San Francisco and Boycotts

[PaloAltoCougar]

In view of earlier discussions about boycotts and terminations affecting supporters of Prop. 8 (while painful, I don't find legal fault with them), it's been interesting to read comments about the City of San Francisco's boycott of Arizona over the latter's immigration policy, most of which is expressed locally in very righteous terms.

But last week, the SF Board of Supes (one of the wackiest bunch of legislators in the annals of municipal governance) adopted an ordinance requiring cell phone retailers to post data about the amount of radiation emitted by each product (the wisdom of such a requirement can be discussed in a separate thread). Following the passage of the requirement, the cell phone industry countered with a cancellation of future conventions in SF. This will result in a loss of revenue well into the millions of dollars to the cash-strapped city. This article doesn't fully capture the essence of many talk show commentators and callers decrying the evils and unfairness of a boycott against people doing what they think is right, but it's a start.

At least one local authority is struck by the double-edged nature of boycotts. "Asked what he thought about the retaliatory move, D'Alessandro replied: 'It might be hypocritical to object to a boycott of us because of a decision we made, while boycotting others for decisions they made.'"

[il Padrino Ute]

In view of earlier discussions about boycotts and terminations affecting supporters of Prop. 8 (while painful, I don't find legal fault with them), it's been interesting to read comments about the City of San Francisco's boycott of Arizona over the latter's immigration policy, most of which is expressed locally in very righteous terms.

But last week, the SF Board of Supes (one of the wackiest bunch of legislators in the annals of municipal governance) adopted an ordinance requiring cell phone retailers to post data about the amount of radiation emitted by each product (the wisdom of such a requirement can be discussed in a separate thread). Following the passage of the requirement, the cell phone industry countered with a cancellation of future conventions in SF. This will result in a loss of revenue well into the millions of dollars to the cash-strapped city. This article doesn't fully capture the essence of many talk show commentators and callers decrying the evils and unfairness of a boycott against people doing what they think is right, but it's a start.

At least one local authority is struck by the double-edged nature of boycotts. "Asked what he thought about the retaliatory move, D'Alessandro replied: 'It might be hypocritical to object to a boycott of us because of a decision we made, while boycotting others for decisions they made.'"

As Jethro Leroy Gibbs of NCIS would say, "Ya think Di Nozzo?"

Don't take this personally, PAC, but my response to this is a Nelson Munz like "Ha! Ha!" Karma, baby.

[oxcoug]

Living and working in SF

I sometimes feel like I'm in a foreign country when talking about things like the Arizona immigration laws with people who, on other fronts, are good friends of mine.

The arrogance of their "morality" and their lack of awareness is sometimes staggering. I've got a few blank looks when I raise the possibility that given that 57% of Americans support Arizona's immigration law that it might be possible that their interpretation might be either uninformed or simply wrong.

Now this.

Sucks to see the reins of government of such a great city and such a great state in the hands of people this short-sighted.

[wuapinmon]

I sometimes feel like I'm in a foreign country when talking about things like the Arizona immigration laws with people who, on other fronts, are good friends of mine.

The arrogance of their "morality" and their lack of awareness is sometimes staggering. I've got a few blank looks when I raise the possibility that given that 57% of Americans support Arizona's immigration law that it might be possible that their interpretation might be either uninformed or simply wrong.

Now this.

Sucks to see the reins of government of such a great city and such a great state in the hands of people this short-sighted.

My sister has lived in San Francisco/Half Moon Bay/Big Sur for the last six years. She grew up in Georgia. She described the place as, "full of people who talk shit all the time because they know that everyone's too much of a coward/pacifist to actually punch them in the mouth when they deserve it."

[UtahDan]

I sometimes feel like I'm in a foreign country when talking about things like the Arizona immigration laws with people who, on other fronts, are good friends of mine.

The arrogance of their "morality" and their lack of awareness is sometimes staggering. I've got a few blank looks when I raise the possibility that given that 57% of Americans support Arizona's immigration law that it might be possible that their interpretation might be either uninformed or simply wrong.

Now this.

Sucks to see the reins of government of such a great city and such a great state in the hands of people this short-sighted.

This is how I felt about Provo when I lived there.