June is Pride Month, and this year's celebration has particular resonance. Over the last year, anti-LGBTQ politicians have relentlessly targeted the community with harmful legislation and other policy initiatives. There are new laws prohibiting teachers from acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ people, new policies targeting trans kids and their parents, and new bans on books with LGBTQ characters.
If there weren’t so many near monopolies in our oligarchy we could actually hurt them in the only place that would cause them to change, their bottom line. Alas, money does all the talking in the USA. Maybe money shouldn’t have such damning rights… rolling eyes 🙄
Based on Ford's reply to Popular Information... Here's a thought. Since your contributions are bipartisan, why not get together with the rest of your industry and save money by NOT contributing to either political party? Contribute to the needs of the communities where you have manufacturing. Raise the minimum wage of your employees. STOP trying to play both sides -- this game is a loser for us all! What money they don't pocket they use to harass us with annoying ads for months and years. It goes to talking heads spouting hate speech. Come on -- Do better!
Though you have good thoughts, some businesses need help from their representatives for things like taxation, zoning, etc. In short, they need to buy this assistance. Now, they also need to play nice.
Correct. In fact recent economic studies have demonstrated that most political contributions by corporations are wasted money, they could get what little assistance they actually do need without wasting billions on political spending.
Of course -- businesses need their representatives to REPRESENT them. Which is why we need to get money out of politics and elect some people who actually care about the communities (businesses and people) they represent. (Citizens United = Bad for America). When these companies donate to BOTH parties, it is hedging their bets and BUYING influence -- this bribery system must be brought under control. That money is needed by the employees and the communities, and, within reason, the shareholders.
We need to call these "contributions" what they really are - bribes = using large amounts of money to influence political support/legislation. Calling it what it is may eventually change behavior...but I'm not optimistic about that.
Things will never change if financial support goes to anti-gay and anti-women politicians. They are destroying lives, families, and the USA. The world is not immune to their actions, and neither is the planet. Share, make calls, write letters. We are letting the noisy people win even though they do not represent the wishes of most Americans. Politicians used fear to control their voters and then end up acting out of fear that their voters will shift their support to someone even scarier. It is the dumbest and most dangerous thing and it seems to somehow (= MONEY) be in control of what's happening. Please speak out. Please vote -- in EVERY election.
Good job bringing this to the forefront. My employer does most of its business in 4 states. 3 of which are Republican run and 1 is precariously Democrat. Everyone knows that the system is pay to play. We know in at least two states, not only is it pay to play, but the state will punish you if you don't or not play by their rules. So goes corporations are people. But I digress. It is hypocracy, but some Corps are kind of forced into it.
Agreed. Some corporations cynically consider it to be the cost doing business. But others are helmed by hateful people determined to push their prohibitive social agenda.
Could you do a post on companies who haven’t donated money to anti LGBTQ politicians and organizations (if that’s possible to find), or ones that have supported pro LGBTQ legislation? Because I want to be less depressed and also know where I should be spending my money.
I cancelled by Verizon service yesterday for this very reason -- to reason to keep shoveling money to a company with apalling service and zero moral integrity.
Greatly appreciate you outing corporate hypocrisy around LGBTQ advocacy. I've come to skip "pride" parades because of the corporate infestation. Yet I recognize that putting them in a position where they have to pretend is a manifestation of cultural power. How to leverage the dissonance toward more material power for equity?
This is a particularly poignant post. Many thanks for your fine work.
If there weren’t so many near monopolies in our oligarchy we could actually hurt them in the only place that would cause them to change, their bottom line. Alas, money does all the talking in the USA. Maybe money shouldn’t have such damning rights… rolling eyes 🙄
Right! Too bad Patagonia and Levi’s don’t offer cell service and home improvement products.
Based on Ford's reply to Popular Information... Here's a thought. Since your contributions are bipartisan, why not get together with the rest of your industry and save money by NOT contributing to either political party? Contribute to the needs of the communities where you have manufacturing. Raise the minimum wage of your employees. STOP trying to play both sides -- this game is a loser for us all! What money they don't pocket they use to harass us with annoying ads for months and years. It goes to talking heads spouting hate speech. Come on -- Do better!
Though you have good thoughts, some businesses need help from their representatives for things like taxation, zoning, etc. In short, they need to buy this assistance. Now, they also need to play nice.
Corporations like Ford, AT&T & the rest on Judd’s list do not “need” help from their representatives. The American middle-class & working poor do.
TRUTH
Correct. In fact recent economic studies have demonstrated that most political contributions by corporations are wasted money, they could get what little assistance they actually do need without wasting billions on political spending.
Of course -- businesses need their representatives to REPRESENT them. Which is why we need to get money out of politics and elect some people who actually care about the communities (businesses and people) they represent. (Citizens United = Bad for America). When these companies donate to BOTH parties, it is hedging their bets and BUYING influence -- this bribery system must be brought under control. That money is needed by the employees and the communities, and, within reason, the shareholders.
We need to call these "contributions" what they really are - bribes = using large amounts of money to influence political support/legislation. Calling it what it is may eventually change behavior...but I'm not optimistic about that.
Things will never change if financial support goes to anti-gay and anti-women politicians. They are destroying lives, families, and the USA. The world is not immune to their actions, and neither is the planet. Share, make calls, write letters. We are letting the noisy people win even though they do not represent the wishes of most Americans. Politicians used fear to control their voters and then end up acting out of fear that their voters will shift their support to someone even scarier. It is the dumbest and most dangerous thing and it seems to somehow (= MONEY) be in control of what's happening. Please speak out. Please vote -- in EVERY election.
Good job bringing this to the forefront. My employer does most of its business in 4 states. 3 of which are Republican run and 1 is precariously Democrat. Everyone knows that the system is pay to play. We know in at least two states, not only is it pay to play, but the state will punish you if you don't or not play by their rules. So goes corporations are people. But I digress. It is hypocracy, but some Corps are kind of forced into it.
Agreed. Some corporations cynically consider it to be the cost doing business. But others are helmed by hateful people determined to push their prohibitive social agenda.
Could you do a post on companies who haven’t donated money to anti LGBTQ politicians and organizations (if that’s possible to find), or ones that have supported pro LGBTQ legislation? Because I want to be less depressed and also know where I should be spending my money.
I drive a Toyota use Comcast AT&T I am extricating
I cancelled by Verizon service yesterday for this very reason -- to reason to keep shoveling money to a company with apalling service and zero moral integrity.
Greatly appreciate you outing corporate hypocrisy around LGBTQ advocacy. I've come to skip "pride" parades because of the corporate infestation. Yet I recognize that putting them in a position where they have to pretend is a manifestation of cultural power. How to leverage the dissonance toward more material power for equity?
I am proud to say I am NO LONGER an AT&T customer. T-Mobile may not be perfect but at least they aren’t on that list.
Don’t stop calling out these hypocrites