
40
My late father, a person who in his long professional life dealt with a very wide spectrum of personality types, had an expression that I would say aptly applies to the megalomaniacal Kochs : If they didn’t have money people would throw stones at them.
37
Citizens United. Enough said.
32
I wonder if the Climate Change denier was able to 'take it all with him'?
20
It would be interesting if reincarnation was real - he could be reincarnated as a minority in an impoverished neighborhood with an average IQ, to get a ground level view of the result of his policies at work.
23
The Koch brothers know that carbon dioxide causes global warming--either that or they skipped a lot of classes at MIT.
They just don't care about anyone below their rank assuming money will solve their own issues that result from global warming. Their oligarchy won the battle...the war will be lost by all however.
26
Not a moment too soon – not to 'infest. the 2020 election.
"By their fruits you will know them”~ Matthew, 7:20
Enough poison spread and damage done by BOTH Kochs!
"...for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
~ Epistle to the Galatians, 6:7
Not to speak ill of the dead?
"To each according to his contribution."
~ Refers to an arrangement whereby individual compensation is reflective of one's contribution to the SOCIAL PRODUCT."
(Appropriated, adapted and applied from Karl Marx)
12
An interesting history on the Koch empire. Their father, Fred Koch, was a young chemist in the 1920s when he and a partner developed a method to refine oil into gas that was cheaper & produced better quality fuel than the dominant force in the industry, Standard Oil, founded by John D. Rockefeller (by then the Sherman AntiTrust Act had broken Standard Oil into a number of companies, Standard Oil of New Jersey, Standard Oil of New York, etc. but they all were still connected - basically known as the "Seven Sisters"). The Seven Sisters had been crushing all opposition since the founding of Standard. During the unregulated free-market days of the 20s, this was easy to do. They sued Fred Koch 48 times. Koch & his company won 47 & the 48th was thrown out of court when it was found the big companies had bribed the judge. Koch & his company were driven into bankruptcy by his legal costs. Stalin had heard about Koch & invited him to the USSR. There he built 15 large refineries, making his millions. He went to the Soviet states teaching his techniques. When WW II ended & the USSR switched from ally to enemy, Koch returned to the US a rich oil baron. He re-established his anti-Communist creds by helping found the John Birch Society. Capitalism had failed him. The Soviet 5-Year Plans had saved him. His sons inherited his empire. End of story. What irony ;)
22
CNN has a new documentary about the environment. Haven’t seen it yet, but I suspect Mr. Koch is one of the players.
http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2019/08/20/cnn-special-reports-presents-a-toxic-tale-trumps-environmental-impact/
2
Surely it’s better to live in such a way that the world doesn’t rejoice in your death.
40
He and his family have made it their business to foul both our democracy by perverting it with money, and the environment. I wish him well personally but cannot overlook their dark deeds.
10
In deep-red Oklahoma today nearly one-third of power generated there comes from wind farms.
The state's coal-fueled power generation, meanwhile, has decreased from more than half to less than one-fourth of in-state power generation between 2005 and 2017.
Why? Politics? No. Price.
A MWh generated by a wind farm costs, on average, less than half that of a MWh generated by coal. In fact, coal is the *most expensive* way to generate power in the United States. (Not to mention the cost to the environment and in human life.)
So, Koch-brothers' self-interest, "Think-Tanks" and corrupting levels of political contributions notwithstanding the marketplace is making the difference. I mean, why would a for-profit energy company expend billions of dollars to construct a coal-fired plant to make a "product" that a competitor can make for 60% less?
The environmental troglodytes must be fought at every turn. But eventually they will be, ironically, be put out of business by plain, old-fashioned price-driven, market-driven capitalism and consumer demand.
14
Death has always been the great equalizer.
9
I wonder if he ever saw the dark irony that his dogged pursuit of the of freedom from any form of imposition by others on his life would impact the ability of so many others to lead theirs.
That’s not libertarianism.
That’s just selfishness.
25
The Koch’s will be profoundly dismayed that they cannot buy Heaven!
14
I would not call philanthropist someone who uses all his power and wealth to avoid paying taxes and fighting climate change, then spend a small fraction of the saved money to put his name on hospitals and theaters. This is not generosity, its selfishness and narcissism. Now he faces his maker without his wealth, leaving on this earth a tarnished legacy as proven by scores of comments on this article. 'No profit to him from all his wealth, and all his gains!" Holy Quran
21
The news of David Koch's death made me remember the Nobel Prize winning words of Odysseas Elytis translated from the Greek:
-Exiled Poet, in your century, say what do you see?
-I see the nations arrogant before, surrendered now to the wasp and the sorrel. I see the chippers in the air blasting busts of Emperors and Generals. I see the merchants bending to collect the profit of their own corpses. I see the sequence of the hidden meanings...
But before behold, it will take generations to plow over the barren land. And secretly the Governors will count their human merchandise, declaring wars.... And large ships will raise up flags, marches will get the streets, the balconies will throw flowers to the winner, who will live in the stench of the corpses...
-Exiled Poet, in your century, say what do you see?
-I see the military judges burning like candles at the large table of the Resurrection. I see the gendarmerie giving their blood as sacrifice to the purity of heavens. I see the continuous revolution of plants and flowers. I see up into the skies the Erechtheion of the birds.
And the Dreams shall take revenge and they shall sow Generations Forever and Ever...
Odysseas Elytis
"Worthy it is(Αξιον Εστί), 1959
8
I take no pleasure in any man's death, but oh I will not miss a man so committed to corrupting my country and frying our planet.
21
What did he leave??? This is a question.
4
The Koch brothers legacy will be greed and environmental destruction
20
The guy who lead the climate change denials dies on the day the Amazon burns beyond repair
I guess you can write mission accomplished on his grave stone.
25
what philantropy? The guy is worth $40 billion and gives $100 mil to ballet?
so anyone who is worth $400 K and spends $1000 on ballet tickets - you are a philantropist?
He gave $250 mil to hospitals after having a very serious disease for many years?
Ha! How many normal people can claim they spent less that 1% of their total net worth on their healthcare?
33
@Meredith
Well said!
4
History will not be kind to his legacy
16
His death is not going to have any impact on the crazies who run the country. The damage men like him cause is irreparable. I think the media should not make a big deal about his death. Everyone dies no matter how much money they have. I consider him and his family bad people. I try not to buy Koch Industry products. Please do the same.
31
I can only wonder, in his last thoughts, did David Koch see the error of his ways? Will his ghost visit his brother Charles in the same manner that Marley's ghost visited Scrooge?
13
Mr. Koch earned his keeps fair and square, regardless of what the readers think of him. After all, he was stalwart for the first amendment by opposing many of wacky views supported by this paper.
2
@tedc - indeed, he was born rich and privileged and given the finest education available for exploiting others along with the necessary capital to finance his efforts. That is as “fair and square” and self-made as it gets.
19
Born into wealth and swaddled in privilege, it’s not hard to see why they believe as they do that the poor are lazy and dumb. I hope if there’s an afterlife or reincarnation that the purpose of it is to teach all of us but especially people like David Koch see the humanity in everyone.
10
With the Koch family there is no "America First".
It is "Koch Family and Friends First".
17
I am a former employee of the Charles Koch Institute.
In my time working for CKI and other organizations largely funded by the Koch's, I learned a lot about politics, having a professional work ethic, and what it means to be passionate for change. I met many people through these jobs who I still consider friends today. I met many talented, bright people who really wanted to see change in their country for the better (even if I no longer identify as a libertarian anymore, I still believe these individuals mean well).
David and Charles gave me professional opportunities I never would have had otherwise. I no longer work in the think tank/public policy world. Today I work in the non-profit sector working with impoverished youth at the local level. I would not have the job I have today if it wasn't for the experiences I had working with the Koch's. It was preciously because of the resume they helped me build that I now have the proper professional skills I need to change my community for the better. I can have the impact I always wanted.
Thank you, David.
196
@DJ
Lucky you.
The rest of us, living with the policies he championed?
Not so much
736
@DJ: If you want to really improve the lives of those impoverished youths, work for mitigation of the Koch’s damage to the environment, locally and globally.
Impoverished kids want to breath clean air, too.
728
@DJ That may have been very nice for you however for the rest of America not so much. According to the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute, only three companies rank among the top 30 polluters of America’s air, water and climate: ExxonMobil, American Electric Power and Koch Industries.
689
David Koch at least partially redeemed himself by funding science here and there. Charles has yet to redeem himself, and the other two brothers actually are or were harmless: Bill Koch defended the America's Cup, and Fred Koch bought and restored Architectural treasures of historical significance. There weren't any of that particular family here for the heavy lifting between 1608 and 1865. RIP and thanks for the dinosaur exhibits at the Museum of Natural History; they have excited thousands of children, of whom some may become scientists.
3
May David Koch rest in peace. We can all be grateful for the many philanthropic gifts he made, and they are substantial contributions to the public good.
But I do hope that at least part of the donocracy he founded -- government ruled by donors -- will rest with him. The Koch brothers money has corrupted our political system. They are certainly entitled to their opinions. They should not be entitled to building a political empire with their millions that outweighs everyone else's opinion.
7
Condolences to his family.
But what is his legacy?
Troubled and sorry; libertarianism became the political philosophy where in it was fashionable not to care about the welfare of others or the common good. For the Koch family, it was especially self-serving as the fouling of our world had a direct correlation to the increase of their fortunes. Pollution is what he leaves behind. Who pays for the effects and clean up?
15
Take this as a lesson from him for 2020: the money you donate to politics will have impact for longer than any other type of donation.
4
A libertarian is someone who wants great roads, infrastructure and help when they need it, but don't want to pay taxes.
With apologies to John Donne, we are not diminished at this news.
18
The Koch brothers have been major participants in the systematic destruction of democracy in the USA. They, together with the Citizens United decision, have enabled the wealthy to basically buy Congress. It is now clearly government for the corporations, by the corporations.
25
My condolences to his family, but he and his brother are partially to blame for the mess this country is in, the rise of Trump, white nationalism, climate denying, keep the poor in their place, no to Obamacare, etc.,. Yes, he helped fund the arts and medical research but he also used his power to create a far right agenda.
14
All that money. And he spent it trying to make even more at the expense of everyone else and the environment. Luckily, everyone eventually dies and with it dies their control, gradually. This is unfortunate regarding those who do good. But good when it comes to those who promote endless greed. Putin will die, Trump will die, all dictators die. But never too soon.
13
And the people have written.
5
So very sad that the world has lost one of the premier leaders of the elite, ultra-rich, rentier class of the white male patriarchy.
10
The more we learn about the causes and consequences of climate change the more the actions of the Koch brothers seem to constitute a crime against humanity.
22
No glee. No tears.
7
I notice the times is trying to highlight comments that are showing Koch's "good" side and his philanthropic side. Sorry. Not buying it. He, his brother have spent their lives acquiring more and more, becoming the American equivalent of Oligarchs. They have fought tooth against any regulations that could keep our planet andd it's citizens safe. For what? More money, houses and power that any one person could ever need? They've used their money and power to change laws that have had the effect of diminishing the middle class and protections for workers and the environment. I wonder if any of these so called philanthropists would have bothered donating to their pet causes had they not been able to take a tax write off for their so called largesse. No NYT, not buying it. David and Charles should pass into the dustbin of history and we as a country should work hard to undo all of the damage they've done, the corruption of our political system and the pollution of our environment. Good riddance.
25
Oh give me a break with the "philanthropist" claims. All of his donations were tax write offs!
22
So long and thanks for all the Dark Money.
10
David and Charles Koch represent rapacious greed in the truest sense of the word. They inherited enormous sums of wealth and exercise unbridled power in the form of unlimited campaign contributions through various PACs and think thanks to retain it. The use of the word philanthropist to describe either brother is the ultimate misnomer. Their organizations have done more to eviscerate the environment and ecsaserbate the uneven wealth distribution in the United States than any political force in history.
20
No matter how good someone may be, they'll always be remembered for the negative.
5
Most of the comments here are negative - and much of the negativity is warranted. However, most of the Koch Brothers agenda was not accomplished by bribes - it was accomplished by people who just could not be bothered to get out and vote. Voting is what wins elections not campaign spending or speeches.
12
I despise the Koch Bros political views and their misguided activism. But thank God the arts community didn’t boycott him. A person can be multifaceted, something too many fail to appreciate. People are complicated, the world is complicated.
3
Am I sad about Koch's death? No. Am I happy about his death? No. Will it make any difference to the political crisis that has infected our country and that is going from chronic to terminal? No. Whenever one nasty person dies, there are usually a knee-deep group of others ready to take their place and more often than not, they're worse than the one that left. Trent Lott lead to Mitch McConnell. Sean Spicer lead to Sarah Sanders. Scalia lead to Kavanaugh and finally Bush lead to Trump. Trump leading to Pence? Yes, even THAT would be worse so I've learned that celebrating the passing of a bad character never solves a problem long-term. THAT requires systemic changes to our systems which we are very wont to ever do.
13
Ironic. As a billionaire who got cutting edge treatment for his prostate cancer which enabled him to survive 25 yrs. he strongly supported policies of Republicans which made basic healthcare for common Americans out of reach.That together with anti-climate change views and anti-tax for the .01%ers puts him as an extremely poor humanitarian. The extreme rightists who were his doing has left our country in a nightmare. No, I don't think I'll shed a tear for David Koch.
21
He was the enemy and can say with a clear conscience that I’m glad he is gone. All votes should be equal and corporations are not people. We have a long way back from the damage that family and the right have done.
12
Men like these, of all political shades, are difficult to judge in one sweeping conclusion (as most comments here do). Billionaires inevitably produce value in society through their product, investments and employment. They undoubtedly have inflated political sway, but those influenced by the Koch’s are unlikely attracted to Soros, for example. Moderated from J Birch, these libertarians can at least get credit for love of liberty that sits far more socially liberal than far right counterparts. His philanthropic contributions to hospitals and medical science alone produced something good that any of these readers or their families could directly benefit from.
1
@Alberto Abrizzi, unfortunately it doesn't matter if David Koch was personally liberal on social issues since he funded candidates who opposed these values. So-called libertarians have made a Faustian bargain with rightwing extremists in exchange for tax cuts and judges. That's his legacy.
2
He is much responsible for the deplorable state of affairs of the country, having actively worked for decades to undermine the very function of government and the public trust in government, to destroy public services including education, healthcare, the environment, the arts, to end every regulation protecting labor, consumers and wild life, and to use his wealth to support the most extreme right-wing politicians who obstructed every elected Democrat including president Obama at every turn. All of it under the guise of "Libertarian" ideas. What about the public good? What about building a society where one cares about one's fellow men instead of creating divisions and inequalities in the name of the almighty $? A rich country where children go hungry, where school lunches are being taken away, where people are being shamed and practically abandoned to their own devices for being poor, where most drown in student and in medical debt?
Frankly, to quote one of the politicians he (and his brother) supported, in my book he was "Lucifer in the flesh."
12
Another dead billionaire that made riches on the resources of the planet, found he could fund parties for his pals and show off his money with ballet and arts. The price of everything was known. Even the price of democracy. I am reminded of the bible quote- it will be easier for a camel to pass thru the eye of a needle then a rich man into the kingdom of God. I wonder if his Pascal's wager was worth it?
13
Bah! (Dogbert waives his paw in dismissal.) Libertarianism ignores 2,000 years of recorded human history. People have prospered by sharing common good, not by being individualists.
As naked individuals in a harsh world, without fangs or claws, we would perish instantly. It is only by helping each other out that we have prospered.
I agree with many others in this forum. Mr. Koch is to be commended for his contributions to arts and society, but his greater work was to erode the good that we together (hint, it's our "government") can do.
I see nothing to celebrate in this man's life.
10
David Koch was a man who was beyond good and evil. To even begin to understand how the Koch brothers physically and politically changed the world, read Jane Mayer's "Dark Money." (Thank you, NYT) The Plutocracy that made Trump possible was partially constructed and navigated by him. At least he utilized some of his wealth (regardless of his motivations) to be, in some small fashion, beneficent (unlike so many of his wealthy constituents). He leaves behind an earth changed by him. Help me understand, Mr. Sartre... it is all too much for me.
4
Health is wealth.....health is wealth. I wonder what he would have paid for 10 more years of life.
4
"They insisted that they adhered to a traditional belief in the liberty of the individual, and in free trade, free markets and freedom from what they called government “intrusions,” including taxes, military drafts, compulsory education, business regulations, welfare programs and laws that criminalized homosexuality, prostitution and drug use."
Hmmmm-
Why is it then that the Kochs fund Republican candidates who oppose gay rights, abortion rights, legalization of marijuana, etc.
There is plenty of press on their low tax, low regulation agenda. I've never read any stories of them vocalizing support for, or donating money to: gay marriage or LGBTQ rights, Planned Parenthood, mass incarceration due to marijuana possession, etc.
6
He helped to ruin the planet by prolonging action for global warming, but as long as him and his family were comfortable, I'm sure future generations won't mind.
5
I guess by now, Dave knows he can't take it all with him, but what he has left behind is the kind of destruction that his new 'boss' will no doubt be delighted with.
5
Picture 100 pennies lined up on a table. Now slide one penny off to the side. This one penny is what David Koch gave to charity. The rest was kept. Such a massive opportunity cost for him and for mankind.
11
Can we please cut out this "right-wing" nonsense? David was a liberal in the traditional sense. He sought emancipation of the human spirit. It's wicked to label his outlook otherwise.
2
My condolences go to all the families harmed by David Koch’s support for the racist John Birch Society. And condolences to all the American families harmed by free market libertarianism, which David Koch and his family demanded of politicians through financial manipulations and political pressures. It is ironic that David Koch was such a genius engineer and businessman, yet he could completely ignore the mathematical proof in “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas Piketty that Koch’s free market libertarian promotion was destroying Democracy in America. My condolences also go to Koch’s family for loss of a loved one. But in regard to America, do his self-memorializing donations to medicine and the arts outweigh the damage he has done to other human beings?
7
Rest in peace and condolences my foot!
I hope St. Peter has a nice long chat with him, and then, like Marley's ghost, David visits Charles clanking his chains to let him know they've both been selfish, greedy and evil.
11
Can we have the NY State Theater back now?
6
Another plutocrat bites the dust. He bought politicians like the cheap commodity they are in exchange for policy.
For the good and decent things he did I celebrate him. For buying elections, votes and policy I detest him for the traitor he was to our Democratic Republic.
8
The comments section of this article are disappointing, and so is the term “philanthropist”.
David Koch will be viewed very differently after the likely revolution. Be very skeptical of your praise for this man.
6
The Koch family, along with the Trumps, leave a shameful legacy indeed. They will be remembered for all the harm they caused, all the impoverished lives, the despoiled environment, the corrupted discourse, and the oligarchical dismantling of a democratic republic that was once the hope of the free world. They have done more damage than any terrorist group could have - except for the right wing, gun-crazed lunatics who cause us to fear shopping for school supplies, going to the movies, attending school, or praying in church. David Koch is no great loss; we will be dealing with the consequences of his choices for generations- if we survive, that is.
14
May his brother follow him soon, and may Citizens United be overturned. Democracy as "one person, one vote" cannot survive when money is protected speech and those with more money are allowed a larger voice than those without, yet this has been the end goal of the Koch brothers.
63
The current bought and paid for supreme court will not reverse course on citizens united.
2
Epstein and Koch were both patrons of the arts.
16
The planet and democracy are better off without him.
30
David Koch did as much as anyone to turn the Republican Party into an extreme right wing movement. The Koch Brothers thoroughly "John Birched" the entire GOP. To this day we have Republican Senators decrying Democratic Representatives as "Communists," and a President who thinks some White Supremacists are "fine people."
31
A wonderful argument in support of a massive tax increase on earnings and investment income. It does not benefit the average American citizen to have so much wealth and power amassed in the fickle hands of a few old white men.
27
I am sure that he was a complex human being, even with redeeming qualities, but the irreparable damage that the caused 1. To deny science and block climate initiatives, and 2. Polarize society to far-right ideas, will earn him a place in the wrong side of history.
15
To paraphrase Thomas Grey: The paths of infamy lead but to the grave."
9
No one should have such greed-powered influence to destroy the planet. No one.
21
One should never say anything negative about the dead. So I won't. But the accolades ring like hypocrisy writ large.
6
I disagree. We should absolutely say “bad things” about the dead where men like Koch are concerned. The truth may not be flattering, but Koch deserves to be remembered for who he really was — a malignant pathological human whose actions and activities caused profound (possibly irreparable) harm in the world. Not every human deserves respect, not in life and not in death. Koch’s legacy should NOT be white washed.
10
"A toast to his continued good health."
4
As the world is literally on fire from the Amazon to the Arctic, Koch should be remembered as adamantly using his billions to deny climate change science, push for ever more fossil fuel usage, and corrupt the public media with false reports on any project he deemed to cut his profit margins. He encouraged fake news, fake science, fake political advertising; Satan is wringing his hands in glee to finally get his hands on this man who lived most of his life trying to make the world a worse place for the rest of to live in. The Amazon's burning is one big candle atop Koch's shining legacy.
27
Good riddance. To have reaped so much and given so little, to have done so much to leave this tear in our society and these wounds on our planet to line his pockets. He and his family will be justly remembered as the Neo- Robber Barons they are who had so much power but chose to to advance their putrid Objectivist "libertarian" goals under the guise of a twisted self-serving anti-altruism. Hopefully their kids can weave some semblance of ethical economic stewardship of their vast holdings, but don't count on it. The really nasty brother is still alive.
26
For aggressively promoting climate change denial, future generations will curse and condemn the Koch Brothers.
22
He is one of the very few of us who was able to truly make a profound impact on the world him during his lifetime. It's a shame that he chose evil over good.
31
I can think of no other way to commemorate Mr. Koch than to draw inspiration from the President himself on the death of Senator John McCain: He's gone on to greener pastures — or perhaps far less green pastures. But he's gone."
6
Only when people passed away they say how good they were -despite how such bad influence and karma this Koch family has left behind. But everything is relative in this life.
2
I cannot overstate my joy at the passing of this evil man. He used his vast fortune to undermine the health of the planet as a whole, and that of every individual born and yet to be born- all so he and his even more evil brother could have more and more and more wealth.
The crumbs he tossed to society in the name of “philanthropy” should be seen for what they were- a hopefully fruitless attempt to assuage the conscience of a true monster.
I hope he suffered greatly in his final years...
25
This man is a powerful symbol of the outsized power the wealthy have in our public policy. I see no reason to celebrate his contributions to charitable causes. He had caused far more harm than good with his billions. Despicable in my opinion.
22
Decades ago Republicans actually recognized that global warming was an issue that had to be dealt with - and then the Koch brothers stepped in.
History will remember them harshly.
They alone provide a great reason to balance the wealth much more evenly in this country.
31
Once upon a time I worked for a Koch company, and as a member of management I was required, like all managers (right down to the foremen on the plant floor), to take the Koch brothers’ course on Market-Based Management (MBM).
One of the first things MBM teaches Is that all but the most minimal governmental functions are bad, since government necessarily entails taxes and regulations that curtail entrepreneurial freedom and unbalance the market’s response to market needs. Thus the brothers Koch espoused a form of libertarianism some would call anarchocapitalism, disdaining essentially all regulation, all government subsidies and benefits, even the provision of public education. (You may recall the fight over the payment of school taxes in the Kochs’ home state of Kansas—where, after the state supreme court held that Kansas was required by its state constitution to finance public education, there was a move to amend the constitution to provide otherwise.)
So while I laud David Koch’s support of the arts he loved and the hospitals and medical programs that served him, I cannot help but but note that his charity was no broader than the interests of himself and his family. His were the concerns of a rich man, one born to wealth and one who had no thought for the poor or for issues outside his own—beyond his firmly held belief that they were not properly his responsibility.
It is difficult, even in death, to feel generous to one whose own generousity seems so selfish.
66
But even the philanthropy was a vehicle to avoid taxes by establishing foundations under loose US tax laws. You should read Dark Money by Jane Mayer.
20
David leaves a complicated legacy, as most accomplished people do. The work he did in philanthropy in NYC echoes the noblesse oblige days of the late 1800s, when people like the Roosevelts supported the arts and other charities. For that, he's to be lauded.
For his work expounding libertarian philosophies, he should also be lauded, as libertarianism is an important strain of political thought, and one that is a useful counterbalance to today's rush to find a gov't solution to all problems. Where I feel David and Charles deserve much criticism is in the way they supported their pet issues. Libertarianism is a persuasive theory at the national level, and is supported by, well, the Constitution and virtually all of our Founding Fathers. Their wading into local issues, however, strikes me as self-serving; communities are supposed to govern themselves at the local level as they see fit, and big outside money should have no role there. Second, while the implications of climate change might have been contrary to his personal self interest, to consciously wage a disinformation campaign against science is morally indefensible.
All that said, RIP, David Koch.
3
Let’s be clear: the Koch brothers were never libertarians. They reaped and continue to reap hundreds of millions of dollars or
more in government subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
The Koch’s version of libertarianism is: I’ve got mine, don’t interfere with my getting more, I owe you nothing, and by the way, I’ll take what you’ve got as well.
9
I really think that the definition of "philanthropist" should be revised to mean donations that will have ANY appreciable impact on one's wealth or way of life. His $100 million donation to Lincoln Center, e.g, would be earned in about a month if he invested his wealth only in treasuries. Not impressive or commendable, considering his company made its money by destroying the planet and convincing politicians to go along with it. "Philanthropy" was a side-show.
31
The story of the Koch influence is a cautionary tale of what can happen when a system enables any family to amass a $100 billion fortune. It's hardly surprising that they're opposed to paying taxes. But they have a nerve to expect us all to jump up and down with gratitude for the crumbs they throw out to museums and performing arts venues. You're a libertarian and believe in less government? Fine, that's been a theme throughout our history and is a fair subject for debate. But the Koch's and their ilk are fine with doing real and lasting damage to bolster and support their own financial interests. They loathe government with too much power but don't appear to have similar feelings when power is concentrated in the hands of the unelected uber-wealthy.
36
Renaming the peoples' theater, New York State Theater, after David Koch, was a very ego-centric bad idea. I find very little to recommend him in life as he was the very antithesis of what I hold of value as the ideal of America. Just because he had a lot of money does not mean he had the permission to "influence" politics as he did. Another example of "just because you can doesn't mean you should." Thank God he is gone.
18
@Audrey. That theater is technically now owned by City of NY, which also contributed to it's refurbishment and provides an ONGOING operating subsidy. For the past several years this has been spelled out at back of playbills for performances there, presumably because of all the patron complaints, and perhaps City complaints, about the renaming.
I'm left with the question of whether his philanthropy was intended to help millions or his own legacy.
9
The people of the U.S. owe nothing to David Koch or to the misperception that the founders supported the least government with no idea or specification of what that means. What the founders supported was a sane government with perceptive support and criticism. Thomas Jefferson said, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." No Koch would have made that statement, and neither would the destructive Mr. Trump.
10
A great man with great ideals and character. He will be missed.
1
@Mark T Sarcasm, I hope.
3
Philanthropist means one who does things for the love of his fellow man. I don't see it here. I see someone who simply wanted to use public services but never have to pay for their benefit.
25
I abhorred the policies of the Koch family, but I am grateful for his contributions to NYC. Anybody see the Trump name anywhere, except for promoting his own interests?
3
David Koch, along with Rupert Murdoch, Rebekkah Mercer, and other assorted miscreants are (were) some of the worst human beings on earth.
All of them billionaires, and all caring only to make more money. It is almost inconceivable to me that Koch tried (and succeeded) his entire life to weaken environmental protections, so Koch Industries could save a pittance compared to his fortune. Why? Koch breathed the resulting dirtier air, just like the rest of us. I'd like to think it hastened his long-overdue death.
Will things now change? I'm afraid it's too late. With his ALEC literally writing terrible State laws still going strong, we are stuck with the legacy of this monstrous man for decades. Only a Democratic administration can begin the changes.
I celebrate the death of David Koch. I wish it had been decades sooner.
And the building at 62nd and Columbus will always be the New York State Theater to me. I helped pay for it.
29
"Since the 1970s, the Kochs have spent at least $100 million — some estimates put it at much more — to transform a fringe movement into a formidable political force aimed at moving America to the far right by influencing the outcome of elections, undoing limits on campaign contributions and promoting conservative candidacies, think tanks and policies."
THIS ERASES THE GOOD THAT HE AND HIS BROTHER MAY HAVE DONE REALLY FROM THE "HEART"....
13
Didn't live long enough to enjoy his substantial share of the $trillion 2017 tax break bill to the wealthiest, and certainly will not see the impact of "less government regulation" on climate change two generations from now. Power of the rich to ruin live for everyone else.
12
Looks like somebody is about to find out whether Bob Dylan was right about "all the money you made will never buy back your soul".
66
Being a democratic society was supposed to give everyone a voice just not a chosen few. And just because you donate to things you admire, or because you are trying to seek favor doesn’t make you a good person. Just a person
with an agenda
38
What will happen to the money? This is another case for a confiscatory inheritance tax, as reparation for al the harm he idi.
32
So now what does all your money, influence and fame get you and who on earth really even wonders?
15
@Danielo I would guess mostly trusts benefiting his PACs and his family.
2
Besides his generosity in building hospitals, libraries, performing arts buildings etc the Kochs are both Patriots fighting against runaway liberalism in America and far-left ideology gone wild. Every microphone is now liberal-owned and Liberal-maintained whether it is Hollywood , news media, Nike, Gillette, US colleges or late night hosts. There is no discussion allowed on race, immigration, climate change etc. The new philosophy of the left is left is either you agree with me or I will destroy you. Those are your two choices.
2
...wonder what he'd give for a breath of fresh air and a glass of cool, clear water right about now...
24
Unconscionable, hiding behind philanthropy.
However the Koch’s are pure American bid’ness: nasty, brutish rationalizations and perpetrated myths for individual grandeur.
The worship of tax cheating and regulatory brinksmanship as represented by Trump.
As for Climate Change: their criminals and should be prosecuted.
They have know what they were doing since the late 70s.
Land of the thief
Home of the slave.
35
Someday perhaps the NYT will write an article on philanthropy in NYC- primarily a social climbing ladder rather than any heartfelt desire to do good in this world.
David Koch epitomized that zeal by his contributions to, what is considered in philanthropic circles, "glamorous" institutions: Met Museum, NYC Ballet, Rockefeller U or Foundation,etc.
He blew into town, an unknown, with his purchase of Jackie Kennedy Onassis' apartment on Fifth Avenue., then acquired a wife and began his climb- along w/ a large group of newly rich- through the city's cultural institutions.
All you need is tons of money to become the center of applause as shown in the first photo of his obit. Forget the evil one does.
27
@fritz He gave very little to NYC Ballet -- just enough to get his wife on their school's board (a popular spot for the wives of NYC billionaires). He didn't even like the ballets they did at NYCB (abstract "leotard" ballets, etc.) Most of his money for ballet production went to American Ballet Theater, which did the kind of "fairytale" full story evening ballets he preferred.
The money he gave for renovation of NY State Theater (home of NYC Ballet and now defunct NYC Opera) was I believe donated at request of NYC Opera, which had gone out of business by time renovated hall reopened. Some fool -- and not sure who -- got Gov Andrew Cuomo to sign off on renaming. Was required as hall belongs to, and was named for, people of state of NY.
6
Where, oh where, is David's Free Trade Libertarian spirit now? The Kochs' efforts through the Republican party and its Tea Party branches, often buried in Dark Money, give us His Corpulency and "Trade wars are good and easy to win" stupidity. How does that connection work?
In David's memory, Charles should lead the push from the Right to run a Free Trade challenger and get rid of this turkey in time for Thanksgiving 2020. Please.
10
The Koch’s are not free-market capitalists, they are what is known as crony capitalists. They used their money to prop up anti-capitalist politicians who wrecked havoc on our politics and economic system. Why? Not for culture or the greater good but to consolidate their personal power and wealth. All we need to know about what they thought of their fellow man, woman, and children is epitomized by that other rich kid squatting in the White House, his Cabinet, and the Senate majority and House minority and the new ghouls at the Supreme Court. The Koch brothers “largesse” may signal the end of our democracy or humanity, but neither the idea or the people will go down without a fight. And if David Koch and his brother end up in the history books it will be as a footnote of deluded billionaires who thought profit equaled intelligence. It doesn’t.
30
The great failing to society of the very wealthy is their single-mindedness with earning more money, and using their money to destroy any policy that impedes this goal. Our healthcare system is in ruins, and great damage is being done to our natural heritage (and by extension, to ourselves). These things don’t really impact the wealthy directly so they either don’t understand, or don’t care, as long as their wealth accumulation continues unabated while the fabric of society unravels around them. Farewell to another dinosaur who did far more damage than good with the means available to him.
31
A man with questionable ethics, poor business integrity, a poor understanding of how government worked and ought to work and an ideologue whose vision of the world influenced and accelerated the move toward right wing nuttiness in American politics. Sure, he spent generously on supporting the arts and sciences but I think he did more harm than good.
27
David's death was not a moment too soon. I don't care about his philanthropic efforts----- his political efforts could spell the demise of humankind through this relentless efforts to fund climate change deniers and promote the unrestricted use of fossil fuels.
For as long as humanity lasts, David Koch and Moscow Mitch will forever be known as pariahs to most of humanity.
36
Condolences to the family.
Condolence to American Democracy, which Mr. Koch strained assiduously to undermine.
It's all nice that some of his Gilded Age fortune went to a lucky few prance about on stage, but it would have been of greater social benefit for that to go for housing and education for poor people.
24
I am reminded of that comment of you will always have death and taxes. The Koch brothers tried to disprove this theory. David apparently succeeded in the latter but failed in the former. Death the great equalizer leaves Mr. David Koch with only one thing left; his reputation.
14
Well, Mr. Koch, wherever you are. You now know that you can't take it with you.
My condolences to the Koch family, but they two should learn that amassing all the wealth in the world by despoiling the planet, buying politicians and trying to destroy health care for all Americans is not a way to be remembered with fondness.
I appreciate Mr. Koch's contributions to the arts, but also realize that these came with an enormous price that we all are paying today in a diminution of our democracy and our national character.
28
Did he leave the world a better place? He was famous and rich, but to what end.
13
The harm the Kochs have done in fighting efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation is incalculable and indefensible.
46
No one has done more harm to America's cohesiveness than the right wing Libertarians like the Koch brothers.
A true champion of Ayn Rand brand selfishness - sorry but I am not in mourning.
Lots of Americans have fallen for the libertarian switch and bait - an alluring call to be independent and self reliant which leads to millions of atomized, isolated, alienated individuals. Libertarian ism is at odds with the underlying values of dynamic, cohesive and compassionate communities. Society works best when we pull together. It works less well when we pull separately in and starts to fall into a polarized state of dysfuction when it's every man for himself.
37
They didn't just help reshape American Politics, they completely bent it towards their will. A will of the minority not majority. It makes the question of which is more important, money or power an open discussion again.
24
Ironic indeed, that coke, a fuel with a high carbon content produced from coal, is pronounced the same as this deceased, a champion of the fossil fuel industry and an avowed enemy of environmental regulation. Perhaps he and his living brother were destined to become modern climate science’s #1. antagonists and deniers. Too bad that their surname wasn’t Wynd or Sollur instead of Koch.
16
No good done by him can outweigh the damage he and his brother have done to American democracy. I am sorry to say this but he lived far too long.
41
The notion of smalller government and free markets, championed by Republicans the the Kochs, has been disproved again and again. How? The great depression and market crash of 1929 was a result of Republican control and free markets; the 2008 collapse was a result of Republican control and free markets. Each time, a Democrat is then elected, who balances the budget, institutes the taxes necessary to manage a healthy democracy, and within a few years that Democrat is demonized and the county moves back to "free markets." The other disproof is the environment: a free market encourages as much production as possible, but with current technology, destroys our atmosphere. Government intervention is required here to maintain human health since the free market doesn't factor that in. So, in the end, the policies the Koch's advanced were solely for the benefit of wealthy industrialists like themselves. The donations to influential arts and medical institutions were guilt money and hoping to buy popularity. No tears for this guy -- entirely self-serving after all of it.
16
I don't care how "nice" he was or how much he donated to any cause. Let's all take a moment away from our "condolences" and American predisposition to admire men of wealth and remember that the people who marketed Oxycontin when they knew it would make people permanent addicts also were great philanthropists.
Philanthropy doesn't cancel out your crimes. And the crime here is that he used his wealth to make his interests count more politically than they otherwise would have done. He didn't personally promote libertarian ideas, if that's even what he believed in. He was a rich man who learned that in America being rich meant he and his personal interests were worth more than everyone else's. He didn't try to make sure libertarian values actually benefited a majority of the people who live in and work at and get polluted from corporate America; he just put his money where he could get his way.
Hope that money was worth it. Definitely nothing funnier than a rich old man who keeps throwing money at things that soon won't matter to them at all. Murdoch and the remaining Koch, I'm looking at you. As though investments and profits will keep you out of the grave.
29
People like the Kochs have made it very clear that no one person should be allowed to amass multiple billions of dollars. People who are that wealthy can use their money for good or ill, but if they choose ill they can do massive damage to the world and its institutions.
33
What was once described as anarchist is now described as libertarian thanks to the Koch brothers. Let's not forget how many people will die, how many creatures will go extinct, how much future generations will pay because of their success in preventing efforts to fight climate change.
18
RE: Lauding David Koch for his donations to the arts. The money he gave came from the environment he destroyed. In reality, we paid for those donations through the lack of environmental standards, the asthma of our children, the low water quality in our cities. He gave not from his own wealth but from what he stole from this country and its citizens.
26
I wonder how many trillions of tons of atmospheric pollutants can be attributed directly to the Koch's well funded anti-science, anti-civilization propaganda campaign? How many melting glaciers, super storm floods, and scorched Earth droughts are directly attributable to their decade-long alternate reality disinformation campaign, spawned by their soulless greed and self-interest?
On reading of this death, I'm guessing my first reaction is similar to the Koch's reaction when reading a well-researched article on mass extinctions... "Who cares?" The difference is, my reaction comes with good conscience.
15
The philanthropy does not match the harm to our democracy and environment done by the brothers.
Citizens United enabled their blood money to work to destroy our nation and turn our former democracy into a plutocracy.
19
Condolences to the family!
Let us hope that Koch leaves the major portion of his estate to charitable causes, as compensation for the damage he did to our nation by bankrolling the Republican Party.
7
It should be pointed out, since obviously quite a few parents failed to teach this basic lesson, that it is in poor taste and betrays a smallness of spirit to go out of one's way to speak ill of people upon their deaths simply because you happen to disagree with them. Certainly Mr. Koch would have been more gracious.
1
This not about "happen to disagree"
This is about the death of a man with no conscience, a socipath, who leaves behind a great deal of toxicity and destruction for the sake of money. Not only he deserves every ill people are speaking of him now, I hope his brother is reading every single comment because the day he does, there will also be celebrations a plenty. Too bad some parents did not teach their children how to be decent human beings.
3
David Koch may have been gracious.
He was microscopic in spirit.
4
Few people have more responsibility for the collapse of American Society both politically and culturally than the Kochs. When historians look back at what were the causes that brought down America from its position of Hegemony to ruin the trail of money will lead to David Koch. I usually don't speak ill of the dead, so I have tempered my comments.
14
The damage this man and his family have done to this country with their money is immeasurable.
16
All the "philanthropic" donations he made do not come close to making up for the harm that he and his brother have caused.
The organizations who looked the other way while taking their money should be ashamed.
The children of the rich always seem to do more harm than anyone else...
11
he was no libertarian. the causes he funded did great damage to the US. if there was an underworld full of fire and brimstone he would surely be spending eternity there.
11
The definition of Libertarianism is: “an extreme laissez-faire political philosophy advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens”.
A poor man who advocates minimal state intervention in the lives of its citizens may be a libertarian, but an ultra-rich man who advocates minimal state intervention is a hypocrite.
10
Along with Rupert Murdoch, this man is among the single most destructive human beings of the last 79 years. And, like Murdoch (and Trump) he was born with more money than anyone could decently spend, but could never get enough.
What a legacy.
15
On balance, David Koch did much more harm than good in his privileged lifetime. His contributions to the arts and hospitals are trivial compared to the harm he and his brother Charles have done to humanity. He was the antithesis of the American dream.
10
He personified evil and greed at the expense of billions of people. He should not be celebrated but be an example of the penalties to the world for allowing these destructive meglomaniacs to exist. He accelarated climate change deliberately and without conscience at the expense of everyone.
13
If we could tally Koch’s total philanthropic contributions and compare that to the social cost of his political policies, I’m guessing the social cost would significantly outweigh his philanthropy. Philanthropy is easy if you have the money – the question is: how did he get the money?
In the name of “freedom” he helped create a Republican Machiavellian-Industrial-Cabal that conspired to create a five-decades-long campaign of propaganda and political larceny that hijacked our political system, and, through “meritocratic” capitalism, gutted the backbone of America: the middle class.
RIP – he certainly didn’t give us any peace.
12
Theater renamed in his honor? Or renamed in honor of $100 mil. Let’s be real.
11
He supported humanities but harmed humanity.
He was a libertarian but funded and unleashed groups that have intruded on the liberty of less wealthy.
He funded causes that enriched him at the expense of our Treasury but considered himself a patriot.
His political bequests indirectly gave us a psychopath for a president who has done his best to explode the EPA and benefit Koch industries.
20
So he received the "best health care in the world", which allowed him to outlive a grim prognosis by 27 years.
And yet he spearheaded a right-wing political movement which has been fighting for years to deny health care to those who can't afford to pay for it.
Not a legacy anyone should be proud of.
48
@Andy Unlike a person on Medicare in same position. Folks, if you want best health care in world at NY Presbyterian, be prepared to donate a building.
8
Interesting juxtaposition - first a NYTimes piece about Cordelia Scaife May and what her inherited loot has wrought upon policy-making in the US. And, today, another passing of a billionaire who sought, and to a large part succeeded, in twisting democracy to serve his interests.
Of course, it's never been a secret that wealth is a trump card and that it is widely corrupting. But it still churns the stomach to realise how little input we, the average Joe and Jill, have on matters which impact us all in long-lasting and profound ways. Try as we might we shall never undo the damage caused by policies promoted by the Mays and Kochs of this world. The only hope, and it's a faint one, is that there may be a final reckoning - it just has to be . . .
28
All the more reason for aggressive death taxes so a small number of individuals cannot go on forever having unprecedented influence over the country and it's many citizens.
21
My Dad is 92. My mom 88. On their recent 63rd wedding anniversary, they danced until 2 in the morning. Mom still skis.
They got 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Plus various partners to some of these.
They did very little harm in their lives. They gave a lot of love.
Would like to hear those last two sentences about a billionaire. I do not believe that will be possible.
34
One measure of the wealth of the Koch's is that every penny of it would not be enough to undo the harm that they already have done.
32
The negative externality of pollution represents a market failure that can by definition only be mitigated by government intervention. It therefore makes sense that the Koch's adhere to a political philosophy that finds the very idea of government to be anathema because the size of their wealth is proportional to the least amount of government intervention. In other words, the Koch's got obscenely rich, and we paid the cost. What a guy.
13
Libertarianism is just a fancy word for selfishness. A life well-lived means you have done what you can to improve the world beyond your door. Anyone lucky enough to have more than they need should want to support a society of healthy, housed, educated people and a planet that can sustain complex life of all kinds. These are goals worthy of praise.
Mr. Koch lived a poor life.
26
David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay.”
Let’s also add his limitless funding ability to secure the best possible health care and health care insurance available.
To say anymore would likely render this comment unpublishable.
15
Compared to the damage done by Mr Koch by decades of funding climate change denial, nothing else really matters. A scorched earth is his legacy.
21
When he couldn't be successful in politics directly (by running for office), he ran a stealth campaign for decades bringing down America. What is that Shakespeare quote, the deeds they did is interred with good men, evil continues once the evil die. His foul deeds will follow us for a long time (and his billions will probably still be spewing out stealth campaigns through his foundations.)
Sympathy to his family; someone probably loved him -- or feared him enough to think it was love.
10
@NLP Found it:
“The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
2
He and his brother Charles are among the most harmful organisms ever to have inhabited planet Earth. They have not been libertarians: it is well documented how they actively subverted science and frustrated efforts to act on it, exposing their true colours. His "philantropy" only added insult to injury.
18
Mother Jones: "The Making of the Kochtopus – How the billionaire brothers built a political network that rivals the GOP itself."
Salon: "The Kochtopus is extending its tentacles Koch money goes into all sorts of foundations, business lobbying groups, dark-money groups and higher-education Among the brothers' goals are the following:
Kill all restrictions on political spending by corporations and the rich.
Suppress the voting rights of students, people of color, the elderly and others who tend to oppose Republican policies and candidates.
Massacre labor unions.
Eliminate the right of consumers, workers and others to sue corporations, forcing them instead into corporate-controlled arbitration.
Rip to shreds the social safety net including food stamps, jobless benefits, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Ax regulations that protect people and our environment from corporate abuse.
"Preempt" the right of local people to pass laws that corporations oppose. Subvert democracy through gerrymandering. Pack courts with pro-corporate judges."
So, now can TV cable news and NYTimes op ed columnists start focusing on how the tentacles of the Kochtopus have long affected almost every political issue they discuss?
If the media will spotlights this, showing cause/effect, it can affect the 2020 election and help prevent Trump's reelection. See?
19
We'll be repairing the damage and havoc this man has wrecked upon American society and our body politic ... if we survive it at all. It is my sincere hope that he finds no peace.
13
Left this world worse off than how he found it. No amount of "donations to the arts" can make up for the damage done and for his contempt towards the common men and woman. I can't think of anything more undemocratic than that.
18
I should be ashamed that I read the news of his death with a feeling of good riddance, but have to admit that’s not the case. Pocket change, to him, given in philanthropy does not expunge the damage he has done to this nation and planet. If there is an afterlife I can only hope that he’s being shown in excruciating detail the harm he has done.
20
"David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay."
Must be nice to be able to afford brilliant doctors and state of the art medications. Makes wanting to kill Medicare to fund tax cuts for the rich seem especially churlish, doesn't it.
And really, dignifying the kind of personal greed the Koch brothers represent part of a "libertarian movement" is just ridiculous. The right-wing's impulse to dress up its venality in the cloak of "philosophical position" is fooling nobody.
20
In the article pic, everyone is applauding. When you're the boss, employees and benefactors will applaud.
7
Wish he had spent some of his money saving the Rain Forests and the Arctic Ice. All the empty platitudes about "limited government" and so called " self reliance" are worthless nonsense in an age of greed and selfishness unmatched in human history.
18
Both Charles and David Koch took the same first and second year physics courses at MIT that I did.
Their climate change denial and determination to maximize the destruction of the planet in order to gain more money they will not live long enough to give away is far worse than that from those who never understood physics, science, or math. In their case, it represents a deliberate effort to destroy as much of the planet as possible--because they know exactly what they are doing.
Both are libertarians--the belief that everyone deserves exactly what they get because everyone has the same chances in life, and rules are for fools. Of course, your chances are somewhat improved should you have chosen parents who contribute your first few billion dollars.
16
"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind...." John Donne
This is true. Sometimes, with prominent people, because of their life and involvement in mankind a great sadness decends. David Koch was a prominent man, a wealthy man, and a limited one despite his opportunities.
1
@saurus
Limited? Koch had UNlimited greed, and the entire planet is paying for it.
3
One of the main architects to influence the outcome of the disastrous Citizens United is no more.
However, the oligarchy is alive and kicking.
God save America.
11
David Koch - Supporter of Pence, Pompeo and Pruitt. I'm not so sure he's going to be allowed to rest in peace.
15
There was a Christmas anecdote, I can't remember where this came from BUT:
"Did you hear that the Koch Brothers got each other the same election for Christmas?!"
10
The problem is that the filthy rich have so much more say in the political system of our country then the average joe. Doesn't matter the political party.
7
What is the definition of the "Right-wing " movement? Any billionaires are really kind to the poor Americans and black Americans? Is Trump a leader of the "Right-wing" movement? As a foreign student I am planning to write a term paper about this topic.
3
Death- the great equalizer
28
@scientella
Not one dime of his billions could save him......
1
“
Nothing beside remains.
Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ozymandius
Nothing beside remains. All that money to push his own agenda.
And the world moves on.
15
Yes. The world moves on but it is on fire and dying thanks to David Koch
2
His philanthropy was good but does not make up for his $$$$ contribution towards the destruction of our democracy.He is now paying the price.Too bad he has no way to pass on to his equally destructive partners just how hot his new living quarters are !!!!
16
In every passing away condolences must be granted to the friends and family of the deceased. That being said the deeds of the deceased during life and their legacy cannot abstain them from public reckoning. Consider the Koch family and where their money originated from. “Fred Koch’s conservative politics came partly from his time building oil refineries for Joseph Stalin’s communist government in the U.S.S.R. in the 1930s. (The elder Koch also built oil refining infrastructure for Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime in Germany during this period.)“ As members of the ultra conservative John Birch Society, the Koch family were against Social Security, minimum wage, labor laws, unions, and the Equal Rights Amendment. They also were virulently opposed to the United Nations. In short the Koch family spent their lives fighting against the forward progress of the human race in order to acquire more power and money. The Koch Brothers are the architects of the climate change denial lobby. They are pulling the levers of dark money funding the Republican Party. As an individual who lived, breathed, and loved coal, I’m glad for him that he is now in a place where he can shovel it into Dante’s furnace for all eternity. My main condolence goes out to Citizens United, they have just lost their number one poster boy.
28
Amazing and fascinating family of old fashioned American entrepreneurs who helped Make America Great Again! They saw how the Welfare State was slowly destroying the once famous American work ethic with politicians (like Obama) promising more and more “ free-stuff” to the masses for their votes, and decided to fight back with big bucks and conservative values. President Trump heard the call, and today he is carrying the Koch torch of Free, Fair Capitalism for all...who want to work that is.
6
@Moe fair capitalism or autocracy? Patriotism is supposed to be a conservative value and yet you're backing the oligarchs and would-be dictators that our nation's finest defeated in World War II. Many of those died to keep the world free.
77
@Moe, work? How many men do you know have time and/or money to play golf, tweet, and hobnob with gold diggers in their penthouses? They get those privileges because those who actually do the work can't afford them!
33
So you think investing in the health and education of Americans is a bad idea. But polluting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat is just great. And while we’re at it, down with unions!
36
When he looked back on his accomplishments what did he see? Certainly his fortune was substantial but was that all that mattered? What did he see as his legacy? I have no way of knowing but one wonders why a clearly intelligent man did not see that his wealth came at the expense of the quality of life for millions, even billions of people. If he knew the Gates why did he not choose to emulate their type of philanthropy? I doubt we will ever know the answers to those questions but it does give one pause.
9
A great American who with his brother created vital think tanks and institutions which will benefit fellow country for decades. I live well lived. Rest In Peace.
5
For all who are grateful for DK’s contributions to the arts and sciences extend some thanks to the Sacklers and Jeffrey Epstein as well. Institutions like Harvard, who don’t even pay taxes and don’t need the money, don’t appear to be very discriminating.
6
@JC Not to mention the Weills, the Tisches and that guy who started Staples or Office Depot and has hadhis name put on so many NYU buildings.
1
The John Birch Society which commanded a right-wing movement that Republican establishmentarians once viewed as a mortal, radical reactionary threat has now been thoroughly embraced by todays republican party. The Koch family have over more than six decades continued to finance and cultivate the ideological uprising that has now, at long last, metastasized itself at the very heart of Republican power. Full circle, from The Freedom School, to Citizens for a Sound Economy, to Americans for Prosperity, to The Center to Protect Patient Rights—run by a political consultant employed by the Kochs— that initially served as a pass-through for contributions from the network of elite political donors who take part in Koch-sponsored seminars. Later, the Kochs formed a business league—members must pay at least $100,000 in annual dues—called Freedom Partners, which was set up under a section of the tax code that could allow donors to write off political contributions as business expenses.
6
philanthropy means love of humanity but the Kochs seemed more about money and political influence. Liking and supporting ballet and stuff may set them apart from the stereotypical oil-rich ignoramus, but it also may have made it easier for them to make connections to further their interests. As they finance candidates favoring government control over women's reproductive choices I don't credit them with really being "libertarian." Their opposition to public transit - since they didn't use it why should it be there - seems symbolic of their apparent disdain for people who have to struggle without car, who care about urban life or the environment. It seems their idea of freedom is corporations should be free from environmental, consumer, and labor regulations.
While we're not supposed to speak ill of the recently deceased and I do acknowledge that they donated to some decent things, we still need to recognize how great wealth can buy influence and do much harm to the country and the planet.
6
@Barry Schiller
No modern day billionaire is a philanthropist, not a real one. Sure they give away money, but billionaires by nature are selfish, if they are "giving" you anything, rest assured, there's something in it for them.
To be a true billionaire, and call yourself a philanthropist, you would have some big shoes to fill. John Rockefeller, at the time of his death, had given away, the equivalent of 6 billion in today's money. Rockefeller, believed that should give away as much as he could, he hated being lumped in with the other robber Barron's of the day. His son heard complaints about safety at one of their mines, he was the first "Undercover Boss" he put on miners clothes, and went mining, not for just a day either.
He fixed the problems at the mine, Rockefeller understood the gravity of being the richest man on the planet, even today he would be richer than Bozo, I mean Bezos. By the way, the marginal tax rate in that era, was 80%. Although John Sr, did oppose the 16th amendment to the Constitution, granting Congress the right to levy an income tax.
At least he shared a large part of his wealth, unlike the so called philanthropist's of today.
2
Through the John Birch Society, Fred Koch tried and failed to convert the country to his way of thinking, a hardline, reactionary ideology. His sons have carried forward the torch, and where their father and his allies were dismissed by fellow conservatives as reactionaries, the Koch brothers have risen to become Republican powerbrokers, fully embraced and welcomed by establishment Republicans.
4
Surprised to find, while musing about Koch's death during my morning errands - that I had a distinct sense of relief. Not rational, perhaps, but a welcome sense of relief none the less. This man and his brother have done major damage to our planet and to our democracy.
20
A short note on the Koch Bros and taxes. As a partnership, and not a corporation, Koch Industries has benefitted significantly from first the “no taxes on pass through income” during the state of Kansas “tax experiment” under Gov. Sam Brownback and then under the Trump/Republican Tax cut bill with its lower rate, again for pass through income. The Trump bill was essentially just a rerun of the Kansas bill.
8
Al Capone sponsored a soup kitchen during the Depression. It did not make him a good man. David Koch made some philanthropic gestures,(perhaps to salve his conscience), that is all well and good, but those gestures do not outweigh the harm he and his brother have visited upon this country.
For a man of science, he certainly was conveniently in denial of it, when it came to climate change. His legacy will be the lasting devastation to this planet he championed.
24
I usually do not speak ill of the recently deceased, but this time I have to.
David Koch got to be wealthy by continuing to push oil and coal as a power source long after scientists warned us about global climate change.
Koch used his great wealth to “control” legislators who then pushed legislation that made it harder to rally support for alternative and renewable sources of energy that would NOT harm our planet.
Using his great wealth, David Koch enabled himself to live the high life, a glamorous life in which people played up to him hoping he would donate to their charities.
But, the part that most sours his “charity-giving” was his insistence that his name be carved in stone or marble on the many buildings that will survive him.
He helped ruin our planet long after he knew exactly what he was doing, but he wanted the fame and wealth that enabled him to be “romanced” for his charitable donations.
13
...if you spend your time making money, you have less time to consider what it is to be a human being.
May David rest in peace, yet there was so much more he could have learned.
Making money is a cancer in that you do not know where to stop unless you learn to promote the fullness of each person you met and especially, say, your employees - whether you agree with them or not.
I know for I was extremely good at making money. I stopped being so directed ...now 25 years ago. I have given most everything away and have since then especially spent my time learning and listening. I am internally one of the happiest, fulfilled humans with the concrete strength to continue fighting for the everyday human being ...and others define for me what it is to be human if I listen well enough and, therefore, make me understand myself better to understand the greater world better and, thus, do better justice. One great person I have trouble with is Bill Gates who just does not really get it though he is trying with extreme energy and is a potentially better example to other billionaires.
5
OK. Enough of the ranting about how evil David Koch and his clan are and how much lasting damage they have done to the planet and to millions of the planet’s citizens. We get it.
How about we use his death to have a brutally honest conversation about what kind of systems allow the ultra wealthy to inflict so much hurt in so many ways. What kind of society evolved over time to give them that much power?
Well, basically a corrupt system/ society. A combination of almost unbridled capitalism and a pay-to-play political structure that allows the Koch’s of the world to write the rules, while leaving working families, the poor, and the planet to suffer the damage.
What happened over all these years to our so called ”leaders”? This level of corruption didn’t fall from the sky. It was created gradually.
Then take it further and ask what will we do to fix it. Let’s start nominating and electing real leaders who will fight to make genuine changes for the betterment of society as a whole. Who will hold people like the Koch’s to pay their fair share. And I’m not talking about the entrenched Democratic and Republican elite. We’ve tried that for decades and here we are.
Had enough yet?
8
@r2d2 I would point out that Joe Biden is running as the most electable candidate, and Nancy Pelosi admonishes the squad.
1
"grew up in Wichita under the discipline of an emotionally distant father, who taught them to fight and compete with one another. That spirit carried into adulthood, engendering feuds and lawsuits that became public displays of avarice and fraternal malice."
"Accusations of instability, greed and nefarious conduct peppered the trial, and at one point David sobbed as he testified of family tensions so bitter that private investigators had been hired to pilfer trash and bribe janitors to dig up dirt."
"Charles has lived most of his life in a walled compound in Wichita, Kan., a secretive kingpin surrounded by lawyers, public relations retainers and security guards."
Twisted souls filled with hate and greed. No wonder they have done what they have done.
12
Like Mike Burns in the Simpsons...
Ah yes, when mortality helps along the long arc of progress.
7
He and his family have damaged our democracy with the millions they’ve injected into our political system. We now have a plutocracy not a democracy and it seems to be getting more skewed to benefit just the wealthy every day.
11
Nature has a way of restoring balance...
4
Bought the Bill of Rights and sold it to America’s corporate interests. Crushed the capacity for us to care for one another.
7
What a combination of factors coming together.
Now, a Koch brother has died, part of a family and organization of immense wealth and political power, that has blocked progress the country needs.
Plus, we have a president of unprecedented egotism, who damages and insults the country daily, and brings shame to the US before the world.
Plus we have a campaign for 2020 to unseat Trump, with candidates who are fighting against oligarch dominance of politics. They and most voters want to reverse the S. Court’s ruling in Citizens United that had removed all limits to mega donor money in our elections.
2020 candidates aim to restore the influence of the average citizens in politics. So that We the People get representation for our taxation.
This is an opportunity for the media. They can use the Koch obituary to start spotlighting, instead of ignoring how big money has worked to suppress our democracy, using phony slogans of "American Freedom".
The media can serve the public and follow the big money link to answer crucial questions affecting our very lives:
Why are we the only modern country still lacking health care for all”
Still lacking basic, sensible gun laws to protect public safety that are normal in dozens of nations?
Why do we allow big oil to block green energy reform, as we see further proof of global warming?
5
Is it really philanthropy, as in love of fellow humans, when table crumbs are donated to research and charities, while the life's mission has been pursuit of goals that, even ignoring self-enrichment through policies enacted by politicians who were bought off, are intended to heap miser on the poor, voiceless, miserable souls. God may forgive him, but...
7
We have a very different definition of philanthropy.
7
I like the article for trying to avoid opinions about Mr. Koch probably held by this paper and most of the readership... which is ok in multi polar politics...:)
A great man, industrialist and philanthropist. Compassionate art supporter and libertarian... His politics were just as necessary to offset the very extreme views on the opposite specter as they would in any healthy democracy. Thousands of people are employed and cared for working for one of the largest privately owned industrial company guided by Koch brothers.
Hope history will not distort all positive that was his life.
@Jack
He may have employed thousands (to make money for him - big deal), but he destroyed the health and welfare of Billions.
I too hope history will not distort his pure evil.
1
Required reading for all sentient Americans should be Jane Mayer's Dark Money, The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.
As Charles Koch recently remarked, "We've made more progress on our agenda in the last five year than the prior 5O" - unfortunately a true statement. Wonder why the 'right' and their agenda has overtaken our government, all three branches, read Mayer's book. She was followed, surveilled, harassed, threatened as she researched and wrote her book.
The Kochs and their fellow millionaires/billionaires had a brilliant plan that they began executing when David ran for VP on the Libertarian ticket in 1980 and got zip votes. Charles - the brains in the family - realized electoral politics was not the way to seize state power. He and his minions crafted a plan, executed it flawlessly and - bingo - here we are today: America circa 2019; an oligarchy with the income disparity greater than its ever been in America and the worst in the entire world.
Why was the left and especially the Demos "asleep at the wheel"? My hunch is because they feed from the same trough. Truly Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
7
Philanthropy does not forgive hideous acts against the environment and our democracy. Philanthropy resulting in having your name engraved for display is hideous (and selfish) in itself. This man's name now dominates what was originally known as The New York State Theater which was built with funds from the State of New York as part of New York State's cultural participation in the 1964–1965 World's Fair. The theater was built for the people. Easy money for Koch -- difficult money to raise for performing arts groups -- his name now dominates (and stains) this theater. I hesitate from applauding his philanthropy when it is designed for legacy and can not overwrite the hideous actions that allowed this man to accumulate so much wealth.
7
For all of Mr. Koch's conservative views and support, I was always impressed by the announcement at the beginning of the PBS program NOVA:
"Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science"
NOVA is certainly not a denier of climate change.
3
How much of DK's philanthropy was actually attributable to the charitable giving people do to reduce taxes?
It's still good and charitable but isn't always done with that in mind. How many buildings and institutions need to bear your name to help you feel good about underpaying workers, undermining democracy and abusing the environment and precious resources.
4
Not a fan. He and his empire fueled the ignorance that the US insists on teaching around global climate disaster. Was so wealthy he could afford to keep his head in the sand when it came to those who lived in places most affected by climate disaster. Crimes against humanity will be paid for in the next life.
6
At least 1/2 of the problem was solved naturally.
8
In 1980, David Koch ran as the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate. Libertarian policy can look nice on paper and inspire great conspiracy theorists, but since no political system is without corruption, it is merely a cover for fascists. And the Kochs and others have worked to move the GOP toward fascism with a great degree of success. Which left a vacuum taken up by Democrats who are now acting as moderate Republicans.
Take a look at the 1980 Libertarian Party platform. Then think of a world full of rich predators like Epstein doing what ever they want only never being brought to justice. That is what Libertarian brings. And that is the direction we have gone under GOP rule.
8
Nothing more than an attention getting billionaire who used his money to sway political opinion to what he believed. Any philanthropy he did is negated by his intrusiveness in American politics. It’s hard to have sympathy for such a person. Too bad his billions won’t be used to help poor people or to elevate the public good. His fortune will pass on to spoiled children who do not deserve it. That’s the American way now.
7
It's time to really evaluate what kind of world we live in when there are a few people that have more money than they could ever hope to spend at them same time there are people working 7 days a week who can barely afford food and shelter.
8
In "Julius Caesar" Shakespeare wrote:
“The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones.”
We as a nation and the world will be dealing with Mr. Koch's legacy for as long as the world remains inhabitable.
9
He came
He defiled the planet
He left.
111
The Koch brothers have chosen to provide money for the destruction of the earth.
61
One can only hope his Libertarian politics dies with him.
37
Let's hope his children and inheritors think otherwise and thereby end half the damage caused by this venal man and his venal brother.
38
His rape of the planet for personal gain was infamous. David Koch will be remembered as the man who fueled the Trump presidency. Let this be his legacy.
48
If the deceased wish to be spoken of highly of after they die, then maybe they should have tried to live a better life.
78
@PubliusMaximus In New York City that translates into giving money for wings, buildings, driveways, forests, etc. with your name all over them. That is why hospitals like NY Presbyterian-Weill Cornell and NYU have buildings with names like Koch, Weill, Tisch etc. all over them but not enough money for decent social workers and nurses because names cannot (at least not yet) be engraved on social workers/nurses and seen from the street.
5
@ellienyc
Exactly...so much philanthropy stems not from generous hearts filled with the spirit of love for their fellow humans, but a vain desire to see their names live on in granite and marble after they shuffle off their mortal coil, to give their egos a promotion relative to peers, and to have somewhere to show off their wives, who want someplace to regularly socialize with people of the same class, and to network with like-minded, similarly bankrolled folks. The un-glamorous daily functions and needs of places like hospitals is of little real interest to many like the Koch's and they do not wish to fund actual care of people, only visible monoliths that advertise their interests and self-absorption.
3
@PubliusMaximus. I’m sure yours is exemplary- without the philanthropy
1
Fascinating how almost every NYT Pick in these comments is a pro-David Koch comment. Is this the Times's attempt to show balance in the comment section? Because I think most people here realize that the world is in a worse state than it would have been in without him.
41
Here we are, gilding the lily by painting David Koch as a multi-faceted person who did some bad things but also did some good things in his life, thereby giving the impression that in the end it all kind of balances out. But it doesn't
Sure, David Koch donated some of his ill gotten gains to scientific research and the arts. Meanwhile, the Koch brothers manufactured the fake tea party "revolution" which all but disemboweled our democracy, have battled against all efforts to rein in climate change, thereby dooming our planet and our species, and have done their best to insure their "everything for me!" libertarian philosophy dominates the GOP political landscape, thereby making any sort of compromise with today's GOP impossible. Their machinations behind the scenes have resulted in a stultifying political quagmire in Washington and their championing of fossil fuels may result in the death of our planet and our species along with it. Honestly? I think I am being kind here and only scratching the surface. So no, his deeds do not balance out in the end, though he is no doubt trying to convince Saint Peter they do even as I write this. Of the two brothers, David does appear to be the lesser of two evils. From what I've read, Charles is the more extremest and radically right wing of the two brothers, but I feel like that's damning with *extremely* faint praise.
25
@wildwest
"...ill gotten gains..."? "... manufactured tea party revolution..."? Any substantiation... or just pure demagoguery and grave stomping? Why? He didn't support the climate change initially... wasn't there enough scientific fraud to be skeptical? You don't obviously share his politics but, my god, we live in a democracy where we suppose to oppose ea other views in more civilized manner... different than slander and misrepresentation... Of which both brothers were highly critical and opposed to current POTUS.
John Milton is one of the founders of Unitarianism a religion that transcends belief and puts responsibility on ourselves for our future.
It was Milton's Paradise Lost that gives us very human Satan and Jesus.
It was Stalin that created the behemoth we call Koch Industries. I understand Libertarianism and I remember it was America's founders who responded to Milton's Query whether it was better to serve in Heaven or Rule in Hell with it is better to serve in Heaven.
The Kochs were and are anti American but the question is as valid now as it was in 1775. Is it better to serve in Heaven or rule in Hell? The question still roils America and I live in Canada where serving in Heaven is still our response.
I am not an American or a Libertarian. The death of David Koch is yet another chance to respond to the Milton query, "is it better to serve in Heaven or rule in Hell." I am sure of but one thing Donald Trump and the GOP are not the chosen of either myself or the Koch Brothers.
9
Was David Koch really a libertarian? In terms of the actual political candidates he and his brother threw their fortune behind, they actually worked to clamp down on civil liberties, especially of those with the fewest resources. Consider George W. Bush era policies regarding state surveillance, police powers, women's reproductive rights, mass incarceration, due process for those in the criminal justice system, etc. There is more to being "libertarian" than tax cuts and corporate de-regulation. Or has "libertarian" simply come to mean "more of everything for the rich, less of everything for the poor?"
29
@citybumpkin
George W Bush and David Koch are two entirely different people with different political beliefs.
@citybumpkin
Consider the John Birch Society.
1
David Koch could have bankrolled every cultural institution and it would not begin to mitigate the damage that he and his family industries have done to our environment or our political system.
61
Some people believe in God, Angels, and caring for sinners. Other people only believe in themselves and survival of the fittest or evolutionary principles. I believe they are linked. Koch did not seem to.
All bad things eventually come to an end.
He was rich in wealth, but poor in soul.
29
Ameeen!!!
7
For all his philanthropy, Mr. Koch will not be missed by this proud progressive.
22
Where he's going, the extreme heat has nothing to do with any actions he's taken.
31
The Koch family fortune originated from dictator Joseph Stalin's payments to the Koch's engineer father who helped industrialize the Soviet Union in the '30s.
Now, that fortune has grown to finance and dominate much US politics for profit and power, while it helps shut out the political influence of average citizens, contradicting US democracy.
Anyone who lived thru the Cold War of US vs Soviets that totally dominated our politics and the world for generations sees the crazy irony of this.
Later, the father, Fred koch was a fierce anti communist and a founder of the John Birch Society.
And now Trump & Putin are such good friends. And Trump/GOP have their own state media to manipulate the American public.
Couldn't make this up.
Our Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United legalized unlimited mega donor money in politics as 1st Amendment Free Speech. Since 2010 this helped transfer more power to our American oligarchs' advantage.
Mitch McConnell at a Koch summit said this---
"“All Citizens United did was to level the playing field for corporate speech…. We now have, I think, the most free and open system we’ve had in modern times.”
He thought that previously the 'free speech' of the richest donors was somehow suppressed.
Common Cause said:
The “playing field” is not level for American voters — Citizens United invited corporations/special interests to spend freely to amplify their speech and drown out the rest of us--the opposite of “free and open”.
31
The evil that this man and his brother have done will by far outlive any goodwill that they sought to curry by tax-favored philanthropy.
The Kochs gained their wealth from their father's willingness to build refineries for Stalin's slave state, when the Russian people were suffering mass transportations, gulags, arbitrary executions––and oppressing half of Europe with their totalitarian system.
The Kochs went on to multiply their wealth by creating dozens of European shell corporations, which allowed them to easily evade sanctions and prosecution while supplying Iran with critical petroleum tech throughout the Iraq War and beyond.
But what will make the Koch name live in infamy forever is the ongoing destabilization of the world's climate, which both the oil industry and Pentagon anticipated by the 1950s, but which the Koch propaganda machine made progress on that front impossible from the moment Reagan moved into the White House and ripped off the solar panels that the taxpayers had already paid for. The Kochs have cursed this planet with rising sea levels, acidified oceans with reduced marine life, and erratic weather.
Their example should never be forgotten––nor forgiven. If democracy is ever to recover, we must tax such obscene fortunes and end the overweening influence of the self-centered, sociopathic trust fund babies on an increasingly non-representative government.
44
@Solar Power
Yes!!
1
Interesting how all the men in the picture seem to be in the 60's, while the women appear in their 30's.
15
I believe I speak for all Americans (whether they know it or not) when I say that the real tragedy is that it took the cancer 27 years to get the job done. Our country (and our world) would be much better places without Mr. Koch and his brother.
I hope Virgil guides him to the appropriate circle in the fiery afterlife.
31
Some would argue
philanthropist = love of humanity
is ironic use of the term to characterize the activities of this apologist for fossil fuels that threaten human life.
16
Thus passes one of the most effective enemies of democracy in the history of the United States.
Not to worry:
Plutocracy still has the Murdochs, the Mercers, the Sinclairs, the Scaifes, the DuPonts, the Coors, Adelson, Mark Zuckerberg, Lloyd Blankfein and many other unAmerican billionaires who will carry on their right-wing war against Constitutional democracy in America.
37
How convenient for trump - now all he has to do is make one call to the Koch Brother to find out what to do next.
20
"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." NOT Mark Twain, but he may as well have said it about Koch. Me too.
30
A libertarian order that DISTORTED American politics, thank you.
11
I just can say I am not saddened by this death. He has not done America any favors, except in the arts venue. Otherwise he has made life worse for Americans. Support of the climate change deniers is criminal I feel.
21
The state of the climate is and will continue to be the legacy of David Koch.
Thanks for nothing!
18
I'll be the one to say what most of us are thinking: Good riddance. One down and many more to go. I don't care about David Koch's philanthropy. I don't care about his family. I don't care about the nature of his death. He was a bad man. He's a bad man even in death. Those billions are still churning to fulfill his mission: Plutocracy. I don't want his charity or his opinion. I want his money out of my life and out the lives of my children and their children and their children's children. I won't pay condolences to a face of evil in this world.
37
Thank you, Andy. My sentiments exactly.
4
A new book is out, well reviewed---
"Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America" by Christopher Leonard.
Last night Leonard was interviewed on Msnbc, The Last Hour with Brian Willians....see transcript or video.
Amazon clip:
"The annual revenue of Koch Industries is bigger than that of Goldman Sachs, Facebook, and U.S. Steel combined. Koch is everywhere But few people know much about Koch Industries and that’s because the billionaire Koch brothers want it that way.
For five decades, CEO Charles Koch has kept Koch Industries quietly operating in deepest secrecy, with a view toward very, very long-term profits."
and
"The Making of the Kochtopus – Mother Jones
How the billionaire brothers built a political network that rivals the GOP itself."
15
@Meredith, the book Dark Money, was the best one I've read on the Kochs.
4
There is not one thing I have read or heard about David Koch that I would emulate or cheer.
25
What a shameful misuse of wealth.
22
A libertarian is a Republican who wants to smoke dope.
Libertarians are like Republicans in every way that counts: they think that municipal projects like roads and sewage and transit will miracle into place without their money or effort. They are the consummate takers, who assume every benefit of Nature exists for their Divine enjoyment.
20
@Mjxs, I would only add "at the expense of all of us."
2
@Mjxs Exactly! They still want to tell women what to do with their bodies!!!
Let us be crystal clear.
This "philanthropy" reduced Koch's taxable income. So it was not philanthropy but a tax dodge.
The 1 percent set up these charities in the early 1900s.
They wrote the laws and then used "charity" to white wash their rapacious behavior.
They then created foundations.
Then we have Citizens United and now "dark money" from phony "social welfare" groups going into libertarian politics.
Be very clear that libertarianism is code for plutocratic politics based on "greedy self interest".
If he had paid for these charities with after tax income...he might have evolved into a nice person. But underneath the paper thin veneer of "Koch" groups which funded "smokers rights", the destruction of unions, voter suppression, can we find something redeeming about his death?
Well, he won't be giving any more speeches to CPAC.
At least he could afford to pay for state of the art health care while driving by children and women without health care.
Is there a special place in heaven for such people. Riding on their camel through the eye of a needle.
Vietnam Vet
Vietnam Vet
23
@Michael
Excellent points. Bravo!
1
Does this mean the David Koch Theater can go back to being the New York State Theater again? That would be awesome.
26
@DJW This is what I want. As I understand it, it was dopey Gov. Andrew Cuomo who approved a PR person's request to name it for Koch, WITHOUT GIVING THE SLIGHTEST THOUGHT TO THE TAXPAYERS OF NY, WHO PAID FOR THAT THEATER AND GAVE IT ITS ORIGINAL NAME, because Koch gave money for new seats. The seats are terrific, but this was supposed to be and was conceived as a "people's" theater for performances of NY CIty Ballet and NY City Opera, the first real customized home for both. And it was George Balanchine & Lincoln Kirstein who likely had the most input on design (though had to agree to certain cutbacks because budget for the people's theater wasn't big enough for everything they wanted).Note that some, maybe much, of the fantastic modern art in its lobby was DONATED by people like Kirstein and building architect Philip Johnson, and they didn't ask to have anything named for them.
Also worth pointing out that many of the most important ballets of the 20th century (by Balanchine) premiered in this building. David Koch hated ballets like most of Balanchine's because they weren't "fair tale, story" ballets. When he gave money for ballet creation, it was to American Ballet Theater, for works like Sleeping beauty, Nutcracker, etc. All the more reason to BRING BACK the New York State Theater.
3
Koch grabbed billions and billions of dollars, and used so much of it to do incalculable harm to America and its people.
Now where is all the money he gloried in amassing? Thanks to laws he got written, precious little of it was "stolen" from him by taxes to help his hungry, homeless, and ill fellow-citizens.
Tell us: Did he take it with him?
24
I am celebrating the passing of this monster who was responsible for wanton destruction of Environment.
24
I hope Trump gets buried right next to him. Koch helped make Trump possible. They deserve each other for ever and ever.
20
Why does a story about David end with a sentence like this? "Charles’ lifelong mission has been to change the political culture and mainstream libertarian ideas.”
3
@ll
BECAUSE it's what he thought about himself.
Don't expect me to shed a tear. Dust to dust.
19
Condolences to his family.
Can we drown ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is the bathtub now?
9
@Joe From Boston
and the corrupt federalist society of whom he was the largest donor.
Don't you worry, he has someone set up to take his place to continue his demise of democracy everywhere.
12
I guess the Kochs opposed all transit spending because it reduced oil consumption. A bad thing for Kochs. Selfish and petty and stupid. We won't miss you. You never got to eliminate the estate tax. The Treasury needs the money from your estate to offset the budget deficit from your tax cuts.
18
OK so the overwhelming medical consensus may be that he’s dead, but surely if just a few crackpot doctors are unsure, couldn’t we fund them to sow doubt about the facts?
3
The Koch fortune got a significant start from Hitler and Stalin. Despite their significant charitable giving, they have done their best to dismantle environmental protections so they have the freedom to spread every kind of toxic waste wherever they please. They've gotten rid of worker protections.
They've created cookiecutter voter suppression legislation, and done their best to undermine voting rights.
They have an inside track o Trump in VP Pence. In fact, Trump could not have done nearly as much harm if he hadn't had the Koch organization's billionaire network's expertise on tap. They had the likes of Myron Ebell and other unskeptical "skeptic" anti-science advocates to help them put industry insiders in charge to dismantle progress and safeguards for the environment.
When anyone opposed them, they were not above using intimidation to silence opposition.
David Koch had mostly been forced out of the organization, so its anti-human and anti-civilization work will proceed apace.
For more information, see Jane Mayer, who has kept up with their misdeeds, and been directly victimized, luckily for us, unsuccessfully. https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jane-mayer
20
The Kochs were very involved in one of the more nefarious groups called ALEC installing statewide their choices for local down ballot seats.Fueled by their dough, these appointees made sure that Koch Industries could continue their grotesque raping and poisoning of our environment.Shame on David Koch and the whole awful lot of them.
20
It is truly hard to fathom how many wealthy individuals, such as Mr. Koch, can do so much good in a social or scientific manner, with their fortunes, and yet be so absolutely malevolent, or at least pernicious, depending on who is asked, from a political perspective. He had a life well lived from the overall view of it, but his legacy is a balance of the progressive and the regressive, with the latter far outweighing the former on an international and national impact scale.
16
It is hard to muster up any feeling of sorrow for a man who inherited the mantle of a father whose only interest was to make money as freely as he could. Koch philanthropy doesn’t make up for the methodical effort by the Family to act with so little regard for the consequences of the people who suffered the consequences.
29
David was definitely the better, in terms of character, of the two brothers and condolences to the family for his death.
The legacy of the Koch brothers will be one best defined as "a two edged sword".
On the one hand, the Koch family is to be admired for their philanthropy and work for social reforms and justice (with some clear exceptions).
On the other hand, the Koch family more then any other wealthy family has done more to undermine free enterprise in the US economy. They have always been a family of special interests and priorities with the wealth to influence politicians to see their interests and priorities addressed.
In the end.. long term.. the Koch family will be both admired and loathed by US society.
3
Philanthropy for the very rich is often just a tax dodge and a quest for the immortality of having one’s name on buildings and cultural centers.
2
I remember reading an article years ago that described a society dowager instructing David Koch to finally get married and for heaven's sake, to direct some of his money to philanthropic causes, so he could at least appear to be a decent man.
Well, he did get married to a woman suggested by Nancy Reagan and her social circle friends, and he did begin philanthropic donations. His philanthropy didn't come from the heart, it didn't come from a sense of responsibility, it came from the constant urging of his social circle, in order to burnish his public image.
I doubt Koch suffered economically as a result of his donations to philanthropic causes. But, those donations seem to have succeeded in burnishing his name, as we see recited in this obituary.
15
@MC Are you maintaining that Koch's wife was in Nancy's circle of friends? This is totally incorrect!
On balance, did David Koch do more harm or good? It's probably not even close. The libertarian, far-right, anti-tax anti-environment agenda of the Republican party he funded will lead to unimaginable devastation to the earth and humanity. It's easy to give millions to medicine and the arts if you have the money. His philanthropy does not begin to compensate for his destructive political activities. I wish his death would mean an end to his dark money efforts, but no doubt it will carry on as he would have wished.
27
I don't favor dancing on someone's grave, but do we owe the deceased respect, even if their actions harmed many, that we disagreed with them profoundly for the damage they inflicted on the environment, even if their influence (partly because of their extreme wealth) on their times was largely negative?
We can be mindful that their family and friends may grieve, but I prefer people to earn respect, and the judgment about their legacy and life be an honest one.
The super wealthy enjoyed an abundance of privilege in life. I will not confer more privilege to them in their death.
20
Upward mobility is to a significant degree dependent on actual, physical mobility. David Koch's successful fights against public transportation initiatives across the country have kept people from opportunities that might have changed their lives.
And, while Mr. Koch was financing efforts to keep the little people down, he was also throwing money around to support causes near and dear to the rich and cultured. These philanthropic gifts cost him nothing, really, in the grand scheme of things, but got him invited to some really great parties where he could play a nice, charming guy who cares.
No doubt David Koch lived in gated communities his entire life. I hear heaven is a gated community, too.
12
“Critics accused the Kochs of buying influence and using their political machine to manipulate elections and government policies under a guise of patriotism and freedom. Those efforts, the critics said, cloaked an agenda to cut taxes and federal regulations governing business, the environment and other interests, primarily to benefit the Koch family and its enterprises.”
That and the discussion that follows describes precisely the true nature of the Koch brothers.
I shed no tears today for David Koch. Good riddance.
28
It is worth pointing out that the Sackler family, who many consider to be the evil behind the opioid epidemic in this country, donated considerable sums of money to many worthwhile organizations and artistic institutions. The devastation wrought by Perdue Pharmaceutical is felt in every corner of this country. The body count keeps rising.
I am not equating the the Koch brothers with the Sackler family. What I am saying is that philanthropy is not a measurement of ones decency and honorable intentions. The damage to the environment brought about by Koch money and influence cannot be offset by a name on hospital wing.
25
I'm glad he liked dinosaurs and the arts. It is really too bad he did not like nature or believe it was wrong to pollute the environment for a bigger profit. It is too bad he did not believe in human caused global warming. And to say that a social safety net is not freedom is absurd.
17
It is exceptionally rich that the Koch brothers are being criticized for their opposition to public mass transit.
If progressives and/or Democrats want to advance mass transit as a public good, they should focus on making it an efficient and viable and self supporting enterprise.
NYC would be a good starting point. Instead of spending political capital begging for the federal taxpayer to cover costs, pressure local and state government to manage the money they already have, which is more than sufficient to cover the financing of a world class mass transit system instead of the current miasma.
Manage construction contracts. Write a competent scope and bid that work. Do not do pretends bids where the core contract goes to the low bidder at $10 million and the final contract costs $100 million with $90 million in adders that are far more profitable to the winning bidder than the original contract. Government employees supervising the work need to check for no-show workers on the adders who are being paid.
It is inexcusable that it costs seven times as much to build a mile of subway in NY compared to Paris, France.
Thank you Koch brothers for providing the residents of Nashville with sufficient evidence to defeat a mass transit bond issue. Tennessee residents are delighted that the corrupt mayor of Nashville was unable to dig a bottomless pit in which to throw taxpayer money in order to enhance the profitability of her corrupt real estate contributors.
1
@enmem,
Mass transit is not a business, but a utility. It’s vital for commerce.
It should not have to be self-supporting any more than roads and bridges.
I see nothing to be proud of in the reactionary act of defeating proposals to increase it.
4
David Koch did as much as anyone to turn the Republican Party into an extreme right wing movement. I suspect that for him, the white supremacy element of the movement was a somewhat unfortunate collateral that was necessary to get his tax cuts, government support for his deeply destructive fossil fuel interests, and regulatory "freedom" to run roughshod over our environment to extract and refine those fossil fuels.
As a trained chemical engineer, David Koch no doubt understood the effects of carbon dioxide on our atmosphere and oceans. I hope he spent his brief retirement sitting atop his massive pile of gold, consumed with fear, loathing, and regret for the irreversible and possibly humanity-extinguishing damage he did to the planet that his children must live on.
17
The problem is that a small group of mega-donors can get their concerns dealt with in short order. One NRA phone call to #45 gets any background check off the table at once. Meanwhile, other issues of equal importance cannot be heard. Citizens United caused this money = mega speech to be codified. While I appreciate the Koch brothers finance PBS, the fact they also want to change government via $$$ advocacy isn't appreciated. We live in a world where if 1% of the 1% care to influence politics, the .1 % will have more influence than 99 percent of the rest of us. I'm sorry for his family but did he do good works ? I say not.
10
David Koch literally believed the only appropriate function of government is to protect private property. He did not serve us well, and his tax deductible donations included “non-profit” foundations with the sole purpose of aiding the wealthy and gutting the social safety net. Every dollar for the arts is tainted by that and the havoc this he wreaked on the environment and the health of employees and communities exposed to their criminal disregard for safety.
16
David Koch's philanthropy does not negate his politics and the damage he's done to this country and our world. I can not for the life of me understand why these men who have been given every oportunity in life are intent on causing misery to others... to the planet... to the next generation. Why? Why do they continue to manipulate our world for their own benefit? Why do they continue to need more? It literally boggles my mind.
19
Lincoln Center renamed the New York State Theater to the David H. Koch Theater in 2008. Although there are plenty of programs worth seeing, I will not step my feet in there for any reason to satisfy my creature comforts. The name represents ideas, and a movement which has been devastating to the vulnerable and the principle of humanity.
"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." (Luke 12:48)
Noblesse oblige - not this time.
9
@USCitizen And it was one of the lowest moments of GOv. Andrew Cuomo's career, as he had to sign off on renaming, as theater was conceived and paid for by the taxpayers of the state of NY. He did that without spending one instant consulting NY taxpayers.
2
The same can be said for Ronald Reagan Airport, for which there unfortunately are no alternatives.
2
With so much money comes so much influence, and not always in a good way.
I agree with George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life) is it too much to want a decent home with a few rooms and a bath, a decent wage, [and healthcare?] We keep hearing this is the “best economy ever...” and “Americans are rich with money in their pockets...” and “I am the Chosen One..” I wonder if the people in encampments in the parks near here feel “rich” and how excited the homeless veterans near the entrances to the I-10 freeway are about the stock market if they don’t have a 401k portfolio.
I don’t believe in a free ride for anyone, but a sliding scale payment system for healthcare and affordable housing for the poor don’t seem like too much to me. I am thankful for my good fortune, and have contributed this month to backpacks, shoes and school supplies for the less fortunate.
I may not be as rich as the Koch Brothers but I gladly contribute what I can. I don’t mind paying taxes because I appreciate traffic signals and lane lines, clean water when I turn on the faucet, and dependable police and fie departments.
In a way I feel badly for the Koch’s..
2
Those in encampments didn’t grow a middling oil refiner and pipeline company into a diverse conglomerate employing more than 100,000 nor did they run with an idea of online retail, starting with books, and after eighteen years of loses, turn a profit. I have a NYC public school diploma and supervise minimum wage security guards. It’s beyond absurd to expect that I or anyone like me would have opportunities like those from a privileged background.
@Clayton "sure, he donated a lot of money to some great institutions, but I'd rather breathe clean air and ride a reliable train to work than stare at a tastefully renovated art installation on 5th Ave."
Except this is not a choice.
Which is to say that if there was no art installation then there would be clean air etc. I carry no brief at all for David Koch's political ideas, let alone his financing of the far right which is helping in serious measure to destroy our "noble experiment".
That said, what he did do charitably for our arts and medical institutions should be appreciated in and of itself, regardless of the tax write-offs and whatever other social benefits he received. In the end we are better off relative to our cultural welfare (and these days we need all the help we can get).
Keeping in mind that money is fungible and that we really don't "own" it insofar as our names are not on it but we merely hold it for the moment, iUt can be strewn about to promote things good or evil (or it can just be burned).
To the degree that it is used beneficially we should be grateful and applaud. Why not? Would you rather see it not used so.
THAT IS THE CHOICE WE REALLY HAVE.
P.S. The idea that we can categorize people reductively in binary fashion (good-evil, smart-stupid, beautiful-ugly etc.) is not necessarily meaningfully applied to all of humanity. Unlike some I could mention (ahem), I think David Koch was more nuanced than that.
1
@P.G.
I'm sorry to have totally disagree with you. Far from being nuanced, he was pure Evil.
Those "fabulous" contributions are Literally pocket-change for a man with over 50 Billion dollars. They meant Nothing to him, except to fool people into thinking he was "nuanced".
1
Dependence on the charity of the rich makes us all slaves. Their wealth comes from exploiting the rest of us.
We owe no gratitude to the thief who returns half our money, or to the benevolent dictator who buys our subservience.
While i respect the guy's philanthropy, and it funds many things that appeal to me, I hate his attitude that his decisions to fund what he wants is best for everyone. No, it's not. The Koch brothers are simply greedy and will pollute the water and air to make a buck that they can spend on their own interests. No hero here.
6
It was his money to spend as he saw fit, not the government’s to confiscate and redistribute according to the whims of the Squad.
1
@From Where I Sit
So you must be against all income tax?
Did you ever think how much Koch benefited from the Government? Roads, airports ,etc. Who paid for them? You did. Certainly not tax-dodging Koch.
No, he is not free to do whatever he wants with his money.
1
He interferes in the elections in foreign countries as well, funding campaigns for far left candidates in Canada whose main goal is to shut down the energy sectors that are in competition with his conglomerate. He funds worldwide eco protest groups whose only goal is the same while pushing laws through in the US that outlawed these exact protests. All of this has been done at arms length through eco groups he would fund to try and disassociate himself from the actual deeds. They put hundreds of thousands of people out of work because of pure greed, they wanted it all. He had his cake and ate it too. Prostate cancer isn’t anything I would wish for anyone, almost.
6
Hoping when the other brother eventually goes, the right wing's grip on the GOP will loosen considerably. D. Koch had a marvelous life, at the expense of our environment and all its living creatures. Thanks for nothing, D. K..
13
David Koch used his money to control the government, to spread disinformation among the public, and to make more money. I'm sorry but sometimes speaking well of the dead isn't appropriate. That's the way it is.
14
Note to the remaining Koch family: Change your ways or you, too, will be remembered in the strongly negative ways described herein.
8
@SalinasPhil
To be hated by the enemies of Liberty is an honor.
David Koch’s lasting legacy will be remembered for destroying the health of the planet while working tirelessly to deny healthcare to millions of American middle class and poor families, a legacy of greed and disregard for the wellbeing of future generations.
Support for the Arts and Humanities is all well and good but what good are they without humanity?
12
Sorry , but I’m not shedding any tears for this guy. He’s the main engine to the extreme right wing agenda and buying off politicians . He’s caused a lot of harm to ordinary Americans .
12
I delight in his passing, and look forward to his brothers joining him. The damage he has done with his wealth to society makes him a great ghoul of the modern era. To list his contributions to ballet before his damage to public infrastructure and the political climate is to tacitly support him. Calling anything he has done including giving money to the arts, "philanthropic", is objectively wrong. He supported nothing out of a sense of altruism. He bullied people with money. This article has me seriously reconsidering my subscription.
18
The hatred which many of the commentators have for mr. Koch, and the glee with which they greet his death, is truly disturbing. Apparently, having different political views is now grounds to claim the person is trying to destroy America. And these are the same people who go to pieces when trump even mildly criticizes someone.
3
@R.P. No. If the deceased wish to be spoken of highly after they die, then they should have lived a better life.
9
@R.P.
(1) Your proof for these are the same people? Or that 45 ever mildly criticizes someone?
(2) The Kochs willfully subverted democracy. One down, more to go.
8
@R.P.,
Using one’s wealth to buy influence in the government goes beyond mere “different political views.”
It’s a form of dictatorial control over the lives if ithers.
4
"The greatest trick the Devil pulled on us is to make us believe he does not exist" quote from movie The Usual Suspects.
7
Few individuals have caused so much harm to so many people in the course of one lifetime.
10
This is great news! He and his brother have been wrecking our political system for years. The political machine he and his brother created will probably outlive them, but it's still heartening to know that it's not just the good guys who die.
8
Hope in his last breaths he realized he wasn’t taking it all within him. David Koch and his brother effectively ruined our democracy through dark money groups, all the while ruining the environment for profit.
9
I’m guessing that David Koch decided to leave because he figured out how to take his Trump/McConnell tax cut with him.
4
He’s currently realizing he can’t take his fortune with him.
3
Ditto.
And let us not forget the special relationship the Koch brothers have/had with Scalia and Thomas.
8
I would be more impressed and appreciative of this fellow had he, and so many others like him, given anonymously without expecting anything in return.
Philanthropy is good but it takes on a sinister dimension when in return we reward givers with monuments to them. Reminds me of the story of the pharisee crowing how great he is while the lowly bum in the back of the temple can't even lift his eyes heavenward out of shame and embarrassment.
3
Unfortunately, the power of his money to destroy our democratic institutions will live on.
7
And he left this beautiful world in much worse shape.
7
The Kochs will not be remembered fondly. His estate could donate every cent and Kochs' legacy will still be right wing extremism.
9
It makes me sick to see this retrogressive planet polluter's name on Lincoln Center. He has used his money to divide America, and to subjugate its people, and his business to burn up the earth.
His kitchy fountains at the Metropolitan Museum cheapen its facade. His support of extreme right wing ideology might well destroy our nation. His self-serving philanthropy cannot sanitize his sins.
12
Libertarian: an anarchist with money.
27
Lovely epitaph: Greed and Profit
Perverting the government to enrich their empire.
More fascist than libertarian. Recently bankrolled
Alaska Governor's tours of the state to preach
corporate values - mainly just one - profit: subsidize and protect corporate profits directly and by reducing corporate taxation to its lowest levels - probably in America's history , relax environmental controls, control the spin. I don't pronounce it "Coke" Brothers.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/inside-the-koch-brothers-toxic-empire-164403/
May the Creator forgive his sins against his other sons and daughters and damage to the earth itself.
5
A lot of these comments are pretty disgusting. I never wish death upon anybody, and am never happy when someone dies regardless of if I agree with their politics. How many of you here have employed 120,000 people or donated billions of dollars to charity? Would you feel the same way if he was a democrat? Prolly not.
5
Do you consider funding climate change denial disgusting? Perverting democracy by funding fake AstroTurf groups, think tanks and pundits to advance your extreme libertarian views? Advocate dismantling the welfare safety net, overturn child labor laws, defund public education? Tax cuts for the extremely wealthy, that starve the treasury? Attack regulation that protects workers and the environment?
3
@Bryce,
None of us here expoloited working people in order to amass billions if dollars to give to charity, or used billions more to buy influence over a government that denies power to working people.
3
Without knowing many details of David Koch's life, these excerpt read strangely to me -
"And for years, he and Charles faced, and denied, accusations of having exploited libertarian principles for self-serving purposes. They insisted that they adhered to a traditional belief in the liberty of the individual, and in free trade, free markets and freedom from what they called government “intrusions,” including taxes, military drafts, compulsory education, business regulations, welfare programs and laws that criminalized homosexuality, prostitution and drug use."
"Fred Koch made millions in the 1920s and ’30s by inventing a process to extract more gasoline from crude oil and by building refineries in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East. Fiercely anti-Communist, he co-founded the right-wing John Birch Society and created the Wichita company that became Koch Industries."
Despite David's philanthropic initiatives, it's hard not to believe this man is disingenuous and completely self serving.
8
David Koch represents to me the ills and fissures in our American democracy: White male nationalists controlling the masses with their money, greed, and entitlement. Good riddance to our world, Mr. Koch! May God have mercy on you.
16
If you want to know about the Koch brothers (dead or alive) just look at the family they came from. His father was one of the founding members of the far-right John Birch Society in 1958. Fred Koch also built oil refining infrastructure for Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930’s. He did the same for Joseph Stalin during the same period of time. Little Davy and little Charlie learned a lot at their father’s knee. They grew up to believe they are too rich and powerful to be bothered with little things like rules and regulations. Yes they throw some money at the arts and hospitals but that is just a smokescreen. What they really are doing is killing people and ruining the planet by spewing carcinogens into the air we breathe. Money is not the only root of all evil. The Koch brothers are another root.
18
He was an unfathomably wealthy old white guy who worked hard to leave the planet in worse shape than it would have been without him.
The planet remained habitable for the time he needed it to.
15
So many bright lights have left us in the last few years - Gene Wilder, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Doris Day, Aretha Franklin, Toni Morrison, to name a few. My own father.
It's a relief that those profound losses have at least been a little balanced now by the passing of an agent of darkness.
60
@Pamela Sorry for your loss.
1
@Gardengirl,
Thank you, Gardengirl.
Jane Mayer’s Dark Money points out how the major profit center for the Koch family was ownership of an oil refinery that, due to arcane federal regulations, gave the family a virtual monopoly in a significant segment of the oil business, providing large profits virtually in perpetuity helping to fuel the family’s spectacular economic growth. Another example of people espousing the “get government out of the way” viewpoint who in fact are wildly disproportionate beneficiaries of government regulation. Life is complicated, and hypocrisy is part of the particular picture.
33
The Koch brothers' political and anti-tax crusades have worked their way down to the most minute level of county and municipal issues, seeking to influence decisions that have no real impact on the lives or businesses of the Kochs, but interfere with citizens' power of self determination at the local level.
In Columbus, Ohio, the Kochs' Citizens for Prosperity campaigned heavily to defeat a levy that supports the famous Columbus Zoo. The per-household amount of the levy in Franklin County was small. It provided significant funds for a local cultural institution that also plays an important part in the wider study and conservation of wild species. And yet the Kochs were willing to go after it, inserting themselves into a decision that was really none of their darn business, just on the basis of the Koch anti-tax principles.
So I find it ironic that either Charles or David Koch are applauded for their philanthropy. The result of campaigning against public funding for cultural institutions, like the Columbus Zoo, is that they get to pick and choose what they fund with donations from their vast wealth while interfering with the ability of ordinary people to make the same choices.
In this way, David Koch played a significant part in damaging not only our political system, but the very concept of civitas.
48
“David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay.”
Yes, the same state of the art medications and brilliant doctors the Koch's would deny others by lobbying against the Affordable Care Act and other efforts to provide healthcare for all. Death is the great equalizer.
I applaud Mr. Koch for his philanthropy in other areas. Nonetheless, his money has fueled a toxic political culture which threatens our democracy every day.
22
Koch Bros exerted massive influence over politics and public policy, through an astounding web of proxies, but never once had to defend their extreme libertarian philosophy by submitting to media interviews. They are an embodiment of the dysfunction and lack of accountability in our system.
28
He lost the battle (because Trump, an outsider, won the Republican nomination against his machine), but won the war (because Trump won the election against Hillary Clinton).
The man who created the monsters of New Gingrich, Mitch McConnell, Sarah Palin, John Boehner, Paul Ryan, the Tea Party and resulted in the election of Donald Trump. This is Mr. Koch's legacy. Never the mind what good he did; he also help fuel toxic politics.
While conservatism, small government, and fiscal responsibility are noble goals, how the Koch brothers went about it effectively ripped the social fabric of this country. It also made partisanship, and grid lock, the status quo.
In the end, though, Trump and the current GOP, passed the worse fiscal measure in US history; a $1.5 trillion tax cut that will feed budget deficits fro decades. And teh culmination resulted in the election of a president that will, go down as one of the worse; if not the worse, in history.
Not a fitting obituary or legacy.
23
No matter how many people are convinced otherwise, the Kochs do not -- in David's case, did not -- hold libertarian convictions because they were financially expedient. That is ridiculous. Why is it assumed that a person's philosophy is always determined by his or her position in the financial and/or business hierarchy, when this is so demonstrably untrue? The Kochs would have been libertarians even if Koch Industries collapsed.
Charles Krauthammer used to say that conservatives believe liberals misguided, while liberals think conservatives are evil. This is not the case among the hoi polloi, but it is quite true among the educated; and I see that more and more as time passes. And how is it that someone who wished to legalize drugs, who worked hard to make criminal justice reform a reality, who wanted full access to abortion, and equal rights for the LGBTQ community, is classified as a right-winger?
People like Ross Douthat, for example -- who can be seen as a kind of anti-libertarian, if you will -- what with their conservative social views and more populist economic preferences, are never labeled as left-wingers. The Kochs hold the same position in the Left's imagination as does George Soros in the Right's -- that of diabolical puppetmasters, wealthy hidden hands pulling strings out of view of the public.
Charles Koch's beliefs -- perhaps David's, too -- came from reading Mises and Hayek, not from cupidity and a lack of concern for the poor and the environment.
5
With all of his billions and access to the best medical care under the sun, it’s sad to read that Mr. Koch would die of prostate cancer. It must be that the ultra rich believe that they won’t succumb to disease or illness so why bother to track any illness. I only have thousands, but I go to my doctors for every malady until I’m healthy again. Isn’t this what most of us do?
2
Some pretty rough comments here. I would like to point out for those lucky enough to not have to deal with cancer. There is not a major cancer center in the northeast from Johns Hopkins to Dana Farber in Boston to Sloan Kettering here in NY that the Koch brother have not been the single largest and ongoing financial supporters. For this I say Thank You.
7
And if no one can afford to use this facility except the obscenely wealthy because of their influence?
28
@DJ Dealing with cancer.... David Koch did a lot to make sure that poor people with cancer couldn't survive as long as he did.
13
@DJ The question is if the Koch family did not have to deal with prostate cancer in the family, would they have been major contributors to cancer centers?
4
Sorry everyone. I know you're not supposed to speak ill of the dead but he spoke out of both sides of his mouth and Lincoln Center will be fine without him. It's amazing how easily people can be swayed by the things they wish were so. The accurate balance sheet of good vs. bad on this guy doesn't polish his image in my book. Our elections mean practically nothing thanks to him and his ilk.
66
Typical of this age: First and foremost we applaud someone's philanthropy, usually enabled through rapacious, tax-avoiding practices that are possible in a deeply flawed system, and then we barely mention all the damaged they have done, without the appropriate reproach and call-to-action it deserves. It doesn't matter if someone's company gave work to thousands of people when the damage that someone has done deeply affects millions and billions of people. Our planet is burning, climate change will kill us, racism is actively killing innocents, yet we still give deference to someone like Koch (and many others), who deserves nothing but opprobrium for all evil he has sponsored and done. Aren't we tired yet of all the niceties?
66
@D.G. Excellent post!
4
Well he may have supported some good things through philanthropy, but let's admit it's a tax right off and a feel good thing.
Probably does not outweigh the damage that he and his brother have caused to the environment and their ambitions to derail Climate Change policy and killing the electric car.
Hopefully his heirs will use the wealth to help causes that help curb climate change.
28
I fear there is yet a long tail of damage yet to be done through his continued influence. God knows what is in his will, so there is more damage for him to accomplish to our world from beyond the grave.
4
I served for nine years with David Koch on the advisory board of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). During that time I only had a few brief conversations with him. He showed up for about a third of our meetings, and rarely said much, although he was more engaged with the Museum's leadership, whose programs he generously supported.
Koch's presence caused most of the dozen or so scientists on the board considerable discomfort. While the culture of the Smithsonian encouraged a genteel, non-partisan civility, most of us squirmed knowing that Koch's promotion of Citizens United and various right-wing organizations undermined the ability of institutions like the NMNH to use science to improve society and protect our environment. We also knew, and were frequently reminded, that his money allowed the Museum to educate millions of visitors about the risks of climate change and biodiversity loss, crises that his influence prevented the government from fighting.
In assessing Mr. Koch's impact, it is this ironic juxtaposition that raises the most difficult questions. In accepting Koch's oil-derived money, the Smithsonian offered him a mantle of benevolence, while also freeing up the Museum's staff to develop exhibits that could launch generations of kids into scientific careers. We can only hope that some of these future leaders will find solutions to the civilization-threatening problems that the Koch brothers have exacerbated.
54
@Arizona Refugee Thank you for your insight. I hope more people read this.
1
Well said!
@Vince Did any of those upstanding dozen or so scientists have the courage to take a stand, like RESIGN?
1
A man whose negative impact on our world far outweighs his philanthropic contributions. $100 million may sound impressive, but to him it was a pittance.
51
To make that more meaningful, my upper middle class extended family will have donated between 10 and 20 million within 25 years. The number he gave is nothing. He paid for it simply by wage reductions at Georgia-Pacific, where he cut compensation in half since I worked there.
20
David and Charles Koch have financed the undermining of our electoral process through well-planned Red Map gerrymandering and systematic voter suppression at the state and local level. They put huge amounts of money into these smaller elections where a little money goers a long way. Karl Rove managed the computer-driven Red Map program.
Libertarian is far too kind as a descriptor for what the Koch brothers have been all about. Corporate fascism would be far more accurate. Along with Donald Trump, they will go down in history as being among the most destructive forces our democracy has ever faced.
58
If only his legacies weren’t the world most toxic polluter and he became extremely wealthy by destroying as much of the planet as he could for money.
His billions should go to restoring all that he destroyed.
47
I agree. I don’t like to speak ill of the dead - and yet now we, the survivors and our heirs - must clean up the mess the Koch Bros have created.
1
How the Koch brothers made their money is public knowledge.
As Jane Mayer wrote: "that the libertarian policies they embraced benefited Koch chemical and fossil fuel businesses, which were among the nation’s worst polluters, and paid millions in fines and court judgments for hazardous-waste violations.
“Lowering taxes and rolling back regulations, slashing the welfare state and obliterating the limits on campaign spending might or might not have helped others,” Ms. Mayer wrote, “but they most certainly strengthened the hand of extreme donors with extreme wealth.”
The Koch brothers helped create the horrific mess we are in now. And that his name is plastered all over my city, makes my heart break.
47
David Koch reportedly donated $1.2billion to charity. His net worth is estimated at approximately $50billion. The results: depending on the exact figures, he donated 2-3% of his net worth.
A few weeks ago, a chicken processing plant in Mississippi owned by Koch was raided by ICE and hundreds of undocumented workers were taken away. Why undocumented workers? Because they were too cheap to pay U.S. citizens a living wage.
David and Charles Koch have a lot to answer for.
69
@Beth S: The chicken plant is owned by Koch Foods, which despite its name has no connection with the Koch brothers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch_Foods
It cannot be understated how instrumental David Koch has been in creating the current culture of climate change denial. Research by Justin Farrell at Yale has shown that the Koch brothers and Exxon have been at the heart of the climate denial machine. At this crucial time when we need to act according to science and reason to stop climate change, we've been left arguing over carefully-constructed misinformation and lies, propagated by a handful of people for profit. He has literally imperilled the survival of the human race on this planet for money. That is what he decided to do with his wealth. That is his legacy.
42
@S.S. Spreading disinformation on climate change at this point in our history is a crime against humanity. This is David Koch's legacy.
5
David Koch was the argument why Kansas should not have eliminated state tax on Kansas businesses. David Koch took billions of Kansas tax savings and philanthropically gave to everyone but Kansas. So much for trickling down....money left the state and never returned.
26
All the good done by his philanthropy is sadly outweighed, in my opinion, by all the political evil he and his family have sponsored. Our polarized culture, which the Kochs have had an outsized part in creating, has driven me to feel this way.
17
“The Kochs will be key figures in any discussion about what direction the party takes ... and they are determined to steer it toward their free-market vision.”
Translation: Economic Darwinism, to the winners go the spoils. Too bad for democracy. Such a quaint notion.
9
I wonder how the scales would tip if, on one side you had all the good Mr. Koch did via his philanthropy, and on the other, all the evil he wrought via his destructive political influence?
My guess is it wouldn't even be close.
I also wonder how much of his philanthropy was driven purely by the massive tax deductions they brought him.
Needless to say, the extreme right-wing billionaire class lost one of their own today.
17
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour, the paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Thomas Grey
12
There was a documentary about the extremely wealthy during which they interviewed some people who worked in the ultra-expensive apartment building where Koch lived. Whenever he would go to/return from the Hamptons, the building staff had to handle an absurd amount of luggage far more than any other resident. The narrator then asked is he generous with tips/Christmas bonus. The answer: no not at all.
20
All the good done by his philanthropy is sadly outweighed, in my opinion, by all the political evil he and his family have sponsored. Our polarized culture, which the Kochs have had an outsized part in creating, has driven me to feel this way.
7
Let's say David Koch donated $1 Billion to charity. Now divide that against half of the estimated $120 Billion Koch Brothers worth. Giving 1.7% of his money should not even come close to categorizing him as a "philanthropist" even with qualifications.
18
Its unfortunate that there remains a plethora of resources that will continue to foster and establish David Koch's vision of how governments should function
7
@The Scarcity of Park Slope Parking Spots. Love your title. Reminds me of going to community board meetings and there was always always someone talking about parking spaces. Don't miss that!
One man's power, influence, and wealth allows him to outweigh the vote of everyone else. America is no longer a democracy and the Koch family has made that glaringly obvious.
23
Being rich doesn't free one from the constraints of nature. David Koch and his family may be trying to hang onto their billions and to make a good name for themselves with selective philanthropy but death wins over everything.
He and his brothers have done more damage to America than the Civil War did. By trying to manipulate every politician they could and run out of office those they couldn't they destroyed lives. They have contributed to misinformation on global warming, pollution, poverty and how to combat it, good government, etc.
All that money and intelligence cannot compensate for the lack of humanity he and his family have displayed over the decades.
19
He leaves a very sad legacy, that of a man who has tried to take every penny away from resources that would feed, clothe, and educate the poor and instead divert it to tax cuts for the very richest Americans, thereby lining his own pockets.
How horrible.
40
He was a gentle giant; a loving father, a friendly neighbor, and a patriot.
2
@Tad R. And a very cheap tipper. Employees at his Upper East Side cooperative bullding (doormen, porters, handymen, etc.) reported receiving "holiday" tips in the range of $10 - $20, and by CHECK, not cash, a tiny fraction of what is normally paid in buildings like that. Further, this was after routinely having to load up the three vehicles his family filled up, including I believe at least one truck, every time they went out to the Hamptons for a weekend.
17
A patriot doesn’t try to destroy the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat.
3
@ellienyc It's all water under the bridge now, because Mr. Koch is singing with the heavenly choir, and we're left to finish the tasks that he set out to accomplish.
Let's all try to make the world a better place. It's what he would want us to do.
These comments are good examples of how people use definitions that are not correct. The Kochs are not conservatives but libertarians who don't believe in the idea of a nation state. All they really want is free movement of capital and labor with no taxation and no regulations. Plus, they were anything but conservative on the social side.
8
@Abbott Hall, libertarians isn't correct either. The Koch's are anarcho-capitalists. No ruler other than money, a land where they are king and can choose their heirs.
5
Of course the Koch's wanted to be free of government interference. They have been, fairly successfully, fighting the clean up of the Kalamazoo river ever since they bought Georgia Pacific. Some progress has been made but it has been a fight every step of the way.
20
I don't think there is a simple "take" on this guy's life.
He wasn't "far right-wing" but a libertarian. A "classical liberal" is another way to say it. He was for deregulation, sure, but in the bedroom as well as the pocketbook.
Notably he was very pro-immigration because of course that benefits capital at the expense of labor.
His opposition to environmental regulations is regrettable. His hydrocarbons and chemicals business surely caused environmental harm. On the other hand, I understand his forestry business (Georgia Pacific) was sustainable (probably because that made good business sense).
The fact he had outsize political influence has nothing to do with Citizens United. In fact, any attempt to silence a rich individual or limit the amount he can spend on "uncoordinated" political ads (as opposed to campaign donations--most people don't appreciate the distinction) would surely be struck down as a violation of the First Amendment (probably 7-2 at least).
His philanthropy was as ideal as you could have hoped: science, medicine, the arts.
Overall, a complicated legacy.
2
Maybe the arts and science would improve without patronage by the likes of a Koch brother. After all there can be bad patronage and bad science and bad art. It’s a fact that hydrocarbon capitalism is a risky bet for species survival, so this one fact outweighs all others.
6
@Mmm
“his opposition to environmental regulations is regrettable.” Yes, it is regrettable - untoward, even - that the end of all life on planet earth is pretty much guaranteed due to the climate crisis. I would go so far to say his opposition to environmental regulations is...unfortunate.
5
In a letter Nelson A. Rockefeller wrote to his dad, John Rockefeller Jr., he said that they have to fight for the two most cherished principles of Democracy and Capitalism. Mr Koch (RIP), did not add anything new to this pledge. However, we should fight for democracy and keep on check "capitalism." As this article shows beautifully, the rich and powerful buy Congress, destroy welfare laws, elect governors and, even, yes, interfere in the "freedom" of the arts. Trump, the Chosen One, belongs to the likes of the Koch brothers (and yes, the Gates couple, the Bezos, etc). More than ever, we have to begin a dialogue of how to keep democracy alive. A first step will be to vote.
28
Condolences to David's family.
However, the wealth that he and Charles inherited (and, to their credit, grew) resulted in an immense concentration of power that they used to fundamentally alter the trajectory of this country.
The Kochs are Exhibit A, demonstrating why we need to bring back a meaningful estate tax as a way to limit inherited power/wealth and better approximate our country's democratic ideal that all are born equal, with equal opportunities.
31
Dynastic wealth creates oligarchy which is guaranteed to destroy what’s left of our democracy.
Let’s take it back.
OurFDRBernie2020
3
I certainly cannot equate libertarianism to most right wing causes which mostly are based upon constraining individual liberties. I do find Koch’s support of reactionary policies a concern for a liberal democracy. But the assertion that wealthy and powerful entities like the Koch brothers are controlling our country actually undermines our liberal democracy.
It’s catchy and it immediately directs people to an opponent to their best interests. But it also leaves most people with the impression that our system of government is an oligarchy not one determined by the governed. It directs efforts for correcting policies not to democracy but by seizing power and imposing the correct policies against the will of the oligarchs.
The reality is that our country is made up of great numbers of people with diverse interests and preferences which if honestly addressed requires many compromises and negotiations which most political leaders are not willing to perform. Their constituents want their wants satisfied and they want it now.
These big contributors do cause some interests to receive more attention and bias the decision making of politicians because of their ability to help them retain their offices but they are a factor not a determinant that outweighs all others.
Please listen to the Terry Gross interview with Christopher Leonard, author of Kochland. It will change your thinking on how much the uber wealthy control the destiny of the country.
13
@Gaiter Thank you, you beat me to it.
1
Because of the huge sums of money that the Koch brothers have given the Republicans, they assured that the average American could never have the health care that gave David Koch many precious years. The Republicans they financed have kept thousands citizens of our nation from living long healthy lives. No amount of money given to the arts will make up for that. To live your doing nothing but amass money at the expense of the loyal people who worked to help you make that money is nothing to be proud of.
41
The Koch brothers crusade against infrastructure projects that support mass transit was also selfserving. They would much prefer that all Americans put their oil in private cars, rather than use public transit.
33
Despite their donations for the benefit of the themselves, and the public, their philosophy and that of their well heeled friends, has done more to hurt the average American than almost anyone else.
29
How ironic that Koch's death comes the same month as the publication of Christopher Leonard's book, "Kochland," which documents the octopus-like intrusion of the tentacles of Koch Industries into every corner of our lives, and his and his brother Charles' rapacious use of the billions that it generated to . . . what? Make the world safe for billionaires to make ever larger piles of money. The Kochs are like Noah Cross in "Chinatown" -- once you have obscene wealth, the only thing to do, it appears, is to use it to make ever more obscene piles of money, and to amass political power that clears the path to yet further money-making.
While one can applaud that at least David Koch gave millions to charity, every one of those dollars is literal blood money -- obtained at a cost of greater pollution, direct harm to human health from water and air pollution, and long-term degradation from the toxic effects of the greenhouse gases that were (and are) Koch Industries primary by-product. And those charitable contributions are more than offset by the greater political divisions in this country sown by politicians that the Kochs supported, and a political climate in which you are not merely my opponent, but my enemy.
I, for one, shed no tears at his passing, and will be even more pleased when his older brother finally joins him.
44
While he may have been rich in terms of economic resources and the power it provided him, he was a pauper when it comes to character.
25
Hopefully, as a legacy, the remaining members of the very powerful Koch family will exert their considerable corporate influence to help stop global warming. It may seem as if it's just on hold-- but in reality, our planet is warming so fast people who are children today will have very dire circumstances. Even over the next 30 years, there will be terrible price to pay if we do not do everything we can to stop greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/world/americas/amazon-fire-brazil-bolsonaro.html
12
May he now find out that the loss of his eternal soul was not worth the money.
35
I’m a Democrat and do not agree with most of the Koch political agenda. Whether it was pure greed or a true belief in a better system of government, that is probably being debated at the pearly gates today.
As for David Koch, the human being, I saw him a few times at the ballet and he gave off an air of a good ole American, a bit John Wayne as he walked, a bit humble as he spoke, a bit “Big Daddy” from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” as reflected in people’s eyes.
For all his faults and positive qualities, he was the quintessential American Man archetype. May he Rest In Peace, if that’s what is decided at heaven’s gate. He is now beyond any post in the NYT.
3
@Lily. Because, of course, appearance is everything . . .
Regardless of his political beliefs and machinations, I have to say my sincere thanks for David Koch's generous funding of the PBS "NOVA" series of science programs. They are of inestimable value.
17
@cowboyabq
Oh sure, and the leverage he use to block the airing or a certain documentary, on The Koch Broz?
You never saw that one, did you? Neither did I. No one did. Because The Koch Broz blocked it threatening to pull their support of PBS. So keep your praise.
22
It’s sad when a man’s death is actually a cause for celebration. But in his unrelenting quest to enrich himself and his family by pushing fossil fuels and spreading disinformation about climate change and renewable energy sources David Koch caused incalculable damage to our planet and every living thing on it. He is also responsible for the election and reelection of the Bush Regime that began a cycle of unjustified wars in the Middle East that resulted in millions of deaths and casualties, and created the abomination of Guantanamo, CIA black sites, and other horrors. While much of the world may rejoice at his passing, let’s not forget all the other men who are still alive who and aspire to similar evils.
126
There is no redemption for climate-killing, free-market extremist petro-industrialists who knowingly commit irreparable atrocities against Life On Earth in their diabolical quest to corner all the cash at the expense of the environment. Twisting public opinion in an attempt to validate & promote these activities, to the extent that the unscrupulous public actually believes it, is an insidious scam. Philanthropy does not offset any of this.
93
@Tldr Nailed it. Don't forget how he wanted to destroy the unions.
7
LIBERTARIAN? Surely you jest. Sure the Koch family financed the party and some libertarian sounding think tanks (the largest of which they re-took control of when it was insufficiently lockstep Republican) and David even ran for VP on the Libertarian ticket. But Libertarian was just one of the Koch thrusts, most of which were distinctly anti-liberty. They set up the John Birch Society, the White Citizens Council, and by massive funding of Americans for Prosperity they bankrolled the Tea Party. They have backed more candidates and judicial nominees devoted to reducing liberty than actual libertarians.
The Koch family started out just disobeying laws and found the fines annoying. So they bought politicians and judges. This was always about self aggrandizement, never about the liberties of others
67
An American who considered taxes as "intrusions" and yet used America's infrastructure and citizens to build his empire of personal wealth and influence.
His philanthropy does not make up for what I consider to be anti-democratic values. Apparently his philosophy of the liberty of the individual rested with his conscience as underpaid workers were supposed to accept their lot. A public school education would help so many to rise the pay scale but Koch (pronounced as in Ed Koch for this NYer) felt that was too intrusive? Business regulations allowing corporations to pollute their surroundings without care. He was never going to be living near any of his factories and plants.
I can not recommend his libertarian agenda which I believe hurts fellow citizens. All the charitable donations do not clean up the ground water drunk by regular janes and joes.
I assume that he was a staunch supporter of Citizens United which allowed him to use his money to by HIS government. To America's increasing detriment, this private wealth scheme has eroded and destroyed our democratic one man one vote system.
No matter the will of the people, the Koch way won because they bought their representatives in Congress.
Of course this American scion will be fondly missed by family and friends as he should be but America the country needs to step back and ask serious questions about the role of the 1% in our government, society and culture.
78
@Elizabeth Don't forget he was also trying to destroy all of the unions in the USA.
4
Another highly visible contribution they have made is their prominent support of what is possibly the best science show that has ever been available: NOVA on PBS. I feel that for that they deserve abundant kudos, although (unfortunately there has to be a substantial "but" here) there has always been the conspicuous absence of any examination of climate change on that show.
14
They also influenced PBS with that contribution from telling the truth from that point on about their tremendously negative influence.
Is that an evil use of power and influence?
I think so.
9
I’d like to now what percentage of his wealth he donated to non-political endeavors. That’d be more telling than a real figure. It was probably a pittance. Let me know when a rich person donates a huge chunk of his or her wealth while they are alive (and with plenty of years ahead) without strings attached to a particular ideology but just simple live for humanity and I may be impressed. Buying yourself a reputation with spare change is not particularly laudable as a character trait. I am glad that the arts and certain sciences got donations, but it doesn’t say much about Koch himself as a philanthropist.
27
@EML When Enron's Kenneth Lay died I heard NPR journalists and others praise his philanthropy, completely ignoring that giving millions to the arts is still peanuts compared to his personal wealth. The Rockefellers started philanthropy as a ruse to divert money they would have had to pay into the general fund to causes that made them look benevolent. The Kochs followed their lead, and it's totally working.
5
I was struck by this line in Charles Koch's announcement of his brother's death: "David liked to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state-of-the-art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay."
There's no doubt having access to superb medical care helped prolong David Koch's life. Meanwhile, many Americans are forced to ration their overpriced medications, and can't afford routine doctor and dentist visits. It's a reminder once again that in the U.S., the wealthy will always get the best medical care that money can buy...while other citizens (even with health insurance) instead face bankruptcy, or must appeal to GoFundMe donations, if cancer or another disease should strike. #MedicareForAll
70
Amen!
Thank you for pointing this out.
#Medicare4All
12
@Kimberly T
The fact that he poured money into cancer research after he was diagnosed, but at the same time wanted to abolish Medicare says a lot about his priorities...
15
@Kimberly T
My husband is a lowly teacher, yet he is a patient at the same top of the line cancer hospital where David Koch went, with the same access to the brilliant doctors and state of the art medications. Our private insurance has paid for everything after a reasonable deductible that we pay with a pre-tax HSA, including many experimental treatments that are not covered by the socialized systems in places like the UK or Canada.
In other countries, sure, everything is "free," but those state of the art treatments and brilliant doctors are often just not covered at all. You get the basics rationed out from the government system, usually with a wait, and if that fails, oh well. While he was being treated here at the US by international experts for his extremely rare cancer, his aunt in Europe died of a fairly common cancer due to long waits and substandard care.
The rich in those countries, of course, fly to America to get treatment at MD Anderson or Sloan Kettering paid for out of pocket.
The wealthy will always get the best medical care that money can buy, and no where is this more true than in countries with rationed single payer systems. At least in the US there is a vast middle class that has access to the best through their private insurance, and this is why so many are so protective of it.
It is not perfect, and reforms for cost and equity are needed in our system, but lets not pretend the rich from other countries are using their socialized systems.
I applaud David Koch's philanthropy in the arts, medical research and the sciences- generous acts in the tradition of Americans of wealth and certainly tinged with a certain degree of pride and self esteem. But heck, what else would you do with tens of billions besides spending a fraction of it on mega-everything houses, yachts, etc. and influencing your world view on your fellow citizens. It is the latter, through partisan political means, that he has helped to tilt the teeter-totter of democracy to the extreme of the present polarization of our politics- a black eye for democracy. His second sin was his anti-environmental position motivated through his control and part-ownership of one of the largest fossil energy enterprises in the US and the source of his wealth. Vigorously supporting the anti global warming initiative through his wealth and name recognition is unconscionable, particularly from an MIT-trained chemical engineer with a masters degree. He had at his disposal the world's leading scientists and engineers to advise him on anything he chose- but did not for the environment and the future of humankind. This was his second mortal sin. May he rest in peace.
1040
@Rudy Ludeke
"I applaud David Koch's philanthropy in the arts, medical research and the science"
I don't. He did it purely because he could and because it gave him LEVERAGE, like when they pressured PBS to not air a certain documentary, about The Koch Broz.
He was anti- warming because he was pro-dirt.
129
The issue from an engineering perspective would be how much would global warming actually affect human activities and how much would reducing human contributions to carbon gases affect global warming and how much of the working and profitable infrastructure of industry be sacrificed.
10
@David
"I think human beings should be kept as property" is a different point of view that is not congruent with mine. That is not a varying narrative, it's a mortal sin.
The coming global cataclysm that is the inevitable result of fossil fuel based climate change will kill millions of people. David Koch worked hard to hasten their deaths for his own personal enrichment. I suppose since he didn't actually shoot those million people on 5th avenue himself, it falls short of your definition of mortal sin?
48
I don’t understand why the ultra rich get so much praise just because they return some of their massive wealth to the communities from which they took it in the first place. The inevitable result of our political economy is that some people will accumulate unconscionable portions of the product of our collective efforts. Redistributing it merely corrects a necessary aberration. And, often the “donations” are not really gifts. The rich are purchasing a good name. And since the donations really cost nothing in the sense that the rich donor does not have to give up any material comfort, they get an undeserved good name with no sacrifice.
870
@Peeking Through The fences
All true - at the same time many of the billionaires and millionaires do absolutely nothing for the public good, the arts, or the cities that empower them.
25
@Rain Let's not use the most selfish of the wealthy as our standard, though. Giving back in proportionately quite modest terms is well below what we should expect of them.
26
@Peeking Through The fences
Let's also note that those "donations" are tax deductible, so a good portion of them is paid by the taxpayers, who have no choice as to where the money goes.
103
Koch. Wichita, Kansas. So that's why the current administration wants to move the EPA offices to Kansas: so Koch can gut EPA protections. Maybe Perdue can be invited to watch more trapped animals die in cages.
Speak no ill of the dead, list charities and accomplishments, check.
Mourn the loss of the good that could have happened, check.
679
@C. Killion The relocating EPA employees are moving to Kansas City, which is in Missouri (the majority of the city is anyway). Wichita is about three hours from Kansas City.
8
Condolences to the Koch family.
However, the level and degree of damage the Koch brothers have caused this country via their "hidden agenda to cut taxes and federal regulations governing business, the environment and other interests, primarily to benefit the Koch family and its enterprises" will always linger out there on some nebulous cloud of disbelief and disdain. More harm to more people was done because of their actions.
I had to laugh when I read the quote that “David is more of a philanthropist in the classic sense of the word,” Mr. Schulman, the Koch biographer, said in a “Fresh Air” interview on NPR in 2014. “He funds medical research, science; he funds the arts. Charles’ lifelong mission has been to change the political culture and mainstream libertarian ideas.”
What Charles did in the end is change the "political culture and mainstream libertarian ideas" to suit and fit his own personal needs and agenda rather than what would be best for this country.
1536
@fhc
Thanks for the eloquent recap - I like your version much better!
62
@Marge Keller
To know the Koch brothers used their position of money and power to hurt and kill public transit projects and infrastructure has been a disaster for the public who need to use roads, trains, buses and subways to commute to their jobs.
196
@Marge Keller
Actually, what Mr. Koch did was buy himself a lifestyle by manipulating politics at the expense of the people who made all that money for him.
218
He was a liberal on social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, Mr. Koch used his fortune to support conservative causes that favor lowering taxes, free trade and fewer regulations.
he gave whole heartedly to many charities.
We may not agree with his political views, but I greatly respect the man.
10
@Yes To Progress Why?
25
He may have been personally liberal on those issues, but his political actions have led to a situation where everyone who is not a rich heterosexual white male is worse off than they would have been otherwise. And that’s before we even get to climate change.
No respect for the man here and no tears shed. May he not Rest In Peace, but live in eternity with the full knowledge of the effects of his actions in humanity and no way to atone for them.
3
@Yes To Progress reading Dark Money by Jane Mayer opened my eyes to the truly breathtaking manner in which Charles and David Koch sought to expand their fortune at whatever cost. He's not worthy of respect.
Here's one example: The Kochs knew that a gas pipeline they owned was dangerously close to exploding, and they calculated how much it would cost to repair versus letting it explode and paying out damages. They decided it would cost more to repair, so they didn't fix it.
Well...it did explode and it burned two young adults to death.
55
I am not totally opposed to correcting government waste by occasionally shrinking government’s presence. But today everything is bigger—more people need more schools & hospitals, more flights in the air require more air traffic controlling, more pollution requires more regulations and the legal infrastructure to enforce them, etc.
It does not seem logical to manage complex problems with simplistic ideology that identifies desired goals and policies to be pursued regardless of the facts. The ability to engage complexity, and a pragmatic approach to understanding its ramifications, are called for, followed by management efforts that acknowledge reality, including a core characteristic of most of societal ills: that they require sustained managerial effort, analysis, research, and creativity. Ideologues are more comfortable with simplistic, one-size-fits-all, smaller-government policies that usually do not benefit the community.
I used to be in a petroleum-related industry where environmental regulations were hated by industry participants, many of them ignoring compliance until they were caught and forced to pay consequences. The regulations were there for a reason, and had they not existed, or not been enforced, a great deal of pollution would have degraded the nation’s environment. Ideologues, and people who place money and profits on the top rung of the ladder of values to be embraced by the rest of us—people like the Kochs—inevitably do more harm than good.
18
His philanthropy doesn't cancel out the de facto effects of his politics and lobbying, especially in deregulation of fossil fuel industries. He will never live with the consequences of runaway climate change spurred by the fossil fuel industry.
He exemplifies this T.S. Eliot quote, to a T: “Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm; but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.”
27
I hope the Justice Emeritus Kennedy, who scoffed at the notion that a flood of dark money would influence elections after the Citizens United decision reads this obituary and reflects on it. That dark money and the gerymandering and voter suppression efforts of the Republicans have done more to harm our democracy than anything else. And also the surviving Koch brother, Charles, might think about how he thereby helped to put Trump in the Oval Office.
20
If industry adequately self-regulated then less government intervention and regulation would be necessary. They have created the government they are spending so much money to defeat.
As far as taxes are concerned, how can their whining be taken seriously? In Manhattan alone, Koch owns a $40MM townhouse and an 18 room coop with an estimated value between $30 - 40MM. Maybe, just maybe, if corporations like his weren't the recipients of so many tax breaks then the government could really help people get back to work and off public assistance. Greed begets greed.
The taxes David Koch pays do not even affect his net worth.
19
"David like to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay.”
Ironic isn't it. The Kochs--so appreciative of excellent health care that prolonged David's life--while they spent a fortune on their personal think-tanks, media advertising, the Republican Party and its Koch-vetted politicians to make sure ordinary Americans who can't get health insurance through their jobs or cannot afford its high costs would be blocked from receiving affordable government health insurance.
And speaking of health, perhaps this isn't the time to mention how arduously they worked for environmental deregulation to enhance the profits of their polluting industries.
Quite a legacy the Koch brothers will leave, no doubt keeping historians busily documenting the political and environmental fallout for decades.
As my father told us (in his heavy Maine accent): It is not how much money you make, it is how you spend the money you make and what you do with it.
37
It's not good when money is always a force-magnifier for a message, regardless of the value of said message. It's especially dangerous when the people behind the message are obscured, mysterious, and unaccountable by design for their forcefulness. The dark money in our politics today is hidden behind layers of fakery and shadows so that we don't know who wants the outcomes, or why. But we do know the outcomes when the fair process is avoided. The Kochs aren't the ones suffering from the effects.
My problem with the Kochs and their ilk is that they are ferocious in seeking their political ends, unscrupulous in their methods, and silent if they're ever called to account for them. My problem with the system we live in is that we see these threats to democracy, but we still pay them homage and give them power.
20
Among other things he and his brother spent many tens of millions of dollars paying people to deny and/or obfuscate about climate change. Koch industries mostly made its billions from coal and petroleum and related industries and they want to make sure that they don't have to pay for any of the probably trillions of dollars of damage that will almost certainly accrue over the coming decades. Yes, there are plenty of precedents for lying about all the damage you do (e. g. the tobacco industry) but still the evil that this man did will long survive him. Maybe whoever inherits his 42 billion will have a conscience and will try to undo some of his evil.
20
I have never read comments in the NYT which are so unanimous in their loathing of a person. As a passionate environmentalist who was also opposed to much of what he stood for, I would just remind readers and voters that it is our fault that we have the tax code that we do, our fault that we have the government that we do, etc. There is a famous quote which I can only paraphrase, attributed to Herodotus, or Thucydides, (or some one of the Greeks) to the effect of “please deliver me from the evil that men do in the name of good”. I do believe that he was sincere in his libertarian beliefs, and that all of his actions were not in pursuit of more wealth. So if we have other views we need to endeavor that they prevail.
2
@Wan
"I would just remind readers and voters that it is our fault that we have the tax code that we do, our fault that we have the government that we do"
Wan, I fear that you are very naive and haven't been paying much attention.
7
"David like to say that a combination of brilliant doctors, state of the art medications and his own stubbornness kept the cancer at bay". So nice that David Koch was able to survive his cancer for so long because he had access to brilliant doctors and state of the art medication. Not so nice that he (and his brother) would have deprived most of the rest of us of that same care if his radical libertarian vision for this country were fully realized.
19
Yes he gave money to ballet and the arts. He had billions of it and he gave some millions to the arts? So what?
Many Americans have thousands and give hundreds to charity.
He spent much of his money fighting climate change and keeping poor people poor.
26
@John This is how rich people try to guarantee entrance to heaven and smoothe their own egos -- by donating money for everything from wings, to whole buildings, to professorships to "porte chocheres" (a fancy name for a driveway donated by members of the Toll family at Lincoln Center). The things in NYC that weren't named for the awful Koch were named for the crook Sandy Weil.
4
A prime example of how the moneyed elite have made a mockery of the "one man, one vote" ethic upon this country was founded.
As autocrats across the world (i.e. Xi, Putin) consolidate their global influence, our weakened democracy can little afford the black eye it now sports as a result of the corrosive effects of big, secret money in politics.
13
When he was lucky enough to survive a plane collision that killed thirty five passengers, his comment was that "God was on my shoulder". Mr. Koch was generous to his friends and an awful force of greed and treachery to our country and the world. The fact that he and his brother draped themselves in a veil of legitimacy by funding the arts and hospitals can never compensate for the damage they have done to our environment, our politics and our culture.
15
People write they don't want to speak ill of the dead and then they do.
As a public figure, Koch will be vilified or verified, depending on the person.
My take: No, I didn't agree at all with Koch's policies. The man has passed.
A little civility is called for.
1
The time for civility is long gone. I’ll be civil when people like the Kochs stop working overtime to destroy the planet.
3
I know much will be said about the negative impact of Mr. Koch's legacy. I would be remiss if I didn't pay some respect and offer another perspective.
Mr. Koch funded programs that had a direct impact in lifting me out of poverty, abuse and neglect. Afforded me scholarship money to leave my small town for the big city where I was able to afford the first year of evening college at a city school I would have never had access to in my hometown because I couldn't afford a car and ironically, there was no public transportation. Still isn't.
Programs like the VFW Voice of Democracy, American Legion, and Ladies Auxiliary (of which I mean to become a member, in gratitude), and various leadership camps meant for "at-risk" kids, held at places like the environmentally beyond compare, Ocean Reef Club, and in remote destinations like Tennessee where huge screens projected Ronald Regan and that song... "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free".
Mr. Koch's contributions allowed me to see the world beyond my own dark hole. This resonated deeply and taught me the value and responsibility of Service, Patriotism, and Leadership. I'm sure it did for many lucky kids.
Whatever he ultimately became, whoever the Family is today to our broken Democracy, I unequivocally know he did intend, at one time, to leave a legacy, rather a Love Letter, replicated through his many beneficiaries, to the very ideals of what America promises, but has yet to fully and equally deliver.
15
I’m sure the Koch brothers see themselves as characters in an Ayn Rand novel, fighting the good fight for libertarian principles when most conservatives are just happy with run-of the-mill pro-business policies. But there’s nothing libertarian about denying the existence of climate change or loosening regulations on pollution. They ran a political lab for decades, careful to be once-removed from the Tea Party and certain lobbyists who got dirty down in the ditches. Finally, though, certain processes went awry, and Donald Trump sprang onto the scene. This coarse politician was not the sort of person they wanted as president, but the policies they pushed for helped create the preconditions that made it possible for him to succeed. Truly, a case of the Frankenstein monster escaping and smashing everything in its path. And the monster is neither a conservative nor a libertarian, rather a sociopathic demagogue. The Kochs would deny their partial responsibility for this political meltdown, but the facts are irrefutable.
65
@Against Verres: Love your handle. Sad so few will get it these days.
I realize that the Koch’s will not be viewed favorably on a NYT comments section and I certainly don’t support many of their actions. But perhaps readers should know where there political views were born out of before casting judgement.
Their father, Fred Koch, was essentially bankrupted and ruined by a Standard Oil lawsuit (the former company) and their bribe of a corrupt Federal Judge. The Koch’s were essentially raised to fear the power of corruption in the Federal Government.
Anyway - I’m not endorsing them or their actions but simply trying to give commenters the context of why they were so adamant in their political views.
11
More than a bit of irony there...do you think their unlimited ability to inject money into politics has reduced corruption?
3
A human has died. His family grieves their loss. And yet some on this page and many on other papers want to celebrate his death. That is an unkindness that I grieve, as we all need to stop hating and show some civility.
16
@david There is a thing called Truth and all are permitted to acknowledge it and speak it. Truth here has been overwhelmingly civil.
The ending of one's life deserves respect. I'll give that to the dead man and his family. My sincere condolences.
Koch did a lot of things that I would have done very differently. Some of his objectives and actions hurt me and my world. And some were good in a small way, like funding Earthwatch, a scientific research non-profit.
I wonder how much his legacy will remain an influence. Will it be as powerful? More powerful?
In the end, my thoughts return simply to, let's note the date and move along, there is still much to do.
2
Neither David nor Charles Koch have EVER been for free markets.
Their idea of "free markets" was, and continues to be, manipulating markets and governments to continue to be able to sell, and profit, from products, particularly fossil fuels, and outsourcing the real costs, pollution and climate change, to the rest of society and humanity to shoulder.
What the Koch Brothers have championed is not Libertarianism, but the destruction of people, the biosphere and the planet, in the name of "We want to do what we want to do, and we don't care how that impacts any one or any thing else!"
Charles Koch, and Koch Industries, cannot follow David Koch quickly enough into oblivion. It's where they've been intent on sending the rest of us.
58
In his 100 million dollar contribution to the renovation of the NY State Theater,at Lincoln Center, Koch caused the ripping out of the central seating that Balanchine had envisioned as ideal for ballet viewing, dividing it with aisles. So much for his love of the ballet. And apparently there was not enough money to pay the 20 million dollar deficit of the NYC Opera, contributing to its disbandment and eviction from the theater. It is to be hoped that the theater will return to its original name.
40
@Alan J. Shaw I would guess that had more to do with modern fire code, where aisles are required, than Koch actually driving that decision. You really think he was designing the seating?
David left a legacy at many museums and conservative causes, but his most lasting legacy may be fighting the science around fossil fuels and climate change. We may have missed the window to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, sea level rise and species extinction. Sadly, like his beloved dinosaurs, life on our planet, including ourselves may meet a similar fate.
40
Koch's legacy in the end isn't going to be his sponsorship of the radical Republican Party or his unintended contribution to the rise of Donald Trump.
What the history books are going to be writing about the Koch brothers in 50 years is how they contributed to the end of American democracy. By taking advantage of Citizens United to show how huge wealth can overwhelm the electoral system. By sponsoring a huge propaganda and disinformation network that they sponsored, vote suppression policies and ultra-sophisticated gerrymandering.
We are very nearly at the end of a functioning democracy in the United States -- the Republican Party is poised to rule the country through a rigged election system where elections are incapable of threatening their power. The Kochs had a lot to do with that.
58
@Tom B. Quite so--that is, if there are such things as history books or even humans to read them in 50 years.
2
The Koch brothers' lives are emblematic of the excesses of capitalism. They prospered because of inherited wealth and their wealth gave them enormous political power. They presented challenges to democracy, in that democracy is based on the assumption that everyone has equal political power.
America is a country with a lot of people living in poverty, a shrinking middle-class, and a small group of extremely wealthy and powerful people. Unless there is another great depression or a world war, that is not going to change.
32
Vote for Bernie.
Finish the work of FDR without a civil war.
3
@Lilly
Let people the people decide for themselves who to vote for -- as long as it's not Trump.
2
The Koch brothers played the game to improve their own lives as best they could. We do not have, nor never had, an obligation to paint great figures in a light they never cast.
In terms of net impact on the planet, the 'progress' they made to remove barriers to enable corporate polluters to continue their paths will outlast any positive impact they may have made. They attempted to widen the wealth gap and slash welfare while being able to nab an opening line of "A man-about-town philanthropist" in one of their obituaries.
King's are the last to feel the famine and decline, but it has been a while since I saw one who attempted to undercut the least economically able while being at the top. Objectively, it is kicking those who are down more than they already are. When you're wealth laden, its "fueling the right wing movement."
11
It is really too bad David did not live to feel the effects of his environmental agenda. Maybe he would have a twinge of doubt as our world sinks into catastrophe.
While his support for fossil fuels made him wealthy, our planet got hotter, coral reefs were dying, glaciers are retreating and disappearing, the forests are burning, and our sea levels are rising.
The Koch fortune will not save his children and grandchildren from experiencing a much less hospitable world.
28
David Koch and his brother have subverted democracy for as long as I’ve been politically aware and are part of the reason why no GOP or libertarian will ever get my vote. He had great wealth, but rather than work for the benefit of all citizens, he elected to adopt a gnarled, bitter, selfish vision that put money into causes privileged the acquisition of wealth above all else.
36
Sad that most of this obituary focuses on politics rather than his business acumen, where the family business created thousands of jobs, and his generous charitable contributions. Mr. Koch may not have been a hero but we could do with a few more people like him in the US.
3
David Koch and his brother have done more to plunge the planet toward catastrophic than any two people.
While he has given generously to the arts and medicine as well as other humanitarian goals, his fossil fuels industries and his relentless effort to deregulate them has left us all on the precipice of disaster.
One can say that he was simply being sincere to his libertarian views. But when those views cause multiple thousands of lung disease and needless deaths each year it's time to say evil is evil, whether it was intended as such or not.
19
Last great equalizer between the rich and the poor is old age and death. The rich can buy everything else but they still can't buy youth or immortality. God help us all when that changes.
16
I wish NYT would stop calling the Kochs and their ilk, libertarian. Libertarian is just a soft gloss on reactionary. The Koch brothers fueled a reactionary movement in this country, and the effects can be felt each time the 45th president strolls out to address the press on the South Lawn.
They may not have supported Trump, but they have played an outsized role in creating him.
32
To David Koch's contemporaries in wealth, privilege and political influence:
Don't let this happen to you.
Turn back! It's never too late to do the right thing. Use your power for the good of humanity and our planet. Allow your family--for generations to come--to find comfort and pride in your esteemed legacy.
14
Mr. Koch may have been a philanthropist, but his tenacious pursuit of destroying any kind of government regulations at the cost of the health, safety and social welfare of the citizens of the United States negates this. Mr. Koch and his brother focused on things that would make them rich and hated anything that hindered their business opportunities. While some cite the fact they did share some ideals with "socialists", like criminal justice reform, unfettered immigration, legalizing prostitution, and so on, the reasons behind these ideals is what is important. Koch's libertarian philosophy was rooted in the fact that any regulation was seen as hindering his ability to make money and exploit people. Lack of regulation means you are at the mercy of corporations to "do the right thing". History has shown that corporations will mercilessly exploit workers and poison the environment in order to gain profit. All the philanthropy in the world cannot make up for this.
17
Being a philanthropist and doing some good, does not cancel out all of the bad. He sowed the seeds of extreme discord that is tearing apart our nation and he nurtured it with his broken and disproven ideas. He was an enemy of addressing climate-change and so, so many other worthwhile causes. His legacy no doubt has some positive elements to it, but altogether the influence of the Koch's is unquestionably net-negative on humanity.
12
"As part of their longstanding crusade for lower taxes and smaller government, the Koch brothers in recent years opposed dozens of transit-related initiatives in cities and counties across the country." For any New Yorker (or indeed anyone) to do this is sickening. For the environment, for poor people, for so many reasons, public transit needs to be supported and expanded.
18
"[T]he Koch brothers in recent years opposed dozens of transit-related initiatives in cities and counties across the country, a review by The New York Times found."
Readers may wish to click on that link within the article.
I think the New York Times was extremely generous to this gentleman in its obituary. I wish they had published an equally generous obituary for the death of the labor union movement, the death of democratic values not only within the United States but globally, the curtailment of thoughtful public education, and the demise of actual Christian values the libertarian movement so skillfully co-opted.
For what it's worth, my husband (albeit at a much younger age and in a much shorter span from date of diagnosis) died of prostate cancer. He died in agony.
16
I hope all the obscenely-wealthy people that allow their unbridled greed to dominate their lives remember that they, too, are mortal. Andrew Carnegie behaved monstrously during his heyday as an industrialist and his actions helped spawn the reforms of the Progressive Era, something today's billionaires should keep in mind. Yet he's remembered for having given away very near all of his fortune towards charitable causes such as public libraries, museums, educational institutions, and many others. Unlike Andrew Carnegie, David Koch and his brother Charles will not be remembered for their "charitable" giving but rather for remorselessly helping usher in a new Gilded Age.
9
I wouldn’t call him a libertarian. Bottom line: he protected fossil fuel consumption and male entitlement. I hope history has negative things to say about his era.
10
What if Mr Koch believed greatness is the perception that virtue is enough? That's easy for a billionaire to say, but what about the rest of us? I believe freedom is what you do with what's been done to you since the common person often lacks virtue. Instead, it's easy to throw stones at the Koch Brothers and avoid looking within ourselves and make improvements. Our distractedness is apparent by how we devote too much effort seeking validation and social capital fighting external uncertainties. I believe Mr Koch was charitable despite knowing great indebtedness doesn't make most men grateful, but spiteful and if a little charity isn't forgotten, it turns into a gnawing worm. I say this about the late philanthropist David Koch knowing, in praise there is more obtrusiveness than in blame. Rest in peace David Koch. My condolences to Julia, David Jr and family.
It's all very well to be a libertarian when daddy leaves you lots of money. But libertarians are the ultimate anti-social element. I'm pretty sure Koch was a socialist when it came to cleaning up his fossil fuel mess...let everyone else pay, but not him. He racked up more demerits than credits in my book. Not sorry to see him go.
12
Whatever....when I feel in the mood to praise philanthropists, I never look at the Koch brothers. Instead, I focus on someone whose generosity is aimed towards the greater public good. To me, the George Kaiser Family Foundation fits the bill. It has benefited our city in countless ways, always with the central theme of inclusion and in particular, a focus on under-privileged children. Kaiser is among those who have made The Giving Pledge, a commitment to give away half of his wealth for charitable purposes. Kaiser's philanthropy focuses on stimulating economic growth and combating poverty with investments in early education and health care for people who need it the most. He is a strong proponent of programs like Early Head Start and Educare. An article in Forbes quoted him as saying “Those who have won the ovarian lottery by being born in an advanced society to loving parents have a special obligation to help restore the American Dream.” And his foundation prefers to avoid kudos from the media: Kaiser's philosophy about anonymous charitable giving reportedly is, ""Naming rights are a seductive philanthropic inducement, yet more anonymous operational support may better advance the charitable purpose." Kaiser apparently values his personal privacy, for he avoids publicity, does not attend society functions and hardly ever gives interviews. While he owns homes in both Tulsa and San Francisco, he is said to own no vacation homes, airplanes or yachts. (Wikipedia)
8
I don’t want to read that John Donne quote about the death of this man today. He dedicated his life to enriching himself and a small handful of others like him at the expense of the rest of us. His wealth gave him obscene influence in the world which he never failed wield in his favor. The lives and well-being of millions of Americans were diminished by him, American democracy and civility were diminished by him, the health of the planet and the future of the next generation were diminished by him. That is David Koch’s legacy.
37
If you want a better understanding of the Koch brothers you would do well to look into their family background, especially the trajectory and influence of their father, Fred Koch, who established the family’s fortune by (illegally) appropriating proprietary oil refining technology and then selling it to the Soviet Union during the reign of Josef Stalin. It was during his time in the USSR that the elder Koch formed his intense aversion to all forms of socialism or communism, and thus made it his great mission in life to fight against anything he associated with such ideology, including labor unions, equal rights, government regulation of almost any kind. Fred was a founding member of the John Birch Society, which formed in Indianapolis in December of 1958, and Charles followed his father’s lead by becoming a member a few years later, setting the tone for what would become for him and his younger brother David a lifelong push to infuse ultra conservative policies into mainstream American politics.
20
Let’s not sugarcoat the man’s deplorable behavior. Due to his wealth he posed (and the Koch’s imperium of course still very much does) one of the greatest risks to society and the planet as a whole.
To pick just one deplorable behavior Koch was a serial climate change denier. He was and is the main reason why cap and trade in the United States has been repeatedly killed, both in congress and the senate. If there is any lingering uncertainty that the Koch brothers are the primary sponsors of climate-change doubt in the United States, it ought to be put to rest by the publication of “Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America”.
Greenpeace is calling “The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS)” the Koch Industries' Climate Denial Front Group. And Mother Jones called the Institute for Human Studies a “haven for climate change deniers.”
Despicable indeed. He is dead now and it’s not nice to speak ill of the dead but that plane crash in LA would have saved many people and the world as a whole a lot of heartache had it turned out, shall we say, differently. So rest in peace Koch, I assume you weren’t able to bring any of your wealth to the other side and all you’ve left behind is a whole pile of huge problems that we have to solve now and you most definitely haven’t been helpful in any way or shape in solving them, to put it very nicely. So rest, peacefully or whatever.
26
David Koch is dead, but his legacy will live on: stalled - perhaps irrevocably so - action on climate change.
The catastrophic damage to our planet, the wars and mass migrations, the extinctions, the untold human deaths - this is his legacy. It shall all outlive him by many generations.
The 'gift' that this man - with more money than God - is leaving to humanity is so sad that adequate words escape me.
13
His legacy of greed trumping everything else will live on. Further, while Koch tried to describe himself as socially liberal, that is belied by the fact that he and his brother have spent millions supporting the Republican Party and their bigoted and hate filled policies. He was just a typical Republican, driven by nothing but hate and greed and, unfortunately his legacy will live on. Anyone want to take bets that he left a good chunk of cash to extreme right-wing organizations in the hopes of further eroding our democracy?
14
Blame the US tax system, for his unconscionable accumulation of tax free wealth, and his ability to manipulate the republican party, actions not seen since empire building says of Rockefeller....His philanthropy, does not hide his misanthropic endeavors. Shame on the Lincoln Center Corp for taking his money and begging him to rescind his decision.
6
All in all, it looks like Charles Koch's imprint on America can be best described as a mixed bag. Give him A's for his stance on the rights of the LGBT community, F's for his work on putting the "rights" of corporations ahead of the rights -and welfare- of employees.
8
Isn't this the fella who tips his NYC doorman 50 bucks in check form for a Christmas bonus? The Kochs are the very model of greed. Their vanity consumed any decency the wealthy might attempt to project as the country crumbles. David did nothing that didn't line his pockets as the brothers mesmerize the president and negate environmental regulations that profoundly hurt the planet. What kind of person battles public transportation? Animals.
43
@lulu roche Actually I think it was only $10 or $20 and BY CHECK, instead of cash. Also expected the building staff to load up his 3 vehicles for trips to the Hamptons -- for service like that most people tip 10 time the norm, not 10 times less.
2
When I read news about people like the Kochs I'm reminded of what my mom always said: If you have nothing nice to say about someone then it's best to say nothing at all.
16
I remember, New York Times, that long article dealing with Messieurs David and Charles--and their vigorous opposition to municipal transit. I read it attentively.
And I recalled riding on the Philadelphia subway years back. Regional rail was closed between two points--so (along with many another doctor, lawyer, professor) I was obliged to disembark. And ride the subway.
An experience I will not forget.
The train was NOT crowded with doctors--lawyers--professors. Dear me no. These were the POOR people--the people (for all their philanthropy) the Koch brothers paid no attention to--the poorly clad, badly shaven people riding to some low paying job at six or seven in the morning.
A sign in that subway train was addressed to mothers and fathers--
--who had not money to buy food for their own children.
And I thought of Charles and David Koch. With implacable malignity OPPOSING public transport--
--as "a waste of taxpayers' money."
And we've heard it all before, New York Times.
"What's good for General Motors is good for the nation."
"What's good for the CEO of General Motors is good for General Motors."
"A rising tide floats all boats."
All the skillfully contrived mantras by which the superlatively wealthy--
--steel their hearts--
--against the poor. The downtrodden. The disenfranchised.
Well, Mr. David Koch. You've done your work.
Rest in peace.
If you can.
31
Not ashamed to say that I am glad he is dead.
The Koch brothers did incredible damage to democracy, the environment, and equality in this country. Hopefully the rest will follow soon.
44
The Unholy Trinity of Roger Ailes, Rush Limbaugh and the Koch Brothers is a large reason for America's political divide. David Koch's passing will not be mourned, I suspect.
25
A libertarian has died, but except to say that he was a force for damage to our democracy, most people will not know how much damage he caused unless they read about him now.
This story tells some of it, but there is much more for which his money was used to steer the country in the wrong direction. The Jane Mayer New Yorker story gives a fuller picture. but nothing can fully communicate what the Koch brothers did to further the interests of the rich and crush the defenseless wherever they could.
24
He used libertarianism as a cloak to hide his dagger of greed, only when it suited him.
1
The way these guys bought right-wing republican politicians you'd think their signatures were on the Declaration of Independence.
The United States may never recover from the damage done by these two privileged white men.
15
A man who had so little respect for democracy may never have existed before in America. His selfishness and lack of respect for other human beings knew no boundaries.
12
Making the world worse for working stiffs, taxpayers, and children. So-called "libertarian" ideas boil down to the super-rich justifying their super-selfishness, only buying politicians to ensure they never pay taxes.
22
"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."
15
Just a couple of days ago I finished reading Christopher Leonard's blockbuster book "Kochland", describing in detail what is mentioned in this article. Quite a story.
Pence certainly is backed by the Koch's.
Money buys power in this case.
8
The Koch brothers have always been great advocates for effectively open borders.
Why aren't progressives honoring them?
3
Simple:
Because the evil consequences of their choices has destroyed our democracy and lessened our chances of survival on our planet.
1
When I die, few will take note, but at least no one will be dancing on my grave.
52
The world is a better place without him. He and his family, his practices and fellow billionaires have profoundly damaged our world and we may never recover. His legacy is nothing but malignancy.
28
I just finished reading the book "Kochland" by Christopher Leonard, it explains a lot about the empire. Charles is the brain behind all the acquisitions, he basically owns the Republican Party. It is scary how much power this man has and how much damage he has done to our environment.
30
I find the use the term of "philanthropist" in this article hugely offensive. Derived from Greek: philein = love and anthropos = human (being), this term obviously does not fit as a description of Mr. Koch's untertakings, tax deductible or not. There are other, neutral words in the English language to denote someone who donates money to causes that he cares about.
18