Political Signs at Local Strip Mall - Page 2

[Kaycon]

I think it is very foolish to advertise anything political at a place of business. This is America, and we have free speech, however I don't do business with stores that advertise who they support, if they open up their mouth that big, I'm not puttin money into it!! I'll do my buisness somewhere else, it's their loss. WildMonkeys, wow, I can't believe a customer would come at you and cuss in front of your child, there is no excuse for that behavior. Sounds a bit like fanatic type of behavior.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

It wouldn't have any bearing on wether or not I shopped there, unless they were signs spewing hate messages. This country has freedom of speech, and I support that right for everyone, even if I don't agree with them. I would never penalize a shop owner for their party affiliation.

Originally Posted by Thalia

It wouldn't affect my patronage of a business. I assume that many of the people I meet with on a day to day basis don't share my political views, including business owners. Many of my friends and family don't support the candidate I'm supporting, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop interacting with them during election time. I think a healthy political environment is one in which we can express our opinions and still maintain relationships, whether in the community, with our friends, or our families.

Originally Posted by sewingmommy

my mil is supporting a candidate that I don't like ...should I stop letting her babysit my kids because of this .....ummm no ....personally I don't care who other people support politically ..that is there choice .....just like it is my choice to support who I want .........

I totally agree. People are entitled to their views and can do what they want with them. Now businesses I feel are doing things morally wrong (like Walmart), I will not support.

[TefferTWH]

Political signs won't sway me, but I will not frequent a local strip mall with a PP in it. I'm with the PP on not shopping at places like Walmart either.

[Arwyn]

Of course we all have the right of free speach (more or less. for the moment anyway...), but I figure if a business puts up religious or political signs, they are choosing to publicly affiliate themselves with that religion or political party, to have themselves be judged by that affiliation, probably to attract customers with that affiliation, and so I feel obligated to incorporate that affiliation into my decision whether to patronize them. A business owner's personal religious or political affiliation has no bearing on whether I patronize their business, but once they bring it into public, it is part of the package deal, and I do not choose to support businesses that are affiliated with groups I strongly disagree with.

As for the case of having a sign at a strip mall, instead of an individual business, I think I would likely not go there as often, or feel "icky" if I did, but it's a more tenuous case. I think you handled it well.

[hippiemommaof4]

well it isnt the individual shop owners faults so I am with others in agreeing why penalize them. It isnt like they all support that person . I have friends and family who dont believe what I do or do what I do politically or otherwise and I dont penalize or dismiss their opinions either unless they are trying to force them down my throat.

[imagine21]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

I would never penalize a shop owner for their party affiliation.

I would absolutely NOT support a business if I knew that their party affiliation differed from mine. It's called voting with your dollars. It's the same reason people choose to buy American cars as opposed to foreign or they choose not to travel to certain countries whose foreign policy they diagree with. There are whole books devoted to the polictical contributions of American corporations to educate the consumers. I do not shop at WalMart because of their policies on health care for their employees and their lack of policies that protect the environment. I would not shop at a store that paid its female employees less than their male employees doing the same job. I would not shop at a pet store that abused their animals or belong to a club that restricted membership to only white people, or protestants. There are consequences to actions and if a shop owner believes it vital to advertise their party affiliation they risk alienating their clients.

[Annie44]

I choose to not shop at places for more important reasons than party affiliiation. A place that abuses animals or buys from puppy mills is WAY worse than a place that doesn't support my choice of candidate. We only use Walmart as a last resort because we are sadly almost four hours from another city. Sometimes we have to get things there that we can't get anywhere else. My issue with them is quality (crappy), the way the treat customers (crappy) and the fact that they run out small businesses. I would rather put my money towards HEB where I know they support an organic lifestyle and they treat you wonderfully.

It would be nice if a shop owner was conservative like me but I don't require it. If I like the store then I go. I also don't hate my friends and family that are democrats. Everyone has their choice. I wouldn't not not give said friend birthday money for fear it would go to the Obama campaign. I just love them regardless.

[melissanc]

A shop I go to has an Obama sign posted. The owner is pro Obama and makes no effort to hide it. I support Mc Cain personally but I wont boycott his shop. I know the man and he is a good person. His views differ from mine and that is fine. he is exercising his right to free speech and I support that. He and I differ on politics but I still patronize his establishment and support his right to free speech. I just wish everyone could be civil and try and find middle ground or at least have healthy constructive debates about issues while still having respect for the other person.

[kay4]

Originally Posted by Annie44

It would be nice if a shop owner was conservative like me but I don't require it. If I like the store then I go. I also don't hate my friends and family that are democrats. Everyone has their choice. I wouldn't not not give said friend birthday money for fear it would go to the Obama campaign. I just love them regardless.

ditto

[Jessy1019]

Originally Posted by melissanc

he is exercising his right to free speech and I support that. He and I differ on politics but I still patronize his establishment and support his right to free speech.

Choosing not to patronize a business that supports an opposing political party is not an attempt to block that business owner's free speech. Personally, I appreciate businesses identifying who they support, whether I agree or not.

However, I'm not going to listen to someone spewing racist or homophobic or anti-woman or pro-war drivel and think, "Well, I'll still hang out with them because I support their right to free speech." I sure do support their right to say whatever they please -- but when they exercise that right, it helps me to identify whether or not I want to be associated with them.

[frontierpsych]

Originally Posted by Jessy1019

Choosing not to patronize a business that supports an opposing political party is not an attempt to block that business owner's free speech. Personally, I appreciate businesses identifying who they support, whether I agree or not.

However, I'm not going to listen to someone spewing racist or homophobic or anti-woman or pro-war drivel and think, "Well, I'll still hang out with them because I support their right to free speech." I sure do support their right to say whatever they please -- but when they exercise that right, it helps me to identify whether or not I want to be associated with them.

:

I absolutely support the right to free speech. But if I decide I disagree with you enough that I don't want to be associated with you, that's my prerogative as well.