Okay..I'm going to post some links and ask you to read them and let me know your opinions. Today's links will be about ALEC.
Deep breath, this might take a few minutes.
First a couple of links:
http://www.franklincenterhq.org/5152/commentary-progressive-war-on-alec/
http://unitedrepublic.org/alec
http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Legislative_Exchange_Council
http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=10
http://www.progressivebloggers.ca/tag/american-legislative-exchange-council/
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/american-legislative-exchange
http://unitedrepublic.org/alec
Okay, hope I've still got your attention! Now..this is only a little bit of what's out there, but I didn't want to overwhelm you right away! So...the above links are in regards to ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). These would be the folks behind the majority of restrictive (to women and gays most especially) laws that have been passed. Not only recently, but for a lot longer than I care to think about.
Now, I've got to tell you..because I was determined to stay unbiased and discuss what's actually out there, and not just my own opinion, I went in search of anything - ANYTHING - positive I could find about ALEC...I have to be honest...I searched for several hours off and on and found nothing. I couldn't believe it...For almost every other issue, I've found at least one positive thing about the person/place, etc. Not this time. If anyone knows of anything at all that was positive, I'd like to hear about it, because in order for this to remain unbiased, I have to have good and bad information. (Unless there really is nothing.)
So. Onwards. Here's what I get from this: When Big Business gets involved in politics, they're going to serve themselves before they serve anyone else. Their agendas, their biases, their opinions will always come first. But even that confuses me...some of the companies on board with ALEC should be looking out for women. Because their major customer are, in fact, WOMEN. Walmart, for example...Every time I've ever gone to a Walmart, the majority of the shoppers are women. Yet they have a very high ranking in ALEC.
A company I used to work for actually did business with a company on the ALEC list. I found it odd that they were on the list, because every time I dealt with them (mostly the higher-ups), they were all women! Needless to say, I called my former boss and told him...his wife is a feminist as well, and he was appalled to hear that they were on the list. I'm not sure what happened after the conversation, but I'm pretty sure he gave them an earful!
There IS a light at the end of this tunnel, though. More and more companies are pulling out after receiving backlash and boycotts. The first ones to go were:
Pepsi
Coca-Cola
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Kraft
Wendys
Intuit
McDonalds
Mars Inc.
Reed Elsevier
Blue Cross
It's almost like watching rats abandon an sinking ship, and it feels good to see it happen. Big Business has no business getting involved in politics at that level. But part of me wonders if they're just publicly stating that they've left, and are trying to find a way to start up again without anyone knowing..Needless to say, I'll be keeping watch.
That's it for now, tomorrow will bring two new posts. One will be the dates, times, locations, etc. for the War on Women marches happening on April 28th. I've got my slutgear ready, and even though I'm in Canada, I'll be sending all my support to my U.S. sisters.
The other post will be links about the laws that have been passed since January 2011 that pertain to women's rights. Not just abortion, but everything.
Please feel free to comment. Like I keep saying, the way to win this war is to be informed! I appreciate all feedback, comments, questions and corrections!
See you all tomorrow!
Respectfully,
An Ordinary Woman
April 18, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations.
Now, I've got to tell you..because I was determined to stay unbiased and discuss what's actually out there, and not just my own opinion, I went in search of anything - ANYTHING - positive I could find about ALEC...I have to be honest...I searched for several hours off and on and found nothing. I couldn't believe it...For almost every other issue, I've found at least one positive thing about the person/place, etc. Not this time. If anyone knows of anything at all that was positive, I'd like to hear about it, because in order for this to remain unbiased, I have to have good and bad information. (Unless there really is nothing.)
So. Onwards. Here's what I get from this: When Big Business gets involved in politics, they're going to serve themselves before they serve anyone else. Their agendas, their biases, their opinions will always come first. But even that confuses me...some of the companies on board with ALEC should be looking out for women. Because their major customer are, in fact, WOMEN. Walmart, for example...Every time I've ever gone to a Walmart, the majority of the shoppers are women. Yet they have a very high ranking in ALEC.
A company I used to work for actually did business with a company on the ALEC list. I found it odd that they were on the list, because every time I dealt with them (mostly the higher-ups), they were all women! Needless to say, I called my former boss and told him...his wife is a feminist as well, and he was appalled to hear that they were on the list. I'm not sure what happened after the conversation, but I'm pretty sure he gave them an earful!
There IS a light at the end of this tunnel, though. More and more companies are pulling out after receiving backlash and boycotts. The first ones to go were:
Pepsi
Coca-Cola
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Kraft
Wendys
Intuit
McDonalds
Mars Inc.
Reed Elsevier
Blue Cross
It's almost like watching rats abandon an sinking ship, and it feels good to see it happen. Big Business has no business getting involved in politics at that level. But part of me wonders if they're just publicly stating that they've left, and are trying to find a way to start up again without anyone knowing..Needless to say, I'll be keeping watch.
That's it for now, tomorrow will bring two new posts. One will be the dates, times, locations, etc. for the War on Women marches happening on April 28th. I've got my slutgear ready, and even though I'm in Canada, I'll be sending all my support to my U.S. sisters.
The other post will be links about the laws that have been passed since January 2011 that pertain to women's rights. Not just abortion, but everything.
Please feel free to comment. Like I keep saying, the way to win this war is to be informed! I appreciate all feedback, comments, questions and corrections!
See you all tomorrow!
Respectfully,
An Ordinary Woman
April 18, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations.
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