Courtesy of statehornet.com
Folks in the business world sometimes survive the political one by appeasing both sides of the aisle. When I sought corporate contributions for my campaigns, I wasn’t surprised to learn my opponent had left some office with a check before me. I felt no ill-will. I usually left with a check, too.
I understand why someone in business has no desire to make enemies. As a writer, my goal is to sell books. Each blog I write about abortion or religion costs me.
Of course, the internet makes it hard for anyone to hide in the shadows these days. While businesses collect data on consumers, socially conscious non-profits collect data on companies. Monsanto, Nettle’s, Hobby Lobby and Coors have suffered black eyes as a result.
Citi Corp and Bank of America have tried to do better. They wrote policies against doing business with companies that sell fire arms. They assumed what’s good for kids is good for business. (“Banks Face Republican Gun Blowback,” by Robert Schmidt and Polly Mosendz, Bloomberg Businessweek, May 7, 2018, pg.38.) They were wrong. The ink was barely dry on the memos before some members Congressmen cried foul. Representative Todd Rotika (R ) has asked the General Services Administration to cancel its contract with Citi. “This flagrant disregard for American Citizens and their God-given Second Amendment rights cannot be tolerated.” (Ibid, pg. 38.) Other legislators raised similar complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the SEC. (Ibid, pg. 39.)
Frankly, the high moral ground of these politicians gives me a nose bleed. No one believes a word of their outrage, not even those who agree with them. What these lawmakers oppose is a threat to their campaign contributions. What they fear is the NRA. Political hypocrisy makes the corporate one seem tame.
What are we to say about a nation where adult leadership has failed and must rely upon the integrity of its children? In the gun debate, only the young survivors — those who have raised their voices to remind us of the many stilled by a bullet has stilled — are the voices that ring true.
