Shopping with Political Intent

Joe Knippenberg talks about the Chick-Fil-A boycott on another blog page at First Things, Playing Chicken with the First Amendment .

Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s ringing endorsement of the traditional family has caused quite a stir. More than a few of my Gen X and Millennial former students have vowed (on Facebook) never to darken the doors of their erstwhile favorite chicken restaurant again. I can’t help but wonder if they’re so scrupulous about the political views of the owners of all the businesses they patronize. (For the record, I doubt it. Also for the record, so far as market behavior is concerned, the consumer is sovereign and can make his or her decision on the basis of any information–or misinformation –he or she chooses. Of course, I’d prefer information to misinformation , but markets are imperfect.)

Shopping with political intent is a life complication we can afford since we have so many options thanks to what remains of capitalism in the USA.  I will exercise a pro-cott in regards to Chick-Fil-A.  Since my children are grown up, I have rare cause to go to fast food chains.  However, I do have grandchildren and am happy that they prefer Chick-Fil-A, since  I can support the place and feel self-righteous while doing so.  If Dan Cathy said, “”Guilty as charged, we are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that,”  then a boycott is a protest against Christian values.

Here’s more , and more.