Van Jones (Speaks For Us): "We will not live on a national plantation run by the Koch brothers"

[kpete]

Rallying Against The Koch Agenda,
Van Jones Warns Of ‘Excessive Concentrations Of Economic Power’

ThinkProgress is reporting from the Koch summit in Palm Springs

...............

I hear a lot of talk now about liberty. There is a movement in our country that has grown up, the Tea Party movement, that has raised the question of liberty, and I say, “Thank goodness.” I’m glad that someone’s raised the question of liberty. There’s nothing more precious to an African American than liberty and justice for all. I’m glad to hear that somebody’s concerned about liberty.

But I think that what we have to be clear about is liberty always has two threats, there’s always two threats to liberty. One is the excessive concentration of political power — excessive concentration of political authority — the totalitarian threat to liberty. And that is a threat to watch out for. But there is another threat. And it is in our country a graver threat. And it is the threat that comes from excessive concentrations of economic power. Excessive concentrations of economic power in our country pose as big a threat, and frankly a greater threat than any concentration of political power. What we have to remember is that our republic is founded not just on the question of liberty, but also on democracy and justice.

And it is when the predatory, monopolistic dimension of the economic system starts to gain momentum, then the question of justice and democracy has to come forward too. Not just liberty and property rights, but justice and human rights, and democracy, and the people’s rights to be free from economic tyranny and economic domination. We will not live on a national plantation run by the Koch brothers. We’re not going to do that. We refuse to do that.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/01/31/koch-van-jones/

[Tippy]

1. K&R

[TheKentuckian]

2. Somebody telling the truth

[RufusTFirefly]

3. Van Jones is my absolute favorite White House advisor

Oh. Wait. Never mind.

He was my absolute favorite White House advisor.

In a sane country, this man would be running for President.



Jones on the economic injustice of plastic. (a TED video)

[femrap]

10. I knew he wouldn't

last in this administration. Damn shame. But maybe he's much better suited to telling the Truth than trying to hide it if he were in the administration.

[RufusTFirefly]

19. You're probably right

He can probably do more good unconstrained and on the outside than he would've had he been forced to toe the corporate-ass-kissing party line.

[molly77]

34. No one with any political clout is welcome in the clinton administration

with the figure head of Obama. They think that hillary can be president in 2012. So delusional.

[WinkyDink]

4. And this "we" would be....?

[Raine]

13. Anyone who doesn't want to live on a plantation

ruled by the Koch brothers which probably includes most everyone but teabaggers

[WinkyDink]

31. "doesn't want to" and "will not" are decidedly different things.

Let me know when we tax billionaires down to multi-millionaire status.

[Modern_Matthew]

5. I wish he were President... n/t

[avaistheone1]

29. +1000

[socialist_n_TN]

6. One of the few positives in our current situation..............

IMO, is the increasing spotlight being shown on economic inequality by EVERYBODY in the opposition. At least the more left side of the spectrum has awakened to the fact that the economy drives politics. And when there's economic inequality, there WILL be political inequality.

WE WILL NOT LIVE ON A NATIONAL PLANTATION RUN BY THE KOCH BROTHERS!

Kick for awareness.

[Tsiyu]

7. Van speaks for me

"We will not live on a national plantation run by the Koch brothers. We’re not going to do that. We refuse to do that."


I cannot think of any better way to express how I feel ...

K&R

[firehorse]

8. My friend worked a catered event at one of their mansions over the summer, & their God was

Michael Milken. The Kochs and all the guests have great admiration for Milken to the point that Milken is like their God. These tea baggers are not into Jesus, not at all.

One guest did what was intended to be a stand-up comedy skit, but was just a rant against people *insert losers* who actually "work". The guest even bragged about firing everyone from a company he owns, just because he could. This guy actually loathed anyone who is so poor that they have to work. And that was the vibe at this party that a lot of the guests shared. Koch's wife, however was apparantly nice and not like the other people at this party.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Which Koch's wife?

There are two of them.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whathehell]

14. Interesting....Thanks for sharing that. n/t

[fascisthunter]

9. About Time... Call out the Source!!!!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. I think I have a new crush!

Damn I like the way that man is talking. :applause:

[butterfly77]

16. Kick,kick,kick &recommended!

:kick:

[TxVietVet]

17. Amen, bro. I agree.

[66 dmhlt]

18. Corporate A$$holes now make the Robber Barons look like pikers

[abelenkpe]

20. Competing in the global economy has been the excuse

put forth by large corporations and economic powers to consolidate their power and create monopolies. It is long past due...the time to break up big energy, defense, financial and media conglomerates.

Nice to see Van Jones speaking out.

[Initech]

21. If you're going to take down an empire, you go after the owners.

[anAustralianobserver]

22. Excellent; Libertarians don't realise the 2nd type of liberty is being taken from them in the name

of the 1st type. They need to see that political liberty and real economic liberty (egalitarianism) go together - as do political totalitarianism and economic monopolism.

[MrMickeysMom]

23. Way to keep going, Van...

K&R

[sam kane]

24. Thanks, kpete

for everything.

[Doctor_J]

25. Oh yes we will

Is there seriously any way to stop it?

[defendandprotect]

26. KR

[Swagman]

27. Van Jones is so eloquent ! and speaks the truth.

[Beartracks]

28. Excellent metaphor! K&R

But really... shouldn't the workers and toilers in the field simply be grateful to have their livelihood, granted to them by their fine masters? :sarcasm:


Edited to K&R!

-------------

[indimuse]

30. KNR!

Thank you! ;)

[old mark]

32. K&R.

[Enthusiast]

33. K&R! His point must not be lost.

This nation is in deep shit. It is mostly because of over-representation by the few at the expense of the many. It is all due to too great a disparity of wealth. Wealth = influence.

[drm604]

35. K&R

Very well put.

[Joe Bacon]

36. Screw the KOCHSUCKERS!

Wonder how long those KOCHSUCKERS are still going to stay duped into believing all that tea party shit?

[Overseas]

37. K&R ! //nt