Apple, Google workers among top donors to Bernie Sanders campaign
Google and Apple are among the most common employers of people donating to the campaign of Bernie Sanders, who's vying against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections.
Workers associated with Alphabet -- Google's parent company -- have donated the most money so far, over $250,000, according to Federal Elections Commission data shared by OpenSecrets. Apple is fourth on the list, with over $85,000 in individual contributions.
Second and third place belong to the University of California and Microsoft, respectively. Technology companies have a strong presence on the list overall, some others in the top 15 being Amazon, Intel, and Cisco. People employed with universities or the government/military also ranked high.
Clinton, in contrast, is backed mainly by donors linked to the finance industry and labor unions, at the top being Soros Fund Management with more than $7 million. The Sanders campaign has often prided itself on staying distant from the finance industry.
OpenSecrets didn't suggest why Sanders would have strong tech support, but Apple as an institution has adopted many left-leaning stances, at least on social and environmental issues. The company often supports LGBT and racial diversity causes for instance, and is working towards making its operations and supply chain powered by renewable energy.
Sanders has been critical of Apple in the past, arguing that the company should offshore fewer manufacturing jobs and stop funneling revenue through Ireland to avoid paying normal taxes.
Workers associated with Alphabet -- Google's parent company -- have donated the most money so far, over $250,000, according to Federal Elections Commission data shared by OpenSecrets. Apple is fourth on the list, with over $85,000 in individual contributions.
Second and third place belong to the University of California and Microsoft, respectively. Technology companies have a strong presence on the list overall, some others in the top 15 being Amazon, Intel, and Cisco. People employed with universities or the government/military also ranked high.
Clinton, in contrast, is backed mainly by donors linked to the finance industry and labor unions, at the top being Soros Fund Management with more than $7 million. The Sanders campaign has often prided itself on staying distant from the finance industry.
OpenSecrets didn't suggest why Sanders would have strong tech support, but Apple as an institution has adopted many left-leaning stances, at least on social and environmental issues. The company often supports LGBT and racial diversity causes for instance, and is working towards making its operations and supply chain powered by renewable energy.
Sanders has been critical of Apple in the past, arguing that the company should offshore fewer manufacturing jobs and stop funneling revenue through Ireland to avoid paying normal taxes.
Comments
After the NY primary last night, I am afraid it's mathematically done and any 'vying' is pretty much over with for Bernie Sanders.
This just proves these employees are idiots. They never associate the consequences with their actions. Likely the same ones who have turned California into a dying rats nest.
So you're telling me that the vote will be between a corrupt, establishment demagogue and trump?
A little political humor:
Their standards of living are actually higher. However, their combined total population is less than the state of California, along with their entire GDP being about one half of California, if that, and nearly 85% in the Services related industries. They manufacture very little.
For sake of argument.
Sweden + Norway + Finland + Denmark: 26,265,070 total population estimates GDP estimates combined: $1,351.059 Billion ($1.351 Trillion US)
GDP Per Capita: $47,319 + 69,031 + $41,690 + $45,435 for a mean of: $50,869
Now factor in Universal Health Care and Preventive Care, University Education and more. Better infrastructure and it becomes quite clear their standard of living is far greater.
California: 39,144,818 total population estimate GDP estimate: $2,300 Billion ($2.3 Trillion US)
GDP Per Capita: $59,562
Shitty infrastructure, quality universities that are a fortune to attend, and the Health Care improving tremendously, but not at those levels. Yet.
For reference, I voted for Clinton.
Most of the employees at Apple and Google are "the rich" even if they don't know it, and they will be singing a different tune once Bernie starts taking their "fair share". Maybe he'll even declare smart phones "a right" so he can use that as an excuse to nationalize Apple and Google.
Check the two links for Hillary and Bernie's donations.
Now, look at the "Select Source of Funds" link at the top. Notice how Bernie's link is for "Candidate Committee only", while Hillary's is set to "Campaign + Outside Groups". Change Hillary's to also be "Candidate Committee only". Surprise! A completely different list, and much more in line with Bernie's but with more law firms than tech firms. The different between Alphabet's contribution to Bernie and Hillary is only $30k, for example.
Now, consider the claim that "Clinton, in contrast, is backed mainly by donors linked to the finance industry and labor unions, at the top being Soros Fund Management with more than $7 million. The Sanders campaign has often prided itself on staying distant from the finance industry." I have to laugh that you would single out George Soros, the most famous liberal philanthropist and boogeyman of the conservative movement as "finance industry". Yes, he made his money in finance, but he's also one of the biggest philanthropists in the world, including to organizations like MoveOn. The only other three groups listed which could be claimed as finance industry -- Euclidean, Pritzerk, and Renaissance -- have similar track records for donating to liberal causes.
Also...
"OpenSecrets didn't suggest why Sanders would have strong tech support, but Apple as an institution has adopted many left-leaning stances, at least on social and environmental issues."
Once you set Hillary's list to be "Candidate Committee only", it stops at donors as high as $148,645. How much did Apple employees give to Bernie Sanders? $85,576.
So for all you know Apple gave more to Clinton than Sanders, it just doesn't show in the limited chart.
Shame, shame, AppleInsider.
It's almost as bad as saying we should look to Dubai as an economy to aspire to !
Bernie is a loser who didn't receive a steady paycheck until in his forties, and he's a radical communist socialist creep, and an admirer of evil regimes worldwide. And let's not even mention his ridiculous plans, such as taxing the hell out of people.
All Bernie supporters deserve to have 90% of their wealth wiped out, immediately, so that they may put their money where their ignorant mouths are. The only problem is that quite a few Bernie supporters are bums and losers with no wealth or income at all, and they're just looking for handouts.
I can't wait to see all of the hysterical and naive Bernie supporters crying their eyes out soon, when they realize that the game is truly up, and that their ridiculous candidate is officially out of the race. Go cry me a river. Those bums disgust me.
One interesting and important thing to know is that Norway does not derive all of its wealth from oil. In fact their success comes much from liberal policies that make economic sense. Back in the 70's when women lib was all the rage Norway took in aboard and created free child care and all sorts of other benefits and encouraged women to go to work. They also have a very, if not complete equal pay rate for men and women. The result is that in a relatively short space of time Norway increased its work force dramatically and now benefits through a much larger tax base. Most of these 'socialist' (not really) moves are based on pretty sound economics.