After reading AAA's foolish thread,"Dick's Sporting Goods Gives Middle Finger To Customers," I thought it would be appropriate to show what real overreach looks like: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/business/delta-nra-georgia.html Georgia Passes Bill That Stings Delta Over N.R.A. Position ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers approved a bill on Thursday that stripped out a tax break proposal highly coveted by Delta Air Lines — the most stinging punishment that America’s pro-gun forces have leveled so far on one of the many corporations recalibrating their positions on firearms after the Florida high school massacre. The $50 million sales tax exemption on jet fuel that was sought by Delta, one of Georgia’s biggest employers, had been included in a broader tax-relief bill. But this week, a number of Georgia Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, sought to remove the perk as retribution for Delta’s decision to end a promotional discount for members of the National Rifle Association. Delta, in announcing the policy change, said it was trying to remain “neutral” in a national gun debate that has been rekindled by a gunman’s attack at a school in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead. A number of other major American companies, including the car rental company Hertz and MetLife insurance, have also ended relationships with the N.R.A. since the shooting on Feb. 14. On Thursday, the Georgia Senate overwhelmingly approved a version of the bill without the jet-fuel tax break. The House, which had already approved a version of the bill, also approved the change. Both houses are controlled by Republicans. The legislation now goes to the desk of the Republican governor, Nathan Deal, who has pledged to sign it into law. But Mr. Deal is a supporter of the jet-fuel tax break, and he said he would sign the bill only because it also included a significant reduction in personal and corporate tax rates. In a sign of the gulf that has opened between gun-rights purists and Republicans with a more pro-business bent, Mr. Deal this week appeared to chastise fellow Republicans who sought to punish Delta, and thus potentially harm Georgia’s business-friendly reputation. “Ours is a welcoming state — the epitome of ‘Southern Hospitality,’” said Mr. Deal, who will leave office because of term limits early next year. “We were not elected to give the late-night talk show hosts fodder for their monologues or to act with the type of immaturity that has caused so many in our society to have a cynical view of politics.” In addition to being one of Georgia’s biggest employers, Delta is the economic engine of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the busiest airport in the world and a bragging point in the city’s claim to national and even international stature. The divisions over gun control are stark in Georgia, where Mr. Cagle is among a handful of Republicans who are seeking to be the next governor. They are particularly eager to make an impression among the hard-right conservatives who will have a big voice in the Republican primary in May. Mr. Cagle, the presumptive front-runner in the governor’s race, presides over the State Senate, and his threat on Monday to kill the tax break was interpreted here as a way to protect his right flank from his Republican rivals. “I think that obviously Delta is free to make any decision that they want to,” Mr. Cagle said during an appearance on “Fox and Friends” this week. He added that Delta “chose to single out the N.R.A. and their membership, law-abiding gun owners, and I don’t think that’s right.” Delta announced on Saturday that it was ending a discount for N.R.A. members traveling to the association’s annual convention. Other Republican candidates for governor were also eager to weigh in in favor of rescinding the tax break. Secretary of State Brian Kemp said lawmakers should reject the perk to airlines and instead focus on creating a sales tax holiday for buyers of guns, ammunition, holsters and safes where guns can be stored. On the floor of the Senate on Thursday, Senator Michael Williams, another Republican candidate for governor, praised his fellow lawmakers for stripping the tax exemption, saying they “stood strong” in the face of pressure from liberals, the media and big business. Mr. Deal has said he was “committed to finding a pathway forward for the elimination of sales tax on jet fuel, which is nonnegotiable.” But the political reality seems to leave him with few options. Democrats have argued that the attack on Delta, which did not comment Thursday, could harm the ability to attract new businesses, chief among them Amazon. The online retailer named metropolitan Atlanta as one possible location for its new headquarters. “Unfortunately, we’re looking at political gamesmanship, and trying to send ultraconservative messages for the Republican primary,” said Senator Steve Henson, the minority leader. “I think it does not enhance our chances to get Amazon.”
Government should never, ever be used to penalize the commercial choices of private/public companies. Period. However, it is yet another example of how a company wading into political issues should just keep quiet and run their business.
No, I think companies should endeavor to be good corporate citizens and show a moral conscience. That's what leadership is about. You can then either patronize them or not, depending on your preference. The Georgia initiative is an outrageous frontal assault on the First Amendment. Period.
I know you disagree, we've had this argument before. I get your point, but the primary and really only true responsibility of the senior management is to look after shareholder wealth. That's it. Anything else is a "nice to have". There are many other topics in which to push corporate citizenship that are safe zones. Equal pay. Environmentally friendly. etc. Getting involved in a highly charged topic only ends up with negative effects. This is proof of that. Even without such horrid government overreach, the risk of current customers being offended and choosing an alternative (where one exists) is considerably greater than the potential benefit someone who likes the company's stance will suddenly change their life to go and acquire that product or service. Do you think the shareholders of Delta will not act because they'll want to stand in solidarity? Or is it more likely they will abandon the investment because of the heightened risk?
I think good corporate governance considers the interests of all of a company's stakeholders and not only its shareholders. I won't get all starry-eyed about it, but at some point it becomes more than just the bottom line. In any event, perhaps they see the long game better than you do. If not, then they may pay for their "indulgence." Vote with your feet, as I'm sure others will do, one way or the other.
The reality is that the majority of US citizens support what they are doing. NRA membership is just 1.1% (maybe) and is itself a secretive private company. It is a good business decision to take a principled stand, I know people in Ireland who still shop at one supermarket as much as they can because in the 80s, they were the first to boycott South African fruit in protest of apartheid. Best promotion ever for that firm. And no, the US will not collapse because of the NRA (a private gun industry lobbying company in large part) getting put in it's place.