Spoke truth to power today.

[mac56]

Might get in trouble for it.

The radio station I work at is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce. The C of C director sent out a mass mailing to all members, forwarded to her by the state Asociation of Chambers of Commerce(?). It basically was a slam job on the Democrats in our state Senate, who are proposing tax increases to improve education and infrastructure. Badly needed after the neglect of the Republican Governor and House the past several years.

The C of C director called me on some other business. We took care of that, then I nicely told her that I was a bit troubled by her "astroturf" mailing. Assured her that I was speaking not as a station employee, but as a private citizen, but of course I wouldn't have seen her mailing if I didn't work here. Told her that there are lots of Democrats in business here in our area, and many of them may feel like I do - that the Dems in the Senate wouldn't have to take these steps if the Repubs hadn't dropped the ball the past four years.

She hemmed and hawed, said she's "not a political person", and that she just sent along what the state association told her to. I assured her that I understood that, and could sympathize. But added that she should probably hear this feedback from someone nice like me, rather than someone more confrontational.

Bottom line, I might get in trouble for talking politics on the job. I tried to be nice, but didn't want to let this go unanswered.

Hard to say what's going to happen next. Keep your fingers crossed.

[aquart]

1. Is the CofC allowed to be a partisan political organization?

What do its bylaws say? If the CofC has violated its own rules, what are the penalties? Are civic organizations allowed to carry the water for political parties?

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. CoC do it throughout the country regardless of what their bylaws say.

Doesn't make it right, just saying that's what they do.

[Lars39]

2. ~

[mac56]

fixed it somewhat

nm

[Lars39]

7. :^)

[DCKit]

3. THEY started it

Hope this ends reasonably

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Well...your company is a Member and she has a responsibility

to listen to what her members have to say. Unless your boss has some specific policy that you shouldn't be talking with the Chamber, you should be in the clear. SHE is supposed to be working to promote the Membership.

Just to be on the safe side, I'd mention it to my boss as a head's up.

[mac56]

8. done

She (the boss) was cool with it.

[ninkasi]

6. Keeping fingers crossed for you

I feel like you do...Republics slash taxes, schools suffer, the elderly suffer, children suffer, all so that the rich can get richer. It becomes, in my opinion, a case of tax cuts hurting a lot of people who need help, and results in crumbling bridges, overworked sewage systems, and water that may be contaminated, because the water plants are out dated.

When Dems are voted into office, they have to try to restore the social safety net, improve the schools, and play catch-up on all of the neglect caused by Republic greed.