Ben & Jerry's nearly frozen out of the market

In the debate that will continue next year in the U.S. Senate over regulations, we will hear those who want to eliminate all government regulations say that they believe that the private sector can regulate itself.  But until now, no one has explained what that means. 

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, knows what a private sector unregulated by the government means from first-hand experience.   His CNN opinion editorial last week should be must reading for every member of Congress.  Cohen makes it very clear—“when the market rules, the big guy wins”.

Poster child for the 1%

On this Day of Action for the Occupy movement fighting for the 99% of Americans outraged over corporate greed on Wall Street and in Congress that is destroying the middle-class, we now have a poster child for the 1%--Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S. Chamber is the leading advocacy organization for everything 1%.  From defending the practice of multinational corporations off-shoring jobs and profits to opposing every effort to protect the personal and financial health and safety of Americans and small businesses.

For Mr. Donohue’s largely successful efforts to lead this 1% organization, he was paid $4.6 million in 2010 according to U.S. Chamber Watch.   That is one million more than his compensation the year before. 

In a Huffington Post story yesterday, spokesperson for U.S. Chamber Watch Christy Setzer says: 

The U.S. Chamber is an organization that's made up of the one percent, to advocate for the one percent. That's reflected in every aspect of the Chamber's operations, from the nearly $5 million compensation package received by their president, Tom Donohue, to the policies for the wealthy that they've taken their biggest stances on -- including their support for extending the Bush tax cuts and a tax 'holiday' on overseas profits. That may be cool comfort to big corporate CEOs, but hardly helpful to struggling Mom and Pop shops across America.

If you’re a business person and want to support the Occupiers efforts to focus the nation’s attention on the growing wealth disparity in the country and the resulting plight of small businesses suffering from low customer demand, then sign on to the letter below from my friend Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s.  Simply send an email to Molly.Turner@BenJerry.com.  Molly will be in touch with you

 

Statement in Support of Occupy Wall Street

October 2011

We, the undersigned businesses and businesspeople, wish to express our deepest admiration to all of you who have initiated the non-violent Occupy Wall Street Movement and to those around the country who have joined in solidarity.  The issues raised are of fundamental importance to all of us.  These include:

·         The inequity that exists between classes in our country is simply immoral.

·         We are in an unemployment crisis.  Almost 14 million people are unemployed.  Nearly 20% of African American men are unemployed.  Over 25% of our nation’s youth are unemployed.

·         Many workers who have jobs have to work 2 or 3 of them just to scrape by.

·         Higher education is almost impossible to obtain without going deeply in debt.

·         Corporations are permitted to spend unlimited resources to influence elections while stockpiling a trillion dollars rather than hiring people.

We know the mainstream media will either ignore you or frame the issue as to who may be getting pepper sprayed rather than addressing the despair and hardships borne by so many, or accurately conveying what this movement is about.  All this goes on while corporate profits continue to soar and millionaires whine about paying a bit more in taxes. And we have not even mentioned the environment.

We know that words are relatively easy but we wanted to act quickly to demonstrate our support.  We realize that Occupy Wall Street is calling for systemic change.  We support this call to action and are honored to join you in this call to take back our nation and democracy.

Sincerely

Ben Cohen

Co-Founder

Ben & Jerry’s

Jerry Greenfield

Co-Founder

Ben & Jerry’s

Ben, we almost never knew you

I met Ben in a meeting last week in DC. We were asked to speak on behalf of the American Sustainable Business Council in a conference room full of foundation representatives. Ben went first and shared a little about his past.

He told of meeting his best friend in 7th grade. Ben knew it was meant to be when his similarly chubby buddy and he found themselves lagging behind their fellow classmates running around a track.

“If you don’t run the mile in 10 minutes you’ll have to run it again,” yelled the phys ed teacher. “If we can’t run it in 10 minutes the first time, we’re not going to able to do it the second time,” yelled back Ben’s friend.

The two stayed close through the years but professional aspirations seemed to take them in separate ways. Ben wanted to be an artist and make pottery while his friend had his dreams set on being a doctor. But fate had other plans. No one would buy Ben’s pottery and his friend couldn’t get into medical school.

So the two best friends went a different direction together this time and decided to open a business. They agreed to open a restaurant in their college town and those with experience told them to keep it simple.

Ben and his friend studied some SBA brochures for advice and settled on bringing a food trend at major universities to their Vermont town. One small homemade ice cream shop is all they wanted.

Today Ben and Jerry’s is anything but a one-store shop and Ben Cohen is widely known for infusing his social consciousness into his business practices. Ben and Jerry’s is the poster child for why we need to put more financial support into microenterprises—the farm team for all the small, medium and big businesses we want to grow our economy.

This Wednesday we’re bringing that message to the State House. Check out the information below and join us.

What: Microenterprise Development Day at the Capital
When: Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
Time/Location:
      9:45AM Press Conference, First Floor Lobby of State House
      12:30PM – 2PM Forum (lunch provided), 321 Blatt Building
Who: The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity and S.C. Microenterprise Development Organizations

Speakers:
-Representative Kenneth Hodges
-Connie Evans, Executive Director of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), The AEO is a national membership organization and voice of microenterprise development in the United States.
-Frank Knapp, President & CEO, The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce
-Michelle Abraham, State Director, SC Small Business Development Centers
-Doug Dunkelberg, United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
-D’J Moore, President & COO, Lowcountry Small Business Hub
-Dave Mueller, Executive Director and COO, Appalachian Development Corporation (ADC)

87% of South Carolina businesses have fewer than 5 employees and are classified as microenterprises. If just one in three of microbusinesses across the country hired one new employee, the nation would be at full employment. Hear what South Carolina is doing to help develop and grow microenterprises and what more is needed to create a sustainable and vibrant state economy!

For more information call (803) 252-5733.