The Politics of Shopping
This sentiment was down from 59 percent in 2009, a softening of opinion for sure, but still one-third of all new car shoppers refusing to look at a GM product is one of the most extreme examples of how politics and your wallet are intertwined.
Here is another, albeit on a much smaller scale – but personally meaningful.
During our kitchen remodeling project, I visited Home Depot (Republican leaning by 70%) but refused to buy any General Electric (GE) appliances because at that time GE owned the cable channel MSNBC, which I consider to be a mouth piece for President Obama and full of leftist propaganda.
Furthermore, I knew that the CEO of GE, Jeff Immelt, was a top business advisor to President Obama. So to take some positive action, I marched over to Sears (Republican leaning) and bought all Kenmore appliances. Upon leaving the store I felt extremely empowered by my politically motivated major purchase.
Then shifting to the entertainment front, I will not pay to watch a movie with George Clooney because of the millions he has raised for President Obama.
Perhaps I am too extreme? If, like me, you allow your political views to affect your consumer decisions, you will be interested in this select list of major corporations and their political leanings. More detail is here.
Mega Stores and National Chains
Price Club/Costco: Democrat
Wal-Mart: Republican
Home Depot: Republican
Target: Republican
McDonald’s: Republican
Well – Known Brands
Estee Lauder: Democrat
B.F. Goodrich Tires: Republican
Proctor & Gamble: Republican
Levi Strauss: Democrat
Martha Stewart: Democrat
I don’t make as much (some) decisions based on what political party is supported, feeling that everyone has a right to his own opinion, but I WILL NOT buy a GM car. They can steal my tax money apparently, but damned if I’ll give it to them freely.
Target tries to have it “both ways” if you get my drift!
Agree completely about GM – that was simply an overthrow of bankruptcy law by a cabal that intended to pay off it’s union constituency with $40 billion of American taxpayer funds. In a chapter 11 bankruptcy, the secured creditors would have been entitled to complete repayment of their loans to the company, but in reality they would have had to negotiate with the unsecured creditors committee (of which the unions would have been a part), and both sides would have had to give up something.
The absurdity of Obama attempting to claim he saved millions of jobs is a joke – I know of no large-scale Chapter 11 bankruptcy where all the workers were summarily dismissed…never would have happened, because that is the point of a Chapter 11 – to restructure the company, keep it a going concern and make it profitable again.
Instead, the secured creditors got screwed with a take it or leave it 30 cents on the dollar, and the unions gave up nothing except for new hires only. The current line workers kept everything, including a massive contribution to their pension that the administration forced GM to make, before any other distributions.
Hmm, Walmart is Republican-leaning, but most of their products are made in China. It’s not as simple as choosing a store, guys — choose those products that are made in the USA, and companies that are not only ‘R’ but support the American economy directly.
When given a choice, I will choose a secondhand product that will put money directly into the hands of an American, over a new product that will put money indirectly into the Chinese economy!
When I was growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, my parents were extremely conscientious about buying American-made products and refusing to buy things made in Communist countries. One exception my mother made was for canned pineapple. Instead of buying Dole brand, she chose Geisha brand because it was made in Free China (Formosa?) and she wanted to support their economy in their stand against Red China.
She once succumbed to beauty and bought a cut-crystal vase made in Hungary, then a Soviet satellite. For years afterward, while arranging flowers in that vase, she would whisper to me “I know I shouldn’t have bought it, but it’s so pretty I couldn’t resist!”
I, too, continue in my parents’ shopping tradition. I will not buy a GM car or any car made by UAW employees; for my next purchase, I will look for something made in a right-to-work state. I would prefer not to buy anything made in China, but it’s very difficult these days.
So yes, I will keep Myra Adams list of businesses in mind when I choose where to shop in the future.
I agree with basing my shopping on political considerations. Regarding where the products are made, a vital question that does not come up as often as it should is: why are these products made where they are; could it be obscene regulations?
If I know which way a company leans, it affects my buying decisions. For example, I refuse to buy a GM, Ford, or Crysler. Bailout or no bailout, a large portion of my $$$ would fund the UAW if I were to do so. No, thanks. I’ll buy non-union instead.
In addition, if a company (like GE) gets obnoxious and/or vocal about supporting Democrats, they will lose my business, as well.
I’ve taken it further. If you are a freelancer looking for work from my company you will have a tough time getting it if you are a Liberal.