I’ll be honest, I’m more interested in what’s going on close to home than I am in the fact that Nike’s stock has decreased since 2021. However, as I read Dennis Warden’s editorial in the Sept. 16th edition of the Gasconade County Republican, I can’t help but address at least one of my concerns about the way statistics were presented. It gets old listening to people who want to continue to be politically divisive and use statistics presented under false pretenses for the purpose of further dividing people.
Let’s look at one piece of the Nike conversation. Warden makes it appear as if Nike’s market value decreased as a result of the hiring of Colin Kaepernick, which, you’ll notice he doesn’t actually say, but implies. The truth is that Kaepernick was first endorsed by Nike in 2011 and changed his contract in 2018 to launch the “Dream Crazy” campaign which analysts say ended up being a winning gamble. Within a few months of the campaign starting, Nike stock hit an all time high.
Nike’s decline after 2021, was due to an increase in competition, less innovation and a poor choice to take Nike products out of retail stores. Warden wants you to think it’s because of their campaign with Kaepernick. It’s not.
I’m not interested in big shoe companies losing billions of dollars. I am interested in the truth. I’m not interested in talking about Bill Maher as if he is a preeminent philosopher on our political system. Why should I care if the average house in Canada costs $64,000 more than the $410,700 price tag here in the U.S.? I care about the fact that the average home price in the U.S. is that high and what we are going to do about it.
People right here in our communities are finding it difficult to pay rising gas prices, pay for groceries, pay for medical care and pay for medicines.
Instead of buying into a narrative that further divides, let’s focus on what matters close to home. Do we care about why Nike has lost billions of dollars, or do we want to focus on being able to take care of our families, support our neighbors, and build strong communities? Do we want to continue to be divided, or do we want to come together and demand that our elected officials get out of the way and actually work for us, regardless of whether they are red or blue?
Rebecca Lorey
