Not chill.
Last week, a mötley crüe of President Donald J. Trump supporters gathered in Washington D.C. ahead of congressional ratification of President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s November 3rd victory. They were angry, believing that much fraud had occurred, and whipped into a fine frenzy by impassioned speakers, including Trump himself.
Afterward, they marched on the Capitol and were semi-invited in to hold a wild n wooly bacchanal on the floor, in offices and throughout the halls.
“Shock and dismay” percolated around the nation as images of the Q Shaman etc. were released. Rage, disgust and hand-wringing.
Outerwear, wetsuit manufacturer Patagonia took to Instagram with the following message from its CEO Ryan Gellert:
Patagonia condemns the assault on the US Capitol and all recent attempts to disrupt a peaceful transition of presidential power. We are also appalled by the double standard between the response to last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests and Wednesday’s insurrection. We support leaders from around the country who are calling for the president and his enablers to be removed from office immediately. We are committed, as ever, to doing our part to support our democracy and to ensure that it is equitable and accessible for everyone.
The Ventura, California-based company has long been known for its environmental stance but the political statement seemed to roil its many fans. Typical Patagonia posts garner 200 comments maximum. The above has topped the 13k mark. While many are supportive, many more seem to be frustrated. A sampling:
@alright_alright_alright_75: As always, showing genuine leadership and compassion for people and planet.
@joeklahoma_state: Thank God Patagonia condemned this. I was beginning to get worried.
@it_me_it_bruce: You’re right there is a double standard… the fact you didn’t post similar messages when small businesses were being set alight all over the country during protests!
@brittan_kuhlman: Oh good the company selling $600 jackets made in Vietnam is worries about accessibility and equality.
@skripontoast: Ooooo corporate moralizing, so 2020
@ourlife.unfiltered: Lost us as a customer, too. Ever read the Declaration of Independence? Believe it or not, there are millions of patriots who believe this election was fraudulent. Yet, who also have a heart for topics like racism- these are two totally different topics. YOU are creating a divide. This has nothing to do with black or white- It’s about the red, white and blue.
@kimble_farmer: @patagonia just sale your product and try out of politics. Just lost another customer for life. I have a ton of Patagonia vest and jackets that are going to make a great bonfire tonight.
@seapilot13: I follow Instagram accounts for awesome content. If I wanted politics, I would watch TV. A Patagonia consumer before it was “fratagonia.” Love your company and products. Stick to your environmental pursuits and making awesome gear. Unfollowed and will consider wearing Patagonia to be a political statement now.
@casenichols: Lol @ everyone who is shocked by Patagonia taking this stance. They’ve been one of the most progressive and politically outspoken outdoor retailers since their inception.
@dan_sandison: A lot of people, who only take photographs of their car and or motorbike, are upset.
Etc.
More questions than answers, of course, but a few more. Do you like your clothing to share your ethos? Do you really think Patagonia vests and jackets make great bonfires? What, exactly, is wrong with taking photographs of cars and motorbikes?
The World Surf League, per the norm, remains silent.
Those puffy pantygoinya jackets are official dickhead uniform.
Why is inflation odd to you? Prior to trump we had low inflation rates, since Trump has taken office those have increased, there is no denying that. Not only that the Fed heavily intervened to keep the rates from going higher than they are now.
The debt increased prior to covid too, from the actions I previously mentioned. Not only that that debt increased to keep the stock market afloat since that was Trump’s biggest worry, a fraction of that made it to the people who need it. The Fed intervened and started buying up bonds at a rate we have never seen before, for what? For large corporations to have some of the most profitable quarters, in the middle of a pandemic?
I never said he deliberately did anything, but he did deliberately start a trade war with China that has not helped us.
I dont think Trump did a whole lot for the economy in his first 3 year other than make the rich, richer with his tax cuts and I think he inherited a booming economy and was able to maintain that. If you want to point out a single policy that lead to a major economic increase by all means go for it.
The inflation rate when Trump took office was .7, it is now at 2.3 – That is an insane increase.
“At the time Trump took office, the debt totaled around 76% of GDP. But by mid 2020, it was 105% – a 29 percentage-point increase during his presidency.” – Again, that is an insane increase, and it didn’t happen overnight. Trade war increased debt by subsidizing farmers, tax cuts also increased our debt, both of these major events happened before COVID. https://fred.stlouisfed.org…
GDP – about the same rate during his first 3 years compared to past Presidencies
I already agreed that he increased jobs at the same rate as Obama, that is not a bad thing, he got that right but it has nothing to do with the regulation that started this conversation.
Ya no kidding, inflation is bad, and that has risen over Trump’s presidency.
Always moving goal posts, I never even stated he didn’t bring jobs back to manufacturing all I was pointing out above was that it had nothing to do with deregulation. (when discussing with Otto). Now you post an opinion piece and I point out two criticisms I had of the article and you bring up some other random point. (Food prices) Food prices being up are not a good sign either, so what are you trying to say there?
The last two charts are some of the most telling of them all, GDP and debt-to GDP, sure you can crank out jobs like Trump did but what does that all matter when you set the country up for a recession by increasing our debt and lowering our output?
That article glosses over 2 major issues, the rise in inflation (thus making house hold income much less than it shows), and the massive increase in debt.
nah it is weekend at bernies stuff for surrrrres
As good a reason as any!
I’m selling my patagonia wetsuit top now. I don’t want to be associated with politics.
Sean Doherty is head of propaganda at Patagonia and that dude thinks he somehow stopped ocean drilling in southern Australia. The ego there is high and mighty.
Sell me a product and tell me how to think… Please!
as opposed to?
Doherty’s heart is in the right place, but he is wilfully ignorant when it comes to educating himself about any aspect of offshore drilling. He just doesn’t want to know about it.
So… Who is the ‘Patty’ that the company is named after?
Is it the owners old girlfriend or wife?
Perhaps he really liked that classic American sweet treat; the Peppermint Patty.
Or the character from Charles Brown?
Great move. Great company and product. Red neck surf racists who’ve posted here u can be sure patagonia doesn’t want or need you to like them.
hope you’ve been getting waves sir david!
Oh how Surfline Man so loves Cardiff. He can walk to both and not move his Sprinter Van with Cali State park yearly pass hanging from the mirror. Longs to meet Machado in the line up, buy a VG donut and wants to buy some of that “Cardiff Crack” he keeps hearing about. Problem is, he thinks it is an illicit drug, not over priced, but ohh so yummy marinated Tri-tip.
Don’t forget that a camping trip for Surfline Man involves him driving a mile to stay the weekend in the San Elijo Camp Grounds and surfing Tippers the whole time.
Love my Vissla 7 Seas 4/3 full suit. It is not Rip Curl, but at half the price, it gets me through the few months in SoCal 58 degree water, where a 3/2 will not work.
Okay, I haven’t scrolled down yet but I’m guessing Otto’s been a busy beaver on the keyboard with this one!
On Sunday, we were trying to work out what the name Rhia is short for. We came up with Diarhia.
Chris Rea and Dire Straits were going to do a collaboration album, but got stuck on the name.
The labor unions here in NYC were very much in disagreement on Trump. The rank and file wanted him while the leadership did not.
Union labor is super weak because capital is mobile and the capital is being invested in labor that is MUCH cheaper. China and India offshore, illegal immigrants onshore.
Having said that…unions have done themselves no favors by being an advocate for the lowest common denominator hence the reluctance by anyone to engage long term.
Meanwhile…I couldn’t agree with you more about lobbyists. What’s the easiest way to defeat your competition? Have the government legislate them out of business, of course!
When non surfcore pretend niceguy wanker brands like Patagonia get into surf gear they tend to make the world a lamer place.
Fuck off Yves, or let all the BLM Antifas etc come and surf your backyard…
No, I’m not really following you. These opiates make my head a little cloudy.
Make San Clemente Great Mayhem.. ahem again!