The Boiling Frog Dilemma: Saving Canada from Economic DeclineThere’s been endless commentary on the swelling social divide we’re seeing in our culture. Almost daily we witness the chasm grow wider, often to the point where sensible and reasonable debate can no longer take place. We fear for social order and even the health of our democracy.
increasingly, some customers are pushing back. Claiming religious objections, or that the issue has strayed far beyond just same-sex marriage, some are purposely shunning businesses with Pride decorations. These socially divisive issues are more than political. They threaten the health of our economy on several fronts.
A second economic impact will be a loss of focus on the actual product or service itself. Increased amounts of time, attention and marketing dollars spent on appealing to customers’ social values means less effort and focus on the product itself. This seems to be NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s point in banning teams wearing socially themed warm-up sweaters, calling it “a distraction.”