Jun 18, 08:36 PM
If GoodYear, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi are doing business with Iran, should NASCAR do business with them?
Posted by Cheryl Walker under Racing ArticleHere at cawsnjaws.com, we have three main desires: to share the results of the commercial breakdowns of all of the Cup races; to occasionally write articles and always have information available about the neurological disorder known as Tourette Syndrome; and to write columns about NASCAR racing when we have decided we have something worthy to say.
It is not usually our desire to delve into hot topics, most particularly of a political or religious nature. But it has come to our attention that a few major U.S. companies have continued to do business with countries with less-than-stellar relationships with the United States; which are considered by many nations of the world to be hotbeds of terrorism. GE appears to be the biggest offender, but GoodYear, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi are also named as doing business with Iran, as well as Syria.
It is a free-market society, and those companies are entitled to do business with whomever they wish. However, it is not a question as to whether they can; it is more whether they should. Were we on the board of directors for any of these companies, we would certainly be inclined to ask how necessary this was for our company’s existence, as well as how ethical it might be.
We struggle with this issue even on a personal level, as our new Chevy Impala came with four GoodYears. How seriously do we take this? Shall we remove them, and spend close to a grand replacing them? Without selling them to someone else to ride on, of course? Do we put up, or shut up?
It inspires us to put the question before NASCAR fans, the greatest sports fans in the world: Given this information about the ties to terrorist nations, what should we do? Boycott the GoodYears, boo the Blimp, and drink generic sodas we have brought in to the races? And NASCAR, should they take this information into consideration, as far as doing business with these major companies? These major sponsors?
I am betting that with all of us, we at cawsnjaws with our GoodYear tires, most of the fans in the stands, and NASCAR with its strong business ties to these big companies, we will let the expense and complications of doing it another way deter us from doing anything else. As with many other issues in life, it all comes down to money, doesn’t it?
-
John Park Says:
Jun 19, 07:22 AMI don’t buy any Coke products (YUK !); I don’t buy any Goodyear products, and I’ll stop buying Pepsi today !
-
Alan Sorensen Says:
Jun 19, 08:08 AMAt the end of this article, you answered your own question. This begs the question: “If you already knew the answer, why did you write the article in the first place?”.
-
John Overstreet Says:
Jun 19, 08:11 AMIran is no different than Saudi Arabia and Pakistan which are both just as guilty (the 911 terrorist came from both) in producing terrorist. Or China for it’s Slave/Child labor but we turn a blind eye so we can keep getting cheap junk from Walmart. Right now the government is pushing for war with Iran so you see all this anti-Iran propaganda, but there is no real substance behind it. Remember these are the some “experts” that said Iraq was building nukes which was never true. Until Iran actually does something to us, I am not concerned…..
-
yankeegranny Says:
Jun 19, 08:33 AMI don;t base my spending on being politically correct. I believe about 1% of what our politicians tell us. They are in bed with some of the worst dictators in the world because it is the “national best interests.’ Translate that to corporate special interests. Money talks and BS walks.Sorry to sound so jaded, but that’s a much more realistic picture than the one you paint. I don’t drink soda and my tires are BFGoodrich, but that is my personal choice and not who they trade with.Go NASCAR, go with whoever gives you the best deal-just “Show me the money is the American way.”
-
Chris Rueter Says:
Jun 19, 10:34 AMThis is even more of an ethical struggle, in that if these companies were to stop doing business, the average people in Iran would suffer. These are just people who go to work, try to earn a living and support their families. Many of whom do not approve of what their government is doing. Why should GE deny them electrical power? Why should Goodyear deny them decent tires for their vehicles? Why shouldn’t these hard working average Joe’s be able to enjoy a Coke or a Pepsi after a hard days work? It is a complicated issue in that the world in general, and the US in particular does not approve of many of the things that the Iranian government supports. Should we make the average people in Iran suffer because their leaders are failing them?
-
wayne M Says:
Jun 19, 11:23 AMWhy cant you and others leave world politics out of auto racing? Toyota more than likely has a market in Iran, lets ban them from NASCAR.
-
Dot Says:
Jun 19, 03:41 PMIt would be very difficult to stop using or switching to another product in today’s world. Almost everything made is by a few corporations. It’s amazing how big these corporate giants are. Look at some labels. For instance, Mrs.Smith’s pies are made by the same people who make Schwann’s pies. The list goes on and on. Good article, though.
-
James Virginia Says:
Jun 20, 06:48 AMBomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran.
Commercial breakdown, driver focus, and links related to the LifeLock 400 Commercial breakdown, driver focus, and links related to the Toyota/Save Mart 350

Jun 19, 04:17 AM
Wow! Thanks for a great article.