Howard Schultz CEO SBUX-Boycott Campaign Donations

[pepper112765]

Pretty interesting and novel concept. Wonder how far this will go. Opinions??? (Hope the link works).

www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/opinion/nocera-boycott-campaign-donations.html

[jkapp]

I would love to see everyone follow this concept...of course, it is really a pipe dream. Buying politicians is too lucrative of a business

Instead, I would hope for a reform in that all contributions are to a shared fund that distributes to all candidates equally (with national candidates getting a larger contribution than state or local candidates) - no matter the political affiliation of the politician. This would, in essence, do the same thing as above as a contributor or lobbyist would not be able to donate to a specific person or party. The candidates would still be able to use their own money, of course.

[swamp]

If no one donates to campaigns, wouldnt' that result in just the independently wealthy being able to run for office?

[jkapp]

Aug 16, 2011 9:45:21 GMT -5 swamp said:

If no one donates to campaigns, wouldnt' that result in just the independently wealthy being able to run for office?

And yet that's what we have now anyway...no matter how much is contributed to the "little guy" the wealthy will always have more resources. Which is why, even though we allow specific contributions right now, we have mostly wealthy politicians.

[kadee79]

IF ONLY all would go along with it! That could make a BIG difference!

[swamp]

I think the average person is too busy working to run for office...........

[jkapp]

Aug 16, 2011 9:48:06 GMT -5 swamp said:

I think the average person is too busy working to run for office...........

I like to think the average person has too much work ethic to run for political office...they wouldn't be able to stand the do-nothing workload, slow results, and time-killing speeches that politicians waste their time on. ;D

[billisonboard]

Just thinking: Campaign contributions create jobs for campaign workers, buys air time, creates work for sign makers, etc. In other words, they help stimulate the economy. Will corporations just sit on the cash that they have been using to buy influence?

[Deleted]

Aug 16, 2011 9:34:25 GMT -5 pepper112765 said:

Pretty interesting and novel concept. Wonder how far this will go. Opinions??? (Hope the link works).

www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/opinion/nocera-boycott-campaign-donations.html

Why do I feel like this is like one of those emails that tells people not to buy gas on Thursday to send a message to the oil companies?

[fairlycrazy23]

Aug 16, 2011 11:22:02 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Aug 16, 2011 9:34:25 GMT -5 pepper112765 said:

Pretty interesting and novel concept. Wonder how far this will go. Opinions??? (Hope the link works).

www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/opinion/nocera-boycott-campaign-donations.html

Why do I feel like this is like one of those emails that tells people not to buy gas on Thursday to send a message to the oil companies?

Just don't contribute on Thursday, that will show them

[pepper112765]

It is his rationale, that the only thing that these politicians understand is money (campaign dollars) since most politicians worry about being re-elected (which takes a lot of money), that sight is lost of all else, but getting re-elected. And, we all know that the more one gives, the one more gets since that money is currying the favor of the recipient politician. Money is the motivator in politics and theoretically it really shouldn't be.

If those elected are to do a job, and they are not doing it, then why continue to support them financially? However, the financial contributions of big business, banks and lobbyists are what determines policy in this country.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 16, 2011 9:34:25 GMT -5 pepper112765 said:

Pretty interesting and novel concept. Wonder how far this will go. Opinions??? (Hope the link works).

www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/opinion/nocera-boycott-campaign-donations.html

Better be careful. MicroSoft used to never contribute to political campaigns, and look what happened to them...

Now, MicroSoft plays the game.

United States vs. Microsoft was a set of civil actions filed against Microsoft Corporation pursuant to the Clayton Act, 1913 Section 3 on May 18, 1998 by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and 20 U.S. states.

www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=d000000115

Prior to 1998, the company and its employees gave virtually nothing in terms of political contributions. But when the Justice Department launched an antitrust investigation into the company’s marketing of its popular Windows software, things changed. The company opened a Washington lobbying office, founded a political action committee and soon became one of the most generous political givers in the country. The move eventually galvanized an entire industry, as computer and Internet companies quickly moved to emulate Microsoft’s political savvy. Between 2000 and 2010, Microsoft spent at least $6 million each year on federal lobbying efforts.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

My point is that the politicians have power. And, to paraphrase one of Obama's buddy Andy Stern of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), "If [they] can't use the power of persuasion, [they'll] use the persuasion of power".

[Bluerobin]

I will not donate to incumbents after the debacle of this summer. Time to change horses.