Recently, the CEO of Goya Foods announced he supported
President Trump at a press conference. (1)
This caught my attention.
It also caught the attention of those that do not support
Trump with calls for a boycott of all Goya products.
On Facebook, I posted “Say No to Goya.”
Some people posted in support, but a friend asked why we
should boycott a company that is a good company?
I did not answer my friend on the post. He is a good friend and we have done business
together. (2)
So, here is my answer.
I do not know if boycotts really work.
In the short run, I do not believe they do because companies
just need to wait out the energy in the market for the boycott.
Most of the time, the companies do not have to wait long.
This is partly due to the energy running out for support of
the boycott, as expected. Also, because
those that agree with the company’s position will, in some cases, increase
their purchases. (3)
Only boycotts that manage to keep the attention on the issue
alive over a long period of time achieve their goal. (4)
For me, it is more of a personal choice.
If a company does not take sides in the political arena, or
at least one that I am aware of, the company’s political position is only
marginally important to me.
But it the company attempts to use their position and power
to forward a political agenda or candidate and I become aware of it; I now am
given a choice.
The question I ask is, “Should I do business with a company
that works against my political agenda, thereby making my goal harder to
attain, or do I do business with someone that is at the very least neutral as
far as politics are concerned?”
I do support every person, and I mean a living, talking,
thinking, real honest to goodness person… not a company, the right to speak
their minds and support whoever they want. I do not support free speech for a
company. (5) (6)
My position on free speech also applies to me. I have the right to free speech.
When I exercise that right, it can be spoken, written or in
action.
In conclusion, I exercise my right of free speech by not
doing business with a company that supports goals that are not aligned with
mine.
The CEO of Goya Foods expressed a political position that is
held by the corporation and is not in sync with my political position. (7)
Therefore, when I am making purchases for products that Goya
makes, I will choose another product, or I will do without.
(1) The press
conference was for another reason other than expressing support for the
President, so I also do not think it was appropriate for the CEO of Goya Foods
to express his support at the event.
(2) Besides
being sensitive to my friend in public, Facebook is a bad place to express
thoughts that take more than 4 words.
(5) The term
“free speech” here is used in a common usage of the word. This is not be confused with the
Constitutional meaning of “Free Speech” which prohibits the Government from
restricting personal expression.
(6) Company
here is used as an incorporated entity. As
a fabricated entity of law, they are not a person.
(7) According
to Goods Unite Us, Goya Foods donate exclusively to the Republican Party.
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