Would You Boycott a Business Because of the Owner's Political Views?

[Pat Mustard]

The owner of a local brewery used social media a few days ago to call people who marched in the women's march on Saturday "pieces of garbage". Now there is a backlash and today on the news, it was reported that minority owners of the brewery have pulled out. There are also other businesses in town that will no longer sell this brewer's products.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/01/2...-by-owner/

Would you support a boycott of a business because of the owner's political views? I would and there are businesses that I don't spend my money in, like Hobby Lobby and a local ice cream parlor chain that isn't shy about telling everyone their political views. I'll take my hard-earned dollars elsewhere.

They certainly have the right to say what they wish but they're not entitled to be protected from any backlash or from hearing opposing points of view.

My attitude is, "hey, you want to piss off your customer base, I'm not going to stop you".

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Of course I would, and have done. I vote with my wallet much more often then I vote at a polling place.

Boru

[abaris]

Would you support a boycott of a business because of the owner's political views?

Boycott is such a strong word. There has been some restaurant where I don't go anymore. Because of the openly racist comments being made. However, boycott wasn't at the forefront of my mind. Rather the fact that I certainly can't sit idly by while someone says stuff like that. It's not the right place for me. I don't actively look for political views though. Most keep it to themselves anyway.

[popeyespappy]

If I were to boycott all businesses who's owners didn't share my political views, I'd be boycotting all of them. Considering my political views don't fit into a box.

But even if I was a typical liberal or a typical conservative with all the respective views, I still wouldn't boycott businesses who's owners views weren't the same as mine.

Really? You'd use Joe's plumbing service even if you knew Joe was a vocal advocate for the legalization of child pornography? If not then how is that different than spending your money at a store with an institutionalized policy of discrimination against blacks or gays and lesbians?

[brewer]

Yep, I stop, or never start, patronizing businesses I don't like and it's often involves more than politics. 

I don't try to get others to jump on the wagon with me. They can determine their sensibilities.

[Crossless2.0]

Yes. There are certain businesses that will never see a dime from me.

[flagbears]

Honestly, given that one of my favorite filmmakers is a convicted child rapist, it may be more than a bit hypocritical for me to boycott a company solely on the grounds of dodgy political views held by the owners. Shortly after the height of the Chick-Fil-A Scandal, I decided to try to check it out to see if its chickenburgers at least lived up to the hype, and went downtown just to eat at their place on the Magnificent Mile. It was actually quite good. Apparently, they use Peanut oil for their frying and I have since switched from canola to peanut oil for all my oil-based cooking needs because of it. Their chickenburgers were, at any rate, better than McDonald's, and I wish more chains used waffle fries. And the staff was actually a lot nicer than a fast food worker has any right to be. Overall, it's a good restaurant, and if it were in closer locations [remember that that Magnificent Mile location is actually the second closest to me, and the most convenient to get to], I might go again, and if it weren't owned by bigoted SOBs, I certainly would.

So, long story short, the answer is not really, unless there's other reasons to hate them.

Possibly, as long as his views aren't a threat to the citizens of a nation. But if his views is what keeps the nation succeeding, perhaps, as a first world country, then why boycott ? No point in boycotting.

[flagbears]

Edit (due to previously deleted post):

If the business owner's political views doesn't do harm to others, then there is no point boycotting. If the business is an influential thing to keeping the country successful, as a first world country, then there's no point of boycotting.

But, morality comes to play, if morals are crossed, then yeah......probably boycott.

[Ravenshire]

I don't care what views people hold, I care about the manner by which they express them.  Piss me off with your actions, and my dollars go elsewhere.

This exactly.

I don't care that Hobby Lobby ownership are a bunch of misogynistic bastards. I care that they made it company policy. I don't care that Chick-Fil-A ownership are a bunch of homophobic fuck-wits. I care that they want to make it company policy.

It's their actions, not their thoughts, views or beliefs that most care about and will get them boycotted. Being the parent of a bi daughter, I won't even eat Chick-Fil-A when it's catered at work for lunch and learns.

[Catholic_Lady]

If I were to boycott all businesses who's owners didn't share my political views, I'd be boycotting all of them. Considering my political views don't fit into a box.

But even if I was a typical liberal or a typical conservative with all the respective views, I still wouldn't boycott businesses who's owners views weren't the same as mine.

Really? You'd use Joe's plumbing service even if you knew Joe was a vocal advocate for the legalization of child pornography? If not then how is that different than spending your money at a store with an institutionalized policy of discrimination against blacks or gays and lesbians?

In something extreme like that I would. But I was answering realistically, and the legalization of child porn isn't what people are divided on politically right now. Right now it's more things like the death penalty, gay marriage, abortion, health care, taxes, immigration, support for a particular candidate, etc. I would not boycott a business who had a different view than myself on any of those topics. If so, I'd be boycotting everyone.