Hobby Lobby Founder - May Close All Stores

Granny

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Jun 12, 2007
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Hobby Lobby May Close

David Sloan “The wisdom that comes from above is, first, pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.” – James 3:17

By David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.


When my family and I started our company 40 years ago, we were working out of a garage on a $600 bank loan, assembling miniature picture frames.. Our first retail store wasn’t much bigger than most people’s living rooms, but we had faith that we would succeed if we lived and worked according to God’s word.

From there, Hobby Lobby has become one of the nation’s largest arts and crafts retailers, with more than 500 locations in 41 states. Our children grew up into fine business leaders, and today we run Hobby Lobby together, as a family.

We’re Christians, and we run our business on Christian principles. I’ve always said that the first two goals of our business are (1) to run our business in harmony with God’s laws, and (2) to focus on people more than money. And that’s what we’ve tried to do. We close early so our employees can see their families at night. We keep our stores closed on Sundays, one of the week’s biggest shopping days, so that our workers and their families can enjoy a day of rest.

We believe that it is by God’s grace that Hobby Lobby has endured, and he has blessed us and our employees. We’ve not only added jobs in a weak economy, we’ve raised wages for the past four years in a row. Our full-time employees start at 80% above minimum wage.

But now, our government threatens to change all of that.

A new government healthcare mandate says that our family business MUST provide what I believe are abortion-causing drugs as part of our health insurance. Being Christians, we don’t pay for drugs that might cause abortions, which means that we don’t cover emergency contraception, the morning-after pill or the week-after pill. We believe doing so might end a life after the moment of conception, something that is contrary to our most important beliefs.

It goes against the Biblical principles on which we have run this company since day one.

If we refuse to comply, we could face $1.3 million PER DAY in government fines.

Our government threatens to fine job creators in a bad economy.

Our government threatens to fine a company that’s raised wages four years running.

Our government threatens to fine a family for running its business according to its beliefs. It’s not right. I know people will say we ought to follow the rules; that it’s the same for everybody. But that’s not true.

The government has exempted thousands of companies from this mandate, for reasons of convenience or cost. But it won’t exempt them for reasons of religious belief.

So, Hobby Lobby and my family are forced to make a choice. With great reluctance, we filed a lawsuit today, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, asking a federal court to stop this mandate before it hurts our business. We don’t like to go running into court,
but we no longer have a choice. We believe people are more important than the bottom line and that honoring God is more important than turning a profit.

My family has lived the American dream. We want to continue growing our company and providing great jobs for thousands of employees, but the government is going to make that much more difficult.

The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law. I say that’s a choice no American and no American business should have to make.

The government cannot force you to follow laws that go against your fundamental religious belief. They have exempted thousands of companies but will not except Christian organizations including the Catholic church.


Sincerely,
David Green

CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
 
The gov't assumes we are too stupid to rule ourselves. Some of "us" substantiate this claim by allowing our rights to be infringed.
 
That's good. Because of his principles, he's going to force thousands to lose their jobs, and then blame it all on the president.

I can understand trying to fight for your beliefs, but at what cost?
 
That's good. Because of his principles, he's going to force thousands to lose their jobs, and then blame it all on the president.

I can understand trying to fight for your beliefs, but at what cost?

They had jobs because his family provided them. I doubt these stores employ very many full time employees anyhow. Depends on how strong your belief is as to how hard you fight for it.
 
Trust me when I say the Affordable care act will hurt a lot more people then it will help. And when people that wanted this see the cost they are going to have to pay we will have some very pissed off people.
 
That's good. Because of his principles, he's going to force thousands to lose their jobs, and then blame it all on the president.

I can understand trying to fight for your beliefs, but at what cost?

To a true Christian - at all cost. You serve God first above all others, including family/friends. You don't choose when you think it's ok to violate those principles.
 
That's good. Because of his principles, he's going to force thousands to lose their jobs, and then blame it all on the president.

I can understand trying to fight for your beliefs, but at what cost?
Frankly, if we don't have any principles left to stand for, society is lost. Agree or disagree with his beliefs, I for one, applaud him for actually standing up for what he believes in. If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything.
 
What I dont get is why an individual is not held responsible for their own actions. Sex can cause kids if you dont want kids and cant afford to buy birth control then the solution is simple dont have sex. Why is this issue being pushed through and mandated. I am sick of the its not my fault society.

Dave
 
I hate that people will loose their jobs but I have a HUGE amount of respect for him standing up for this!

I don't believe in abortion, and I believe this country has turned away from God and that's why we're seeing many of the things we are today.

Just my beliefs and two cents on this subject
 
That's good. Because of his principles, he's going to force thousands to lose their jobs, and then blame it all on the president.

I can understand trying to fight for your beliefs, but at what cost?

I seriously doubt anybody will lose their job. If the business is successful (which I'm guessing it is), the family members who own it, will sell it so they don't have to violate their religious beliefs.
 
btw... "why are they pushing this"?
B/c having people on birth control and using Plan B is waaaay cheaper for the health insurance system... and everybody's rates... than it is for people to be having babies.
Many insurers provide 100% coverage for birth control just for this reason.
 
That's good. Because of his principles, he's going to force thousands to lose their jobs, and then blame it all on the president.

You're an idiot.

You've only been working for the .gov for.... what? A year? That's pretty fast.
 
btw... "why are they pushing this"?
B/c having people on birth control and using Plan B is waaaay cheaper for the health insurance system... and everybody's rates... than it is for people to be having babies.
Many insurers provide 100% coverage for birth control just for this reason.

25% of the population of the United States is barred from using *any* birth control according to their religious beliefs.
 
25% of the population of the United States is barred from using *any* birth control according to their religious beliefs.



Well....thats true...but lots dont follow that doctrine.
Honestly its one of the key issues that started the erosion of my strict practice
 
Well....thats true...but lots dont follow that doctrine.
Honestly its one of the key issues that started the erosion of my strict practice

Doesn't really matter, though, does it? Dogma is dogma.
 
25% of the population of the United States is barred from using *any* birth control according to their religious beliefs.

This is a lie!

Abstinence is birth control and I'd venture to say accepted by every religion. :D
 
No responsibility is cheaper

Swyped while swerving

Insurance companies have no way to encourage "responsibility", at least not cheaply or ethically.
 
A different view! My first thought, to me, seems to be showing prejudice. It's fine to have & stand for your believes, but aren't you trying to force that on others, with the Threat of closing? If it becomes Law, it's no different than having to comply with all the other regulations, such as disabilities act, non discrimination act, ect, ect! :rolleyes:
 
What I dont get is why an individual is not held responsible for their own actions. Sex can cause kids if you dont want kids and cant afford to buy birth control then the solution is simple dont have sex. Why is this issue being pushed through and mandated. I am sick of the its not my fault society.

Dave

Universal healthcare or not, I personally would love to see my thousands in taxes every year going to giving out birth control like candy instead of hedging on the majority of America "taking responsibility". Besides, doesn't sound like he's against standard birth control...just after-the-fact contraceptives.
And I agree, I like to see someone standing up for their beliefs...even if they're dumb or just bullshit. (I doubt he wants to spend the extra money either just like everyone else.)
 
A different view! My first thought, to me, seems to be showing prejudice. It's fine to have & stand for your believes, but aren't you trying to force that on others, with the Threat of closing? If it becomes Law, it's no different than having to comply with all the other regulations, such as disabilities act, non discrimination act, ect, ect! :rolleyes:
nope. They are not saying you can't do it just that they are not going to pay for it.
 
My first thought, to me, seems to be showing prejudice.

What is he "prejudiced" against? What has he pre judged without prior knowledge?

It's fine to have & stand for your believes, but aren't you trying to force that on others, with the Threat of closing?

No, he is not telling anyone they have to get an abortion, he is telling them he wont pay for it. If you walked into work tomorrow and the boss said, he was giving you a 100K/year raise but you had to [insert grossly intolerbale act here] would you do it? In this case the owner feels he is being asked to pay for murder in order to maintain his wealth. He is willing to sacrifice a bunch of money, for his beliefs.

What is he forcing on anyone? He doesnt owe them a job, he offered them one through his hardwork and achievement.

If it becomes Law, it's no different than having to comply with all the other regulations, such as disabilities act, non discrimination act, ect, ect!

And he ahd the right not to start a business if he didnt want to comply with any of those laws. At the time he had no issue with any of those laws, they didnt require him (in his view) to committ murder. A new law has been introduced, it has changed the game and he is electing not to play. That is his right.

Or would you suggest that the federal goverment could and should force him not to close?
 
What is he forcing on anyone? He doesnt owe them a job, he offered them one through his hardwork and achievement

A new law has been introduced, it has changed the game and he is electing not to play. That is his right.


Thank you. QFT
 
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