Costco to conservatives: Get lost

http://www.michaelmbates.com ^ | 2/26/04 | Michael M. Bates

[b-cubed]

This one is a little better.
Try not to use the first ammendment in your arguments. The FA is meant to control the government, not private citizens. Private boycotts don't always work but they help to send messages

[Alberta's Child]

There's nothing about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that is any different from other groups like the Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation, etc.

You have to remember that once a family's fortune has grown so large, the attributes of the original family members who made it that large have pretty much disappeared. As a result, these foundations show many of the attributes of a young adult who has never had to work a day in his life . . . He is literally bored to tears, and therefore has to involve himself in all sorts of "causes" simply to justify his existence (in his own mind).

[Maigrey]

Go there first and ask for your refund. They will record why you are dissatisfied with them, and get your money back for Sam's.

[ZULU]

Thanks for the heads up. Now Costco is in the same category as George Clooney, Walt Disney, Babs Streisand, etc.

[Solson]

dunno. I was replying to someone else who mentioned it. Probably worth a call to your local Sam's club.

[Alberta's Child]

Think of a large foundation as a government bureaucracy. They can't ever "solve" any of the problems they claim to be dealing with, because then they'd be out of business.

At some point in the future, I fully expect that we'll have a massive public ad campaign by MADD, calling on people to contact their elected representatives to vote for a bill in Congress reducing the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.00002% to 0.00001%. Part of that ad campaign, of course, will be a terrible story about a family of five that was killed in a crash by a drunk driver who had a BAC of 0.24%.

[what's up]

I would love to know where more of the CEO's stand on political issues. It's meaningful because these are the men and women leading the world today...and I prefer to support the more capitalistic-minded, rather than socialistic.

John Chambers - CEO Cisco - Supporter of Bush...held fundraisers for him.

Carly Fiorona - CEO Hewlett Packard, I believe is a supporter of Bush.

Michael Dell - CEO Dell - I believe a conservative?

Charles Schwab - CEO Schwab - Conservative.

[Andrewksu]

http://www.costcoscholarshipfund.org/

Joycelyn Elders as their scholarship keynote speaker?

The problem is that the heads of these companies influence the direction of their company. For instance they would support democrats because they are more likely to have chummy relationships with China. While that is good for their bottom dollar, their stockholders, and their customers in the short term, it may not be the best for the country.

These major companies have huge influence over politics and contribute to moral advance or decay. It looks to me that their scholarship fund is a typical lefty give away. All of their keynote speakers are lefty, (not sure about Magic) and Elders is a complete nut. By giving your money to them, you contribute to their ideals and them personally.

I will not stop shopping, I will just shop elsewhere, where politics are more subdued or to my taste. That is everyone's choice, so it can go either way. It is our responsibility to support or not people, ideas, companies, parties, etc that are of good moral, ethical and political worth. If not us, who?

[Andrewksu]

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

It's a little dramatic in this case, but it is necessary to start with the small things and work up. It works the same for ethical decisions of companies with CEO's that lie cheat and steal. If you support ideas, companies, politicians, people that are ethical and moral, then that is what many will strive to be. It's social supply and demand.

[Gabz]

That is very true.

However, when it comes to the RWJF, knowing that the foundation is one of the largest holders of stock in Johnson & Johnson products - I do refuse to buy those products as much as possible.

Does it matter to them in the long run? Of course not. But at least, in this little way, I know that as a smoker, gun owner and beer drinker, I am not contributing anymore than I absolutely have to those who wish to make me into some type of social outcast.

[Gabz]

I'm surprised such hasn't occurred as of yet - RWJF controls MADD now.

[yoe]

I also sent them a letter and had the same response - to date nothing. I also agree that the 'boys' have every right to fund and vote for whomever they choose - but it should not be made a political food fight. They chose and I will too, Sam's here we come.

Mr. Brotman & Mr. Sinegal are among those who look the other way when the torture, killing, maiming, and oppression is not in their back yard. Appeasement is more to their liking and let it be known, their best customer is China. To my way of seeing it, the Bush administration's radical agenda is nothing more than an agenda to protect America and her allies, maintain democracy and promote freedom around the world.

Sinegal says he contributed because of job losses during the Bush administration, the invasion of Iraq and cuts in social spending. Perhaps if Americans were better educated, more jobs would be available to them. I did not know it until recently, but we spend half again the amount on education as we do on defense – an unconscionable waste of taxpayer money that the teacher’s unions must answer to...60% of our high school students are illiterate, low paying jobs are their future as the progressives intend it to be.

[yoe]

Your pictures are just breathtaking! 'An that's saying a lot from a gal raised in the Great Smoky Mountains!

[Katya]

wow...at least you got a response...so far and it's been a few weeks, I've gotten no email reply at all. However, Progressive auto insurance sent me a letter similar in tone to the one you received from costco.

[Doctor Raoul]

Wonder what kind of wages and benefits the people at Costco get?

Bet they don't buy ANYTHING that's produced by jobs that have been "outsourced" overseas.

Yeah, and Bill Clinton told Monica, I promise not to......well, as Hillary would say, "You know".

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[uncitizen]

Demorats in the town of San Ramon (i think), California are working on legislation to keep Walmart and Costco out of their town altogether. To protect unionized grocers of course.

So why all the love for Dems?

[b-cubed]

Here's my letter to Costco on 2/5/2004. I haven't received an answer. You don't suppose they consider me not worth consideration do you?

To Whom it may concern at Costco,

My wife and I have been loyal Costco customers since 1986. Most of our furniture, electronics, music, videos, medicine, cigarettes (before we quit) and many other things were purchased at either the Northridge CA Costco or The Issaquah store. I would guess that, through the years, we've spent well over $50,000 at Costco.

We've always been amazed at the quality of both the employees and the products in the Costco establishment. We've often commented on our hopes that nothing would ever happen to Costco that would hinder our relationship with them.

Well, dangit, it appears something has happened. The Tacoma News Tribune is reporting that "Costco chairman, CEO give $95,000 each to defeat Bush".

That's just the type of thing we were hoping wouldn't happen. Seeing the way the company was run, we would have believed that Costco management had the same capitalist ideals as we, our families and our friends throughout the western United States do. It appears that we were dreadfully wrong.

If the socialists defeat Bush, our country is in for some rough times.

In the mean time, as much as it's going to hurt us (there's no better toilet paper than Kirkland's) we're going to have to say "so-long" to Costco.

ps: A copy of this letter is going to our families and friends throughout the western United States.

[GOP_1900AD]

This is indeed about borders, language and culture. By the time all the Catoites councilling the apolitical approach to spending decisions realize that the very environment which allows their business success has been destroyed, it will be too late. Most Catoites are either ideologues, and are not involved directly in business, or, they are small fish. The big fish toe the Catoite line when convenient, but with tongue in cheek. It is power they want, since they have way more money than is meaningful. The worst thing is hippie billionaires with far left political leanings - a horrible combination of attributes! Anti patriotic enemies of all we care about....

[Mike Bates]

That's a fine letter. Reading it made me wonder how much I've spent there. I checked and it was about $9,000 in the last three years. Obviously, they don't need folks like us.