Looking for cheap auto insurance? Who isn't! Progressive Auto Insurance will actually let you compare insurance rates. And they'll give you the straight scoop, even if they're not the lowest!
Well, bully. Might I suggest that, if you're in the market for cheap auto insurance, you go with the lizard? Or the guy from "24" who's hawking Allstate?
Because here's the thing: There are more important things in life than cheap auto insurance. You might believe that civil discourse is worth fighting for. Or that al Qaida prisoners shouldn't have access to U.S. courts. Or that the majority should have some say over what kind of society we live in. Or that there's really no good reason to stick up for Nazis who want to march through Jewish suburbs.
If you buy Progressive auto insurance, you might save a few bucks. I really don't know. But I do know that if you spent money with Progressive in 2003 or 2004, it wound up in the pockets of:
- Moveon.org
- Young Democrats of America
- The Marijuana Policy Project ("MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is prison")
- Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
- Sierra Club
- PunkVoter Inc.
- The A.C.L.U.
Yes friends, that's right. The Ay See El You. Fighting the good fight against the Pledge of Allegiance and abortion restrictions. On your nickel. If you send that nickel to Progressive Auto Insurance.
How does it work? Well, the No. 1 dog at Progressive is one Peter B. Lewis. In the 2004 election cycle he was the No. 2 individual contributor to "527" committees, totaling $23 million.
You see, if you buy Progressive auto insurance, when you send in your premium, you're helping pay Peter Lewis' $1.5 million annual salary. If that sounds like chump change to you, he's also got $72 million in options.
Now, I'm not saying that conservatives should organize a boycott of Progressive Auto Insurance, or divest the stock (PGR, if you want to check your portfolio and mutual funds), but I would ask that you balance your desire for cheap auto insurance by putting your thumb on the scale for companies with more sophisticated political proclivities.
