Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Businesses risking offending customers via political donations?

Per a request on prior post, here's a link to a daily camera story about protesting the Cinemark theater, because the owners donated in support of Prop 8.

My first inclination is that it is bad business practice to support such contentious matters. But I must admit that as a left-wing voter, I would be thrilled if the donation had gone the other way. So upon that realization, I remember something similar that happened locally:

After seeing a Jake Jabs commercial in support of the anti-union measures on the Colorado ballot this year, I decided I would not shop there any more. I think it was a bad business practice, and if he wanted to help the cause without alienating customers, I think he should instead just make the donation (as the Cinemark company did), without appearing and using his name and goodwill to support a political cause.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I boycott Cinemark because it costs $12 to see "Role Models."

Anonymous said...

I'm more offended by the federal government spending money on crap like "Norad Tracks Santa." Aren't there more important things to be spending our taxes on?

Anonymous said...

"Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to Christmas Eve phone calls and emails from children. "

Calm down...Doesn't look like many tax dollars are being spent on this....I'm pretty sure that no real satellites/fighter jets/etc. are being used for this. Its just something fun for kids.

Anonymous said...

you dont get to complain about federal spending until you actually pay taxes, douche

Anonymous said...

I got an mass spam email from someone who was disappointed in the outcome of the election. He looked at the electoral map that is county by county and decided to do something about it. He is only purchasing products from red counties.

I think it's a valid argument. Boycott Jake Jabbs, boycott the movie theater, boycott products in blue counties like that email spammer.

It's a free country still so exercise your 1st amendment rights while you still have them. Of course, after watching what happened to Joe the Plumber, you may not have them very long so boycott early while you can.

Anonymous said...

6:52, it sounds like you are assuming that i am an unemployed, loan-ridden slacker like yourself. some people work through school, ya know?

Anonymous said...

Some people also worked before school.

Anonymous said...

I'm farklempt. Let me give you a topic: two Quiznos founders give the law school a $5 million gift to fund the Schaden Chair in Experiential Learning, which is neither an actual chair, experiential, nor learning.

Also, one could say the money's tainted.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Anonymous said...

I believe you mean verklempt.

Carry on.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to the Schadens and their toasty subs! Seriously, 4:02? The point is to TEACH law students through EXPERIENCE (hence the name experiental learning). Anyway, where's the blog action? The economy is the worst it has been in most law students' lives (no offense NTLSA!)and law firms are cutting jobs and (gasp) bonuses! Let's complain a little more about that, and a little less about "tainted" $5m donations to our school. Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

*yawn*

Anonymous said...

It's easier to criticize than to originate.

Anonymous said...

If a tree falls in a forest, does a bear sh@# in the woods with the pope watching?

Anonymous said...

And what category does the the comment "it's easier to criticize than originate" fall into: criticism or originating? Apparently the lazy critique the lazy...

Anonymous said...

By that logic, a person criticizing a critique of sloth is exponentially lazier.

Anonymous said...

How about a general thread for finals? Or a thread for prof. quotes from this semester?

Anonymous said...

Was anyone impacted by the "day without gays" protest today?

If you didn't hear about the protest, it involved gay people calling in sick throughout the country today to protest the passage of CA prop. 8.