GuyRaptor and jcv400ex, have you two read every single word in this thread, I have explained my position. Everybody has to pay taxes, taxes are not optional and therefore not charity. GuyRaptor, your comparison is ridulous, Cannondale is not a non-profit organization, so no, I wouldnt defend them if they took the actions you described. They can use their own profits to improve their bussiness. As far as the McDonalds situation that you illustrated, you really should care about that one. The Flag is not supposed to be used in such a manner. My main concern has been the proper use of the American Flag. I know I came off pretty harsh in my intial letters, on here and in the email to Cannondale. Despite this, my points are valid. jcv400ex, why is it so hard for you to believe that I could be so passionate about this subject, I would die to protect that Flag and I have seen people use the American Flag for their own purposes over and over, I'm sick of it. When I saw Cannondale, a company that I admire greatly, use the flag in this manner it was the "last straw". I just wanted to know what they were doing to help America as a whole. I didnt think that C-dale would actually misuse the Flag, I just didnt know what they were doing to help. I got my answer, and the only chip on my shoulder is people that go through life blindly, not caring about this country until it their freedoms are in danger of being taken away.

 

<< jcv400ex, why is it so hard for you to believe that I could be so passionate about this subject, I would die to protect that Flag and I have seen people use the American Flag for their own purposes over and over, I'm sick of it. When I saw Cannondale, a company that I admire greatly, use the flag in this manner it was the &quot;last straw&quot;. I just wanted to know what they were doing to help America as a whole. I didnt think that C-dale would actually misuse the Flag, I just didnt know what they were doing to help. I got my answer, and the only chip on my shoulder is people that go through life blindly, not caring about this country until it their freedoms are in danger of being taken away. >>



<u>I dont think that it is right for a company to try and capitalize on the current patriotism that has swept the land because of the unfortunate terrorist attacks. I know that these quads are priced exactly the same as the regular Cannibal, so Connondale is not going to make any extra money on any one quad, but, these are certainly going to sell for more than a regular cannibal would, and these LE's are also going to strike a greater interest in Cannondales quads thus improving their profits. For those of you that care, I will post what I get back from Cannondale as soon as they reply to my email</u>

This is what I read for your first post. I gathered that you where totally mis-understanding the point of the 2003 LE models. Are they &quot;Cashing in&quot; on the patriotism rage? I don't think so. This is my interpretation:

Cannondale is an American company, they have given back to this country, they've always worn the American Flag on their bikes, they DO take pride in their country and the fact they hand assemble them here. Their was no price increase, and they're only going to be produced until August.
In my opion, it is a slap in the face to the other companies &quot;cashing in&quot; from September 11th. They're over charging for the &quot;American pride&quot; products, and open the little white flap on the end of the flag. I betcha is says &quot;Made in Korea&quot; or something like that.
Right on the back fenders of the Dales: &quot;Handmade in the USA&quot;

All and all, I do see your concern and I do feel the same way, but I just think you came off alittle too harsh with acquisitions, instead of questions.

 

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Sledneck I think that you are a liar and a fraud.
1.Cannondale cannot donate profits from quad sales because they are not making any profits on quad sales (As their sales increase they will become profitable. Right now they loose money on every atv/motorcycle that they sell.)

2.Cannondale did donate profits from bicycle sales toward FD charities (they make a profit on bicycle shares)

3. Polaris is hardly as &quot;American made&quot; as Cannondale. I am rebuilding the motor on my Polaris and it has made in Japan stamped all over it
In addition Cannondale makes revenue of about $190,000 per employee.
Polaris makes about $426,000 per employee.
Polaris makes so much more per employee because twice as much of a Polaris is made outside of the us in sweatshops with contract labor.

4. It is blatantly hypocritical of you to assert that it is morally wrong for the flag to be displayed in a certain way and then to assert that it is ok if a token donation is made to a charity, that, you consider appropriate. If it is wrong for C'dale it is wrong for Polaris and all others. Money does not make it right. The American Legion flag code does not say that money makes desecration of the flag ok . If you believe as strongly as you assert, in that code, exactly how many dollars does it take to change your mind and for you to consider flag desecration moral hmmm.

5. Maybe you are in the Air Force maybe not. As a veteran myself your attempts to garner sympathy and credibility by using your military duty disgust me. Service to your country is a duty plain and simple.

One more thing I don't think that you are in the service and that you are in harms way. Having been there I can tell you this, men only fight for flags in books and movies. Men fight to stay alive, and to keep the guys next to them alive. You don't have any spare time to surf the net and worry about trivial bull@hit. You keep your but puckered your mouth shut and your ears and eyes open. If you can find any time you communicate with loved ones at home. I don't have the time to post a tenth as much as you and now days I am a farmer.

Hell you probably work for Polaris…man that would be sick.

 

Jcv400ex, I know that I came off pretty harsh in my initial letters, I was writing with my heart instead of my head. I believe that I already apologized repeatedly to the Cannondale rep., and I will even go so far as to apologize to everyone in this forum for being so coarse in my posts. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, like I said, it was my last straw and I wrote with my emotions. Believe me when I say that I did look all over the Cannondale &quot;motorsports&quot; website, looking for something that said they contribute to the community, maybe I'm blind but I could not find anything. I also didnt recall ever seeing the Flag on a Cannondale Motorsports product until now. I just needed to know that they are as great a company as I had always thought, and they are.

 

All,

I had to go back and take a look at the quad. It isn't a flag they have placed on the quad. They have simply used red and white strips a blue background and white stars.

What business is it of ours how they spend the money they make on quad, bikes, shirts, they are publicly owned company and would have to have THE BOARD sign off on donations.

Sledneck,

Being that you want to know so much about what Cannondale is doing, I have question for you. How much of each of your paychecks are going to support the families of 911? Please say it's none of my business and apply that to what you want to know. Are you now going to buy a Cannondale because they helped the effort. In case you didn't know they could use any donations as a tax write off making the whole thing pointlesss to ponder. By that I mean, did they do it for support or for a write off.

We live in FREE country, but somebody PAID for it.

Smitty

 

My only point was that Cannondale was not abusing the flag, either intentionally or unintentionally. Of course I don't actually believe that a McDonald's cheeseburger should be wrapped in a flag, it was simply a point of argument. I signed up for Selective Service when I turned 18 and attempted to go into the Air Force when I graduated college. I wanted to be a pilot but because it was peace time (in '98) the AF could afford to be picky. Because of a medical record concerning my knee they told me that they didn't need pilots at this time. I attempted to do my duty. My grandfather on my father's side had 3 brother's all killed in Europe in WWII. My greatgrandfather on my mother's side was at Normandy for the invasion and my grandmother's new husband fought in the Army during WWII. Both my father and uncle were Marine's during Vietnam. My father's best friend was in the Army in Vietnam and still has shrapnel in his shin to prove it. I know the costs of freedom and I hardly feel Cannondale is taking advantage of a situation.

BTW, good point 6wheeler. How does someone fighting so diligently in Operation Enduring Freedom have so much free time on his hands to respond to nearly every response?

 

6wheeler, I dont care if you think I am in the military or not, I know that I am serving my country. If you want proof that I am in the service, look at my email address, hell, send me an email, I am in the AOR right now. I am not a ground troop, I do my job so that planes can fly. If it came down to it, I would fight and die for this country. The reason I am willing to overlook Polaris', Arctic Cats', and Cannondales' obvious misuse of the flag is because apparently consumers want the flag on their recreational vehicles and at least these companies are doing something to benefit our country. No, its not right, but it's going to happen anyways, I just wanted to make sure that I was going to purchase from a company that has purely honorable intentions. Men do fight for the Flag and our Country, people would not put themselves in harms way if it wasnt for something they believe in. I am working 3 days on, 1 day off, 12 hours a day, and there is not always a lot to do, most of my posts have come on my day off. I dont see how I have tried to garner sympathy and credability, I have stated my opinion over and over, and my position will not change.

 

<< I dont see how I have tried to garner sympathy and credability, I have stated my opinion over and over, and my position will not change. >>




I dont think you are going to change anyone elses opinion.
So why dont you just STFU.

 

ShotgunMessiah, I am not trying to change peoples opinions, I was simply stating mine. I wanted some good feedback on this subject, other peoples opinions. Thank you for your thoughtful insight, are all your posts so meaningful? Toughguy.

 

I'm sorry everybody, it was never my intention to **** people off, my sole concern was the use of the American Flag. I won't be making anymore posts on this subject.