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Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

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Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#3
So working in finance I got a letter like this. It included helpful donation levels like:

* Normal salary employee: $100 a year

* Mid level pointy hair boss: $1000 a year

* Double level pointy hair boss: $10,000 a year

I can't remember exact numbers but was that ballpark.. what they asked for the normal guy making 100k was small, what they wanted form the double pointy boss making 300k was a lot more.

Either way, SuperPACs are out of control and we need some mad finance reform. When have lobbyists ever helped the consumer?

Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#4
> "For your convenience, DisneyPAC has implemented a payroll deduction system, through which your contributions to the PAC will be deducted from your weekly paycheck"

The idea of suggesting employees donate to your PAC is tacky, but payroll deductions are just over the top.

While they're at it, they should ask their employees to donate to a fund to help the company purchase office supplies.

Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#5
post #4

> "For your convenience, DisneyPAC has implemented a payroll deduction system, through which your contributions to the PAC will be deducted from your weekly paycheck" The idea of suggesting employees donate to your PAC is tacky, but payroll deductions are just over the top. While they're at it, they should ask their employees to donate to a fund to help the company purchase office supplies.

When I worked at AT&T, we (annually) had presentations by a PAC and if you wanted to have a payroll deduction done, you would stay behind after. They took attendance for these presentations (and for other things like United Way).

Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#7
This is very common. I have been solicited to contribute to PACs at multiple employers. At each employer everyone has understood the career consequences of not contributing. No threat was needed. The law should really require some sort of firewall where corporate management can not know who has or hasn't contributed.

Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#8
Wow, the concept of a PAC is something I never even knew existed. I don't think I get it. Isn't an employer supposed to be a source of money for the employee, not the the other way around. Hypothetically, if Disney have 180K employees, and each did contribute $1000 a year, that comes to $180 million a year.

Now, if the company made around $5bn profit a year, $180m is a mere 3.6% of their profits - why is such a move funded out of the pockets of employees, and not the company profits (i.e. the shareholders). I know why, but if it's really that important, shouldn't it be a company investment and not an employee investment?

Of course my figures are extremely exaggerated, as the actual money raised is in the low millions.

Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#9

So working in finance I got a letter like this. It included helpful donation levels like: * Normal salary employee: $100 a year * Mid level pointy hair boss: $1000 a year * Double level pointy hair boss: $10,000 a year I can't remember exact numbers but was that ballpark.. what they asked for the normal guy making 100k was small, what they wanted form the double pointy boss making 300k was a lot more. Either way, Sup…

I am not sure you can blame the SuperPACs exactly. It is the morons who allow their workforce to be politicised and exploited that need be be reformed.

Re: Disney CEO asks employees to chip in to pay copyright lobbyists

#10
post #9

So working in finance I got a letter like this. It included helpful donation levels like: * Normal salary employee: $100 a year * Mid level pointy hair boss: $1000 a year * Double level pointy hair boss: $10,000 a year I can't remember exact numbers but was that ballpark.. what they asked for the normal guy making 100k was small, what they wanted form the double pointy boss making 300k was a lot more. Either way, Sup…

I am not sure you can blame the SuperPACs exactly. It is the morons who allow their workforce to be politicised and exploited that need be be reformed.

> It is the morons who allow their workforce to be politicised and exploited that need be be reformed.

Can you explain more?

From a business standpoint, the leadership wants the stock price to go up. Their stock is worth more, and they make more money.

Historically, money going to lobbying has a very good return. Say $1 spent lobbying can give your business a $100 return or more if the right laws pass or don't pass. So I hardly thing the executives are "idiots" for telling their workforce to contribute. Do I have moral issues with it? Yes. But I think they are smart and working within the law. The only solution is to fix the law.

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