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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Ten good national companies you should patronize

There are some companies with progressive social values
Trader Joe's in Cranston 
By Mindy Fischer

And so now for some good news….

Sometimes it seems that we, as Liberals, are always hearing news about extreme right wing companies where we should not spend our money

But how about some alternative suggestions on some great Progressive companies who either strongly believe in Liberal values or who donate large amounts of money to Progressive causes and candidates? 

The truth is that there are millions of businesses in this country who are constantly vying for your patronage. And wouldn’t it be nice to know that you are contributing to those who will use your hard earned dollars to fight for the left?

This way you can actually use your money to send a message that reflects OUR values and priorities. I’ve listed a few of the left wing companies that are either major donors to Liberal causes and candidates or that run their operations directly against the extreme Conservative agenda. Now this is certainly not an exhaustive list, there are actually many many more, but this list of very common brands is certainly a good place to start.

1. Levi’s

Levi Strauss & Co. is actually the original maker of jeans. And they have been a long time supporter of gay rights. In 2010 they were even awarded a GLAAD award for their positive depiction of the LGBT community in their advertising. They are also big donors to Liberal causes and candidates with more than 97% of their donations going directly to Democrats.

And if all of that isn’t reason enough to shop there, they are also very highly recommended in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) which is a guide that highlights companies that strongly believe in LGBT rights.

2. Costco

Costco makes the list for a several reasons. First of all they actually believe in paying their employees a real living wage with great benefits. They literally pay their workers nearly 50% more than their rival, Sams Club. 

In addition they run this company based on principles of equal rights. Costco is also a major donor to the Democratic Party. 99% of their donations go directly to Liberal causes and candidates. It’s no wonder that people love to refer to Costco as the “anti-Walmart.”

3. Starbucks

Starbucks is a huge supporter of gay marriage and they have earned the endorsement of the largest LGBT civil rights organization. This coffee giant is also well known for supplying both their full-time and their part-time employees with affordable health care. And the HRC highly recommends them for their policies which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

4. Always

Always feminine products is a big supporter of equal rights for women and girls. In 2011 they joined in a partnership with The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which promotes basic human rights and is dedicated to finding solutions to bring about international peace. 

Always is also believes in the empowerment of girls through literacy. Most recently they launched their “Like a Girl” campaign which directly challenges the stereotype that girls are weak.

5. Sonic

By any definition Sonic is a Liberal company. The fast food restaurant prides itself in its support of educational opportunities for youth and the arts. They are also big supporters of teacher’s unions and projects across the country. In addition they are also very supportive of Liberal causes and candidates. They give 98% to Democrats.

6. Microsoft

Microsoft is another company who strongly supports Liberal causes. Microsoft has been a huge supporter of LGBT rights and has even implemented programs and resources to help their gay employees. 

Company founder, Bill Gates, has consistently given large amounts of money to Liberal causes and candidates and he is a major advocate for same-sex marriage. Microsoft is also one of the highest ranked companies in the HRC for workplace equality.

7. Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein is another company who strongly supports Liberal causes and candidates. 100% of their political donations go to Democrats.

8. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Martha Stewart is a lifelong Liberal Democrat. She is a big supporter of gay marriage and equal rights. Martha Stewart Living is also a major donor for Liberal causes and candidates. 99% of all of her political donations have gone to Democrats.

9. Heineken

The Heineken brewery is a major supporter of climate change. They have won many awards for their contributions and have a long history of working to cut both direct and indirect climate emissions. Earlier this year Heineken was recognized as a world leader for both transparency and corporate actions on climate change.

10. Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is a great place for responsible Liberal shoppers. They believe in being environmentally friendly and they are against animal cruelty. They by far lead all other grocery store chains in carrying only cage-free hen eggs and are totally against any kind of testing on animals. In addition they are also major contributors to Liberal causes and candidates.


Mindy Fischer is a lefty-liberal, freelance political writer. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter.