What does it take for progressives to put cash into conservative pockets? Not much, apparently.
Just look at Coachella, the iconic music festival that recently wrapped up April 22 after a two-weekend run. Over 200,000 music lovers were in attendance. While the festival has become a cultural staple, many of its quite liberal attendees are unaware that Coachella owner and billionaire Philip Anschutz uses his wealth to fund conservative organizations. Many Coachella fans are part of the same crowd that participated in the Women’s March in January, yet they each pay hundreds of dollars towards conservative causes without a second thought. This carelessness underscores the importance of being aware of the political implications of our purchases.
Anschutz has a long history of donating to right-wing organizations and candidates, many of which are at odds with the typical Coachella attendee’s views. According to research organization Open Secrets, Anschutz and his wife donated over $1 million to Republican candidates and political action committees in the 2016 election season alone. Although he removed funding from some anti-LGBT organizations since his donation habits were brought under the public scrutiny last January, he still donated over $770,000 in 2016 to similar organizations. While Millennials, many of which claim to be liberal, they are inadvertently fueling conservative causes by purchasing tickets to the Coachella events.
However, all of these donations, which are publicly acknowledged, do not seem to sway Coachella attendees, who contributed to a record-setting $114,593,000 in gross revenue for the festival in 2017, according to Poll Star. Nor has Anschutz’s political support deterred several politically outspoken performers including Beyonce, Eminem, Radiohead, Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar from headlining at the festival.
The fact that so many liberal individuals still enthusiastically participate in the festival in spite of Anschutz’s political donations is disappointing. Despite the protest with the #BoycottCoachella and #Nochella movements, Coachella still garners the attention of affluent Millennials and Gen Z-ers. The festival remains popular. Attendees, mainly youth, are quick to sacrifice their political beliefs for a chance to see their favorite artists. By ignoring what they are endorsing with their money, many Coachella concertgoers are hypocritically subverting their political convictions. Support of a political cause demands a long-term commitment, not something to conveniently forget for a few weekends of partying.
Although many people are content to express their beliefs through voting once every few years, how one spends money can make an equally important statement. Coachella fans should know this most of all—since its inception in 1999, the festival has become a legendary symbol of youth, status and wealth. Choosing to forego the privilege of attending the festival could send an impactful message, but instead, Coachella enthusiasts continue to choose consumerism over commitment.
To show authentic dedication to a cause, we must put our money where our mouths are. Financial transactions carry more weight than we might think, whether they be purchasing tickets to a music festival, buying groceries or investing in a company. While making ethical purchases may not always be possible or practical, we should always strive to make well-examined financial choices when we can.