News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[GoofGoof]

I don’t understand why Disney makes political donations in the first place. Can someone explain it to me?

I think there are a lot of people who agree….but it's how politics works in this country. Corporations can contribute directly and they also usually have PACs setup where execs donate money to the PAC that is then allocated to politicians who support legislation that is viewed as positive for business.

So let’s say Disney as a company in the past wanted an expansion of the Orlando Airport or better highways connecting the airport to their property they would donate money to politicians who favor these proposals. Same goes for expanding cruise ports. In the past Disney fought against legalized gambling in FL since it would be a direct competition for people’s entertainment dollars. Casinos often have hotels and restaurants and entertainment that would directly compete with Disney‘s convention and adult traveler business even if it didn’t directly impact the primary families with children demographic. While Disney was donating to politicians to push to block legalized gambling the gaming industry was donating to the other side so if they didn’t donate they would be at a disadvantage.

Especially at the state and local level politicians rely heavily on corporate donations to fund their campaigns. National candidates can possibly go more grass roots donations but for the little guys there aren’t enough dollars to go around.

 

[LittleBuford]

I think there are a lot of people who agree….but it's how politics works in this country. Corporations can contribute directly and they also usually have PACs setup where execs donate money to the PAC that is then allocated to politicians who support legislation that is viewed as positive for business.

So let’s say Disney as a company in the past wanted an expansion of the Orlando Airport or better highways connecting the airport to their property they would donate money to politicians who favor these proposals. Same goes for expanding cruise ports. In the past Disney fought against legalized gambling in FL since it would be a direct competition for people’s entertainment dollars. Casinos often have hotels and restaurants and entertainment that would directly compete with Disney‘s convention and adult traveler business even if it didn’t directly impact the primary families with children demographic. While Disney was donating to politicians to push to block legalized gambling the gaming industry was donating to the other side so if they didn’t donate they would be at a disadvantage.

Especially at the state and local level politicians rely heavily on corporate donations to fund their campaigns. National candidates can possibly go more grass roots donations but for the little guys there aren’t enough dollars to go around.

Thanks for this helpful explanation. It's a sad state of affairs.

 

[GoofGoof]

Before the recent DeSantis/Disney fiasco, many legal scholars viewed Bellotti and Citizens United as terrible decisions.

The real flip flop would not be a Supreme Court reversing those two decisions; it’s those who derided Citizens United yet now use it to defend Disney.

Pretty much every I knew at my Ivy League school back in the day hated Bellotti. They felt it was the antithesis of democracy. Some of those same associates are now serving on courts throughout the nation.

Prior to what happened last year, they would have celebrated overruling Bellotti.

I don’t disagree. I fell asleep and woke up and the real world turned into the Bizarro Seinfeld episode

 

[lazyboy97o]

it’s those who derided Citizens United yet now use it to defend Disney.

We are not discussing the merits of Citizens United. You don’t know people’s opinions of the case. The situations aren’t even close to the same so as to extrapolate a contradiction.

 

[peter11435]

I don’t understand why Disney makes political donations in the first place. Can someone explain it to me?

Same reason anyone else makes political donations.

 

[Lilofan]

I don’t understand why Disney makes political donations in the first place. Can someone explain it to me?

I help you, you help me..

 

[LittleBuford]

Same reason anyone else makes political donations.

Not really. Most people donate to a party or candidate they align with ideologically.

 

[GoofGoof]

Not really. Most people donate to a party or candidate they align with ideologically.

I think the same goes for a corporation. For example if you are an oil company and you want to drill in Alaska or build a pipeline through protected lands you support politicians that back those actions (AKA Republicans). If you are a renewable energy company you support politicians who oppose fossil fuels and support green initiatives and green energy tax breaks (AKA Democrats). Corporations are generally most concerned with regulatory issues and taxes which directly impact their bottom line, but they can also have other issues they support especially if they feel their customer base and/or employees strongly supports those issues.

 

[hopemax]

I don’t understand why Disney makes political donations in the first place. Can someone explain it to me?

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

Political donations have the intent of ensuring the donator ends up in the "more equal" column and their personal needs are considered in the drafting of legislation and access to the elected representative. For corporations, this is especially valuable for things like legislation concerning regulation, taxation, etc. A $50,000 donation is small vs. what an increased tax liability or greater regulatory environment that could total millions of dollars could be. The difference between receiving a form letter prepared by an aide, never actually viewed by the elected representative vs a personal meal or scheduled phone call between the elected representative and a representative of the corporation (CEO, regional President, etc).

 

[LittleBuford]

I think the same goes for a corporation. For example if you are an oil company and you want to drill in Alaska or build a pipeline through protected lands you support politicians that back those actions (AKA Republicans). If you are a renewable energy company you support politicians who oppose fossil fuels and support green initiatives and green energy tax breaks (AKA Democrats). Corporations are generally most concerned with regulatory issues and taxes which directly impact their bottom line, but they can also have other issues they support especially if they feel their customer base and/or employees strongly supports those issues.

My understanding of Disney’s approach is that they donate to both parties in the hope of currying favour across the board. I realise they’re not alone in this, and perhaps it’s very naive and idealistic of me to say so, but I wish they’d stop altogether.

 

[GoofGoof]

My understanding of Disney’s approach is that they donate to both parties in the hope of currying favour across the board. I realise they’re not alone in this, and perhaps it’s very naive and idealistic of me to say so, but I wish they’d stop altogether.

They do donate to candidates from both parties and most corporations do. In FL in particular Disney wanted to the ensure they had the most political pull possible so that meant supporting politicians from both parties. Some times it’s actually more important to support a candidate opposed to your position in an attempt to get them to back down or focus elsewhere. You also counteract money coming in from groups opposed to you.

 

[mkt]

I don’t understand why Disney makes political donations in the first place. Can someone explain it to me?

To ensure that when they call a politician for a favor, the politician answers the phone.

It's a corrupt and disgusting feature of the American political system.

 

[Willmark]

To ensure that when they call a politician for a favor, the politician answers the phone.

It's a corrupt and disgusting feature of the American political system.

Money in politics are universal features of almost any political system.

 

[Lilofan]

Money in politics are universal features of almost any political system.

A Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case describes corporations can spend unlimited monies to give to politicians. Money in politics will never go away. That’s for sure. One can buy their way into getting what they want.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Money in politics are universal features of almost any political system.

Yes, true. Something that can be said dates back to biblical times.

 

[GoofGoof]

A Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case describes corporations can spend unlimited monies to give to politicians. Money in politics will never go away. That’s for sure. One can buy their way into getting what they want.

This applies to other groups as well. Labor unions have a lot of political power just like a lot of corporations.

 

[UNCgolf]

This applies to other groups as well. Labor unions have a lot of political power just like a lot of corporations.

Labor unions are different, though, in that they're collectively representing the interests of thousands (or millions) of individual members (at least in theory). That's a lot of voting power. A corporation is representing its interest as a single entity with no voting rights.

I suppose you could argue they're representing the interests of their individual shareholders, but I think that's a big stretch for multiple reasons.

 

[GoofGoof]

Labor unions are different, though, in that they're collectively representing the interests of thousands (or millions) of individual members (at least in theory). That's a lot of voting power. A corporation is representing its interest as a single entity with no voting rights.

I suppose you could argue they're representing the interests of their individual shareholders, but I think that's a big stretch for multiple reasons.

Corporations represent the interests of their employees too. If laws damage a particular industry (especially regulations) it can and will result in layoffs and cost cutting at the corporation which directly impacts the employees. At higher levels things like bonuses and equity comp is also impacted but I get most people don’t care as much about that impact. I get that corporations are focused on profits and making money for shareholders but millions rely on those corporations for work too.

I work in the energy industry and I know the company I work for lobbies politicians and makes political donations at various levels. In some cases that lobbying and those donations are done at a more local level in an attempt to keep a particular power plant from shutting down. If that effort is unsuccessful it may hurt the company’s bottom line some but it’s devastating for the employees of that plant and depending on the demographics could have a ripple effect on the local economy. So while it’s easy to view corporations as generally just being evil and focused on their own profits, they are also an integral part of a lot of people’s lives.

 

[GimpYancIent]

It's a revealing education who people are and what they are once money is involved.

 

[Lilofan]

It's a revealing education who people are and what they are once money is involved.

Money makes the world go round.