Star Google, Apple Openly Support Fight Against 'Proposition 8'
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sat 25th Oct 2008 19:26 UTC, submitted by SK8T
In the News In a rather unusual move, both Google and Apple have publicly backed the fight against "Proposition 8", both by words as well as by donation. Proposition 8 is an initiative measure in the state of California that would ban same-sex marriages in California by amending the Constitution of the state to include that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California". Both companies gave out their reasoning for supporting the fight against 'Prop 8'.
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RE[2]: Applause
by tyrione on Sat 25th Oct 2008 20:37 UTC in reply to "RE: Applause"
tyrione
Member since:
2005-11-21

I disagree. Whatever your views on proposition 8, it does not behoove any private company to weigh in on issues that are strictly social-political, if for no other reason than business sense. Google and Apple risk alienating both their customers and their employees. Sure, they might earn some good will from proponents of proposition 8, but not not as much as they would lose from its detractors. It's for the same reason that few companies will openly support a political candidate. Separation of church and state? What about separation of corporation and state?

It's simply not the role of a private business company, nor should it be.


Private companies are not the problem. They are Publicly Traded Corporations that are extending beyond their business models and interests when doing so. Individuals of these corporations have every right to state their positions and fund them, within the boundaries of the law, but to take shareholder investment for a social cause that would require a proxy vote not within their business charter is definitely something that should be addressed by the Courts.

If people of any gender want to marry in misery or bliss [depends on one's personal experience(s)] so be it. To leverage lobbying from corporations to do so is no more responsible then lobbying for oil credits.

There are no `this is for a good cause and therefore inherently good' nor `that is for a bad cause so therefore inherently evil arguments' in this debate.

We keep rehashing basic fundamentals of the US Constitution as if the one millionth time we just might be able to convince ourselves of some hidden intention for this or that action.

The movement to ban gay marriage is equally futile and a waste of resources, time, attention and public policy energy.

Move marriage from the civil arena and let each belief system embrace whatever it may be and we wouldn't be in this mess.

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