Koch Brothers industry pollutes Arkansas town

by David Safier

The Koch Brothers are the poster children for the importance of government regulation. If they can cut a corner, endangering people's health, people's lives and the overall health of the environment, they'll do it if it adds a few dollars to their bottom line.

Below is a 10 minute video detailing the ridiculous cancer rates in a small Arkansas community. Running through the area is a waterway which is more like an open sewer, carrying pollutants from the Georgia Pacific plant upstream. GP is owned by the Koch Brothers.

Here's something that pushes the Koch Brothers' hypocrisy meter all the way to eleven. David Koch, after having a bout with cancer, donates a whole bunch of money to cancer research. It's the only place he gives away money to help the world (He also gives to the arts, which is a good thing, but it's also a great way to buy yourself some prestige in the "wealth community"). Yet here is a solvable problem at one of his plants which is most likely contributing to lung problems and cancer for people downstream, and he won't do what's necessary to contain the contaminants and let the water run clean and clear.