Not buying the Allstate attack
By krempasky Posted in Elections — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
If you've not seen it - a former employee of Allstate insurance claims he was fired for his personal (Christian) beliefs. You can see the details of his claim here. Count me as a skeptic.
Allstate denies the entire incident - and moreover, is offended at the notion that they would discriminate this way. Obviously, since Mr. Barber has sued the company, they are limited in their ability to respond. But they're not settling, they're not simply going to write a check to make this go away - and they deserve their day in court.
Moreover, there's nothing in the Allstate record that gives any indication that butresses Barber's claim. They're 75 years old and employee 40,000 people. Best I can tell - this is the first time someone's claimed anti-Christian discrimination. The company's CEO is a traditional-values Catholic, maxed-out Bush supporter and the company's PAC gave 69% of their gifts to Republicans in 2004.
Again, nothing in the record to back this claim up. By all accounts, Allstate is a good neighbor. Worse, conservative pro-family groups are jumping on Barber's claim and attacking the company. This is simply irresponsible. Contrast the AFA's actions to the National Rifle Association - which gets requests for legal defense ("the gubment took my gun!") all year round. Instead of simply taking a claimant's word for it - the NRA retains a small staff of investigators to look into the facts of EACH case before putting their own reputation on the line.
If Barber's claims are true, we are to be offended, and surely Allstate will pay dearly. But in the interim, this claim is not Gospel, and conservatives do themselves no service by treating it as such.
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Not buying the Allstate attack 8 Comments (0 topical, 8 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Here's a link to a Scientology/Allstate issue.
I'm really feeling guilty about bringing this into the thread, as it has nothing to do with the claims being made, and it's an episode that I'm sure AllState would rather forget. However since I mentioned it I guess I need to provide documentation to prove I didn't just make it up.
Stream of consciousness comments with only oblique import to the matter shouldn't be made...sorry. It's just this jogged an old memory.
Why is it so hard to believe that a company with such as strong commitment to "diversity" as seen on their foundation's website:
http://www.allstate.com/Community/PageRender.asp?page=Platforms/Diversity.h
tm#tol
could behave the way that Mr. Barber has alleged? The accusation is very credible, and while I agree that the company should have its day in court, if the complaint is valid, the company should be forced to pay for its gross hypocracy.
It really gets me when people say "lets be inclusive" and then say "you Christians don't belong because you don't like others' behaviors"
"Inclusiveness" has become the buzzword of the "don't criticize my lifestyle" community, and when you watch the pro-homosexual militant community at work, you realize there is nothing inclusive about their goals, but rather it is nothing more than an attempt to validate their own experience at whatever the cost.
It is certainly possible that the allegations are true. However I would suggest that in the very isolated case of a single disgruntled ex-employee making these allegations against an employer who does not have a past record of this behavior and as part of a lawsuit intended to enrich himself, a certain natural skpeticism is in order.
On a secondary issue I would also ask people here whether this sort of tactic should be encouraged or celebrated. Yes, discrimination and bigotry have done great evil in the past in this country and we ought be vigilant against them, but do we want to further the "Cult of the Victim" in our society in which anyone who feels himself aggrieved and is looking for a possible financial windfall gets a free pass to claim "They hate because I'm a <fill in the blank>" Surely this sort of behavior is one of the more obnoxious immaturities of the Left and its vast Grievances-for-Everyone industry and ought not become a standard tool of conservatives, let alone of Christians.
The instigation appears to be payback for another action of the employee and this complaint by a homosexual group was used as a way to get rid of him.
That's a very plausible scenario. His writing alone might not have gotten him fired, but the opportunity to use it to fire him may be the context.
Or maybe you are whatifing.
Say you are speculating or cite why you think this way.
Allstate promoting inclusivity does not automatically mean they or their workers discriminate against Christians. It is not probable, and therefore should be treated skeptically until that date in court.
Could the complaintant feel "oppressed" or "victimized" in an "inclusive" work environment... maybe?
Is that a reason to sue? No, people should be more thick-skinned than that. [Without knowing all the facts...] promotion of this case could damage the cause of many Christians. In essence, he'll just be seen as another "victim"-type, just another group, no different than homosexual groups, etc. asking for America's "respect".
Fundamentally, diversity (and acceptance of it) is a business perogative in the melting pot that is the US. Businesses are tired of having to treat employees like children... they just want them to get along, and get the work done/.
do allstate employees sign some policy stating they won't do/write anything on their own time that didn't go along with allstate's agenda? everyone's jumping on this bash the christian pov wagon...that's only part of it. has anyone else been fired for disagreeing with other things allstate supports?
think we'll find out who the rat was before the trial?
In the early 90's (can't remember details) Allstate got all wrapped up with L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics movement. Not at the top corporate level, but just a level down. Lots of Dianetics materials were being used in sales training, and some indoctrination was alleged. Pretty bad embarrassment at the corporate level.
I'm feeling guilty about writing this since I can't remember the details. I'll post again after a visit to Mr. Google, but I have to go to work now. Anybody else that has a link please help me out.
But I agree with the gist. Anybody can allege anything, and sue in hopes of getting lucky.