I like to think that I try to learn something every day - and change my views, modify my views as I learn. Charles Koch More Quotes by Charles Koch More Quotes From Charles Koch Why I've never been that fond of politics and only got into it recently kicking and screaming, because I don't think politicians are going to reverse the trajectory of this country. I think it's going to depend on the American people understanding what is fair and what makes their lives better. Charles Koch country people thinking A lot of what is done by the climate lobby is anti-science. But there is some science behind it. Like, there are greenhouse gases, and they do contribute to warming. But if you look at the last, say, 160 years, the first 80 of that period, they went up about four-tenths of a degree. And now, the second 80 that CO2 has increased by, what, 30 percent or something, it's gone up five-tenths of a degree. And there's been in the last 30 or 40 years, there's been no real increase in storms or bad weather. Charles Koch real weather years Putting aside all the things that are said about Hillary [Clinton], my main difference with her is on the vision of what kind of society will make people's lives better. So this is a vision of society in which people are too evil or stupid to run their own lives, but those in power are perfectly capable of running everybody else's lives because they're so much smarter. Charles Koch differences stupid running All of our policies are based on whether it will make - enable people to improve their lives or it will make their lives worse. Charles Koch policy people Far too many businesses have been all too eager to lobby for maintaining and increasing subsidies and mandates paid by taxpayers and consumers. This growing partnership between business and government is a destructive force, undermining not just our economy and our political system, but the very foundations of culture. Charles Koch foundation political government How do we make people's lives better unless we find the truth of what works and what doesn't? Charles Koch people When currying favor with Washington is seen as a much easier way to make money, businesses inevitably begin to compete with rivals in securing government largess, rather than in winning customers. Charles Koch rivals government winning I think our biggest problem in society is we're headed more and more toward a two-tiered society. That is, creating welfare for the wealthy and destroying opportunities for the disadvantaged. Charles Koch opportunity two thinking I've been blessed by learning certain principles and values that transformed my life and enabled me to accomplish more than I really had the ability to do or ever dream possible. And so I decided that I wanted to give as many other people as possible the opportunity to learn these ideas and transform their lives as I had. Charles Koch blessed dream opportunity I feel a passion for what we're trying to do.I mean, why does somebody who's old who's a writer keep writing? Because that's who they are. Charles Koch passion writing mean The role of business is to provide products and services that make people's live better - while using fewer resources - and to act lawfully and with integrity. Businesses that do this through voluntary exchanges not only benefit through increased profits, they bring better and more competitively priced goods and services to market. This creates a win-win situation customers and companies alike. Charles Koch winning integrity people People are interested in certain ideas, in certain periods, and then that moves, and okay, now people are more interested in studying this, and there is no perfect balance, and how would you know what the perfect balance is? I mean, what does it mean to have too many Beethoven chairs and too few Stravinsky chairs? I mean, that's kind of a value judgment that isn't really based on humility. We don't know what the optimum number is, so let people figure this out on their own. People are more interested in Beethoven than Stravinsky? Great! Why would that bother me? Charles Koch humility mean moving Citizens who over-rely on their government to do everything not only become dependent on their government, they end up having to do whatever the government demands. In the meantime, their initiative and self-respect are destroyed. Charles Koch government responsibility self To make a quick buck, but over time, if you're not creating value for others, customers, society, isn't going to let you be around. Charles Koch creating-value bucks customers Being captive to quarterly earnings isn't consistent with long-term value creation. This pressure and the short term focus of equity markets make it difficult for a public company to invest for long-term success, and tend to force company leaders to sacrifice long-term results to protect current earnings. Charles Koch sacrifice leadership success The role of business is to provide products and services that make peoples lives better - while using fewer resources - and to act lawfully and with integrity. Charles Koch resources roles integrity We needed to be uncompromising with our workforce, to expect 100 percent of our employees to comply 100 percent of the time with complex and ever-changing government mandates. Striving to comply with every law does not mean agreeing with every law. But, even when faced with laws we think are counter-productive, we must first comply. Only then, from a credible position, can we enter into a dialogue with regulatory agencies to demonstrate alternatives that are more beneficial. If these efforts fail, we can then join with others in using education and/or political efforts to change the law. Charles Koch change mean thinking I studied what principles under-laid peace and prosperity and concluded the only way to achieve societal well-being was through a system of economic freedom. Charles Koch prosperity principles way The trajectory of this country [USA] is not positive and particularly for the disadvantaged, as we see what's happening. The gains in productivity have dropped, the gains in income for the middle class and the least advantaged have slowed, at best. Charles Koch usa class country If people don't learn to work by the time they're in their 30s, they're never very productive. Charles Koch productive ifs people
