Boeing, Microsoft, Nike, Puget Sound Energy, RealNetworks, Vulcan Inc.: Vote to Approve Ref. 71

[Newsjock]

Source: The Stranger

Full original title: The Boeing Company, Microsoft Corporation, Nike, Puget Sound Energy, RealNetworks and Vulcan Inc.: Vote to Approve Referendum 71

In a move that's certain to draw fire from religious conservatives, five companies have come out gunning for Washington voters to approve Referendum 71, thereby upholding the domestic-partnership bill passed by the legislature this year. The Boeing Company, Microsoft Corporation, Nike, Puget Sound Energy, RealNetworks and Vulcan Inc issued an enlightened statement today, saying that they "respect and support employees with diverse backgrounds" and that "Overturning this law would undo years of equal rights progress made in Washington state. We do not believe that this step backward would be in the best interest for the future of our state."

"Money will follow from most of these groups, I'm sure. Certainly from us," says Vulcan spokesman David Postman. "We will be contributing $5,000. ... It takes everyone some time to get checks processed, etc. But we wanted to get the statement out as soon as possible to let people know where major employers stood. I think you'll see some significant corporate financial support in the coming weeks."

Read more: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/09/14/the-boeing-company-microsoft-corporation-nike-puget-sound-energy-realnetworks-and-vulcan-development-vote-to-approve-referendum-71#more

[Ian David]

1. Of course Vulcan wants to approve Ref. 71

I'll use that once, because the other image didn't work.

[Deja Q]

4. If I posted that, I'd get 50 responses about how corny and lamentable it was.

(Now I'll sit back and giggle over how you get 50 "best joke, EVAH!" responses. :D )


BTW: The image didn't come up. Just a broken link. :(

[Deja Q]

2. Nice. However, what's their take on single-payer?

That's been a topic kept silent by many corporations, who'd stand to benefit rather a lot by not having to pay employees' insurance costs...

[imdjh]

6. Where are you getting that corporations won't pay insurance?

We're not giving the corporations a raise here, at least we're not supposed to be. Sure, they will no longer pay premiums or admin costs in self insured programs, but they would pay taxes equal to the offset.

[Posteritatis]

3. Dammit, now I have to approve of something RealNetworks did. :( (nt)

[Ian David]

8. But they want gay people to download a new version of their civil rights every 2 weeks. n/t

[Posteritatis]

9. Annnd my inner balance is restored! (nt)

[Sebastian Doyle]

5. Thank God....

I could always boycott Microsoft and use Linux fulltime if I had to, and I haven't used Real Player in years, but it would be a little difficult of me to boycott Puget Sound Energy, so it's a damn good thing they're on the correct side of this one.

[Kurska]

7. Microsoft is big on equal rights for gay employees.

Most software companies are, the field is to competitive to lose hard workers over JESUUUUUUUUS.

Something red states just don't get.

[mimitabby]

11. So is Boeing

[Psephos]

12. JESUUUUUUUUS doesn't have a problem with gays

The only references are from Paul in the Epistles, and those are interpreted pretty much based on who the interpreter is.

From what I can tell, Paul was one truly screwed-up dude anyway and I am very glad I will never have to take a one-week car ride with him across the American West. Very glad.

I'm saying this gently, and as someone who hasn't been in a church since the 1980s: you should dump the Jesus bashing and the red state stereotypes. Tell us your own, original opinions, backed by your own thinking. It would be infinitely more interesting and persuasive.

[salib]

10. Where is Starbucks?

[Mrs. Overall]

13. Well, I guess it makes me feel a little better when I have to pay my outrageously, f'ing high Puget

Sound Energy bill.