Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Costco vs. Dinesh D’Souza
I have not seen Dinesh D’Souza’s new movie, “America: Imagine A World Without Her,” but have certainly heard a lot about it from conservative news sources. I didn’t realize that there was a companion book, until I read this piece by Newsbusters’ P.J. Gladnick describing how Costco is taking it off the shelves. As a Costco member myself, I was surprised (but probably shouldn’t be) that the company turns out to be a big Obama supporter. Apparently they have manifested that support by banning D’Souza’s book adaptation of his movie.
I just read about this, so I haven’t made a decision yet on whether I will allow this to affect my decision to remain a Costco member (and my wife certainly will have a say in this as well). I’m not a big Costco shopper, but use it enough to make our membership valuable. I do find this bit of blatant political action troubling enough to consider dropping them. Supporting a politician is fine, but when you ban certain speech in response to that support, then you’ve gone too far. So, should I “drop” or just “complain (to Costco)?”
What do other Ricochetti think about this? A vigorous debate is welcome.
Published in General
RushBabe49 – Thanks for your participation in this. It’s good to hear from someone with inside information.
You should all know some union warehouse is full of copies of hard choices collecting dust. I go to Sam’s Club so I have no idea about the books because I just buy books at Amazon usually Kindle ones.
Was at BJ’s today and they did not carry the book. Of course, they, too, are not a bookstore, and they only carry a couple of hundred different titles, counting the coloring books. It was great to see Hillary’s book one stack down from Blood Feud.
So Costco has now decided to bring the book back, citing the sudden increase in sales.
Don’t let this affect you. If Costco is a good place to shop because it’s cheap or convenient or you prefer mayo in five gallon drums, then continue to shop there. If we let every little thing like this (esp. where it’s not clear if the decision is politically motivated) dictate where we shop, we’ll be endlessly quitting places over cultural or political peccadilloes.
Instead of reflexively raging, ask yourself: does this affect me? Will the decision make the book unavailable elsewhere or increase its price? The answer is no, thus you shouldn’t think of it ever again.
Plus, isn’t quitting Costco because of this a lot like when Brendan Eich was forced out of Firefox? He had a political difference with his company that had nothing to do with his job, and the company shoved him out the door because it was intolerant of his views. If you quit Costco over this, you’re Firefox. You’re ending an otherwise satisfactory business relationship over a minor political difference.
That makes you rash and intolerant. Don’t be like that.