nice piece in current rolling stone magazine detailing some of romney fat-cat funders:

[www.rollingstone.com]

some obvious:

all men

all white

too many from texas!

and, i'm no longer buying any new balance products because i do not agree with where/how they support republican candidate/doctrines.

ymmv

be well.

rob



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2012 10:26AM by robfilms.

Bummer. I just bought a pair of NB shoes.

---

[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

Quote
Uncle Wig
Bummer. I just bought a pair of NB shoes.

Me too. My feet don't care about their politics.

But.. Steve Jobs ! They get a bye because Saint Steve wore them..

Quote
Pops

Quote
Uncle Wig
Bummer. I just bought a pair of NB shoes.

Me too. My feet don't care about their politics.

well pops, some folks say we all vote with our feet!

that said, i do make a concerted effort to support/not support financially companies i agree/disagree with.

if not, i l abandon any leverage that my dollars afford me.

ymmv

be well.

rob

The big question is... who else does widths?

NB for those of us with fat feet.

Quote
Pops

Quote
Uncle Wig
Bummer. I just bought a pair of NB shoes.

Me too. My feet don't care about their politics.

What I meant was: I bought a pair a few months ago before I learned this. I might have reconsidered.

---

[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

Rob,

I understand your position but it begs a couple of questions... Did New Balance make the donation or did a private individual make it? Apparently, it was a private donation made by a private individual who just happens to be the chairman of New Balance.

The company posted a statement about the donation on its Facebook page. Since I refuse to use Facebook, I had to find a copy of it elsewhere. Here is a link:

[unicornbooty.com]

Seems to me New Balance didn't have anything to do with the donation. The article piqued my curiosity so I searched to see what New Balance has donated to/done/etc when it comes to philanthropy and charitable work. They've done quite a bit and, based on my quick glance, for good causes.

[www.newbalance.com]

[ww5.komen.org]

Based on this, I'll still purchase New Balance products if they are the best for the job.

Robert



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2012 02:41PM by Robert M.

Quote
Bill in NC
NB for those of us with fat feet.

I refer to them as "Duck Feet". Sounds better.

Quote

I understand your position but it begs a couple of questions... Did New Balance make the donation or did a private individual make it? Apparently, it was a private donation made by a private individual who just happens to be the chairman of New Balance.

That private individual derives the means to fund right wing politics from his ownership interest in New Balance. If a person finds these politics antithetical to their own beliefs, it is quite apropriate to boycott New Balance products.

Nice find Rob.

August,

Keep in mind, I didn't tell him stop boycotting New Balance products. If he wants to boycott New Balance because of this, more power to him. If anything, I should have said the subject of the thread is incorrect because the donation didn't come from New Balance. FWIW, I don't hold New Balance responsible for what one of its employees does with his/her private money and/or what someone does with money he/she has earned with his/her ownership stake in New Balance. If I did that, I'd be boycotting a countless number of companies. It'd be different if New Balance itself made the donation.

Robert



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2012 03:09PM by Robert M.

robert m-

i appreciate the thoughtful reply.

let's just say i have a much more difficult time distinguishing the actions of a politically minded ceo.

a corporation has a given mindset and it is often reflected by the corporate elder's stated (and unstated) goals and methods.

jim davis has been the ceo of new balance since 1972. he IS new balance. jim davis has been using his money to back romney since mitt's introduction into politics.

of course, what jim davis wants to do with his money is his privilege.

and by extension, of course, what i want to do with my money is not give it to jim davis who will fund romney's presidential ambitions which i find dangerous and not in the best interests of most americans (or at least 99% of them!).

romney = a.s.o.p. (another son of privilege)

i thought the rolling stone article interesting because of the sameness of the big money men behind the romney campaign.

lastly, considering the recent political debacle that susan komen "race for the cure" has caused, i'm not real sure i would us new balance's financial support as a view towards their altruism.

again, thanks for the thoughtful response.

ymmv

be well.

rob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2012 03:12PM by robfilms.

I'm not big on boycotting, especially if it spites my face, but to me the CEO/president = the company.

I wear vibram five fingers, which are Italian. So if they are funding politicians, I at least hope it's the porn stars.

Quote
cbelt3

Quote
Bill in NC
NB for those of us with fat feet.

I refer to them as "Duck Feet". Sounds better.

These are Duck Feet:



I have worn them for my 30+ year surfing career; their Super Extra Large size is the only ones that fit me...

I guess NBs are off my shopping list. I wonder who Red Wing support?

=wr=

Buy any of the following?

Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft ‘n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity Fair napkins
Zee napkins
Georgia-Pacific paper products and envelopes

All Georgia-Pacific lumber and building products, including:
Dense Armor Drywall and Decking
ToughArmor Gypsum board
Georgia pacific Plytanium Plywood
Flexrock
Densglass sheathing
G/P Industrial plasters (some products used by a lot of crafters)
FibreStrong Rim board
G/P Lam board
Blue Ribbon OSB Rated Sheathing
Blue Ribbon Sub-floor
DryGuard Enhanced OSB
Nautilus Wall Sheathing
Thermostat OSB Radiant Barrier Sheathing
Broadspan Engineered Wood Products
XJ 85 I-Joists
FireDefender Banded Cores
FireDefender FS
FireDefender Mineral Core
Hardboard and Thin MDF including Auto Hardboard,
Perforated Hardboard and Thin MDF
Wood Fiberboard
Commercial Roof Fiberboard
Hushboard Sound Deadening Board
Regular Fiberboard Sheathing
Structural Fiberboard Sheathing

INVISTA Products:
COMFOREL® fiberfill
COOLMAX® fabric
CORDURA® fabric
DACRON® fiber
POLYSHIELD® resin
SOLARMAX® fabric
SOMERELLE® bedding products
STAINMASTER® carpet
SUPPLEX® fabric
TACTEL® fiber
TACTESSE® carpet fiber
TERATE® polyols
TERATHANE® polyether glycol
THERMOLITE® fabric
PHENREZ® resin
POLARGUARD® fiber and
LYCRA® fiber

Congratulations, you're supporting the Koch brothers.

---

Comedy Central: Best news channel that isn't a news channel.

Fox News: Best comedy channel that isn't a comedy channel.

Quote
Spock
LYCRA® fiber

Congratulations, you're supporting the Koch brothers.

OH NOEZ! MY STRETCHY UNDERPANTS!?!?

---

rj
AKA
Vreemac, Moth of the Future

Quote
Spock
Buy any of the following?

Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft ‘n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity Fair napkins
Zee napkins
Georgia-Pacific paper products and envelopes

All Georgia-Pacific lumber and building products, including:
Dense Armor Drywall and Decking
ToughArmor Gypsum board
Georgia pacific Plytanium Plywood
Flexrock
Densglass sheathing
G/P Industrial plasters (some products used by a lot of crafters)
FibreStrong Rim board
G/P Lam board
Blue Ribbon OSB Rated Sheathing
Blue Ribbon Sub-floor
DryGuard Enhanced OSB
Nautilus Wall Sheathing
Thermostat OSB Radiant Barrier Sheathing
Broadspan Engineered Wood Products
XJ 85 I-Joists
FireDefender Banded Cores
FireDefender FS
FireDefender Mineral Core
Hardboard and Thin MDF including Auto Hardboard,
Perforated Hardboard and Thin MDF
Wood Fiberboard
Commercial Roof Fiberboard
Hushboard Sound Deadening Board
Regular Fiberboard Sheathing
Structural Fiberboard Sheathing

INVISTA Products:
COMFOREL® fiberfill
COOLMAX® fabric
CORDURA® fabric
DACRON® fiber
POLYSHIELD® resin
SOLARMAX® fabric
SOMERELLE® bedding products
STAINMASTER® carpet
SUPPLEX® fabric
TACTEL® fiber
TACTESSE® carpet fiber
TERATE® polyols
TERATHANE® polyether glycol
THERMOLITE® fabric
PHENREZ® resin
POLARGUARD® fiber and
LYCRA® fiber

Congratulations, you're supporting the Koch brothers.

spock-

thanks for the list.

i find that kind of information helpful.

most of the above products have alternatives in the marketplace.

ymmv

be well.

rob

Rob,

Spock is pointing out exactly what I meant in one of my posts. If you stop using the products in the list provided by Spock, you'd have to evaluate the donations and such provided by the alternative and/or its owners and top brass. It gets to the point of diminishing returns. At some point, you will buy and/or use a product produced or sold by a company that has supported a cause that disagrees with your beliefs. It's unavoidable. Reducible but unavoidable overall.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2012 08:46AM by Robert M.

Quote
Robert M
Rob,

Spock is pointing out exactly what I meant in one of my posts. If you stop using the products in the list provided by Spock, you'd have to evaluate the donations and such provided by the alternative and/or its owners and top brass. It gets to the point of diminishing returns. At some point, you will buy and/or use a product produced or sold by a company that has supported a cause that disagrees with your beliefs. It's unavoidable. Reducible but unavoidable overall.

Robert

This is quite true, Robert, but for many people ethical behavior isn't black or white - it's a matter of good faith efforts to do more good than harm. Certainly in a capitalist consumer society it's hard to avoid all moral turpitude in our consumption habits, but it is possible to do 'better' than an unreflective person would. There certainly is a point of diminishing returns, after which only a deeply committed ideologue finds value. But dismissing the whole enterprise out of hand because of the unattainable perfect can certainly be the enemy of the good...

---

rj
AKA
Vreemac, Moth of the Future




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2012 09:01AM by rjmacs.

rj,

Agreed. That's why I don't dismiss Rob's concern out of hand. He is right to be concerned and take a course of action that he feels is appropriate if this donation was for a cause that goes against his beliefs. That's why I said it's unavoidable. Reducible but unavoidable overall.

Robert

Quote
Robert M
rj,

Agreed. That's why I don't dismiss Rob's concern out of hand. He is right to be concerned and take a course of action that he feels is appropriate if this donation was for a cause that goes against his beliefs. That's why I said it's unavoidable. Reducible but unavoidable overall.

Robert

Yeah - personally, i find it heartening when people are willing to make the effort. It reminds me that we are capable of acting outside of our narrow selfish interests, if we so choose.

---

rj
AKA
Vreemac, Moth of the Future

Quote
Bill in NC
NB for those of us with fat feet.

and narrow feet ;-)

---

Grateful11

Hi everyone,

Just for giggles, I searched to see if Apple has provided any political contributions. I found the following website:

[www.campaignmoney.com]

And Apple's listing:

[www.campaignmoney.com]

Very interesting.

Robert

What I found interesting was that, as far as I could tell from a somewhat unreadable website, Apple's contributions measured 800 grand over many years. I think that illustrates the extraordinary actions of NB's CEO, with his 500 grand one off to a Super Pac, and the need to treat NB in extraordinary fashion.

Agust,

I delved into the list a bit more deeply. Those are contributions made by lots and lots of Apple employees. Think any one of them can afford to give $500K to a SuperPac at once? Not likely. So, of course the amount of donations isn't going reach the level that someone with a tremendous amount of money at his/her disposal. No need to treat NB the company any differently than Apple as far as I'm concerned.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2012 05:39PM by Robert M.