# How much do you care about the politics of companies you do business with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816 "2012-04-24T16:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/41 "2012-04-25T16:02:04Z")
As long as the politics aren’t super extreme, I generally don’t care. As far as I’m concerned, I have my political beliefs and other people (even business owners) are allowed to have theirs. (Granted, I’m an independent, with a handful of issues where I skew strongly left or right, so finding a business that matched my politics exactly would be pretty tough.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/42 "2012-04-25T16:10:55Z")
Like several posters above, I vote with my wallet whenever it is convenient for me to do so. A superior product will sometimes outweigh my dislike of what a business supports. Sometimes. I will ignore Bible verses on my soda cup because a Double-Double is worth it. But if a company openly supports or promotes Scientology I won’t do business with them in any fashion if it is at all possible. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/43 "2012-04-25T16:30:58Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Seed catalogs, really? You never heard of Burpee? Is this an indictment of Burpee’s politics, or a suggestion that I shop there? I haven’t bought anything from them in many years (limited, dull selection), so even if they were fantastic from a moral/political perspective, I’d go elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/44 "2012-04-25T17:50:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Is this an indictment of Burpee’s politics, or a suggestion that I shop there? > > I haven’t bought anything from them in many years (limited, dull selection), so even if they were fantastic from a moral/political perspective, I’d go elsewhere. I think you would find they are not really limited or dull in selection if you gave them another try. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/45 "2012-04-26T11:54:47Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Not an easy task. When melamine laced dog food killed some friends’ dogs, I made a conscious effort to buy nothing from China. For certain things it was impossible. It’s a different thread in itself (the challenge of buying stuff that’s _not_ made in China), but yes, you’re right - there are some things where you _can’t_ get a locally-made product anymore. Most electronics spring to mind, for a start. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/46 "2012-04-26T12:23:06Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What’s wrong with GM? Not a big fan of their bailout. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/47 "2012-04-26T12:36:36Z")
I am not a boycotter. About the closest I come is I won’t go to a Citgo if there are other options. For the most part I don’t pay attention to a company’s politics. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/48 "2012-04-26T19:36:05Z")
> [@DeepLiquid](#): > > Places that espouse views that actively try to hurt me and mine don’t get a penny from me. Places that simply have a different view, I’ll continue to patronize until they cross the line. Since in my ideal world, people would allow me to have my own views, I can’t very well shun businesses for having theirs. But I draw the line when those view or affiliations involve discrimination or hurting others. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816/49 "2012-04-26T19:49:22Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I am not a boycotter. About the closest I come is I won’t go to a Citgo if there are other options. For the most part I don’t pay attention to a company’s politics. That’s my biggest boycott target, too. Although sometimes there is no other option or I start to fill up before I realize where I am at. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-care-about-the-politics-of-companies-you-do-business-with/619816.md?page=2)