Question about Consumer Activism

[SCDem]

About a month ago I saw an organic mac and cheese box at the grocery store and have started buying this brand more frequently. I got on the web and looked at the web site.... very good with kids, gives scholarships to kids for environmental studies, sends out GO GREEN bumper stickers and other environmental progressive stuff. But then I searched the CEO's contributions in opensecrets.org and he donated to republicans.... not a lot but like the $2,000 max. If they appear to be a very progressive company on every other level other than the CEO's personal contributions should I still do business with them?

[Dob Bole]

1. If they are more progressive than other mac-and-cheese boxes...

I'd say go for it. Might as well support the best company, even if the best isn't great. Especially if you're going to be eating macaroni anyway.

[SCDem]

4. That is what I am thinking

And every other name on the web site I couldn't find donations to either political party so maybe it is just the CEO and no one else.

[GOPisEvil]

2. What's the overall donation pattern?

Maybe his local congresscritter is a republican, and he wants to make sure he has some access.

[SCDem]

3. His pattern looks solidly red

But still it is not at great amounts. Some CEO's of course will give the max of $2000 to their candidate but then also $25,000 or something god awful like that to the RNC and that I did not see. I looked at all the other names that were associated with the company and couldn't find any donations for either side.

I think I'm going to stick with them but it just totally caught me off guard that someone associated with organic farming and natural foods and environmental causes would be supporting Republicans. Maybe it's just a job for him and they feel that he can manage the company better :shrug:

[GOPisEvil]

5. The CEO of Whole Foods is turning redder, too.

Is this guy the founder of the company, or just the hired gun?

[SCDem]

6. He is just the hired gun I think

the founder is Annie Whitley and lives on the farm that produces the stuff.

But why would progressive folks hire a Republican? Are there really no successful democratic CEOs?

[GOPisEvil]

7. I thought that was the product in question.

I love that stuff. Even if the CEO donates to Republicans, they are better than Kraft and the other large corporations. You might try writing to Annie herself. :shrug:

Does he donate to the worst of the Republicans or is it tolerable ones like Chaffee and Dodd?

[SCDem]

8. I was seriously thinking about writing Annie

The Republicans he gave to were :

FORAKER, JOHN M
DAVIS,CA 95616
HOMEGROWN NATURAL FOODS
12/14/2000
$500
Republican National Cmte

FORAKER, JOHN M
NAPA,CA 95449
NAPA VALLEY KITCHENS
9/28/2000
$320
Thompson, Mike

FORAKER, JOHN MR
DAVIS,CA 95616
HOMEGROWN NATURAL FOODS/CEO
3/23/2004
$1,000
Bush, George W

FORAKER, JOHN MR
DAVIS,CA 95616
HOMEGROWN NATURAL FOODS/CEO
5/14/2004
$1,000
Bush, George W

FORAKER, JOHNM MR
DAVIS,CA 95616
HOMEGROWN NATURAL FOODS/CHAIRMAN &
7/2/2002
$500
Republican National Cmte