The Patriot Post® · Dear Businesses: Stop Being Political

It’s hard to get away from politics these days.

Across the country, large businesses and corporations continue to publicize their (usually left-wing) positions on issues such as LGBTQ rights, abortion, and gun control. In most cases, it’s in response to pressure from outside groups, not their customers. Sure, it’s a free country, but do we really need businesses pronouncing on abortion or plastering their windows with rainbow stickers?

Some businesses engage in politics because they’re afraid of being criticized if they don’t. That’s understandable, but at the same time these businesses are losing trust and support because they’re politicizing everything. How refreshing it’d be if companies simply sold their products and services without cramming their political ideology down our throats. If Starbucks supports a leftist cause, that’s the company’s prerogative. But Starbucks shouldn’t try to coerce customers into supporting the same cause.

The daily exchange of goods and services is an important part of American life. Like sporting events before Colin Kaepernick, these exchanges allow us to escape from the world for a short time, to enjoy interacting with one another as citizens in a free country, to share a joke or a story, to feel as though we have something in common.

That’s all shattered now.

But there’s an exception. Sure, your local bakery or sub shop might fly the rainbow flag or express support for this or that progressive cause, but for the most part American small businesses do what they should do: They offer a product or service and, of course, they make money. They’re interested in building loyalty among their customers, not dividing them or putting them in an awkward position if they don’t support a particular issue.

It’s no wonder, then, that consumers trust small businesses more than any other American institution, according to a recent Gallup poll.

“It appears that small business is the institution Americans trust the most,” says James Freeman of The Wall Street Journal. “But how can this be, since many small firms don’t have environmental, social and governance experts on staff and some don’t even have committees dedicated to examining and altering the demographic characteristics of their workforces?”

Freeman adds: “A number of U.S. small businesses choose not to weigh in on contentious political and social debates. This might have something to do with the trust they inspire. Gallup also finds that institutions specifically tasked with resolving political questions aren’t exactly our favorites.”

Too many Americans have become resigned to the Left’s domination of business, but for those who want to make sure their dollars aren’t going to fund causes they don’t believe in, there are resources available.

One is 2nd Vote, which pledges to expose corporations and organizations that fund liberal advocacy. “By putting big business on watch through our extensive research on the most important issues of the day,” they write, “our mission is to expose the corporate influence on matters of culture and policy and turn the tide on the attacks on conservative values and principles.”

It’s about time we stand up to the Left and beat it at its own game. And speaking of standing up, one of America’s favorite businesses continues to rank high in customer satisfaction.

This year, for the eighth year in a row, Chick-fil-A earned the highest ranking in the American Customer Satisfaction Index. That’s quite an accomplishment for a company that’s come under fire over the years, and it proves that businesses don’t have to cave to the woke crowd to succeed.

As The Wall Street Journal reports: “Progressives made Chick-fil-A a boycott target over the chain’s support for conservative cultural causes. Its stores are closed on Sundays, and former company president Dan Cathy was vocal in supporting groups that opposed same-sex marriage. The company has muted its participation in cultural politics in recent years, focusing on, well, chicken. At least dinner hasn’t been ruined by politics.”

And that’s the way it should be.

Americans need to find common ground and share experiences without worrying about the politics of the day. Attending a baseball game, going to the movies, or dining out with friends or family should be a bonding experience, not an invitation to political bickering or grandstanding.

Unfortunately, there’s no sign that leftists are going to change their ways. Until they do, maybe it’s time we change our ways by supporting only those businesses that refuse to cave to their political pressure.

Hey, it’s the American Way.