Like many of you, I have friends who send me email that focus onthe various political discussions within our society. You know thekind of email I'm talking about: Why doesn't anyone who went toColumbia University during the same timeframe that Barack Obama wasthere remember the future President of the United States? That kindof stuff.

I received an email this morning from someone and the subjectline read: America at Risk With Progressive Insurance Company.

This, of course, piqued my curiosity and I'm even more sure ithas attracted the attention of the people charged with monitoringProgressive's social media presence. I later discovered versions ofthis email have been circulating for a year or more.

The email delves into the donations made by Peter Lewis, son ofProgressive's co-founder, the current chairman of the board, andthe company's largest stockholder. Lewis also is known as one ofour country's leading benefactors of liberal causes, including theACLU (gasp).

I like to check outthe veracity of some of the political email my friends send meby visiting the normally reliable Website snopes.com. The report onthis particular email came back stating the body of the story wastrue, although that certainly could be debated by some folks atProgressive, particularly the misleading subject line.

When people get on Facebook or Twitter and recount controversialmeasures taken by your company or people in your employ, it isimportant that your side be represented in the discussion. ForProgressive, it's important that people know the causes backed byLewis aren't being supported by corporate funds. They are beingsupported by a private citizen who has enough money that he canpretty much do what he pleases.

That doesn't make it easy for Progressive, but it certainlykeeps them vigilant. Is your company being vigilant about whatothers are saying about you—true or untrue? It is easy to getstained by the same brush. In this case, first Progressive'scorporate policies are attacked and then the industry as awhole.

Lewis is nearly 80 years old, so he's been supportingcontroversial causes for some time now. The folks at Progressiveare no doubt used to it, but each time it crops up I'm sure theywish it would all go away. That, of course, is why monitoring yoursocial media presence is so important.

I suppose there was a time in America when donating funds to theACLU or supporting an initiative in Ohio to get medical marijuana on the ballot would not be looked at by somepeople as signs of treason—which was pretty much the tone of theemail. You have to admire Lewis because he's never hidden his viewson controversial subjects or causes and has never insisted onanonymity when making donations.

No matter what people think of Lewis and his politics—pro orcon—the one thing we can all count on is another great Americantradition: If you can sell a product for a cheaper price than yourcompetitor sells it, the public will flock to your door. I'd saythat's pretty much the story for Progressive, whether the principalstockholder is a flaming liberal or head of the local teaparty.

But it pays to follow what other people are saying and writingabout you.