A Free-Market Energy Blog

‘Good Profit’: Charles Koch on Cronyism (Part 2)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 28, 2015

 “Good profit can only result from creating value for the consumer. It is the manifestation of the entrepreneur’s respect for what the customer values.”

– Charles Koch, Good Profit (New York: Crown Business, 2015), p. 244.

In his previous book, The Science of Success, Charles Koch, classical-liberal CEO of Koch Industries, Inc., described heroic, moral capitalism as “maximizing long-term profitability for the business by creating real value in society while always acting lawfully and with integrity.”[1] Real value to Koch comes from the economic means of consumer service, not the political means of special government favor (see here).

Part I yesterday shared some Koch quotations on cronyism from years past. Today, quotations from Koch’s just released book are presented that clearly spell out his views of cronyism in the mixed economy (what has been called political capitalism):

“Good profit comes from making a contribution in society–not from corporate welfare or other ways of taking advantage of people.”…

Continue Reading

Charles Koch on Cronyism (Part 1)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 27, 2015

“Today, many governments give special treatment to a favored few businesses that eagerly accept those favors. This is the essence of cronyism…. One obvious example of this involves wind farms. Most cannot turn a profit without the costly subsidies the government provides.”

– Charles G. Koch, “The Importance of Economic Freedom.” August 17, 2012.

Classical-liberal entrepreneur Charles Koch, CEO of Koch Industries, Inc., valued at $100 billion, is one of the most intellectual business leaders in the United States, if not the world. He also takes the prize as the most trenchant critic of cronyism (rent-seeking) where business representatives lobby for special government favor.

Charles Koch’s views are based on his extensive study of the theory and practice of social cooperation for mutual gain–and prosperous societies. His verdict for private property, free markets, and the rule of law–and against government intervention–is long held.

Continue Reading

AWED Energy & Environmental Newsletter: October 26, 2015

By -- October 26, 2015

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy and environmental policies. Our premise is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science (please consult WiseEnergy.org for more information).

A key element of AWED’s efforts is public education. Towards that end, every three weeks we put together a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and the environment. We appreciate MasterResource for their assistance in publishing this information.

—————————

Some of the more interesting articles in this issue are:

Wind Turbines Proven to be Threat to People’s Health

The Secret is Out: Wind is Wimpy

An Environmentalist’s Take: Blowing It On the Wind

End Wind Welfare

Wind Turbines Are Killing Bats And Hurting Farmers

Stanford Report: Solar Plants Could ‘Obliterate’ Unique Ecosystems

The “uncertainty loop” haunting our climate models

How a liberal environmentalist switched from climate proponent to skeptic

US Senator Ted Cruz Reams Head of Sierra Club

EPA’s Disastrous “Clean Power” Plan

PhD: Europe’s Climate Policy Does Nothing for Climate

Top Physicist Bolts from Global Warming

Environmental activists turn up the rhetorical heat

The Only Global Warming Chart You’ll Need From Now On

Why Greenhouse Gas Theory is Wrong — An Examination of the Theoretical Basis

The IPCC’s Legion of Hacks and Dunces

The Futility and Farce of Climate Negotiations

 

Greed Energy Economics:

An Environmentalist’s Take: Blowing It On the Wind

AEA important new webpage: End Wind Welfare

Ten Reasons to End the Wind PTC

Wind Project Officials Differ On Need for Subsidies

Followup: Wind Energy’s True Costs

3 days plus 3 EPA regulations equals $6 billion in new costs

European Renewables Investment Heads Towards Zero

UK Wind Energy Constraint Payments

The Social Costs of Renewable Energy

The Social Benefits of Carbon

Wind Projects excluded from some NY PILOT Agreements

Renewable Energy Pushes European Electricity Costs Higher

 

Turbine Health Matters:

Wind turbines proven to be threat to people’s health

Wind developer moves turbine at ill citizen’s formal request

Citizens file a (non-wind) lawsuit against noise and property devaluation

 

Renewable Energy and Environmental Matters:

Wind Turbines Are Killing Bats And Hurting Farmers

Stanford Report: Solar Plants Could ‘Obliterate’ Unique Ecosystems

Solar batteries—are they really green?

Continue Reading

Why I’m Still Not a Member of the Solar Energy Industries Association

By David Bergeron -- October 22, 2015
Continue Reading

When Enron, NYT Declared Solar ‘Competitive’ with Fossil Fuels (1994)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 21, 2015
Continue Reading

Solar Power: NOT an Infant Industry (Part II)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 20, 2015
Continue Reading

(Ancient) History of Solar Energy (Part I)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 19, 2015
Continue Reading

Wind Turbine Noise: What Isn’t Heard Can Harm You

By Brian Dubie -- October 15, 2015
Continue Reading

Primary Energy Consumption (Part III—Emissions)

By Kent Hawkins -- October 14, 2015
Continue Reading

Primary Energy Consumption (Part II—Electricity Sector)

By Kent Hawkins -- October 13, 2015
Continue Reading