Life in the Boomer Lane suspects that many of us now feel like we are in the woods, in the dark, with no flashlight, listening to ominous noises that are coming ever closer. We need something to make us feel like we are not merely helpless prey.
One suggestion is to use our purchasing power to send a message to large businesses, or to stop supporting those businesses who supported/support Trump and/or the GOP. LBL understands that finding that out can be tricky. While The Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits large companies from donating directly to campaigns, donations can be made through their Political Action Committes (PAC). But it can be complicated. Companies can give to down ballot races and to organizations that support the Trump/Republican agenda, while seeming not to support the Man Himself. They can also refuse to stock items that are hot button topics for conservative voters (birth control, for example). An additional complication is that a company’s donations can include individual donations from employees (Tesla, which would seem to indicate that it gives more moeny to Dems). And huge donations can come directly from the owners of the companies, without that reflecting on the company’s donations.
As a way to offend neither candidate, companies often hedge their bets by donating equally (or almost) to both the GOP and Dems. And this election cycle, while the total amount spent in general has skyrocketed, big businesses have cut back (sometimes by 50%) on all political donations. Some have stopped entirely. Companies that do not give to either party are Ben & Jerrys, Taco Bell.
Companies that deny giving to Trump are Kohls and Sephora, in spite social media allegations.
Companies that are close to 100% GOP contributors: Sunoco (2/98)
Companies that give to both parties, but mostly to the GOP, are Safeway, Harris Teeter, Chik Fillet (84-87% GOP), Publix, Folgers (9/91), Hanes (7/93), Hush Puppies (26/74), McDonalds (38/62) ((This figure is disputed)),Dunkin Donuts (20/80), Dominos Pizza (25/75), Enterprise (29/71), Dairy Queen (30/70)
Companies that are fairly close to 50/50: American Airlines, Allstate, Publix, Nike (mostly to down ballot races), Walgreens, Target, Geico, most cruise lines
Companies that give to both parties but mostly the Dems are TJ Maxx, Macy’s, Nordstrom (81/19), Trader Joes (80/20), CVS, General Mills (cereal), Lowes (60 /40 ),Samsung (70/30), Verizon (70/30), AT and T (70/30), Panera (67/33), Costco (82/18), Haagen Dazs (69/31), most cereals (60/40), BJs (86/14), Hertz (84/16), Avis (69/31), Peets Coffee (67/33)
Companies that give 100% (or close to) to the Dems: DSW Shoes (100), Adidas (100) , Dennys (100), Under Armour (96/4), New Balance (97/3), Nike (89/11), Starbucks (89/11), Lululemon (89/11), Apple (93/7), Honda (91/9), VW (89/11), Barnes & Nobel (96/4), Hersheys (90/10),
Most airlines are about 60/40, except for SW (40/60)
Walgreens, General Electric and others stopped GOP donations after Jan 6, then resumed. Most have gone back to supporting the GOP.
And then, there are companies who have supported various election deniers since Jan 6. According to Politican Accountability, in the Top 50 are At and T (#2), UPS (#3), Home Depot (#5), Comcast (#8). Others in the Top 50 are Fed Ex #19), Walmart (#25), Delta Airlines (#29), Toyota (#30), General Motors (#31), Verizon (#32), Exxon Mobile (#39), Wells fargo (#40), Pfizer (#42), T Mobile (#43), Americans Airlines (#44), Johnson and Johnson (#45), Annheuser Busch (#46). Rounding out the list is Microsoft at #50.
An example of how misleading data can be, Home Depot gave five mil this year, 1 mil to the School Freedom Fund, a conservative/(right wing) lobbying organization. The remaining four mil was split between Dems and the GOP. They have denied giving any money directly to Trump, in spite of social media posts alleging otherwise.
LBL will skip the analysis of all this. What Readers do with all this (if anything) is up to them. She doesn’t expect anyone to immediately boycott any stores (life is complicated enough). In her own life, if she can order the same item from either Home Depot or Lowes, Lowes will get the sale. And when she has a choice between chocolate brands, Hersheys will win (It usually does, anyway). And then, of course, there are shoes. Readers will excuse her now, while she hits the DSW site, while eating a bag of Hersheys kisses.
(Most of the above information came from OpenSecrets.org, GoodsUniteUs.com and Trumpanies.com. The last website directs good Republicans to only buy from the Trump-favored companies listed. LBL suspects that some readers have seen other info to the contrary, than what is presented here. LBL understands.)
Life in the Boomer Lane 
Cynthia Burkert
November 18, 2024
Hi Renee – But wh
Life in the Boomer Lane
November 20, 2024
I could continue this comment (But where is Waldo? But why isn’t my dry cleaners listed? But when is the actual start of the apocalypse? But who and/or what will save us?) but I would rather hear your own question.
Anonymous
November 18, 2024
Thank you, SCOTUS for underwriting politicans for sale. And, thank you, LBL, for identifying some of the worst offenders. I noticed that Under Armour is listed as mostly donating to both sides?
Life in the Boomer Lane
November 18, 2024
Under Armour donates to both, but leans toward the Dems. The company, itself, doesn’t donate. rather, it’s the employees and owners.
Life in the Boomer Lane
November 18, 2024
Yikes, I looked back at the post and saw that although I had UA listed as almost 100 Dem, it had inadvertantly also put it in a “contrinutes to both, with majority to the GOP” section. I took that one out. It’s tough being a muchraking journalist.
Taswegian1957
November 18, 2024
I would have to do some muck raking of my own to find out similar information in Australia. To me the amounts of money corporations donate is disgusting. That money could be used to support worthy causes, their employees and communities. Individuals should be free tp donate to whatever they want (no matter how stupid it is) But I would like to see an end to business donations which are just buying favours.
Life in the Boomer Lane
November 18, 2024
Agreed, although I don’t think it will stop anytime soon. Money spent on employees is usually way down on the list of priorities.
geezenslaw
November 19, 2024
Hi LBL, already looking forwared to Part 2…!
This article was so good I jotted down better than usual bullet points before responding…
Case-in-point…:
I recently switched from Walgreens to CVS and happy for it except my recent knee replacement presciption for: anti-biotic vs stool softener was doubled up on the latter and no anti-biotic to be found after leaving the pharmacy… Laff…
Target and Geico…: Target is a depressing place to shop and Geico is, well, an insurance co what to expect except ambivalence…
Under Armor and Apple…: my fav undies and Mac was one of my fav laptops until a recent article about how Apple with their new AI based hardware renders my laptop useless in about a year when Apple executes EoL and 2 year old laptop is a paper weight…
Years ago I was contracted to SW Love Field Dallas… The airline business building has a flight deck over looking the runway… Every Monday starting about 3pm the flight deck amass with portable tables containing a variety of Beers and Wines meant it was party time with a very loud DJ… The weekly event was moved from Friday to Monday hoping to tamper down the extreme inebriation carrying over into the weekend… This only lead to humpday craziness down at the local watering hole… Anyone interested in flying SW…?
As for…: Home Depot, Walmart, Toyota Jan 6 deniers I found the most disappointing: Toyota since my ’04 Tacoma has 315k on the odometer and still running well… No local Lowes so I’m stuck with the Fascist company…
LBL…: I have thoroughly enjoyed maybe one of your best post election articles… I now have a lot of good data and links to further my disdain for you-know-what… One has to be careful these days to avoid getting investigated such as R-ID Simpson as reported by Vanity Fair and posted in a recent Richardson email…
Exit strategy still in progress…
Stay safe…
Life in the Boomer Lane
November 19, 2024
Many thanks. I applaud you for having been aware of this issue for awhile. I really only reserved my wrath for Hobby Lobby and Chik-fil-A. then, little by little, other businesses snuck their way into my no-fly zone. But it just seemed too time-consuming to pay attention to all of it. Now I’m trying to pay attention. But, like your experience with Toyota, some of the felons are good products.
Your experience with SW is scary. On the other hand, after being a waitress for a hot minute back on college break, I swore that anyone who ever saw what went on behind the scenes would never eat in a restaurant again.
Post election, I’m focusing less on complaining than on seeking reasonable ways I can take action. It’s helping.
It has also helped to look at the actual stats, now that CA is almost all in. The “mandate” we may have thought that T had didn’t exist in any magnitude. When all is said and done, he will have gotten a smidgen less than 50% of the popular vote. This was not a landslide win. Nor was it a huge mandate. I look forward to seeing the reaction of one-issue voters to the reality of what is about to be unleashed on them.