May 5, 2012
A good boycott
By David Giffey
Before ALEC there were consumer boycotts. With resuscitation from consumers, boycotts are likely to outlive even the American Legislative Exchange Council.
A reason to support consumer boycotts has to do with money: They are free or, better yet, they might lead to savings when we realize we don’t need certain products produced by objectionable corporations. Well-organized boycotts are powerful tools against private for-profit corporations whose disinformation practices “cause injustices in the global economy [and pollute] our physical or mental commons.” This quote is taken from Adbusters, a non-profit magazine published in Vancouver and loaded with provocative ideas about social activism.
In a nutshell, there’s nothing like bad press and the threat of reduced profits to inspire Coca Cola Co., McDonald’s Corp., and Kraft Foods Inc. to sever ties with ALEC. They did so after ALEC and the NRA came under increased scrutiny for pushing “Stand Your Ground” laws in states like Florida and Wisconsin to allow individuals to use deadly force if they feel threatened.
If discerning consumers acting together can’t bring selected corporations to their knees, it’s because corporations don’t have knees, no matter what body parts they have been granted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Corporations don’t have knees, but they have bank accounts.
It took pressure from groups like Color of Change and Madison's Center for Media and Democracy, creators of ALEC Exposed, before some of the Fortune 500 groups split with ALEC. The pressure is mounting with news that the political ethics watchdog Common Cause filed a complaint on April 23, asking the IRS to collect back taxes and penalties because ALEC violates tax exempt status when it lobbies state legislators.
An Ohio Republican state senator, Bill Seitz, is an ALEC board member and was quoted in the New York Times whining about opponents being jealous because “they don’t have a comparable group that is as effective as ALEC in enacting policies into law.”
Whatever else Seitz meant, his words should put to rest once and for all any argument that ALEC is neutralized by rich liberals or wealthy unions or deep pockets in the Democratic Party. One must wonder if the new ALEC scandals could cause the Koch brothers and Grover Norquist to regroup.
post a letter about this blog »
You can bet your boots that these companies would still be funding ALEC but for their public disclosure. I try to avoid buying products from companies that consistently work against my interests like Johnsonville brats (WMC). Klements are great and they sponsor sausage races.
Some patented products are unavoidable. Still it it sometimes difficult to know which products use money from my purchases to undermine my interests.
-nonheroicvet | Disgusted, WI | May 6, 2012
Among those on the list of ALEC contributors is UPS. Isn't it ironic that UPS employs thousands of Teamsters. I wonder if they noticed that their employer is spending cash to support ALEC's union busting aims.
-blurondo | Milwaukee, WI | May 6, 2012
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004