--- title: "Lunchtime Links: The Business of Politics" id: "15525" type: "post" slug: "lunchtime-links-the-business-of-politics" published_at: "2013-01-28T17:30:34+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:02:37+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/01/28/lunchtime-links-the-business-of-politics/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/01/28/lunchtime-links-the-business-of-politics.md" excerpt: "How to smartly combine politics and business. Plus: Is that frequent flyer card really worth it?" taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Communications" - "Geopolitics" - "Lobby" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lunchtime Links: The Business of Politics With the election behind us, politics are no longer front and center for many people, but associations are always working to push their message out there. So how do you approach a political message or agenda with the proper candor? Is there ever a right way to handle politics as part of your core business? That and more in today’s Lunchtime Links: **Party politics:** No one likes being told what to do. This is especially true when it comes to the business of politics. [Forbes contributor Amy Showalter (opens in a new tab)](http://www.forbes.com/sites/amyshowalter/2013/01/07/the-right-way-for-businesses-to-engage-in-politics-in-2013/) attempts to explain what may seem impossible: how to smartly integrate politics and messaging into business. Showalter encourages healthy discussion, rather than preaching, and says it’s smart to use information as education so your audience (members, employees, customers) can make an informed decisions about how different political outcomes might affect your industry or profession. How has your association handled political communications, even when it’s not an election year? **Lobbying for first-timers:** Is your smaller-scale association considering hiring lobbyists to work with you on a policy issue? The *New York Times* offers a [primer on what small businesses can expect (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/your-money/what-the-small-player-can-expect-when-using-a-lobbyist.html?_r=1&) when hiring lobbying firms, and it may be worth a read before you make any critical decisions. The article lays out typical costs for a lobbyist (around $5,000 a month) and realistic timelines for action to take place. And it’s definitely important to do your homework here. “You want more than a meeting,” consultant Suri Kasirer told the newspaper. “You want the correction. You want the contract. You need the next step.” **Flying high:** Most people—and organizations—are happy to find ways to cut a few dollars here and there. [But according to MarketWatch (opens in a new tab)](http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-rising-cost-of-travel-card-rewards-2013-01-16) , it’s buyer beware when it comes to using frequent flyer cards. Unless you’re a frequent spender with excellent credit with the ability to rack up—and pay off—upwards of $2,500 in three months, the interest charges might be too much to bear. “The rewards typically aren’t worth it for those who carry a balance, since the interest charges they’ll incur—ranging from roughly 10 percent to 24 percent—will likely wipe out what they earn in points or miles,” according to the article. Special incentives (think priority boarding, free checked bags) can also encourage excess spending for all the “freebies.” What are you reading over lunch? Let us know in the comments. (iStockphoto/Thinkstock) [Chloe Thompson](https://associationsnow.com/author/chloe-thompson/) Chloe Thompson is a contributing writer to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/chloe-thompson/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Communications](https://associationsnow.com/tag/communications/) [#Geopolitics](https://associationsnow.com/tag/geopolitics/) [#Lobby](https://associationsnow.com/tag/lobby/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-american-speech-language-hearing-association/) - [VideoSneak Peek: Highlights from Day 2 of the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 14, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/14/sneak-peek-highlights-from-day-2-of-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoSneak Peek: Highlights from Day 1 of the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 13, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/13/sneak-peek-highlights-from-day-1-of-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoThe Future is Yours to Create. 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