. . . customers, the economy, culture . . .
Alinsky 101
- Don’t give in (don’t enable)
- Use their “rules” against them
- They campaigned, they sued, they conquered
- Focus response make an example, make alliances
- Understand that the Chamber of Commerce are by and large comprised of fellow travelers of the left
The linked article from The Federalist serves to exemplify what can be done to combat the intimidation tactics of the left. It is aimed at the intimidation of profit seeking corporations by leftist special interests but the “spirit” should not be lost on conservative organizations often victimized by the same tactics directly and indirectly) and political jurisdictions and legislatures. (North Carolina comes to mind).
Article by Seth Kursman, executive with Resolute, one of North America’s largest forest products producers (excerpt)
Companies Should Stand Up To Shakedowns From Activists Like Greenpeace When Greenpeace and its allies targeted our company, we decided to draw the line, unapologetically and forcefully defending our integrity.
When activist groups come knocking, the instinct for most corporate leaders is the well-worn path of least resistance. Appease, roll over, give in. Mollify the pot-banging rabble, and shoo them on to the next target down the street.
It’s a menacing pattern that has become so brazen; a common experience among so many leading global companies. The cycle of abuse works like this: use misleading campaigns, vague demands, constantly moving goalposts and an utter lack of scientific grounding, all while using “heated rhetoric” to induce donations. Companies are faced with a choice: capitulate or have their brand identity trashed with smears and false claims. . . .
Are there other reasons companies end up doing the bidding of leftist causes, even against interests? They think they have no recourse against the media which serves to propagate the attacks against them. But rather than pull and refocus advertising methods or organize to fight, they continue to finance through advertising dollars the corporate parents that fund the news organizations and other programing that are part of the intimidation tactics.
And if it were simply a matter of the squeaky wheel strangely they are often not intimidated by backlash towards their capitulations or cooperation with leftist interests from the right.
There are many tools at corporations disposal including coming together in consortiums to develop PR tactics and fight the left. Trade associations and PAC responses are nothing new but they are usually unfocused or squeamish against antagonists. The political tactic of writing checks to favorable politicians is often muted, inefficient, uncertain and restricted. That corporations do not do more says the capitulation is in many cases not fear but a cover for cooperation, agreement, maneuvered by political elements within. We have also long felt that the Chambers of Commerce are populated with left of center fellow travelers and elements as yet unmugged by reality or hoping to capitalize on big government through political correctness.
R Mall
