CacheCoyote
Well-known member
Big Business Blindsided By Gun Control Silence
A stark contrast to past responses from major corporations, the recent mass shooting in Nashville has left many wondering why corporate America is being unusually quiet on gun control. The US has come to rely heavily on large companies as vocal advocates for social causes, but now their silence on this critical issue is causing frustration among some.
According to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a Yale professor and CEO leader expert, big business leaders are tired of taking the lead on every cause they're passionate about without the broader public joining them. "They've jumped in the pool, where's everybody else?" he said. This sentiment reflects a growing sense that corporations have been used as a proxy for civic engagement by politicians and the public at large.
The CEO's frustration stems from their previous efforts not yielding significant results on gun control legislation. Many major companies have already taken steps to address gun violence, such as banning assault-style rifles or restricting gun sales. However, Sonnenfeld believes that more needs to be done to push for meaningful change.
"Social capital is as valuable as financial capital," he said. "CEOs understand that in their soul, they want there to be social capital. They want there to be public trust, but they need the rest of civil society to join them."
Despite this sentiment, it's worth noting that many corporate leaders are still actively engaged on social and environmental issues. The recent lack of response from major corporations is more a reflection of their expectation for others to follow suit rather than a lack of willingness to act.
In fact, the notion that CEOs control campaign contributions is an outdated one. According to Sonnenfeld, big business has been giving less money to politicians since the 2020 elections, with many businesses having officially stopped contributing or significantly scaled back their donations.
However, it's clear that corporate America still holds a lot of power and influence. As such, their voice on critical issues like gun control is not only welcomed but also expected by the public. The silence from major corporations on this issue has sparked frustration among some, highlighting the need for broader civic engagement and action on social causes.
A stark contrast to past responses from major corporations, the recent mass shooting in Nashville has left many wondering why corporate America is being unusually quiet on gun control. The US has come to rely heavily on large companies as vocal advocates for social causes, but now their silence on this critical issue is causing frustration among some.
According to Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a Yale professor and CEO leader expert, big business leaders are tired of taking the lead on every cause they're passionate about without the broader public joining them. "They've jumped in the pool, where's everybody else?" he said. This sentiment reflects a growing sense that corporations have been used as a proxy for civic engagement by politicians and the public at large.
The CEO's frustration stems from their previous efforts not yielding significant results on gun control legislation. Many major companies have already taken steps to address gun violence, such as banning assault-style rifles or restricting gun sales. However, Sonnenfeld believes that more needs to be done to push for meaningful change.
"Social capital is as valuable as financial capital," he said. "CEOs understand that in their soul, they want there to be social capital. They want there to be public trust, but they need the rest of civil society to join them."
Despite this sentiment, it's worth noting that many corporate leaders are still actively engaged on social and environmental issues. The recent lack of response from major corporations is more a reflection of their expectation for others to follow suit rather than a lack of willingness to act.
In fact, the notion that CEOs control campaign contributions is an outdated one. According to Sonnenfeld, big business has been giving less money to politicians since the 2020 elections, with many businesses having officially stopped contributing or significantly scaled back their donations.
However, it's clear that corporate America still holds a lot of power and influence. As such, their voice on critical issues like gun control is not only welcomed but also expected by the public. The silence from major corporations on this issue has sparked frustration among some, highlighting the need for broader civic engagement and action on social causes.