The Politics of Shopping
Hotel Chains
Hyatt Corporation: Democrat
Holiday Inn: Republican
Marriott International: Republican
Adult Beverages
Coors & Budweiser: Republican
Gallo Winery: Democrat
Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons: Democrat
After arming yourself with information will you try to only patronize companies that are on your political team? Do you believe in politically-empowering your wallet with your consumer decisions?
Before you answer that question, here is an amusing footnote to my avoidance of GE appliances based on a March 20, 2012 piece in the New York Post.
Apparently, General Electric’s CEO Jeff Immelt has now soured on President Obama’s economic policies according to this report by Charles Gasparino, a well known business reporter.
Although Immelt is still serving as a top outside economic advisor to the White House, Immelt “is appalled by everything from the president’s class-warfare rhetoric to his continued belief that big government is the key to economic salvation.”
Now I am thinking that if this report had come out just a month earlier I might have applauded Mr. Immelt and, as a result, my new kitchen appliances might today be GE Profile instead of Sears Kenmore.
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.