Whether you're liberal or conservative, don't you wish you didn't know the politics of the companies you buy food and laundry detergent from?
Recently, company leaders have been coming out in support of one politician or another. The owner of Papa Johns pizza complained that under the new health care law, he would have to charge 12 to 14 cents more per pizza. (To me, that seems a small price to pay for health care. It sure wouldn't dissuade me from buying a pizza.) But truthfully, I'd rather not know Papa Johns' politics. I enjoyed their pizzas. Notice that is past tense. Now I feel like I don't want to support a company that automatically plans to push any costs onto the customers rather than the shareholders and doesn't see its employees worth insuring.
Same thing with Chick Fil A. They have delicious chicken sandwiches, but I don't feel like I should go to a restaurant that openly discriminates against gay people. There are no laws they are being forced to follow, so why did the owner share his feelings on it? Religious beliefs? Plenty of people in the 60s thought it was antiChristian for blacks and whites to marry. Would we have supported them? Taking a stand pro-discrimination is always the wrong side of history.
So now I'm getting hungry just because of politics.
Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, makes no secret of his politics either. He thinks he and other rich people should pay more taxes. If people are conservative, are they taking their business away from Geico and Fruit of the Loom and other companies owned by Berkshire Hathaway?
Companies should be smarter. They may want to complain about taxes or regulation or policies, but speaking out can lose them 50 percent of their customers, which seems like its a greater financial hardship.
Keep your politics to yourself, companies, and let me keep eating your delicious food.
3 comments:
Thank you for speaking one of my many, many frustrations this political season. Season is not even the word for it - last four years would be more accurate.
I'm afraid to discover what my family, neighbors, coworkers, grocery clerks, etc think.
Discussing the weather isn't even safe anymore.
What a great non-bookish post! When I was growing up it was considered impolite - and not very smart - to talk about sex, religion and politics; three subjects which get us all riled up.
These days we're all alienating each other on Facebook regularly. I'm with you; I'd rather not know everyone's politics but especially companies. Can't go to Chik-Fil-A(and they just got here to L.A.), don't like John's pizza anyway. I feel really badly for the Florida pizza shop owner who gave the president a great big bear hug. The two had a good laugh; it was a lovely moment. Unfortunately, republicans have threatened to boycott his establishment. Ridiculous!
What a great non-bookish post! When I was growing up it was considered impolite - and not very smart - to talk about sex, religion and politics; three subjects which get us all riled up.
These days we're all alienating each other on Facebook regularly. I'm with you; I'd rather not know everyone's politics but especially companies. Can't go to Chik-Fil-A(and they just got here to L.A.), don't like John's pizza anyway. I feel really badly for the Florida pizza shop owner who gave the president a great big bear hug. The two had a good laugh; it was a lovely moment. Unfortunately, republicans have threatened to boycott his establishment. Ridiculous!
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