Dark money : the hidden history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical right / Jane Mayer.

Chart on lining papers.

Why is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why, despite the desperate need to address climate change, have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? Why have protections for employees been decimated? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers? --Publisher

A popular uprising against "big government" led to the ascendancy of a broad-based conservative movement. But Mayer shows that a network of exceedingly wealthy people with extreme libertarian views bankrolled a systematic, step-by-step plan to fundamentally alter the American political system. Their core beliefs-- that taxes are a form of tyranny; that government oversight of business is an assault on freedom-- are sincerely held. The chief figures in the network are Charles and David Koch. Mayer traces the trail of the billions of dollars spent by their network, and provides vivid portraits of the colorful figures behind the new American oligarchy.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [381]-425) and index.

The investors -- Weaponizing philanthropy : the war of ideas, 1970-2008. Radicals : a Koch family history ; The hidden hand : Richard Mellon Scaife ; Beachheads : John M. Olin and the Bradley brothers ; The Koch method : free-market mayhem ; The Kochtopus : free-market machine -- Secret sponsors : covert operations, 2009-2010. Boots on the ground ; Tea time ; The fossils ; Money is speech : the long road to "Citizens United" ; The shellacking : dark money's midterm debut, 2010 -- Privatizing politics : total combat, 2011-2014. The spoils : plundering Congress ; Mother of all wars : the 2012 setback ; The States : gaining ground ; Selling the new Koch : a better battle plan.