Charles Koch Quote

“Instead of fostering a system that enables people to help themselves, America is now saddled with a system that destroys value, raises costs, hinders innovation and relegates millions of citizens to a life of poverty, dependency and hopelessness. This is what happens when elected officials believe that people’s lives are better run by politicians and regulators than by the people themselves. Those in power fail to see that more government means less liberty, and liberty is the essence of what it means to be American. Love of liberty is the American ideal.”

~ Charles Koch

Koch, Charles (April 3, 2014). 'Instead of welcoming free debate, collectivists engage in character assassination.' "Charles Koch: I'm Fighting to Restore a Free Society". The Wall Street Journal.

Ratings and Comments


Bobble, No. Ferrisburgh, VT

God knows he's not universally held up for praise, but I like the way the man thinks.

Ronw13, Logsden

Funny huh, Thinking " They " don't see. In the round room.

Henry Rearden, Burr Ridge ILL

Charles and David Koch - the evil Koch Brothers - have give something like 165 million dollars to charitable causes - they employ in the neighborhood of 100,000 Americans and they manufacture wonderful products like Northern Bath Tissue.
When you hear a socialist ranting about them think about the 100,000 families that benefit from their aegis and the charities that have enjoyed their largesse. Really those charities that have taken money from them should be speaking out and defending them since our society regards non - profits as one of the "noble" pursuits in life, along with government 'service' and 'education' as careers. Once in America we regarded being an employer to be a noble pursuit. No more.

jim k, Austin

Exactly right. This quote nails it.

Mark W., Aurora, CO

For me, the crux is at the end: "...more government means less liberty, and liberty is the essence of what it means to be American. Love of liberty is the American ideal." - I believe we are at an impassable point, where a major plurality of "Americans" have been programmed with the thinking that The State should "provide" for all. I fear someday we may be forced to deal with this anti-American class of envious robbers, and the criminal anti-American govt who stoke them.

warren, olathe

Yes the evil Koch brothers. The left protest the building of hospital wings that are paid for with money from an evil (conservative) source while they praise George Soros who brags about all the billions he has made causing currencies to be devalued or brags about triggering the housing and banking crisis of 2008 netting him a large profit from selling short. George is one that profits from the financial woes of others. Like Mr. Potter in "It's a wonderful life". They love Warren Buffet who buys a railroad and immediately starts cutting benefits and pay to increase his profit and wants Government health care so he can cut even more. He (Buffet) hired thousands of new employees for BNSF to get a government favor and immediately put them on furlough. This leaves them with a job but without pay, benefits or unemployment checks. They sit at home thinking they may be called to work but in reality they most likely never will.

E Archer, NYC

Absolutely right on.

Denise, DURANGO

"Elected officials fail to see that more government means less liberty;"  Beg to differ: politicians especially of today have deliberately and with malice evolved this 'government' into a slobbering dragon sucking up the life blood of We The People.
If one just spends a few hours on some of the agency and governmental websites, add to that the all out attack on Christianity and the church ... they're most assuredly doing what Patrick Henry warned about in the mid 1700's; "When a nation forgets it's God, tyrants soon forge it's chains."  Add to that "when maybe a nation is too comfortable and assured in it's freedom and wealth, lack of participation in government, let the politicians do their thing...after all don't politicians always put "we the people first"?? NOT!!!

E Archer, NYC
  • Reply
E Archer, NYC Denise, DURANGO 9/23/23

Hence the war on 'identity' being waged in liberal society.  People that don't know who they are can be easily manipulated.

"Know thyself."

Denise, DURANGO

Having been "enlightening" a few folks today on subjects involving the 'government' I may have created a bit of "obscurity" in the above statement by Koch....or not. Guess it depends on where you're at. My apologies.

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