Donald Trump isn’t the only American cheering on Brexit.
The Dow plunged at market open this morning and the pound’s value is its lowest since 1985, but the Koch network is joining Trump is celebrating the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.
CEO of the Kochs’ political longarm, Americans for Prosperity, Luke Hilgemann took to Twitter to show his support: “Ahhh, nothing like the sweet, sweet smell of freedom wafting over from across the pond this morning! #Leave #Brexit.” AFP Senior Policy Fellow Peggy Venable and AFP Policy Director Akash Chougule also retweeted messages of solidarity with the vote that suggested Democrats need to “take note” of the UK’s decision.
Fellows of the Koch-backed Cato-Institute quickly proclaimed their excitement over the vote. In an op-ed for Forbes, Doug Bandow wrote,
Americans also should take note of Brexit.
…
Perhaps a similar campaign could be launched in the U.S. A movement against turning ever more money and authority over to a distant capital largely disconnected from the people it so enthusiastically attempts to rule. We could call it ‘Amexit.’
Dan Mitchell blogged to celebrate the “amazing vote” in “Nine Key Takeaways from Brexit.” Spoiler alert: they’re all positive.
On Tuesday, two days before the vote, the Mercatus Center Director of Regulatory Studies Richard Williams authored an article disparaging the regulations put on Britain by the EU:
It’s easy to understand the sentiment behind a ‘Brexit’ when the EU required farmers in the U.K. to buy £5,000 machines to label every egg as to when it was laid and the identity of the chicken. (Who knew they all had names?)
Charles Koch Foundation Senior Program Officer Adam Kissel tweeted a cheer for the results: “Give me a B! Give me an R! Give me an Exit! 52-48 Brexit”
As Britain and the world continue to watch the economic free fall as a result of the vote to leave the EU, the Koch Network is thrilled — once again, unconcerned about how working people may be hurt.
Background:
Brexit & The Kochs
Cato Institute
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Doug Bandow Referred To The Brexit As A “Huge Win.” According to a tweet from Cato Institute senior fellow Doug Bandow, “‘See EU later,’ blared one British tabloid. Huge win. Out of the European Union. reut.rs/2925LHF So much for the next superstate!” [Doug Bandow – Twitter, 6/24/16]
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Dan Mitchell: The “Brexit Will Be A Big Victory For Britain…If David Cameron Does The Right Thing.” According to a tweet from Cato Institute senior fellow Dan Mitchell, “Brexit will be a big victory for Britain…if David Cameron does the right thing danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2016/06/24/nin… pic.twitter.com/dqmYzTjhkf.” [Dan Mitchell – Twitter, 6/24/16]
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Steve Hanke: “The Press Lied About Brexit’s Economic Impact; Worst Case Scenario With No Trade Deal Is A 0.5% Drop In GDP.” According to a tweet from Cato Institute senior fellow Steve Hanke, “My friend Tim Congdon is right, the press lied about #Brexit’s economic impact. Worst case scenario with no trade deal is a 0.5% drop in GDP.” [Steve Hanke – Twitter, 6/24/16]
American Exit from Bureaucracy
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Doug Bandow: “Americans Also Should Take Note Of Brexit” And Perhaps We Could Mount A Similar “Amexit” Campaign To Move Away From Our Centralized Bureaucracy. According to an op-ed by Cato Institute senior fellow Doug Bandow for Forbes, “Americans also should take note of Brexit. […] Perhaps a similar campaign could be launched in the U.S. A movement against turning ever more money and authority over to a distant capital largely disconnected from the people it so enthusiastically attempts to rule. We could call it ‘Amexit.’” [Doug Bandow – Forbes, 6/24/16]
Cato Institute Vice President Gene Healy After The Brexit Vote: “Now To Undo The Coup Of 1787…. Revisiting The U.S. Constitution.” According to a tweet from Cato Institute vice president Gene Healy, “Now to undo the Coup of 1787…. Revisiting the U.S. Constitution – Reason.com reason.com/archives/2016/…” [Gene Healy – Twitter, 6/24/16]
National ID
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Jim Harper: “Brexit Shows That States Should Refuse, And Congress Should Repeal, Our U.S. National I.D. Law.” According to a tweet from Cato Institute senior fellow Jim Harper, “Brexit shows that states should refuse, and Congress should repeal, our U.S. national I.D. law, the #REALID Act.” [Jim Harper – Twitter, 6/24/16]
AFP
CEO Luke Hilgemann Supported Brexit, Calling It The Sweet, Sweet Smell Of Freedom Wafting Over From Across The Pond.” According to a tweet by AFP CEO Luke Hilgemann, “Ahhh, nothing like the sweet, sweet smell of freedom wafting over from across the pond this morning! #Leave #Brexit[.]” [Luke Hilgemann – Twitter, 6/24/16]
AFP Senior Policy Fellow Peggy Venable Sent A Message Suggesting Democrats Needed To “Take Note” Of The United Kingdom’s Decision To Leave The European Union: “People Don’t Want One World Government, Socialism And Open Borders.” According to AFP senior policy fellow Peggy Venable’s retweet of radio host Gavin Mitchell, “UK to leave EU. Take note Dems – people don’t want one world government, socialism and open borders.” [Peggy Venable – Twitter, 6/23/16]
AFP Policy Director Akash Chougule Sent A Message Congratulating “The Freedom Loving People Of Great Britain On Your Declaration Of Independence.” According to AFP policy director Akash Chougule’s retweet of Ohio House 87th District Republican Nominee Wes Goodman, “Congrats to the freedom loving people of Great Britain on your Declaration of Independence! I’m With Her! #brexit[.]”
[Akash Chougule – Twitter, 6/24/16]
Charles Koch Foundation
Charles Koch Foundation Senior Program Officer Adam Kissel Tweeted “Give me a B! Give me an R! Give me an Exit!”According to a tweet from a senior program officer at the Charles Koch Foundation Adam Kissel, “Give me a B! Give me an R! Give me an Exit! 52-48 Brexit.” [Adam Kissel – Twitter, 6/23/16]
Adam Kissel Tweeted That If It Was “Generally Brexit Except For London” That Perhaps London Could Secede And Join France. According to a tweet from a senior program officer at the Charles Koch Foundation Adam Kissel, “If it’s generally Brexit except for London, then maybe London can secede and join France.” [Adam Kissel – Twitter, 6/23/16]
California Exit
Kissel Tweeted That He Would Not Be Sad If California Tried To “Califexit.” According to a tweet from a senior program officer at the Charles Koch Foundation Adam Kissel, “California, I won’t be sad if you try to Califexit.” [Adam Kissel – Twitter, 6/24/16]
LIBRE Initiative
LIBRE Initiative Policy Analyst Payton Alexander Celebrated The UK’s Vote To Leave The EU By Tweeting “Britain Is Free!!” With Three Emojis Of The Union Jack Flag. According to a tweet by LIBRE Initiative policy analyst Payton Alexander, “Britain is free!! #Brexit” [Payton Alexander – Twitter, 6/24/16]
GenOpp
GenOpp Executive Director Andrew Clark: “The Part Of Me That Likes To Watch The World Burns Hopes Brexit Passes.” According to a tweet from GenOpp Executive Director Andrew Clark, “The part of me that likes to watch the world burns hopes #Brexit passes. My stock accounts on the other hand shiver in fear.” [Andrew Clark – Twitter, 6/22/16]
Mercatus Center
Mercatus Center Director Of Regulatory Studies Richard Williams: EU Regulations Make It “Easy To Understand The Sentiment Behind A Brexit.” According to a post by Mercatus Center Director of Regulatory Studies Richard Williams on the Reason blog, “It’s easy to understand the sentiment behind a ‘Brexit’ when the EU required farmers in the U.K. to buy £5,000 machines to label every egg as to when it was laid and the identity of the chicken. (Who knew they all had names?)” [Richard Williams – Reason.com,6/22/16]
- Williams: If The UK Decided To Leave The EU, They Should Reform Their Own Regulatory State By Setting Up A System To Ensure Legislators Know What Problem They’re Addressing, Not Allowing Agencies The Authority To “Pass Rules Into Infinity” Or Deference Over The Courts, Sunset Legislation, And Make Agencies Accountable To Legislators. According to a post by Mercatus Center Director of Regulatory Studies Richard Williams on the Reason blog, “But go or stay, the problem of regulation will remain in the U.K., just as it will in the United States. However, if the U.K. decides to leave the EU, there are some reforms they could undertake to begin to get control over the regulatory state. First, set up the system to ensure legislators know what problem they are addressing. Make sure alternative ways to solve the problem are considered and that the benefits of the chosen solution exceeds the costs. This is known as a regulatory impact analysis. Make this a legal mandate, meaning that if an agency doesn’t do it, anybody can go to court to stop the rule. Second, don’t pass legislation that gives agencies the authority to pass rules into infinity and with deference on their interpretations from the courts. Third, sunset the legislation, provide for retrospective review and give the agencies a social budget cost to implement the legislation. Finally, make agencies accountable to legislators. For really big rules, with a high economic impact, they should have legislative approval.” [Richard Williams – Reason.com, 6/22/16]