Singularity

[Url]http://aattp.org/hobby-lobby-401k-hypocrisy-they-were-for-birth-control-even-after-they-were-against-it[url]

Investments: Contraceptives, Abortion Pills, Abortion Providers
Josh Kilburn

That Hobby Lobby objects to abortion and birth control with one side of their face while cramming all the money they make from their 401(k) plans in the vasectomy-loving other is surprise, but the numbers showing just how much, and just how extensive these investments go, is remarkable.

Hypocrisy? Hypocrisy is s0 yesteryear. These people could teach Tartuffe a thing or two about hypocrisy.

Three months after they filed their lawsuit, Hobby Lobby filed documents with the Department of Labor that show the company’s 401(k) employee retirement plan held more than $73 million in mutual funds with investments in the companies that produce the emergency contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices, and drugs that are used in abortions; they go so far as to make matching contributions to their company-sponsored 401(k), says Mother Jones.

According to Rick Ungar, writing for Forbes:

Redden (author of the Mother Jones article) additionally notes that, in a brief submitted to the Court in support of Hobby Lobby’s position in the case, the company specifically names contraceptive products such as Plan B, Ella, and IUDs as violating their religious beliefs because they work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in a woman’s uterus.

According to the Green family, interfering with an already fertilized egg is tantamount to abortion—an act unacceptable to the family and one they refuse to participate in no matter what the Affordable Care Act may require .



However, it turns out that the owners of Hobby Lobby do not appear to have any problem with profiting from the companies that manufacture the very products that so grievously offend their religious principles.

Ungar then goes on to cite a summation, with some of the figures in the Mother Jones reports:

These companies include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which makes Plan B and ParaGard, a copper IUD, and Actavis ACT +0.43%, which makes a generic version of Plan B and distributes Ella. Other holdings in the mutual funds selected by Hobby Lobby include Pfizer PFE +1.35%, the maker of Cytotec and Prostin E2, which are used to induce abortions; Bayer , which manufactures the hormonal IUDs Skyla and Mirena; AstraZeneca AZN +0.66%, which has an Indian subsidiary that manufactures Prostodin, Cerviprime, and Partocin, three drugs commonly used in abortions; and Forest Laboratories, which makes Cervidil, a drug used to induce abortions. Several funds in the Hobby Lobby retirement plan also invested in Aetna AET +1.21% and Humana, two health insurance companies that cover surgical abortions, abortion drugs, and emergency contraception in many of the health care policies they sell.

When taken all together, the nine funds that hold the investments ultimately involve three-quarters of the company’s 401(k) assets. And this isn’t by accident; as a company, they have an obligation to know what is sponsoring the 401(k) benefits of their employees, and there are plenty of opportunities for the retirement fund to invest in mutual funds that are specifically screened to avoid “religiously offensive” products — they just choose not to use them:

To avoid supporting companies that manufacture abortion drugs—or products such as alcohol or pornography—religious investors can turn to a cottage industry of mutual funds that screen out stocks that religious people might consider morally objectionable. The Timothy Plan and the Ave Maria Fund, for example, screen for companies that manufacture abortion drugs, support Planned Parenthood, or engage in embryonic stem cell research.

And no, this isn’t missing any key points either, as Ungar spells out:

Many have noted that, as a 401 (k) plan, the employees (not the Greens) are responsible for making the choices as to what investments their plan chooses to participate in (via choosing among the choices provided) and, therefore, I am unfairly blaming the Greens.

First of all, where do you imagine the 401(k) comes from? Rather than falling from the sky like manna, the program is established and set up by management. And who is management? The Greens.

Once established, many of you point out that the program is run by an outside administrator. You are likely correct. Who do you imagine picks that outside administrator? Management. And who is management? The Greens.

Now, many are quick to point out that it is the outside administrator that chooses the funds that will be included in the 401(k) program. Right again. But who gives the administrator the marching orders and parameters as to what funds are acceptable Management. And who is management? The Greens.

And then many are all too fast to point out that the Greens are not benefitting and profiting from the 401(k) investments in the very products they went to SCOTUS to avoid having to provide based on their religious beliefs. Yo [sic] argue that it is the employees- not the Greens- who are benefitting. And yet, the Greens ARE employees and, as such, participate in the 401(k) program! While you seem to only view them as the shareholders of the corporation, you forget that they are also employed by the corporation in the most senior management positions! They are, as much as anyone else drawing a paycheck from Hobby Lobby, employees. thus, if the 401(k) is profiting, then the Greens are profiting. And with 75 percent of the funds included holding investments that would fail the Green’s religious test as stated in their SCOTUS brief, I’ll gladly take the bet from anyone who cares to wager that the Greens are not choosing some of these funds in their 401(k).

Finally, and my admitted favorite, some of you like to point out that these investments in companies that offend the Greens, per their SCOTUS case, are a tiny fraction of the total investment so why am I being so unfair to them? This is no doubt true. However, I never understood that the percentage of ownership would be dispositive of the issue of hypocrisy. If this is the case, then I really don’t understand why you are so upset about the provision of Obamacare that required Hobby Lobby to provide these contraceptive products to their employees via health insurance. Why? Because that provision is but a tiny fraction of the total impact and requirements of Obamacare! By your logic, it is therefore to be dismissed as no big deal.

As he says; Hobby Lobby is worthy only of contempt — and boycott.

Vacaman

Investments are only such to make money, I would not invest in a product I don't believe in, due to the hypocrisy. I would have to assume that these same companies must produce other products and though this author has brought up some correlations, I doubt it is the end all. The hobby lobby company has there reasons and I couldn't care less what they are. Why should a health care provider furnish birth control? It is not an essential medication to sustain life. Why not insist that health care providers provide a suicide pill for adults? Why as adults can't they be responsible enough to buy their own contraception? I did, even as a teenager.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

I agree. I really don't care Hobby Lobby's reasons. I don't think any employer should be required to buy any type of insurance for their employees and when they do they should offer what ever plans they want.

Singularity

Why should a health care provider furnish birth control?

Are you a total idiot or what? Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most dangerous medical conditions most women will face in their lifetime. Complications of pregnancy can be extremely serious and life-threatening! And preventing pregnancy is not the only medical condition for which some of these prescriptions are indicated for treatment!

Birth control medication or devices can only be obtained by consultation and prescription from a healthcare provider. And to be used safely, ongoing medical supervision is required.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

Amazing hate screed.

The bottom line is that Americans have God given liberties and it is sad that the decision to uphold that idea wasn't unanimous.


But one little spoken of positive came out of this.... It highlights that the left calling itself PRO CHOICE is a box faced lie.

Democrats are still working to force people to participate in abortions against their will.

They hate choice as much as they hate religion a d freedom.

Singularity

Your point is moot as employers ARE required by law to provide it. Please make comments on topic or STFU.

Super Dave Loc: Realville, USA

Women survived many centuries without me subsidizing their sex.

Have you at least considered the possibility of and alternative that doesn't make every woman of child bearing age a dependant ward of the state?

Speak of hypocrisy? The left now wants corporations in the bedroom?

I don't care who screws who. I don't ask anyone to pay money when I have sex, because I refuse to be their serf.

Singularity

Please make comments on topic. In case you cannot ascertain what the topic is, it is:
Hobby Lobby claims providing resources which allow women to obtain birth control products which they believe are abortifacient violate the corporation's religious beliefs. Yet they then invest in the companies that manufacture and provide these exact products! Is this not hypocritical?

Singularity

Super Dave,


In response to your puerile drivel:

Women survived many centuries without me subsidizing their sex. (Congrats on your longevity. Most men don't survive for even one century! Before the advent of reliable birth control, women DIED so young and at such a rate from complications of pregnancy and childbirth that it was EXTREMELY rare for a woman to survive to the age of menopause!)

Have you at least considered the possibility of and alternative that doesn't make every woman of child bearing age a dependant ward of the state? (MOOT point.)

Speak of hypocrisy? The left now wants corporations in the bedroom? (Ridiculous hyperbole.)

I don't care who screws who. I don't ask anyone to pay money when I have sex, because I refuse to be their serf. (Serf? Or whore? Off topic in any case? So you would NEVER consider it to be proper having your insurance cover medication for your erectile dysfunction, infertility problems or vasectomy?)

So, the answer is a resounding yes! You are a total idiot. None of your comments are on topic. Please confine further comments on this thread to the topic presented.

Singularity

TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION HERE AND NOW:

That Hobby Lobby objects to abortion and birth control with one side of their face while cramming all the money they make from their 401(k) plans in the vasectomy-loving other is surprise, but the numbers showing just how much, and just how extensive these investments go, is remarkable.

Three months after they filed their lawsuit, Hobby Lobby filed documents with the Department of Labor that show the company’s 401(k) employee retirement plan held more than $73 million in mutual funds with investments in the companies that produce the emergency contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices, and drugs that are used in abortions; they go so far as to make matching contributions to their company-sponsored 401(k).

In essence, Hobby Lobby Management invest their own real money via employee matching into a 401k plan which overwhelmingly supports companies dedicated to the development and marketing to others of products they claim are abortifacients. Despite their claimed objections, their employee 401k plan would by their own logic be involved in performing abortions and thus unavailable to use by themselves or any Christian employees who share the Green's (Management's) religious convictions.

dennisimoto Loc: Washington State (West)

Singularity, I usually agree with most of your postings but this argument is as thin as the soup you would get if you boiled the shadow of a pigeon that had died of starvation. Sounds as if you would have all females sterilized at birth to save them from pregnancy! Birth control medications are regularly dispensed to women & girls who never have a follow up after beginning to use them. You are stating ideals seldom followed in real life.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Kiss my ass skank. I'll write what I want.

Singularity

The STFU would apply here, please.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Please this. Who do you think you are? Another liberal thinks by opening her big mouth she can tell others what to do or say.

Singularity

I would appreciate it if it was realized that pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the use of contraceptive medications and devices, are serious medical issues and that the avoidance or planning of such an event is a serious decision to be made thoughtfully and with the best possible medical assistance.

Birth control medications and devices are regularly prescribed to women and girls following medical consultation. In order to obtain ongoing follow up prescriptions a woman or girl must maintain ongoing follow-up consultations with the medical provider of the prescription. If there is no medical follow-up, where is the prescription obtained?

This argument is tangential to the stated topic... that Hobby Lobby's management and owners are hypocrites when claiming to be offended that any part of their money might be used to allow abortions via products the woman employee might obtain through company provided insurance benefits, yet they do allow their money to be used to invest in and promote the very corporations that develop, manufacture and market these exact products.