I'm Doing All My Christmas Shopping At Target, How About You?

[ruggerson]

I've never shopped there before, but if these Talibornagains want to boycott Target, then we should all go there and shop till we drop.

Target: preferred shopping for those that despise rightwing hate radio and rightwing hate government.

Spread the word.

[lonestarnot]

1. Grand Refussal stage one

NO SHOP NO CHRISTMAS HANUKAH NO SPENDICA!

[aquart]

2. I'm the keeper of the cookie recipe.

I bake till the sight of an oven makes me burst into tears.

[Patiod]

3. Who wants to boycott Target? nt

[ruggerson]

5. Religious rightwing talk radio

is organizing a boycott of Target. Seems Target has a store policy NOT to allow ANYONE to proselytize or solicit donations outside its stores.

In keeping with this policy, they have denied the Salvation Army the access to solicit donations during the holiday season, thus engendering tremendous rightwing religious wrath.

Target is clearly being consistent in its policy.

I say, if the bigots want to boycott Target, we should work even harder to support Target.

[Iris]

23. No big loss to Target. Those sheeple probably shop at Wal-mart anyway.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

35. I don't shop at Wal-Mart

Now, I exclude Target as well.

[Bluzmann57]

4. Except Target seems to have a problem with Salvation Army bell ringers

and therefore, I have a problem with them. Those people aren't really bothering anyone and are, in fact, raising money for a lot of good causes. So why does Target have a problem with them? Could it be bottom line may be affected? Until Target at the very least explains their weird ban on the Salvation Army people, then I cannot shop there either. We should all try and support local businesses anyway. Nothing like hometown hospitality.

[Newsjock]

6. Ask one of your gay friends what they think of The Salvation Army

1. Target is enforcing its rule against all solicitors, regardless of views.

2. The Salvation Army is notoriously anti-gay, and I consider their presence in front of a store tantamount to a picket line that I will not cross.

[ruggerson]

7. They ban all solitications

Not just the salvation army. Why should they make an exception for the Salvation Army? Read this article and tell me why you support the Salvation Army:

http://www.edifyingspectacle.org/sexuality/blog/archives/lesbian_gay_bisexual/salvation_army_fights_gay.php

[Bluzmann57]

17. OK I did not realize that about the Salvation Army

I also did not realize that Target bans all solicitors. As often happens, I have to go to DU to get the inside scoop on things. I am going to contact a local reporter I know, who happens to be a lesbian, and straighten this out. She's the one who wrote an article in the local paper about this, and when she sees the error of her ways, I'm sure she'll print a retraction. And, btw, she may not be a member of DU, but she knows about this website. She's an avowed liberal. Thanks for the link and the info. Still going to try and go local though. I want to support my hometown merchants as much as possible.

[ruggerson]

32. That's great

Too often these days, we hear one side of an argument only, because the religious rightwing operational buzz gets through the media lens, but facts and reality do not. Cheers to you and your friend, hope she gets the word out.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[donheld]

25. So in other words

you think its ok for the Salvation Army to go out of their way to discriminate against gay's and lesbians? No telling what they do to blatant Atheists?

[RoyGBiv]

29. No, there isn't ...

The bell ringers just have better looking uniforms.

[genieroze]

11. They don't allow solicitors....Period

even the local rah, rah, squads are banned.

[RoyGBiv]

28. Bell Ringers

When you have some spare time and spare patience, try to find out what happens with all that money. I mean that literally: find out what happens with *ALL* that money.

My best friend growing up went to a Salvation Army church, and I ended up going with him some, mostly because their youth events were pretty cool: volleyball tournaments, real camp-outs, etc., and they weren't overly zealous on their doctrine. IIRC, it is based on a form of Methodism.

But anyway, one of the few real fights I ever had with my friend was over what happened to all that money they got at Christmas. I saw what they bought with some of it because a couple Christmas seasons I helped distribute it. However, I did some quick figuring in my head and realized what we gave away didn't nearly equal what they took in.

In short, a lot of it goes to maintaining the church -- and it is a church -- paying people who work there, other church related activities throughout the year, etc. When delivering food or gifts or whatever, they also take a moment to recruit, which is where I first started having a problem. Finally I learned that some of it at this particular SA church in fact went straight into the pockets of the bell ringers, not under the table, but officially. However, I don't know if that is official policy everywhere.

Having said that, not all of this is bad. The SA is at least doing more charity work with the funds than many other churches do. But the point is that if you allow SA bell ringers, then you open the door to allow Reverend Bob from the First Pentecostal Church of Eternal Pain to solicit donations for his "charity" work. The main difference between the SA and other religious organizations is that the SA has a better marketing strategy. The bell ringers draw on a historical tradition that has wormed its way into popular culture, so people accept it as unobtrusive. Reverend Bob in his powder blue polyester suit doesn't have the same appeal. But, they both have the same basic goal: perpetuating their religious message.

Target's policy is a broad one, and they are attempting to maintain a consistency with it. I fully support that as long as it truly remains consistent.

[americanwomanone]

33. How Many Bell-Ringers Has Anyone Seen at Costco?

I think it is unfair to get down on Target when you consider all the places the Salvation Army could solicit and don't. Is it possible those places (movie theatres, supermarkets, banks, etc) may not allow it either? Just wondering.........

[YellowRubberDuckie]

36. I HATE going into stores with these people outside.

My ears are sensitive, and that damned bell is annoying as hell.
Duckie

[txindy]

8. It's just another case of the wingnuts now eating their own

Target gives 72% of its donations to repubs, so the rightwing boycott of Target is really rather humorous. Let Target feel the pinch, they've earned it. Meanwhile, I'll shop at Target only as much as I always have, but will enjoy that time more because there will be fewer wingnuts there.

Sounds like a good thing to me! :thumbsup:

(Info. source: http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php?backlevel=002..001Choose%20The%20Blue.002Retail%20Shopping%20and%20Fashion&prodcat=Retail+Stores )

[sariku]

9. (raises hand) Me, me , me!

Well, if I have money for Christmas, that's where I'm buying presents. Their clearance section is pretty awesome and I found a number of items that would be great for my daughters.

[ruggerson]

12. Here's What The Salvation Army Thinks Of Gay People

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/05/052404salArm.htm

Still want to donate to the bell ringing bigots?

[napi21]

13. Target has it's own set of problems.

Maybe you'll consider this a RW thing, but that's not the way I looked at it. Last summer a moving Vietnam Vets wall replica was touring the US. Most places welcomed it because a lot of people will never have the chance to go to Wa. to visit the real one. Target refused to permit it in any of their parking lots, and they were quite nasty about it. A lot of people who own or rent motorhomes to take a vacation stop in a large mall parking lot for the night while on their way. Target said NO, and anyone who parked there would be towed away. This attitude seems to me to be against the attitude of their customers.

I do almost all of my shopping on ebay! I bought all the gifts on my list this year there except for 2, and the people I supported were individuals just trying to make a dollar as a small business.

I've refused to shop at WM or Target, and only an occasional trip to Kmart since I used to work there, and the employees there are really good people who have been ruined by a very corrupt management. This new guy seems to be at least somewhat better, and I want to see their stores survive.

[KC21304]

27. If you are referring to the email going around read what Snopes

has to say. http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/target.asp

[msgadget]

14. Read the labels ,

they don't seem to care about fair trade or labor rights. But, there don't seem to be many stores to shop in that aren't all doing the same things in the name of 'competition'.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. Costco, here.

They treat their people well, have good quality products and fair pricing.

I'd rather find a Mom and Pop place but they are (alas) all gone.

[0007]

16. *I Hate Target stores and I don't like the people that shop there!

Hope you get a star for your tree~
Screw 'em

[ruggerson]

18. I hadn't thought about a star for the tree

but now that you mention it, what a great idea to spend more money at Target.

Thanks. I'm off to spend more money at Target because of your idea.

[Blue Gardener]

19. Shopped there this morning

It was very nice not to be accosted by bell-wringers on my way in. Plus, I needed the Blue Man Group DVD,and I knew I had seen it there.
We don't have a Costco here, so I'll pick Target over Wally World.

[SmokingJacket]

20. Screw ALL the big boxes.

I'm buying from locally owned businesses or going the handmade route.

Since my kids don't watch TV, they don't know about all the plastic trash they'll be missing.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

38. Do they watch DVDs, movies and such, or do they just entertain themselves?

I'm fascinated and awed by the fact they don't watch tv. That's fabulous. What's the alternative?
Duckie

[Lorien]

22. Target is a major GOP contributor

see this forum for more details on blue/ red shopping: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

[donheld]

26. Link not right

it does not take you to anything about Target

[Cronus Protagonist]

37. Yup. Not much better than Sam's Club

I spit on the dollars I spend there, and only spend them there when I have no choice.

Choose the Blue
http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php?backlevel=002..001Choose%20The%20Blue.002target&prodcat=Retail+Stores&brand=Target+Corp&format=%3Ch3%3EProducts+in+the+%3Ci%3E%25s%3C%2Fi%3E+Category+are%3A%3C%2Fh3%3E



http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Ian David]

24. I like that word, "Talibornagains"

I like that word, "Talibornagains"


http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=Talibornagains+

http://news.google.com/news?q=Talibornagains%20&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&sa=N&tab=wn

[Ian David]

30. Target vs Walmart

Target
http://www3.capwiz.com/y/bio/fec/?commid=C00098061&page=campaigns&order=PARTY&cycle=2003-2004
Dem $13,500
Rep $26,500
Target donated $2,500 to Tom Daschle, who I hardly consider to be a real Democrat.
Target's largest contribution was to Charles Grassley (R-IA) for $8.000
Target's second largest contribution was to Lincoln Blanche (D-AR). for $7,000


Walmart
http://www3.capwiz.com/y/bio/fec/?commid=C00093054&page=campaigns&order=PARTY&cycle=2003-2004

I didn't even bother to add Walmart's contributions up (I don't have a spreadsheet program on this computer).

Walmart has contributed an OBSCENE amount of money to the Republicans. Way, WAY more than to Democrats.

Oh, and Walmart gave to MARILYN MUSGRAVE:
Musgrave, Marilyn (R-CO) $5000

Walmart's largest contributions were to:
Blunt, Roy (R-MO) $10000
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) $10000
Rogers, Michael (R-AL) $12500
Ryun, Jim (R-KS) $10000
Bennett, Robert (R-UT) $10000
Johnson, Nancy (R-CT) $10000
Nickles, Don (R-OK) $10000
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) $10000
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) $10000

However, WALMART NEVER DONATED MORE THAN $5,000 TO ANY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE EXCEPT FOR:
Gonzalez, Charles (D-TX) $7500
Bayh, Evan (D-IN) $6500

[Vox_Reason]

31. We shop at Target rather than Wallyworld...

But Target's 75% contribution to the fascists will make us think 3 times about spending money there again.

There's very little we can do that is more effective than targeting our dollars toward organizations that don't support fascism.

[RebelOne]

34. Target is almost within shouting distance from me,

so I do all my grocery shopping there because their food prices are a lot less than my local supermarkets. I don't care if they are Democratic or Republican. If I can save money I will shop there.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

39. Exactly.

I agree. We are poor. We have to eat. If we can save money, that means we can grab some fruit or fresh veggies instead of canned or something.
Duckie

[kohodog]

40. No, not doing any shopping

It's the only way to start. There are other ways to express love.

[chaska]

41. I will abstain.

[LimeCoke]

42. As a Target employee

I can say that nobody at my store misses the Salvation Army's presence this winter. In my experience, the bell ringers have been unreliable (showing up hours late, losing the little red kettle three times, etc.) and the little bell is annoying. Learning about their anti-gay policies has made me miss the Salvation Army even less.

I can't say I approve of Target's rightward leaning donation practices, but I applaud the now total enforcement of the no-solicitation policy.

[Endangered Specie]

43. Hmmm... they threw out the Segregation Army...

I guess I will shop there then!