To the Editor,

Whether we know it or not, every day we are funding political campaigns and advocating for policies we may or may not support.

Large corporations spend millions of dollars backing policies (and politicians) that align with their companies’ priorities and we consumers provide them with the resources to do this.

Some may argue that politics have no place in business, but that debate was lost when in the 2010 Citizens United case, SCOTUS opened the door to corporate and union donations to federal campaigns, leaving companies with expansive political influence to pursue their narrowly-focused business objectives.

As consumers become more aware of and concerned with what self-interest agendas companies are pursuing, they have used their influence to steer companies to advocate for outcomes more aligned with their values.

So rather than ignore what companies are doing, we need to understand how our favorite brands, suppliers, and retailers are using our hard-earned dollars to fund political interests.

The internet now makes that information more accessible. For some, doing their own research may seem inconvenient, but if there are issues you care deeply about, it is well worth the effort.

Living into your values and beliefs shouldn’t be just when it’s convenient, but also (and arguably most importantly) when it requires work, commitment, and sometimes sacrifice.

Doria Linnetz

Newtown