General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs it morally acceptable to patronize a business owned by an outspoken conservative?
In your opinion. This is inspired by some comments on a post about conservative authors.
Bryant
22 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited | |
Definitely | |
10 (45%) |
|
Probably | |
0 (0%) |
|
Maybe | |
1 (5%) |
|
Probably not | |
0 (0%) |
|
Definitely not | |
9 (41%) |
|
It is morally unacceptable to post these bullshit polls | |
2 (9%) |
|
I like to vote! | |
0 (0%) |
|
0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Political views don't guarantee anything. There are conservatives who run businesses ethically and liberals who run them unethically. The farmer I buy meat from is a total paleo, and just about the most environmentally responsible farmer I've ever met.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)the owner donates money to.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)of the political contributions.
(This is assuming the business is actually ethical and sustainable, which in the case I'm thinking of it is.)
YMMV, certainly, and I do take your point.
Pryderi
(6,772 posts)conservative ...an 80's-90's conservative.
hmmm...actually I think that would make him a moderate democrat today.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)or how extreme the Republicans have become.
CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)I will never spend my money at Chik fil whatever it is called as their owner is a bigot full of hate.
Meanwhile I imagine a lot of the companies I do business with are owned by conservatives but so long as they don't rail against liberals, or the gay agenda, or tell me to pray I don't mind giving them my business.
But if there is a true liberal alternative I would prefer it.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)without being an asshole - but they are at least open about their political philosophy.
CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)So yeah I assume you mean all the ones who tend to make asses of themselves so no it is never morally correct to do business with them.
Heidi
(58,237 posts)However, given a choice, I do try to spend my money with business people who share my values.
rurallib
(62,423 posts)Often that choice isn't available. but i limit my purchases as much as i can.
i do not like the idea of my own money coming back to fight me on healthcare or social security.
Good morning, rurallib!
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)You go to a business to buy goods or services, not politics.
My Auto Repair Shop is run by an extreme conservative and he is exceptionally ethical in his treatment of his customers and his workers. He is also one with whom you can at least have a discussion.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)MindPilot
(12,693 posts)My financial guy is very conservative. He is also very ethical, trustworthy and a good friend.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)care much about politics when it comes to local businesses.
As long as I am treated fairly, merchandise is of good quality and the prices are good I support them.
Crappy business practices know no political party.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)boycott/letter campaign
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Yes, I did send an email. Same with that nasty chicken sandwich place.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Maeve
(42,282 posts)I still buy from Hobby Lobby (usually when I have a coupon for 40% off and I prefer to shop Michael's or Jo-Anne's--but sometimes HL is the only place to find what I need for a project). The employees still need the jobs and they aren't responsible for the boss's idiocy.
That said, I don't buy Georgia Pacific anything (Koch brothers), I don't eat Chik-fil-A and I don't read authors whose RW politics come thru in their writing (Orson Scott Card or Patricia Cornwall, altho I liked some of their earlier works). I also don't care if Mel Gibson ever works again.
pipi_k
(21,020 posts)I don't give a damn about someone's politics when it comes to their products or services.
If my money is supporting a RWer or Conservative, then (unless they're obsessive about hiring only people who share their values) I figure my money is also supporting their employees, many of whom must surely be Democrats.
GASP!!!! imagine that!!!
Democrats who need to support their families!
I'm well aware that there are some who would call those people traitors (or worse) for wanting to support their families even if they have to work for a Conservative.
No doubt there are many Conservatives who won't patronize a business owner who employs Democrats.
It's ridiculous and childish no matter which side is playing the game.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)and supporting candidates and positions you don't agree with - ones that are detrimental to your community and/or the nation as a whole?
Bryant
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)donates money to. you are supporting legitimate rape - privatization of social security - racism vaginal probes - KIDS WHO DONT GET B'S AT SCHOOL DONT EAT did i leave any out? are these childish reasons?
MAYBE IT'S TIME YOU GAVE A DAMN ABOUT WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)women's clothing shop and ask about their politics before I start looking or buying.
Maybe I like supporting the local mom and pop businesses.
MAYBE IT ISN'T YOUR BUSINESS WHERE I SPEND MY MONEY.
Seeking Serenity
(2,840 posts)some people don't have the time, energy, wherewithal, or simple desire to allow their personal politics to inform virtually every aspect of their daily lives, including the products one chooses to purchase or where one chooses to shop.
Other people do, I suppose.
To each his own.
I'm one of the former.
dkf
(37,305 posts)So think about the reverse...is it okay for a conservative person who is hiring to not employ anyone who vocally supports unions?
Is that really the world you want to live in where people are hired and employed based on ideology?
+1 to this
Zorra
(27,670 posts)Last edited Thu Jan 31, 2013, 01:01 PM - Edit history (1)
I believe it is especially morally wrong to do so when there are reasonable alternatives. Sometimes I am pretty much compelled by necessity to support enterprises owned by conservatives.
I do it when there's no other reasonable alternative, and I hate it when I am compelled to do it, but it still makes me feel like a loser no matter what.
I suppose I could drive the 100 or 200 mile round trip to purchase the same necessity, but that presents a moral dilemma as well, of course.
Sometimes I do wait until I have other pressing business in the city to buy something I need, if the item is not an absolute crucial immediate necessity, rather than support a fascist with my business.
Throd
(7,208 posts)I try to avoid extremists of both ends of the political spectrum if I can.
frogmarch
(12,154 posts)it would be morally acceptable, but I wouldn't do it.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)I admit that if I went into a shop or restaurant with Limbaugh/Hannity on and Conservative Posters, there's a chance I wouldn't go back there. Just because it made me uncomfortable.
frogmarch
(12,154 posts)It would be because business owners who are outspoken conservatives often help fund anti-gay and anti-choice movements and organizations.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)frogmarch
(12,154 posts)but I wouldnt consider myself immoral for patronizing businesses that support such movements, just hypocritical.
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)melm00se
(4,993 posts)is that the "outspoken conservative" business owner contributes (monetarily) to conservative causes. Many people (on both sides of the aisle) are strongly outspoken but rarely, if ever, crack open their wallets or checkbooks to financially support their cause.
personally, I couldn't care less which side of the aisle a person (or their business) comes down on. I evaluate using (or not) a business based upon how they treat their customers and the quality of their products/services.
There are many many more factors that influence me than just politics.
Bake
(21,977 posts)And I may NOT do so for quite a while....
Maybe he'll get the message, maybe not. Meanwhile, I'm getting great pizza from a local shop here in Louisville!
Bake
DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)period.
Why support their shit?
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)and lots of local ones too.
And please don't think gotcha works with me.
I boycott Home depot, ALL of the pizza companies, ALL of the eatery chains, Wal-MArt, Sam's Club, shall I go on?
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)I mean it's one thing to say "Sam Walton who donates millions to conservative causes doesn't need my money to do it." It's another thing, perhaps, when it's your local barber shop or auto mechanic who has Rush on when you go in.
Bryant
DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)and I tell them I will not be back and neither will my friends.....
I am VOCALLY anti-Reich wing.
Fuck Home Depot, Darden Restaurants, all of them....
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)MyshkinCommaPrince
(611 posts)Here in Tinyville, Kentuckiana, almost everyone seems to vote RW. Very likely any given business is run or managed by someone whose political views would trouble me greatly. Meanwhile, one still must eat and stuff. I don't eat the Papa John's pizzas these days, unless someone else has already bought them (they're popular at family gatherings). Beyond that, options for protest through selective shopping are kind of limited.
In general, though, I think situations of this sort need to be considered separately as each case comes up. Our fellow citizens, even the hateful whackadoodles, have a right to their political opinions and ideals as much as we do.
On the other hand, maybe I'm just trying to rationalize the fact that a dearth of options forces me to shop at the local Wam-Lart more frequently than I'd like.
demwing
(16,916 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Period.
LaydeeBug
(10,291 posts)I care less about their personal political views than I do about the cost and quality of their product. I'm not going to someone I agree with who has in my opinion far less quality just because of their politics.
Lone_Star_Dem
(28,158 posts)If they do have other options why not exercise them? There's no reason to pad the pockets of hate spewing jerks if we can avoid it.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)who supports today's version of the republican party I wouldn't patronize their business. But it's not about morals. It's because I don't want to give my hard earned cash to an asshole who supports policies that would decimate the economy, leave the elderly to starve, children uninsured, policies that deny climate change and seek to deny women the right to make their own medical decisions etc etc.
Smart businessmen keep their politics and religion to themselves. Otherwise they invite half the population to boycott their business.