AFA boycotts McDonald's

[luchog]

I don’t see why a fortune 500 corporation needs to take a stand on any social issue by giving money to advocacy groups. Doing so has not helped Ford at all. They should give to charity to help people instead of wasting money on sponsoring gay pride events.

I don't think you understand how this whole thing works.

If management really wants to do something smart, it would say the heck with being socially responsible and focus on generating profits

Why do you assume that they're not.

Is anyone really naive enough to think that corporations really give money and support organizations out of the goodness of their hearts? That they're doing it simply out of a sense of "social responsibility"? If you do, I have some great oceanfront land over on the east side of my state you might be interested in.

They support organizations because it's great publicity. Which organizations they support, and which they ignore, is based entirely in the estimated political power of said organziations. While the various religions groups make a huge noise about boycotts, they're relative power to affect the company is pretty miniscule. While the same might be said about the GLBT lobby, there is a lot of goodwill publicity to be gained; and a "progressive" image that can serve as an effective smokescreen for many other problems with the company.

As far as giving money and tangible resources, all of that is tax deductible. Companies who give large amounts of money do not do so because "it's the right thing to do", but because it substantially reduces their tax burden, and therefore has a net positive impact on their bottom line. Often moreso than simply increasing gross proceeds, and therefore increasing the tax burden, would.

Make no mistake, when corporations like McDonalds support GLBT groups, or any other group, it's because it is beneficial for them to do so.

 

[Gazpacho]

This particular payment was cleared by a VP who is gay. I don't think he's playing image politics.

Also I don't see how paying out $20,000 to avoid paying $6600, whatever, of taxes on it improves the company's financial position.

 

[four elevener]

Kids LOVE McDonalds. I don't know why. Part of it might be that grandparents love to take their grandkids there.

We are expecting our first in December. I am trying to figure out what I am going to need to do to keep him/her away from the arches. If they want a playground, I'll take them to Chik-Fil-A instead.

But their fries are sooooooooooo good.

 

[CptColumbo]

Their southern chicken sandwiches are awesome cuz they taste like Chic-Fil-A's and is a good alternative for the athiests who don't want to frequent the other place because of their policies regarding christianity (I don't care one way or the other, but sometimes I want one of those delicious sandwiches on a Sunday).

The BK Lounge near me used to display a picture of people holding up the US flag, and the Sun behind it making a cross along the seams. The caption implied that this was miraculous, and a sign of God's blessing.

 

[skepticalbeliever]

Well look at all the money Ford has made giving to liberal groups. They give to planned parenthood and GBLT. And their almost bankrupt. I don't see why corporations need to take stands on social issues. It's one thing to be tolerant. Tolerant is good. There should be company rules against discriminating against any group, including gays. This can be done with out giving to GLAAD.

But it should not be company policy to take a stand for gay marage/abortion or against it.

 

[Narcopuppy]

Hmm. McDonalds pays its employees slave wages, is among the main contributers to the alarmingly poor health of the U.S. population, and probably commits a million and one unethical acts every year, and Christian groups pick THIS issue to get boycott them over? Very skewed priorities, if you ask me.

Too bad McDonalds doesn't donate money to Southern Baptist organizations; then these people would eat there everyday out of support and in a few years would be too fat to walk around protesting.

 

[Puppycow]

Well look at all the money Ford has made giving to liberal groups. They give to planned parenthood and GBLT. And their almost bankrupt. I don't see why corporations need to take stands on social issues. It's one thing to be tolerant. Tolerant is good. There should be company rules against discriminating against any group, including gays. This can be done with out giving to GLAAD.

But it should not be company policy to take a stand for gay marage/abortion or against it.

I'm pretty sure that both Ford and McDonalds are multi-billion dollar companies and that these small donations too small to notice, far below significant digits. Ford's current problems certainly aren't unique to Ford. The whole auto industry is suffering because of high gas prices.

I don't have a problem with companies being socially conscious at all. Companies are people too.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Kids LOVE McDonalds. I don't know why. Part of it might be that grandparents love to take their grandkids there.

We are expecting our first in December. I am trying to figure out what I am going to need to do to keep him/her away from the arches. If they want a playground, I'll take them to Chik-Fil-A instead.

Don't sweat it too much. Everything in moderation. My "kids" now in their thirties had McD products on occasion when they were small. They thrived and have survived.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

The BK Lounge near me used to display a picture of people holding up the US flag, and the Sun behind it making a cross along the seams. The caption implied that this was miraculous, and a sign of God's blessing.

I knew I'd seen a Snopes article on this.

People are strange.

Kids LOVE McDonalds. I don't know why.

Because they're the target audience and every happy meal comes with a stupid toy. I remember loving McDonald's when I was little and in fact well into my teenages, but then I moved to the States and found that fast food could actually be good, and haven't looked back since.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Oh come on, you have to indulge in McDonald's occasionally, if only for the biological oddity that the chicken nuggets contain more beef than the hamburgers do.

 

[mrbaracuda]

Oh come on, you have to indulge in McDonald's occasionally, if only for the biological oddity that the chicken nuggets contain more beef than the hamburgers do.

You mean I've been cheated?