What businesses should a liberal or leftist avoid?
 

I just got angry when reading about somebody who eats Domino's pizza. The founder, Tom Monaghan, routinely pours money into right wing charities he's founded. In the name of 'Christian Charity' he's one of the staunches supporters of anti abortion, anti gay propaganda. He also dreams of replacing public schooling with a non graded religious educational system... which he is attempting to FRANCHISE!

http://www.nrlc.org/news/2000/NRL05/ppl.html
http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...orgid/3989.htm
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/small...5582-2,00.html
http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyt...ry.asp?id=7526
http://www.tri.org/news/020812a.html

According to the DNC, any gas station.

Yeah, the Domino's thing has been a factor in my parent's household since I was young, being as my mother worked at Planned Parenthood for a few years. We don't eat their pizza.
My father and I, being pacifists, had a debate about the morality of owning stock in companies that manufactured weapons of war. The prime example was GE, which manufactures electronic pieces for nuclear weapons. In the end we decided that there was nothing you could do about it; one cannot avoid somehow inadvertant supporting a cause they despise. But I still don't own stock in GE.

It depends on what standard you hold a company to. Many companies donate money to some conservative causes since it serves their financial interests. If you avoid those, you won't be left with much.

There are other companies, however, with right-wing ideologues at the helm. Along the same lines as Monaghan and Domino's is the Coors family of the Coors brewery which produces Original Coors, Coors Light, Killians Irish Red, Zima, and Keystone.
Another one is Amway. You'd be better off avoiding them no matter your political ideology.

I'll try to avoid domino's next time.

Hmmm...interesting, I did not know that. I'm gonna have to do a little research. Not that I pigeon hole myself into Conservative or Liberal. Nor do I intend to do business only with companies that support my political idealogy (I'd starve), but it sounds as if Mr. Monaghan is my political polar opposite and is a little extreme in his viewpoints and is going overboard. Besides, I don't really care for Dominoe's Pizza anyway. Yay, either way, I win.

All of them, I think.:D

You have to admit those cinnistix are pretty bad ass though...

Lefties should avoid ALL car companies, because of their use of fossil fuels...hence green house effect gases, exploitation of the middle east, lining Bush and Cheney pockets with money.

They should also eat only organic foods, and free range meats...
because of those poor animals that spend their lives in cages only to be slaughtered.

Clothing should be purchased from only companies the vow not to use third world labor that suffer in sweat shops.

Or better yet why dont the lefties go and kill a dear for a loin cloth, farm for themselves, and walk everywhere they go.

This way they can be certain they will never patronize a company that is against their beliefs.

Right reconmike... Thanks for the suggestions on how to best to deal with a leftist political leaning on everyday living. Good thing we have friendly rightists like you (I assume, unless you have a brand of humor I am unable to detect), to tell us what exactly we believe and to what extreme.

I tend to be pretty liberal, but am also a pragmatist, or at least I like to think that I am. I appreciate the heads up on which companies are making political statements with their actions (like those of Mr. Monaghan) that I personally detest. I hardly ever went to Dominoes anyway due to their, more often than not, poor quality of pizza, but will be even more likely to stay away from them for now on.

Considering the leftiest socialist stances on everything and anti business attitudes in general, I think lefits should be sustanence farmers inorder to put their money where their mouths are. And at the same time, where would the liberal left be with out the business worlds tax revenues to feed their inept social programs? They are the ultimate hypocrites.

It's a good thing for them righties don't have these kind of silly compunctions about what they buy. After all they recongize that the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">FREEDOM</span> of the market is paramount and that their largesse puts food in the mouth of that young McDonalds server who asks the famous question; "would you like <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">FRIES</span> with that, sir?"

And if they avoided products that conflicted with their ideology how would the epicurean Rush Limbaugh possibly get to enjoy his favourite French wines and Cuban cigars?

I don't eat food from the littany of companies owned by Philip-Morris. I don't smoke, and I don't really care if people do - but I truly believe those fuckers in that business intentionally hook people to their product, and that makes me sick. They won't get my money.

I heard something about Taco Bell and how they don't pay their farmers, but nothing concrete.

As a vegan, I really don't have much of a problem boycotting food companies. They're all victims of attrition. But I DO eat to live, and I do try to make a point to avoid companies that I know can be real bastards. Do what you can with what you've got.

As for the people with nothing but shit to talk.... yawn. I've never lectured anyone for eating meat, even though I don't. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone was secure enough in their own beliefs to not get all defensive when someone states one that opposes yours?

Damn, Conclamo beat me to it. :)

It's a pretty safe bet that if something besides a government is intended to make a profit, leftists will hate it.

And it's a pretty safe bet that no right-winger can enter a conversation without dousing the place with ridiculous blanket statements about groups that they immediatly seek to judge.

drip drip drip with irony

There are a few companies I boycott, but I've also come to believe that modern commerce is so intertwined that if you REALLY stood up for your principles, you'd starve...naked.

For example, I tried to boycott products made in China (oppressive govt., slave labor).

That lasted about a year until it just became too hard.

So now, I just do the best I can and try not to consume my way through the planet.

My above statement was really meant as a joke, but in all seriousness I'm sure there are very few large corporations in any end of the business spectrum that haven't fucked over the little guys for better profits. I generally try to buy clothes from the USA, just to cut down on the chances that they came from some 8 year-old with no shoes, but I don't really care if anyone else does. It all depends on how liberal you are, or how much you detest underhanded cutthroat business dealings. I would start with the businesses that you currently support, then do some research on them to see where they've been dipping their fingers. If you can find some businesses that you can stomach, then tell people. Business is ugly. Capitalism is competitive. People will always find an edge, and try to rig the game. Some worse than others, but in general, I'd be willing to bet that most companies on the Fortune 500 list have some pretty shady pasts. An important thing to look at is what kind of charity work the big companies do. Sometimes they try to pave over with good deeds. Phillip Morris/Kraft Foods/Miller Brewing is famous for the millions upon millions of dollars they give back to communities all over the world. No company is pure evil in my opinion.

If you want to be so idealistic perhaps you should refrain from buying products from Mexico, China, etc etc. Only Japan and Western Europe would be acceptable to buy as imports, otherwise you're buying products that were made through near slave labor in sweat shops where people earn less then 25 cents an hour...

Personally im not going to boycott any type of product - especially if its based on politics. The political leanings of some CEO are not my concern, its how good their product is.

And again, if you really want to get all hot n bothered over something, IMO it should be about the abuses of labor in other countries, as opposed to a personal disagreement over something like politics.

The CEO of Dominos earns his money fair and square as far as I know, he's entitled to spend it as he wishes. All that matters is that I like Papa Johns more anyways... :p

Yeah, but everytime I order a pizza from Domino's, this guy is going to get a little more money in his bank account and then he uses that money to spend on causes that I think are detrimental to this country. So technically, I would be helping him fund those causes.

As far as boycotting products from companies/countries that employ slave labour, I'm not sure it will make a difference since the company is going to keep paying slave wages anyway. All it could do is put some poor guy out of a job, and any job is better than no job. That's what I think, but if anyone can prove me wrong on this, I'd certainly like to hear it.

Actually, I heard a segment on NPR last year where they talked about that. I don't remember everything (or much of anything, really), but I do remember one kid (and I do mean <i>kid</i>) begging Americans not to boycott - when they do, the companies simply fire all their child workers and hire adults.

Now, I don't think that means you shouldn't boycott ever. I just think that evidence should be used as a warning that you need to show discretion before boycotting - chances are that won't happen, but you should do your research!

Conclamo Ludus: Well, I agree with you sorta. McDonalds does lots of nice things for the community - but they also do lots of shitty things to animals, in my opinion. It's a trade-off. Ever worked with a guy who's really really nice, but he's also a total racist bastard? Same thing. Nobody is all bad... but sometimes they're bad enough to make me want to have nothing to do with them.

that sucks, i didn't know that. the Domino's here at Georgetown is the highest-grossing one in the nation, I think, and delivers to campus all night. Oh well, there are always alternatives for pizza.

Didnt know that about dominos, honestly, i dont eat there anyways, but i definatly wont now..

An interesting question that really has no answer in my opinion. If we as consumers vote with our dollars, it can certainly have an impact on companies that are partisan in makeup; however, it seems that most of the goods and services in this country are provided by huge corporations that are politically diverse enough, to be immune or suffer little affect.

Thanks for all the opinions so far. <irony>Even the ones that are wrong</irony>
You know, I wish I could make a difference and boycott every company that makes their goods in third world country through slave like labor. I wish I could only buy good and services from companies or individuals who paid a living wage to their employees. But we all know that is too extreme a stance to take if you wish to remain in modern society.
Here's some of the things I can and do do. And I am proud of them:
* Do not eat fast food period. Fast food does not pay a living wage to their workers. They buy the cheapest goods, driving out the small farmers. Only on the very rare occasion do I eat any restaraunt food actually - and then not from chain or franchise places.
* Eat 90% or so organic local produce and protein.

cowlick, I don't agree with your assessment that such a stance is too extreme to remain in modern society.

One can avoid those types of products through careful research and planned purchases.

btw, if you can't afford a complete organic diet then meat and dairy products should be a priority. You can wash most fruits and vegetables but still need to look for GM products (if you want to avoid those, too).

Like I said, I'm a vegan, but I don't stress out about it. Just do what you can and are willing to do, but don't break your back. Life is here to live!

smooth
I do think a complete avoidance is too extreme. One simple example, by no means a complete retort - Tell me where I can get a computer that doesn't have foreign made parts or come from a company that relies of third world labor?

As far as eating organic, money is not the issue. Mostly convienance is the reason 10% or so of what I eat is non organic. Most days I pack a lunch and dinner with me where I go. But some days I don't. Or some days I am traveling. Or some days they just don't have the products I usually buy in stock at the local markets. In those cases I choose the healthiest alternative that is acceptable to me.

cowlick,

My reply about the food was for everyone in general--not the 10% you weren't eating :).

As for the computer, the best advice I can give you on that, barring actually researching each component out and my suspicion that most hi-tech parts are on the better end of the wage scale, is to buy used parts.

The same goes for clothes--if you feel like you want to avoid subsidizing slave labor in regards to shoes and shirts, buy them at the GoodWill.

Once spent this way, your money goes to charitable corporations and remains out of the hands of people using immoral labor practices.

Well, i won't be eating there anymore.

Anyway, One of the issues brought up was child labor. that's something i am on the fence about certainly, but it's almost the same as the issue was for America 100 years ago. The whole reason it is beneficial to companies is that it's cheap labor, but honestly, a lot of those kids' families DO need the money, so we can't just ban them from working, they need living wages, and just boycotting those companies only encourages them to fire the kids and hire adults as someone said, and while it fixes one agitation, another problem grows.... llife's just a mass of gray, almost never black and white

Exactly. If the US Gov't were to ban any companies from using child labor in other countries, you would hear bitching around the world about how the US is destroying the economies of third world nations to put more money into its own pockets.

It should, however, be the company's responsibility to be sure to raise the standard of working conditions for their overseas production facilities. I don't really think it is in the place of our government to enforce this, it is the consumer's responsibility.

I eat what I eat
I buy what I buy
I think what I think
I say what I say

Life is too short keep track of who is doing what to whom.
I've got enough going on to keep track of,
and enough assholes I'm directly interacting with to deal with.
I'll just stick with my own principles, and spout off when necessary.
Just dealing with my own windmills & justice keeps me in trouble and occupied.

I second the opinion of rogue49 to a point- Comerce is what it is all about- it is not fair, but then neither is nature- fast food is terrible for you, I just found out I'm diabetic, and now that I actualy read the labels, it is damned hard to find much out there that is good for you- cigaretes kill you and the company is evil- what it comes down to is that these companies would die if people did not want the products they make.... so I think each person should follow their own beliefs- which means doing research into the stuff they eat, buy , ect- but then anymore that seems like too much effort to most people.... Instead of just complaining about the "bad " companies, actively promote the good ones that you like.

I've never seen boycotting be successfull. I've never seen a company change it's ways because of a boycott. Usually the boycotters are arrested for getting a little out of hand.

Anyway, I will not dissalow myself something I deem neccessary because someone within the company that makes it does something that I don't like.

I vote for things like the presidency of the United States. I do not think we should be allowed to vote on how companies have to spend the money they've earned. That is, literally and figuratively, their business, not yours or mine.

I am not advocating a boycot. I am suggesting that in my own way I can easily avoid doing business with a person or corporate entity I think is an ass. It does matter to me where money I pay out goes. I can't control it very often - but when I can I will try to.

After reading this stupid thread, I will support Domino's Pizza at every opportunity.

Yeah screw people with beliefs and ideas. Let's just use compeling logic like screaming stupid to express our opinions.

look- I am not what I considder a liberal, but just because they have different opinions does not make them stupid- read the forum rules- disagree if you want, but try to support your arguement better than a 4th grader