In a country where we have control over our leadership and thus general direction as a nation, state, county, all the way to individual, I find it hard to comprehend why we don't have a status quo of knowing the political affiliations of organizations.
I understand that an organization itself may not have an affiliation (because it isn't living to choose), however those profiting the most from that organization usually do have opinions on political issues (wars, abortion, gay marriage. If they profit most from the company, then they profit most from your purchases from them. In turn, without realizing it, you may be supporting their opinions.
For example, Walmart is likely republican:
"Wal-Mart's political contributions have been spread widely in Congress, with more than 220 members of the House and Senate receiving checks of $1,000 to $17,500 so far this election cycle. About 85 per cent of the money has gone to Republicans."1
I don't know exactly which issues they find important, but with enough research (googling), you can uncover this information for just about any company and high profile (high profit/ownership) individual. I'm throwing the idea out there for someone to start a website exposing political affiliations of businesses. You can make money from advertisers, specifically ones who think honesty is a good policy.
I think it is far worse to hide sensitive views you support an opinion, than to expose them to customers who ultimately end up supporting your opinion. Personally, I would rather purchase from someone I didn't agree with than purchase from someone who keeps their influence secret. Of course, price is a factor considering I'm frugal, but when I can I pay a little more for US, Japanese, German, Thai, or other countries products rather than China, because I don't want to support extreme religious and educational oppression.2345
Know what you support when you buy something.
The China Communist Party does not have the only persecuting government in the world and most governments are not completely free of persecution but since we as a people import incredible amounts from their country, our finances most support their goals. Due to the implications of their actions, such as the Great Firewall of China against their own people (and thus the world - we are each others people) makes the Chinese Communist Party appear blatantly and viciously oppressive.
Sources:
1. Wal-Mart Becomes Largest Corporate Political Investor 2004
2. The Uyghurs: Persecuted Muslim Minority in NorthWest China 2009
3. Top 10 Chinese Christian Persecution Cases of 2009 Report 2010
4. Religious Persecution in Tibet 1999
5. Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China
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