"Koch Sisters" Use Notorious Name as Platform
Posted October 08, 2014 06:35 am
TALLAHASSEE, FL -
They've become online celebrities for their plain-spoken
views about politics and the fact they share the same
last name with a couple of guys whose views are polar
opposites. The Koch Sisters are the labor movement's
down-home answer to the Koch Brothers, billionaires who
have become famous for big contributions to
ultra-conservative political causes.
They've been dubbed "sisters," although they aren't related to each other or the Koch brothers. What unites them, says retired social worker Joyce Koch, is a desire for American workers to be able to live and retire comfortably. She says contrary to what their critics say, they don't hate rich folks.
"'Oh,
they're against billionaires!' No, we're not," says
Joyce Koch. "We think money's fine. But it's how you use
it and we don't think you should use it by destroying
Medicare and Social Security, and buying politicians who
think just your way."
The Koch Sisters are making the rounds this week as
spokespeople for a higher national minimum wage. October
10, the date "10/10" is being used to highlight a
proposal in Congress to increase the federal minimum
wage to $10.10 an hour. Florida's minimum wage sits at
$7.93 an hour.
Karen Koch is a longtime teacher. She says her concern
is that allowing employers to pay lower wages puts more
money in their pockets, but leaves their workers to
qualify for public assistance. She also worries, people
get fed up with politics and give up on the system.
"Y'know, they say in life, you don't have much choice
you've got to die, you've got to pay your taxes," says
Karen Koch. "I also think you have to vote. Because if
you don't vote for politicians that care about the
middle class, you'll find yourself lower and lower. The
rich are getting wealthier, and the poor are getting
poorer. "
Both Koch Sisters have union backgrounds, and agreed to
make videos and ads on behalf of the AFL-CIO. They say
all their opinions are their own.
Photos/graphics and links added by the Observer
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