Ever shop at The Gap? Please read this.

[AlCzervik]

Marjie Lundstrom: Irony abounds as Gap heir opposes public preschool initiative
By Marjie Lundstrom -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 21, 2006
Story appeared on Page A3 of The Bee

For years, the Gap stores have made money on kids, on coaxing parents (especially first-timers) to drop big bucks on trendy little outfits with matching hats and socks and shoes and other perky accessories.
So it's interesting, to say the least, that the son of Gap Inc. founder and chairman emeritus Donald Fisher - whose family fortune was built on outfitting young people - is opposing the new Preschool for All initiative.


San Francisco billionaire John J. Fisher, Gap heir and co-owner of the Oakland A's, recently made a $25,000 contribution to a group opposing the June 6 ballot initiative, according to campaign finance records. Around the same time last month, at least three business associates of Fisher's contributed another $60,000 to Californians to Stop Higher Taxes, a coalition of business and taxpayer organizations opposing the measure.

The initiative, which qualified last week for the primary ballot, isn't about blue jeans. It's about the welfare of California's children. It's about giving kids the right start in school and in life.

It's also about taxes, as it would raise the state income tax rate on the richest 1 percent of Californians - married couples earning over $800,000 or individuals over $400,000.

Put the Fisher family in the elite category of the über-wealthy.

Last year, John J. Fisher was No. 258 on the Forbes 400 Richest Americans list with a net worth of $1.3 billion; the source is listed as inherited from the Gap clothing chain. He is an executive of Pisces Inc., the Fisher family's investment and management company.

more at link
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14098539p-14928384c.html

[acmavm]

1. Typical elitist behavior. n/t

[Cobalt Violet]

2. Don't they realize that if these kids growup...

And get descent jobs that they may actually be able to afford the Gaps overpriced crap? It's just amazing how short sighted people like this are.

[AlCzervik]

4. they just don't give a damn, "the world needs ditch diggers too"

[channa18]

3. Unbelieveable.

[justice1]

6. It doesn't surprise me in the least

They use sweatshop labor. Whenever I look at labels of kids clothes I always think "made by children, for children", it's a sickening thought. It's a shame not one of the major lines of clothing for kids, is made exclusively, in the 50 states.

Calvin Klein is so bold, they have t-shirts that say "made in Saipan", on the front of them.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi justice1!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[nashville_brook]

5. BOYCOTT! no more shower gifts from Baby GAP!

i'm childless, but have bought more crap from baby gap than i care to think about. there's an odd feeling being 'me,' going into these stores. it's like my husband shopping at Victoria's Secret. i have no idea what's a 'good' gift, i just know those little faceless manquins are cute as hell.

taking my emotional temperature in Baby GAP, i used to think i wanted a child. now i know what i really want is a cute little faceless maniquin.

[AlCzervik]

7. i also used to buy gifts there and sometimes go to the outlet

for jeans---no more.

[leftofthedial]

8. I am fed up with the wealthy

it's time for a physical revolution

they need to be removed

[FourStarDemocrat]

9. Best to call their Consumer Relatns dept & tell them why we're boycotting

This way, they'll know exactly why this is happening. I'm finished with them too btw. His greediness is appalling.

[LeftyMom]

10. I'm cool with that

Preschool was created to give kids from poor and undereducated homes the advantages that middle-class kids have entering school. It does a reasonable job of that, in the short term (long term, there's no measurable difference between preschool attendees and non-attendees after the third grade.) There's little evidence that preschool does kids from non-disadvantaged homes even that much good and the rest already get Head Start.

I have no problem taxing the wealthy for education spending, or for something like library service that constitute a proven benefit to the whole community, I'd even love to see a pilot program extending the Early Head Start model of home visits teaching the parent how to interact and stimulate the child to older kids (at least it's a new idea, rather than one proven to do little good.) I just don't see the point in paying out the nose for universal preschool for middle-class kids just because it's politically advantageous to bribe their parents with free day care.

Edit: Not that I buy shit from the Gap. I'm anti-sweatshop labor and boycott them for that reason, if you prefer to boycott them for another I'm all for it. I actually really like thier jeans but I get them from Goodwill so I'm not paying for thier labor practices. :)

[lapislzi]

11. Gap also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic

Last one is kind of apt, as it would seem that that's the kind of country they'd like to see.

[channa18]

13. Thanks....good read.

n/p