General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNow Coca-Cola may be threatening to leave Goergia.
Even a pillar of the Atlanta business community may pick up and leave.
Georgia's generous tax incentives have provided a warm welcome to filmmakers. But now, some studios say the state's southern hospitality is being tested by a proposed law they believe discriminates against the LGBT community.
Backers of the so-called "religious liberty" bill say the measure would protect faith-based groups that refuse to serve or hire someone for religious reasons. But major companies, like Walt Disney, are threatening to pull their business.
Disney issued a statement saying, "...we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law."
Similar sentiments have been voiced by AMC Networks, which films "The Walking Dead" in Georgia, as well a list of other corporations. Viacom, Delta, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Intel and representatives for two of Georgia's sports teams -- The Falcons and The Braves.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-religious-liberty-bill-proposal-companies-warn-of-boycott-for-lgbt-discrimination/
PatrickforO
(14,587 posts)the Republican (neoliberal 'free market' capitalist) establishment quite well.
Betcha business wins cause they have more money to pressure even the stupidest, most moronic state legislature, and I'm SURE GA has a BUNCH of those.
RandySF
(59,225 posts)I remember, quite a few years ago, a story about a high tech company that planned to move to Texas. The city manager negotiated an incentive package that would have reaped a pretty nice windfall for the city. But the city council voted it down because the company offered full benefits to same-sex couples.
I'm glad I wasn't part of the economic development team that negotiated THAT deal! Geez.
I wonder how that turned out when those council members came up for election again? I'll bet the Chambers and ED organizations in that little city in TX put out the word when they were up for subsequent terms and they lost their asses and got replaced by more reasonable people. I mean, when it comes to good jobs moving in and stimulating the local economy we've all got to be sane!
In my city an idiot 'local elected' would do that ONCE and then be cast out on his (probably older white male) behind in the next election, because here, the Chambers and ED groups have some serious clout. On edit: And these groups, while primarily Republican, will roll up their sleeves and work with Dems around infrastructure, housing, wage and other quality of life issues, like environmental cleanliness.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Like mine.... NC?
PatrickforO
(14,587 posts)zazen
(2,978 posts)Our maniacs don't give a shit about small government or helping the economy if it gets in the way of harming poor people or scoring vendettas against "liberals."
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)have put the state in this situation. Everyone of those white wing pigs out to be tarred-and-feathered and run out of the state.
mdbl
(4,973 posts)Most of them are proud of it.
forest444
(5,902 posts)While there are many brave Southern white progressives (very much along the lines of Elizabeth Warren, Bill Moyers, and Jim Hightower), it's no secret most Republicans in the Deep South long for a Confederate revival.
I lived in the Deep South for several years. Many of these types seem to think they'll all be given their own Tara plantation, complete with hundreds of slaves (the very people they now grudgingly have to stand behind in grocery store lines).
The best part is that, during the Antebellum/Confederate era itself, the forebears of most Southern whites were dirt poor - often living worse than the saves themselves who, at least, were property and thus had to be minimally cared for.
Qué será.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)has nothing to do with faith. as literally Jesus never said a word about it. and anyone who is a Red Letter follower would know he didn't. I suppose if your Orthodox Jewish you might have something but I don't think thats who this law is originally intended to protect
phazed0
(745 posts)Now I'm a Freethinker, so I don't think he said *anything* but:
Jesus DID say in Matthew 5:17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose."
Which keeps in good standing, the rules of prior:
Leviticus 2-:13-15: If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you. If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal.
Among other references to not having sex in many other types of ways with anyone other than your sig. other.
Still no leg to stand on for a US law... the whole religious separation thing is really the problem, not that Jesus "didn't say it".
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)generally applies to the ten commandments and thats not in there.. and I'm not going on my info on my own, bue several Reverends who say Jesus never said a thing about it.
TeamPooka
(24,254 posts)bvf
(6,604 posts)LostOne4Ever
(9,290 posts)Bubzer
(4,211 posts)This kind of crap is despicable to say the least.
#N0H8
LuckyLib
(6,819 posts)$$$$$$ has a loud voice!
Omaha Steve
(99,713 posts)K&R!
OS
WhiteTara
(29,722 posts)rladdi
(581 posts)make GOP they cannot press their will on its citizens. This should have started years ago against the GOP. The Republicans continue to show America it cannot attract businesses to their states.
matt819
(10,749 posts)This could be tremendous, though my guess is that it's only a threat, and that even if GA doesn't come around, Coke will do nothing.
Now, if they announced specific plans, e.g., moving x number of jobs; if expanding, will expand elsewhere; will cut philanthropic funding; and the like, then maybe I'd put more stock in their statements.
Of course, the overall problem is that they would have to move out of the south, because other southern states are as bad in terms of discrimination.
Same response applies to the other corporate statements.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)I did lots of coke in Atlanta in the late '70s.
Duppers
(28,127 posts)and should boycott their products. That would get their attention, no?
ThoughtCriminal
(14,049 posts)MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Thespian2
(2,741 posts)we were very segregated...Brown v. Board of Education didn't change much then...and, I believe, right-wing nut-jobs still think segregation is the best social doctrine ever...the religious BS is another manifestation of the need for some to feel superior..."we" must rule over "them"....
Skittles
(153,193 posts)they need to be taught that thinking people do not support their backwards bullshit
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Guess that isn't as much of a guiding principle as people like to think it is...
AllyCat
(16,222 posts)Aligns with many of our principles.
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)except the Georgia legislature.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)that many times the elected officials do not represent the views of the people who put them there. They act on their own, for their own interests only.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)That's the problem
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)then by all means their will should be usurped. Period.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)And that's one thing I like about corporations being able to pressure governments. Most of the board doesn't like that idea though.
beerandjesus
(1,301 posts)...please don't piss in our Cheerios!
After all, how long before they do some new evil thing, 10 minutes maybe?
You're totally right, but hey, I'll take it!
AllyCat
(16,222 posts)We will not spend a dime in NC. Wouldn't be tough to avoid GA too.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)They fuel up and eat/sleep outside of Georgia. Georgia is just a drive through. A very creepy place outside of Atlanta.
Funtatlaguy
(10,886 posts)Deal is a business repug, not a religious one.
Arthur Blank will tell Deal to veto it and he will.
EL34x4
(2,003 posts)Georgia governor to veto 'religious liberty' bill
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/28/us/georgia-north-carolina-lgbt-bills/index.html?adkey=bn
RobinA
(9,894 posts)something. Wouldn't the best move be to stay and carry on in a nondiscriminatory fashion? The solution to Neanderthal thinking is not for the non-Neanderthals to leave.
IdaBriggs
(10,559 posts)And also their children. Best to pick up and leave - or threaten to, anyway. It's a game of chicken.
jalan48
(13,883 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,453 posts)I think the boycott threats (and all the $$$$$$ about to go bye bye) made the difference.
Iggo
(47,565 posts)How very unsurprising.
valerief
(53,235 posts)libodem
(19,288 posts)Get, the Hell, out, then. Bigger contributer to type two diabeties and belly fat, than bacon.
Hurry up!
MADem
(135,425 posts)employer in the region.
aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/03/28/breaking-nathan-deal-will-veto-georgias-religious-liberty-bill/
Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday vetoed the religious liberty bill that triggered a wave of criticism from gay rights groups and business leaders and presented him with one of the most consequential challenges hes faced since his election to Georgias top office.
In a press conference at the state Capitol, Deal said House Bill 757 doesnt reflect Georgias welcoming image as a state full of warm, friendly and loving people and warned critics that he doesnt respond well to threats of payback for rejecting the measure.
Our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way, he said. For that reason, I will veto HB 757.