The Kochs are seen as the money and power behind the recent spate of radical governors who came into office to wage a war on the middle class. However, they are only one amongst 23 major corporations behind the movement to reduce the rights and economic security of  workers.  Radical, right-wing governors that came to power in the 2010 elections are unified in their radical actions through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which is funded by a cabal of major corporations (see list below).

Kasich, governor of Ohio, and a host of other conservatives were driving forces behind ALEC, which was organized to reduce state governments to nothing more than entities to promote business through tax breaks and to eliminate worker protection through reduction or elimination of unemployment, workers comp, public employee unions, Medicaid, etc..  They also are determined to eliminate environmental protections.  You can read the ALEC version of its history at:

http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=History&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=13643

The following is a list of the ALEC “Private Enterprise Board:”

• W. Preston Baldwin – Centerpoint360
• Sano Blocker – Energy Future Holdings
• Don Bohn – Johnson & Johnson
• Jeff Bond – PhRMA
• Bill Carmichael – American Bail Coalition
• Derek Crawford – Kraft Foods, Inc.
• John Del Giorno – GlaxoSmithKline
• Matt Echols – Coca Cola
• Jim Epperson, Jr. – AT&T Services, Inc.
• Michael Hubbert – Pfizer, Inc.
• Teresa Jennings – Reed Elsevier, Inc.
• Ken Lane – DIAGEO
• Kelly Mader – Peabody Energy
• Bernie McKay – Intuit
• Mike Morgan – Koch Industries
• Kevin Murphy – ExxonMobil Corp.
• Sandra Oliver – Bayer Corporation
• David Powers – Reynolds American Inc.
• Maggie Sans – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• Russell Smoldon – Salt River Project
• Toby Spangler – Altria Client Services, Inc.
• Roland Spies – State Farm Insurance Co.
• Pat Thomas – United Parcel Service

Although these companies are being rewarded with huge tax breaks and relieved of responsibility for the environment and workers, they will not be providing more jobs because state government largesse is directed their way.  Quite the opposite will be happening.  In general, these corporations will increasingly eliminate jobs through globalization and cybernation (robotics and artificial intelligence).  Furthermore, they will continue to feast off of the taxpayers as a result of privatization of governmental services – a major objective of conservative fanatics.

It should be mentioned that the board members of ALEC (not the corporate board) is comprised of state legislators of the theocratic, Christian, right wing variety.  State Senator Susan Wagle of Kansas is a board member.  Anyone who knows anything about Susan Wagle knows what is meant by the theocratic, Christian, right wing.

The ALEC staff includes the illustrious Arthur Laffer who happens to be famous for the “Laffer Curve,” (perhaps “laughable curve” is a better term), which serves as the underlying theoretical justification for “trickle down” economics.  The latest heavy duty project of Mr. Laffer and his fellow staffers is a request for all of the e-mails of a highly respected University of Wisconsin history professor who wrote a New York Times op ed piece they didn’t like.  Academic freedom for liberals and moderates is not a major objective of ALEC.