Fast on the Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision, several Minnesota companies contributed large sums of money to an organization, MN Forward, that supports the gubernatorial candidacy of Tom Emmer. Emmer thinks that the people who serve tables in restaurants make $100,000 a year. He is a social Darwinist who doesn't believe in Darwin.
Several big Minnesota companies contributed to Emmer, they include Best Buy and Target.
My wife and I shop at both these stores and decided that we could no longer give them our business. I notified both companies either by phone or email. The following is the interaction that I've had with Best Buy:
My email notifying Best Buy that I would not be shopping at there anymore:
I am a long-time customer of Best Buy and until recently a happy camper. However, I am mystified why Best Buy would support a regressive candidate for Governor as Tom Emmer. Emmer's stance on schools, fair wages, the GLBT community, general mean spiritedness, and much more makes him the last person that Minnesota needs to weather these hard times. I am forced to believe that the leadership at Best Buy has no regard for the well-being of the people of Minnesota or the U.S. For that reason I am boycotting Best Buy until the company public apologizes for supporting Emmer. In addition, Best Buy should pledge to stop any further meddling in Minnesota's political process through vehicles opened up via the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. Sincerely,Les Phillips
Best Buy's Response:
Hello Leslie,
With global operations headquartered in MN, Best Buy has a strong interest and stake in the success of MN's business climate. MN Forward is an important opportunity to support candidates with policies that will encourage job creation and economic growth as the state and nation work to foster an economic recovery.
We sincerely appreciate and understand the concerns raised regarding the governor's race. Best Buy does not support candidates or campaigns based on party affiliation, but rather based on their support of issues important to the company and retail industry. The reality is candidates across the political spectrum have a lot of different positions on a lot of different issues - and Best Buy may not necessarily agree with all those positions - but from a jobs and economic perspective, Best Buy joined other MN businesses in supporting the objectives of MN Forward. Consistent with Best Buy values, we also believe our employees, shareholders and customers have a right to know how Best Buy engages politically which is why Best Buy's political activity policy and annual report is available on our Web site at ***bby.com <http://***bby.com>
Please be assured Best Buy remains completely committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in which employees are encouraged to bring their whole self to work. For the past six years Best Buy has received a perfect 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index recognizing our commitment to LGBT workplace equality. In addition, Best Buy supports policies and organizations committed to diversity and has worked closely with Best Buy PRIDE to support issues including working with the Human Rights Campaign and other businesses in advocating for the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
Sincerely,
Paula
Best Buy Customer Care Team
My response to Best Buy:
Dear Paula,
Thank you for your quick response.
I am disappointed in the position that Best Buy has taken. It is short-sighted. Paula, the rationale that Best Buy's management uses to justify supporting Tom Emmer, because he supports business is nonsense and an insult to me, you, and every Minnesotan.
As an employee, you must be aware of how tenuous your economic position is and that Best Buy would let you go in a heartbeat if any economic advantage could be gained for the company. At which point you and your family would probably be facing economic stress.
Tom Emmer is insulated by his dogma from the everyday realities that face most Minnesotans. He would destroy the social fabric of this state -- something that has been woven together over many generations by both Democrats and Republicans. It has only been in the last 30-40 years that the selfish, short-sighted policies of current day Republican Party and Tea Party have taken hold in Minnesota.
American democracy is collapsing under the attack of some corporations that are looking to expand their power and profits at the cost of individual, living and breathing, people.
My wife and I have stopped shopping at Best Buy and will not return until Best Buy publicly reverses its position concerning Tom Emmer AND pledges to not use the Citizens United decision to support ANY political candidate - regardless of party or philosophy.
Paula, it is up to all of us to resist the takeover of our society a few wealthy and selfish people. This is the time that requires that we join together with all of our fellow citizens regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or heritage. We must stand united against corporatist actions, otherwise we will all become 21st century serfs.
Be wary of any group that says that powerless people are the problem. Our society and we as a people will be judged by how we meet these challenges and continue to protect those that are poor, sick, young, old, vulnerable and dispossessed.
This is the time when we must invest in the future not turn our backs on it. Now is the time to make education not just affordable but free. The only limit to a person's education should be their own abilities.
Now is the time to provide universal health care to every person in the U.S. Health is not a privilege that must be purchased. Look around you, fewer and fewer people can afford health care. And the more sick people we have, the greater risk of disease for everyone else. Not to mention the increased cost of health services to those who can still buy care.
How to pay for all this?
Cut the Department of Defense budget by 50%. Even then, we'd still spend more on weapons than any other nation on the planet.
Cut Intelligence and Homeland Security budgets by 66%. There is a very good argument to be made that we are only marginally safer today than right after 9/11. We have squandered hundreds of billions of dollars and only destroyed our own freedoms.
Sincerely,
Les Phillips
We are at a crossroads and time is very short.
Minnesotans and people all over the U.S. must stand up now. First by boycotting Best Buy and Target. Then by actively supporting elected officials and candidates that will fight to take back our freedoms from the corporations.
In addition, in Minnesota we have a primary election on August 10. The Republicans have already picked Emmer as their man. The independents have selected Tom Horner, a migratory Republican, and the Democrats, true to form, have a three-way fight between the endorsed candidate Margret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton who is leading in the polls, and Matt Entenza.
It is critical that Minnesota's Democrats break their long tradition of not showing up for midterm primaries and elections and go to the polls so that the will of the people is really heard.