Should business leaders engage publicly in politics or limit themselves to lobbying?

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:34:26 -0400

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ive-never-heard-so-many-ceos-talk-politics-richard-branson-roth?trk=eml-b2_content_ecosystem_digest-hero-14-null&midToken=AQHvKxwoVKbfSA&fromEmail=fromEmail&ut=0r4X5nBBWX-D81
Inasmuch as govt interferes in commerce (regulation), it's no surprise that commerce interferes in govt (lobbying). But, in the past, business leaders have tended to keep opinions to themselves. They feared losing customers or attracting the displeasure of public officials.

Richard Branson seems inclined to break this paradigm and feels that other corporate CEO's are doing the same. Is this a good idea?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Mar 23 at 2016 12:36 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:36:50 -0400

We all have the right to express our ideas publicly. Becoming successful and wealthy does not take that right away.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 23 at 2016 12:47 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 12:47:49 -0400

Business has elements of Diplomacy in it. Why shouldn't a business leader be able to Leverage their Influence if Legislature is going to affect them positively or negatively.

Lobbying is nothing more than using free speech or collective bargaining power to talk to an elected representative. Using Public media like the news does really doesn't strike me as any different as long as they aren't overly coercive with their employees.

As an example, if I was an owner of a company that made widgets, and the Legislature was going to pass a law that was going to adversely/positively affect my company I would have a few options:

1) I could modify my business including shutting things down
2) I could lobby the government
3) I could contact the press
4) I could tell my employees and have them do any of the above
5) something else.

Let's take a look at the recent Apple/FBI fight. I'm glad the business leaders have a Public Opinion regarding it. It affects more than just the company.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Mar 23 at 2016 2:16 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:16:59 -0400

My CEO does it.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 23 at 2016 2:19 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:19:49 -0400

CPT Jack Durish the real problem is that money has become the power in Washington which it was not supposed to be. The power was supposed to be the will of the people.

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 2 at 2016 7:36 PM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 19:36:38 -0400

This is America. Anyone is free to comment about our government, even foreigners.

Response by MSG John Hill made Oct 27 at 2016 12:03 PM

MSG John Hill — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 12:03:07 -0400

It's a very slippery slope when a 'business leader' decides to voice their opinion politically on three fronts...

1. Unless you're at the top of the proverbial food chain of a monopoly, there is always someone higher than you are. Cudo's if it's a proponent of the same political views, but not so much if they are on the opposite side of the isle. Politics will get you fired as fast or faster than bedding their spouse; trust me...on the former.

2. You could lose or gain business depending on your clientele and their political leanings. Depending on what your business is; you could go from hero to zero overnight or visa versa as in the Chick Fil A abortion stance. If you are at the top of the heap in selling foo foo coffee in Seattle, you'd best not be an obvious Trump supporter, for example.

3. I look at any aspect of reaching your pinnacle of success in your given profession a major success in your life. This makes you a subject matter expert in your career field when others think of you and your product as all knowing, even if that product is actually yourself. With that said, everyone respects, admires, and strives for humility, right? There is nothing I loathe more than someone who want's to express their opinion on politics as a subject matter expert when their expertise is NOT in Politics. When every Hollywood actor, actress, sports star, and their foo foo K9's express their views on politics it makes my skin crawl. I'd take out an allotment to pay for their plane tickets when they threaten to leave the country if the Conservative candidate is elected, but they are as phoney as the people they support. Now, as a Political Science Major, you'd think people would listen to my opinions on Politics, but all I ever get asked is why I wasn't an Officer...

My two cents and a buck two eighty five will get you that foo foo coffee the day after the elections from your regular coffee vendor, but odds are they're a liberal establishment; because Conservatives love mess hall Joe...

De Oppresso Liber