The Brand New Serious Discussion Thread - 6/20-Support for companies sharing your views

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:24am

Here we go, guys! It's back and sponsored by my sleepy pooch.
What do we think of this? Tons of corporations are on record through their own political donations, the bent of their executives and boards, and we know where they stand on issues important to us.
The question is, how do we feel about directing our finances towards/against these companies? Does it really help if you're pro-union to boycott Wal-Mart? Is it better for you to support Best Buy, a company which actually has a program to PAY for its employees' sexual reassignment surgeries, over Radio Shack?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:33am

It is worth it to me. The resources we now have to track such information is great. I only worry about how accurate and up to date it is.

I've never rented from blockbuster because I was told many years ago that their parent company was very conservative...and I was just trying to find that information (to make a point on the other thread regarding this topic) and couldnt. That is not to say it isnt true.

I check a company's profile on Buyblue.com and find out the policies towards the glbt community as much as possible.

I will also inform people of a company's policy.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:42am

I meant to make mention of Buy Blue as being a GREAT resource for those of us with left-leaning tendencies. Of course, in its own way, I suppose a very conservative buyer could use that website for their own purposes as well, although I'm sure there's a Red think tank out there publishing its own pro-conservative publication.

I admire putting one's money where one's mouth is. I don't do it quite as well as I probably should, but my BF does, in his own quiet way, make these political stances to support the companies which practice standards he admires and to boycott those which do not.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:42am

It's absolutely worth it to me.

The ability to vote with my wallet is a wonderful exercise in citizenship.

I have gone on record as saying that I believe the actions and marketing campaigns of Abercrombie & Fitch are offensive and hurtful to women, teen girls, and other demographic groups. I have stopped shopping there, and have actively supported a boycott of their products.

I also put my money where my mouth is in my investment portfolio, and refuse to invest in companies which have business beliefs and practices which go against my own.

Does it make a difference? It does to me. And, if enough of us stand by our convictions, it will make a difference to the companies.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:49am

as a away to make you feel better about your purchases, i think it's a great idea. as a way of influencing policy and punishing those companies who do not share your views and rewarding those comapnies who do i think it's not very effective without p.r.

in the case of smaller local firms it could be very effective. but in the case of larger corporations, in order to actually affect the bottom line and thus merit much attention, it requires organization and p.r.

i mean look at how much you as an individual spend at the particular place and then look at their annual sales and work out how many similar spending persons would need to avoid that store in order to affect them financially. that's the practical side of it. however, the power of your buying dollars i would argue are less effective than the power of an effective grass roots campaign against the company. while not buying there might make you feel better, setting up a website declaring why you avoid that particular store has the potential to get national notice and garner real change in their corporate policies or alert more people to the offensive polices and to alternatives.

so, yeah, buy from folks with whom you agree, but if you want to change them or punish them or really help the alternative vendor, you'll need to do more than that.

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 10:49 AM

[staticradar]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:53am

Well I boycott Domino's ever since I found out the owner (founder? CEO...someone like that) is anti-gay and I can't support a company who hates homosexuals.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:55am

I have a problem with PapaJohns, as tho the company leans to the right, he is kinda cute...and come on...he likes to be called Papa!

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:59am

The good thing is -- most of these companies that have these anti-gay roots are places that I wouldn't go to even if their curtains were made of rainbow flags. Domino's "Pizza"? Cracker Barrel? Blech.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:01am

leans to the right...likes to be called papa

where's my f***ing royalty check, john?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:02am

I said, LEAN, papa...not falls over.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:03am

E-Harmony won't do gay matches, apparently, but that Neil Clark Warren dude freaks me out anyway.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:09am

i never fall, doodle. but i do stagger. yet i've always seen staggering as a sign of strength. only the weak need be carried.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:15am

Well, I guess, Papa, this is why I tend to support larger boycott movements.
My church urged us to boycott - I think it was - Johnson & Johnson because they donated to some scientific research that Jesus would have hated (of course and unfortunately). We also had to boycott Levi's because apparently they donate (or did) to some gay rights groups.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:19am

I work on both the large and small scale.

Even if it doesn't change policy, I feel better for standing by my convictions.

BUT, I refuse to believe that an individual can't make a difference.... eventually.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:20am

but, i think if it's something that's important to a person, bway, why not take the extra steps? with free blogware all over the place it's so easy to set up a blog decrying whichever company. then a few emails to larger blogs or websites that might be sympathetic to your cause and with a little luck they're talking about you on the today show or at the very least you get a mention in the paper. the internet can expose your cause to more than just a local audience and allow a truly global response. i mean if it's important, do something about it.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:22am

and addy, i'm not saying an individual can't make a diference, but i believe the manner in which they choose to make that difference will determine how long eventually is.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:24am

I think you make a good point, papa. (Not about staggering, about boycotting) but I dont think it matters if you are part of a large boycott or not, tho it would be better, at least not being a hypocrite to your convictions is something.

HATE to bring it up, but the Macy's response last week to me was, well...weak. I dont mean to reopen a debate about those issues again, but I was disappointed in the lack of support and coverage of my, and other's demonstrations. That said, what did I do but let a bunch of people know? Was I out organizing or calling the media to make sure the word got out? Nope. Doesnt say much for me.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:25am

You make a good point there, Papa, what with the ease in which an individual can literally begin a movement to support a cause.
Of course, the Net Neutrality issue might (tomorrow's SDotD?) put a big plug in that dream soon.
I like your idea, Addy. I like the idea of, even if not making a big wave, feeling better about myself for supporting a company that is pro-movement for me. I find myself, in NYC, far more willing to patronize a store with a rainbow flag sticker in its window than one without. I even go to some pet stores with more expensive prices because of this.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:30am

another issue on which i disagree with my party, bway.

i should say that have more respect for people who back up their convictions with their wallets.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:32am

I can say for myself that I will not look at price tags over conscience.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:35am

Hey, Papa, this thread is good for this tangent. When you disagree with your party on something, do you let your senator and representative know?
I've actually written Hil Clinton three times about her support of the Iraq War and her milquetoast stance on several other key issues, specifically gay rights.
I'll keep voting for her as senator because, as we noted, you have to go with the platform that suits your needs best, but god, I hope I bore her to tears with my repetition enough to make her acquiesce just to see me shut up.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:35am

There's a line, however.

Example: I know American Airlines is more GLBT-friendly than Continental. But when I fly to visit my parents in Houston, I'm not going to spend an extra $100 and have to make a stop in Charlotte just to fly American over Continental, which has a hub in Houston.
Updated On: 6/20/06 at 11:35 AM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:40am

Not really the same issue here, Calvin, but wouldn't you know that, every now and then, I just HAVE to go into Mcdonald's to get some fries.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:44am

cal, you f***ing sell-out!

i do, bway. i write hil all the time and chuckles too and my rep joltin' joe. not just when i disagree either, although that happens more often. i think it's important to correspond with those who represent you in washington whether you agree with them or not. sure it might all go into a bin somewhere or get cherry picked by an intern, but write them, email them and if necessary call them to make your voice heard. even if they don't vote the way you'd like them too, at least you can say that you tried. otherwise, stfu, ya lemmings.


*edit - bway, you f***ing fry whore!

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 11:44 AM

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:47am

And back when I had a car, if I got a flat tire on a Saturday night (OK, that happened only one time), Wal-Mart is one of the few places where you can get a new tire installed on a Sunday. So sometimes situations can trump ethics.

Besides, just looking at donation breakdowns doesn't always work. The Republicans are the majority party, so it makes sense that they might be getting more contributions than the Democrats. It also depends on who is the ruling party where that company is headquartered. Corporations are always going to ultimately be looking out for their own interest. That's why I make it a point to avoid blatant offenders, but I don't use BuyBlue as my shopping bible.