AMAC Exclusive – By Aaron Flanigan
In a just-released groundbreaking report, 1792 Exchange—a corporate “wokeism” watchdog—assessed the policies of more than 1,000 companies, hoping the information will give every American a much-needed chance to evaluate corporations’ intrusions into the political arena.
In a move certain to upset corporate CEOs who are rarely held accountable for their political activism, the report, titled “Spotlight Report: Corporate Bias Ratings” classifies each company in its assessment as either “high risk,” “medium risk,” or “low risk.” Examples of “high risk” companies, according to the press release, include well-known corporations like Bank of America, Etsy, JPMorgan Chase, PayPal, YouTube, and Amazon. Company-specific reports, which can be downloaded for free on the 1792 Exchange website, outline in detail problematic actions undertaken by each corporation.
Allstate, for instance—which the group rates as “high risk”—“fired an employee over religious beliefs and statements made outside the workplace,” “suspended PAC donations to Members of Congress who objected to the [2020] election certification,” “streamlined funds to Planned Parenthood,” and “created ads promoting LGBTQ values.” Reports of each company can be accessed by clicking this link, clicking “Add Report to Card” for desired companies, and then clicking “Download Reports.”
“The corporate ratings incorporate some high-profile examples of cancellation, such as former Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback getting de-banked by JPMorgan Chase, as well as many other examples that never made the front page but were equally harmful,” the press release said. “Based upon the research already conducted, 1792 Exchange expects that many more individuals and organizations have been canceled or denied access to corporate services and have not yet shared their stories and experiences publicly.”
In an interview with AMAC Newsline, Paul Fitzpatrick, the president of 1792 Exchange, emphasized that although many “corporations take some actions openly under the ESG banner, some do not.” As such, he said, the group is asking “everyone with a public platform to publicize this free tool so hundreds of thousands of Americans use it to protect themselves and encourage corporations to move back toward neutral.”
Fitzpatrick noted that corporations’ embrace of the ESG ideology can be traced back to many of the cultural changes of the last several decades. “Media and academia began changing the narrative, pushing the envelope and redefining norms,” he said. “Corporate executives were highly influenced by the cultural shift. In the 1990s, corporations also began to require diversity and sensitivity training driven through HR departments.” This pattern ultimately led to companies’ realization that they faced “reputational risk based on employee grievances,” paving the way for the dominance of ESG ideology and the formation of what he called a “a grievance industry.”
“We want American companies to be highly profitable, apolitical, and welcoming for their employees, customers and suppliers,” Fitzpatrick said. Those who have been subjected to cancellation or denial of service can share their story either privately with 1792 Exchange or publicly using the hashtag “#CanceledToo.”
When asked how Americans who are interested in the services of 1792 Exchange can help or otherwise contribute to its mission, Fitzpatrick offered two suggestions: “Americans who want to support us directly, should visit our website at www.1792Exchange.com and click the red donate button in the upper right-hand corner. However, more important than that, we want Americans to use the Corporate Bias Ratings. Look up your bank, web hosting company, payment processor, insurance provider… and if you don’t like what you read, print a copy and take it with you to the local branch and politely ask them to change their policy.”
The primary purpose for 1792 Exchange’s corporate evaluations, according to a press release, is to determine how likely a company is “to cancel a client or deny services based on ideological or religious belief” and is “intended to “help organizations understand their vulnerability and likelihood of being denied service by their vendors, including banking, IT, and insurance, due to their religious or political beliefs.” This data compilation makes up the largest of its kind for assessments of woke corporations.
And by every available indication, the group’s concerns are widely shared. According to a 2021 poll conducted by Scott Rasmussen, 66 percent of American adults believe companies should avoid taking positions on political issues, but only 43 percent claim to know the political positions of the companies they patronize.
Until every American is aware of what causes their money is being used to advance, every American opposed to the progressive agenda should consider lending their support to 1792 Exchange and other organizations committed to bringing the dangers of woke capitalism to a halt. In the end, the health of our society and the strength of our nation may depend on it.
Aaron Flanigan is the pen name of a writer in Washington, D.C.
