Weird, my taxes go to a government whose policies I don’t want to fund. Guess I’ll just have to DEAL WITH IT AND STOP WHINING. Can you imagine how many things you purchase that ultimately fund something you probably won’t like?

I agree with the numerous people who’ve suggested what the gym owner does with the money he earns from his business is just that: *his* business.

Note I said “what he does with his money.” Not what he does in interacting with customers. If he is openly soliciting donations towards his candidate, I would first tell him politely that I keep my political donations private, without even mentioning I loathed his candidate. If he persisted, then, yes, I would go elsewhere. (I probably wouldn’t if the extent of coercion were limited to a simple campaign poster. Probably not a smart move on his part, but, then, it’s his gym.)

It’s why I don’t go to Curves.

Not too hard to boycott businesses whose practices you do not like. I have a list of 5 places you could not drag me to. What is hard is to make sure that you are not passing your business along to competitors who do the same thing, or are worse.

I like the idea of wearing a t-shirt of the candidate that you support to the gym.

If you use your gym membership you are probably actually costing the owner money. The secret of gyms is they keep costs relatively low, because those who do not use it subsidize those who do.

I think you should put your money where your values are. I base many of my shopping decisions on those kinds of value judgements — your money should not support something you personally don’t. As to a practical solution — I would imagine you could work with your doctor or physical therapist to develop a routine that can be done with elastic bands and/or free weights. Then leave the gym and give the money to a candidate you support. While you are at it, there are web sites that reveal how different stores donate their money. You should check those out as well.

So does this person researchs the political causes of every place he/she patronizes? The company that I work for donates large sums of money to a political party I personally detest, that doesn’t mean I’m going to quit my job.

I feel that if the gentleman likes the gym he should continue to patronize it. What the owner of the gym does with his money is non of the patron’s business. I have many relatives and friends whom I do not agree with poltically. Should I then abandon them, and if so who would be the loser? The thing that makes America great is that although we disagree about many things, politics being one, we all live togeather in peaceful harmony respecting the rights of others to disagree.

Apparently it’s obvious somehow that the gym owner has made his contribution, perhaps via campaign posters at the gym. But you can make it just as apparent that you support a different candidate, and perhaps even with a monetary donation. My suggestion is spend some money to buy a t-shirt with the name and likeness of your candidate, and make sure you wear it whenever you go to the gym. If you get kicked out because of it, then you have a good excuse to ask for your membership money back (and not attending any longer), and/or that the owner be less obviously political at his gym. If you don’t get kicked out, then you’ve made your own personal statement pretty clear, and put at least a small amount of money on your own candidate that probably still far exceeds the amount of your membership that went to the (your) “wrong” candidate. If the gym owner’s contribution is not so apparent to everyone, then I suggest you consider the idea that it’s a free country and we ought to allow each other to have a diversity of opinions without getting so upset about it. Chances are your grocer, mortgage company, auto manufacturer and business you work at, parents, kids, and other relatives all contribute to politians also, possibly some in conflict with your opinions. Planning on boycotting everyone?

I doubt that the marginal benefit of a portion of your membership going to a candidate you oppose exceeds the marginal cost of driving longer distances (the majority of your membership likely goes to pay for gym employee salaries, facilities, the owner’s home and lifestyle and only a very small fraction goes to the candidate). Additionally, you could probably offset any effect of your money going to a disagreeable candidate by contributing to their opponent.

Steven Levitt, an economist at Harvard University, has examined all repeat meetings of House candidates (such as Waldholtz-Shepard) from 1978 to 1990. Levitt has found that an extra $100,000 in candidate spending (whether spent by an incumbent or challenger) leads to an increase in the candidate’s vote share of about 0.2 percentage points. Source: http://www.reason.com/news/show/30323.html

This person needs to grow up and be a bit more realistic. Just as they have the right to support whatever politics they believe in, so does the gym owner. They aren’t being solicited for political donations, they are paying for the use of gym facilities. The owner supporting a politician they believe in is no different than the guy down the street making donations from his salary. Has it occurred to you that your employer might not support the same politics that you do, and more than likely, you would be offended if they interfered with your choice ??

Get over it, what do you care where the owner of the gym spends his money. What’s next, you dont like the car he drives or where he eats? If you’re paying for a service and he’s providing that service to your satisfaction, that’s all that matters. GET OVER IT!

You do not need to rehabilitate your shoulder. Just sit at home and use the gym money to buy donuts and coffee. Your political convictions are more important than your health. Stop wasting gas money on driving to the gym, spend your money on junk food, and vote for your candidate so he/she can lower taxes so you can buy more junk food. When you gain 200 pounds and your shoulder aches with pain, you will not mind because you stood by your political convictions and did the right thing. Suffering is a small price to pay to stand up for your beliefs.

Well that was a pretty uncreative answer.

How about the following options:
1. Purchase the piece of specialty equipment yourself that you need for your shoulder, and then use some other gym for the pool/tennis courts/whatever.

2. Donate some money to the political candidate that you hate’s biggest competitor.