ALEC Trade Organizations Can Hurt YOUR Business!

Many people are familiar with the list of ALEC affiliated Corporations that are on the ALEC Exposed webpage.

What I am finding in my discussions with many is that they did not realize that there are trade organizations and nonprofits that are affiliated with ALEC that are also shown on the ALEC webpages.

The trade associations and nonprofits that support ALEC are just as dangerous as ALEC – more so because people are not connecting the dots to the “model legislation” that is being written and published that support the goals of these trade associations and nonprofits.

The list of trade organizations “that are known to be, or have been, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) members or supporters.”  can be >>>>found here<<<<

The list includes, but is not limited to, such trade organizations as:
   

•     American Massage Therapy Association, Exhibitor at ALEC's 2011 Annual Conference[2]

•     American Optometric Association, Exhibitor at ALEC's 2011 Annual Conference[2]

•     Grocery Manufacturers of America[3][5]

•     Illinois Corn Marketing Board[3]

•     Illinois Energy Association[3]

•     Illinois Financial Services Association[3]

•     Illinois Petroleum Council[3]

•     Illinois Retail Merchants Association[3]

•     Illinois Road Builders Association[3]

•     Illinois Soybean Association[3]

•     Michigan Association of Realtors ("the state’s largest professional real estate trade association"[21]), State corporate co-chair of Michigan[2]

•     Missouri Association of Realtors, sponsor of "Missouri Night" at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans during the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting[22]

•     National Association of Convenience Stores[5]

•     National Association of Home Builders[5]

•     National Association of Independent Insurers[5]

•     National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies[23][6]

•     National Association of Professional Employer Organizations[5]

•     National Association of the Self-Employed[16]

•     National Pawn Brokers Association[27]

•     National Pork Producers Council[3]

•     National Restaurant Association[5]

Some of these organizations belong to ALEC for a reason – and that reason is to influence legislation that will benefit their industry – at your expense.

The following quote was noted in an article this past week found in PR Week US titled “Groups' politics in spotlight after ALEC backlash” about ALEC affiliations:

“More than anything, it's a wakeup call for brands to be bit more vigilant and constantly assess where these organizations are and what they are advocating for,” said Joseph Farren, SVP for global public affairs at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide in Washington.

If you are a member of one of these organizations – you should ask them:

Why do you belong to ALEC?  

Don’t you realize that belonging to ALEC will hurt MY business? 

Don’t you realize that I can no longer publicize my affiliation with your organization, because it will hurt MY business?

Don’t you realize that your affiliation with ALEC is detrimental to MY reputation in the business community?

As a consumer if I see one of these trade organization stickers in YOUR window - I WILL ask you - Why do YOU support ALEC?  AND I WILL take my business elsewhere.

The problems that are inherent with ALEC philosophy and actions at this time will trickle down to your business unless your trade organization distances itself from ALEC.

YOUR business and professional reputation is at stake – because the trade organization that you belong to – chooses to belong to an anti-democracy organization that is trying to replace a representative government of, by and for the people with a corporatist representative government of, by, and for the corporations.

GREED is a horrible thing.

Corporate GREED is what fuels ALEC.

Corporate GREED is what causes organizations to join ALEC.

Are you a GREEDY corporatist ALEC type of person?
If no, then you shouldn't belong to a trade organization that belongs to ALEC.