After careful consideration, I have decided that the 24 Hour Economic Blackout is bullshit.

[PeaceWave]

I wanted to like the idea. Hell, I myself proposed something similar not long after the election. That said, this thing was extremely poorly thought out. And, I have two primary reasons for saying this...

(1) To begin with, several stores that sell essentials (i.e., food) offer deep discounts only on Fridays. For instance, Albertsons/Safeway, with its 2,300 stores, has all of its best grocery deals only on Fridays. And, trust me, when I say these are good deals. I consider myself an extremely shrewd shopper and I estimate that I routinely save 30-40% on my bill whenever I shop at Safeway on a Friday as opposed to any other day of the week. And, I'm not alone in targeting the day of the week when I shop for groceries. Every worker at Safeway with whom I've spoken has told me that the store gets twice as many customers on Friday. So, this Economic Blackout is not only asking me to miss out on these deals, but to likely also return to the same store the following day and pay 30-40% more for the same items - Which would have the counter-intuitive effect of only enriching the store that much more. You really want to ask people who are already living on tight margins to go this route? Seriously, someone didn't think this thing out all the way through.

(2) Sale prices aside, saying you're going to protest food prices by not buying food for one arbitrary day actually makes absolutely no economic sense - Since you're simply going to make up for what you didn't buy that one day by purchasing more some other day. The economic impact on the grocery chain is zero. Now, if you really want to hurt their bottom line, get your fucking hands dirty. By that, I mean GROW SOMETHING. I say this as a gardener. Planting season is nearly upon us. Every spring, my own family plants tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, snap peas (my personal favorite), melons, etc. This is addition to the stone fruit trees we harvest every summer. It doesn't take a big piece of property to produce your own produce. And, even if you have no property at all, there are community gardens and gardening collectives you can join, contribute to and benefit from. The environment will love you. Your body will thank you.

So, in summation, pick another day of the week and I can get on board with a 24 Economic Blackout. But, even then, symbolic gestures are no match for real action and real physical effort. It's a sign of the times that too many people now confuse inaction (mostly conducted behind a computer screen and splattered across social media) for real world effect. The most effective "protestors" I know are gardeners. They wield power not with guns, but with shovels and spades. Something to chew on this Thursday.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. People get activated into movements by a wide variety of on-ramps. A day of economic inaction is not the

only outcome from this organizing. People will feel involved and some will want to do more. Organizing isn't always just about the one stated goal. It's about the networks and connections formed along the way.

[unblock]

7. this. Sure, this is just flexing our muscles a bit, not hitting hard.

But we don't yet have the movement, consensus, and organization for say, a nationwide all non-essential industries strike.

So we take baby steps.

This will get some attention and attract interest and support, and then we can do something a bit bigger and maybe more impactful. And it builds and builds.

[cally]

38. Plus, it's another way to show the number of the opposition

We are a country that does not seem to protest much in the big demonstrations. Perhaps, it’s because we are so big and diverse. A few of the “normal” ways to oppose the policies are writing letters to editor, online petitions, calling or writing elected officials, etc. But another tried a true way is economic boycotts. One day will not markedly reduce bottom line profits, but will show folks are paying attention, are displeased, and will hold the BS “free economy” to blame.

[Bengus81]

173. I can just see the first person/persons talking about protesting the VN war

And being told it won't do SHIT. No one will listen,nothing will change....etc,etc

[mcar]

103. Exactly!

[Bengus81]

169. Funny how that has to be explained to people that are Dems and on DU

[Pull_Left]

2. Tend to agree

especially when sales just shift to the next day anyway.

[Shellback Squid]

20. not the point

[Mariana]

24. What is the point?

[Shellback Squid]

32. google is your friend

[Mariana]

37. Seems like the point is to buy stuff on Thursday or Saturday instead of Friday.

[Emile]

180. Post #1 will answer your question.

[elocs]

63. Yep, make a big deal about not buying on Friday, just wait until Saturday.

Last edited Fri Feb 28, 2025, 12:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Boycotts only really work when they are focused and/or local.

[Voltaire2]

72. Bud Lite.

The focus is the major retail monopolies, Amazon Walmart Best Buy Home Depot etc.

But we know, it is just too much to ask.

[NNadir]

3. I'm not impressed.

[yardwork]

4. It's fine to buy food, medicine, and other essentials tomorrow.

Nobody should feel bad about buying what they need.

The boycott is about other, discretionary purchases. It's a message that our dollars are voluntary and can be withheld.

Please don't hesitate to shop for food tomorrow.

[Ocelot II]

5. The same amount of money in total will be spent before and after, but

that's not the point. The point is to demonstrate the power of consumers who decide not to consume. If there is a notable dent in consumption for that one day, the hope is that the PTB might pay attention and consider what might happen over the long term if large numbers of people cut back significantly on their spending. I'm inclined to think it won't make much difference unless it happens repeatedly, but it doesn't hurt to try.

[Mariana]

31. Most of the consumers aren't deciding not to consume.

Most of them are buying the same stuff the day before or day after or whatever. The consumption level remains the same.

[Ocelot II]

35. Of course. But the point of the exercise is to demonstrate what *could* happen

if people actually did cut back on consumption over the long term. I'm skeptical because I don't think a significant number of people will cut consumption over the long term unless the economy goes into the shitter (a distinct possibility but it hasn't happened yet). The no-buy day isn't intended to do something, but to demonstrate a possibility.

[Mariana]

45. Why not actually cut back on consumption in the first place?

They're not going to change anything unless they really lose money.

[intheflow]

114. This is a weird flex.

Everybody should consume less. Obviously. But you can’t demand everyone consume less immediately. Do a one day boycott, and if successful one time, it can be built upon. But to throw your hands up and say it’s stupid is basically saying any direct action from the public is stupid. How about we try something and see how it goes before we just shit on it before it even starts?

[Mariana]

127. The point is that many people aren't consuming less even for one day.

They're buying the stuff they would have bought on Friday on the days before and after. They're consuming the same amount, just buying it on a different day. What does that accomplish?

[intheflow]

142. For one thing, it trains people for longer and sustained actions in the future.

The group that’s organizing this is organizing more actions targeting specific companies. If this goes well, it will empower more people to join later events. Like, what if in one day of direct boycott we tank the economy for one day. That would make a lot of shareholders get antsy.

It isn’t so much about consumption, it’s teaching people that we can wield our collective economic power. Amazon didn’t exist (or barely existed) 30 years ago. Humanity survived. We can kill it if we want. People can buy goods from lots of vendors, we don’t have to shop at WalMart or Target even if they are the only stores in a midwestern town. Any company will ship anything, anywhere. If that’s your only grocery store, you can just buy your groceries there and nothing else. These kinds of events are also teaching moments.

Finally, it’s something people can do instead of despairing. Anything that throws sand in the gears is not only good, but needed. Same with anything that gives citizens legal agency.

I honestly can’t understand why people who think it’s dumb feel the need to discourage others. You don’t want an abortion? Don’t get one. You don’t think a single day economic boycott will work? Go to the mall and leave us alone.

[Crunchy Frog]

154. People will be doing that anyway,

Just because of inflation from tarrifs, and less money due to cuts in benefits.

[StarryNite]

118. Exactly

Well said.

[StarryNite]

119. Exactly

Well said.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. I likewise think this "24 hours of no buying" is

meaningless.

If you permanently stop purchasing specific things, great. Otherwise, meh. It will make zero difference to the stores and the workers.

[Frasier Balzov]

12. Especially if the plan is to stock up the days before and after.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

54. Yep.

I'm frequently surprised at how much, how much crap so many people buy.

[Bengus81]

170. Who "stocks up"? Hell food is so fucking expensive at the store we just buy ONLY

what we need and just one of them. And...that's a part of the POINT of this.

[Jose Garcia]

184. People who shop at Costco

[elocs]

64. Well intentioned but not well thought through.

[Captain Zero]

146. Blocking. Thanks for nothing

Way to help out.

[Captain Zero]

147. Later.

Way to help out.

[Bengus81]

166. You think this is going to be the only one?

[Progressive dog]

8. I agree

If we are to have a boycott, it should be targeted against the worst MAGA companies. Let us try not to do more damage to ourselves and our friends than to the people who are helping destroy our nation.

[Shellback Squid]

18. no, it's every business, it is a statement

[Progressive dog]

23. You can do that if youwish

I won't

[Shellback Squid]

26. whatever

[elocs]

66. Boycotts only tend to work if they are focused and local.

[Bengus81]

164. Was that boycott on Bud light by those MAGA idiots only local?

Hardly. Did it work,yeah it DID work.

[elocs]

185. On Bud Light? Sounds focused to me and that's why it worked.

Nice try, no cigar.

[Dorothy V]

9. It's something I CAN do!

I have a twisted pelvis. PT keeps me walking, but I can't do much bending over anymore at all. I used to garden but just can't do it any more. Wish I could, I love gardening. But it is what it is. Shopping is hard enough, and I often have to ask for help with getting items from the shelves to my cart.
I stock my kitchen with people and cat food to last me a couple of weeks at a time. I do look for sales but I can sacrifice a little more money once in a while, so it isn't going to hurt me if I don't shop tomorrow.
I am thrilled that there is something I can do tomorrow to hopefully help the cause.

[elocs]

69. Me too since I'm poor and not buying anything on Friday anyways.

Wow! I can feel all righteous and noble about this.

[Voltaire2]

10. This is a trivially easy act of resistance. WTAF

[Oopsie Daisy]

75. So is shouting at clouds. That, too is trivially easy and totally ineffective at accomplishing anything.

Unless the goal is to make people feel foolish for being bullied or guilted into taking part in a big "non-event" when the hoax or the illusion is revealed. It's a hot mess of a nothingburger with extra nothing on the side.

[angrychair]

94. Gosh, I guess so

Thanks for changing my mind. I'll just do nothing and let the oligarchs do as they please since nothing is perfect.

[Oopsie Daisy]

98. A one-day boycott is equivalent to a spoiled child "holding their breath until they turn blue" as a form of coercion.

>> Thinks for changing my mind.

You're very welcome!

>> I'll just do nothing and let the oligarchs do as they please since nothing is perfect.

Doing nothing is equally effective as this silly boycott. Why would the "oligarchs" care that you chose not to spend money on a certain random day. And how would they be able to discern YOUR protest act of not-buying from any one of the thousands of reasons people have for "not spending" on any given day?

How would the "oligarchs" know whether I didn't spend money on boycott-day for protest reasons, or simply because I had other things to do that day?

Instead of a one-day boycott, a more effective approach could involve long-term advocacy, consumer education, supporting legislation, or organizing sustained boycotts that target specific companies or industries.

[angrychair]

109. I could just as easily

Rationalize why none of your ideas are effective or helpful.

"Long term advocacy" what does that even mean?
"Consumer education" of what? Company "X" is bad so don't buy from them? People already do that.
"Supporting legislation" why? What? We don't control Congress and Congress is already irrelevant. They already gave up. They are asking his permission to have money for stuff when they are the people that actually supposed to control the money.
"Sustained, targeted, boycotts" is literally worthless. I haven't shopped at Walmart for over 10 years. They didn't even notice.

See how easy that is? When in reality all of your ideas are great long term ideas that people are literally doing but we need actions that can be taken today, no matter how small, to make our voices and feelings heard. We have to focus on both and both are important.

[Oopsie Daisy]

117. Well, you could say that. But it would indicate a lack of understanding and patience *

* and a lack of willingness to do the hard work to accomplish meaningful change and improvements. It would also indicate that someone wants "instant results" and instant gratification with incredibly minimal effort. Almost as an afterthought rather than being targeted and meaningful.

I live in the real world. I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you, but there are no instant fixes. And "minimal effort" always means "minimal results".

>>"Sustained, targeted, boycotts" is literally worthless. I haven't shopped at Walmart for over 10 years. They didn't even notice.

I'm sorry to hear that your personal boycott of Walmart has been ineffective. You're right, they don't care that you stopped shopping there. In order for it to be effective, it would need to be... um... sustained and targeted, wouldn't it?

And just as they don't care that you stopped shopping there, they also won't care (or notice) if their sales dip a little bit one day and then rise a little bit the next day. Those types of short-term micro fluctuations happen all the time. Whether it's because consumers are stocking up before a storm... then not buying during the storm... and restocking after the storm.

A single person boycotting for 10 years won't make difference. Thousands of people boycotting for one day also won't make a difference. It's true.

>> no matter how small, to make our voices and feelings heard.

The "oligarchs" will not notice. Nor will the shareholders. It's the equivalent of shouting at clouds. People may feel like they've accomplished something (when they haven't) and then they'll be less likely to do or participate in something meaningful.

[angrychair]

122. We don't have years to build up

A movement. This is happening today. Right now.
Therefore it requires at least some action, however imperfect, right now.
Information campaigns take money and time and can be great at focusing and sustaining movements but by the time we get going on all of the things you suggest this will all be over and that movement will die in its crib.
We need to do those things but we still have to do short term, right now, actions, that generate attention, press headlines and money and people to sustain and build on those longer terms efforts.

[Oopsie Daisy]

123. Nobody will care. Nobody will notice. It's a waste of time and effort.

The "oligarchs" and stockholders and ceo's do not look at hourly or daily sales reports. I promise you.

I also assure you that there are no quick-fixes. Whatever "instant gratification" this may bring will be short lived when reality sets in.

>> Therefore it requires at least some action, however imperfect, right now.

No, what it requires is more planning and more coordination and more targeting. This is just a scattershot and random effort that will accomplish nothing (except a handful of disappointed people on DU when they realize it's been a bust and their efforts and fanfare have been for naught.)

I'm sure I'll get the blame (and others like me) who dared to point out the folly of it all.

[Paladin]

187. Bye-bye. (nt)

[Oopsie Daisy]

200. Whew!

[ariadne0614]

112. Fine.

Anyone who thinks tomorrow’s boycott is a worthless idea should go right ahead and spend as they please. If you still feel smug and satisfied at the end of the day, then your choice will be justified. To each, his own.

[Oopsie Daisy]

120. I never suggested that people aren't fee to "boycott as they please" *

* as you said "to each his own." --- My point is that it's a waste of time and it will accomplish nothing.

Only a neighborhood lemonade stand puts such a high importance on ONE DAY SALES (or a one-day drop in sales).

The people/businesses/oligarchs/shareholders that you (presumably) want to send a message to simply do not pay attention to (much less CARE) about micro-fluctuations on a day-to-day or hour-to-hour basis.

Instead they look at month-over-month or year-over-year trends. This will be ineffective and totally meaningless. It's shouting at clouds. Sorry, but it's true.

[ariadne0614]

121. As you said/I said, "to each his own."

Actually, I should have said, “To each his/her own, and everyone in between.” We all have a date with our mirrors at the end of the day. The only thing that counts is the message in the mirror.

[Oopsie Daisy]

131. Mirrors don't care about virtue signaling. It takes more than that to effect real change.

A one-day boycott of this type accomplishes nothing EXCEPT (as you point out) some folks want to look in the mirror and admire their participation award. Frankly, I've always thought that participation trophies diminish the value of actual achievement by rewarding and heaping praise on mere participation and putting forth a minimal effort, rather than acknowledging actual excellence or genuine success. I believe it undermines the importance of hard work, skill development... when just doing nothing is viewed as a measure of success.

The "oligarchs" and stockholders and ceo's do not look at hourly or daily sales reports. I promise you. I also assure you that there are no quick-fixes. Whatever "instant gratification" (or pride and self-admiration) this may bring for anyone will be short lived when reality sets in.

[ariadne0614]

143. Mmmhm. . .

[Oopsie Daisy]

149. The least amount of effort *

* produces the least results.

[ariadne0614]

153. Sometimes less is more.

[Oopsie Daisy]

155. LOL. 🤡🥸 Only in fashion... Not politics.

This time, less is less.

[thucythucy]

160. How is it "a waste of time"?

Not buying something takes me no time at all.

[Oopsie Daisy]

163. Why would anyone spend such an inordinate amount of time "organizing" such an ineffective boycott?

It's a waste of time to encourage others to participate in doing nothing. It's a waste of time defending it. It's a waste of time to deceive people into believing that they're "doing their part" when they could actually be doing something meaningful or helpful with long term benefits. It's a waste of time to set those folks up for failure and disappointment. The "look-at-me" aspect of it, and the "virtue-signaling" with the false belief that this is an effective form of protest is also a waste of time. -- How's that? Capisce?

[thucythucy]

192. Isn't it also a waste of time to try to argue folks

out of this effort this late in the day? A waste of time denigrating others making at least some attempt at taking action? A waste of time indulging in snark to the extent that you do?

As for people indulging in "look at me" and "virtue signaling," your own posts seem to reek of them both, as in: "I am so far above all you silly folks and your foolish tactics. Let me explain, again and again, how naive you are as compared to my own immense sophistication as a political organizer."

I mean, just think of all the time you've wasted telling others they're wasting their time.

Verstehen Sie mich?

[Oopsie Daisy]

195. No... what good purpose is served by luring people into doing absolutely nothing *

* but falsely making them believe that they are a part of something big, grand, meaningful and successful. One of two things will happen: 1) Those deceived will feel like they've "done their part and their fair-share" and will probably not do anything meaningful in the future. Or, 2) Those who are deceived will realize that they've been made to look-the-fool and will back away from meaningful activism, not knowing who to trust.

>> I mean, just think of all the time you've wasted telling others they're wasting their time.

Well, that would be an incorrect way to characterize it. By shining a light on the folly of it all, they can realize that buying-nothing is in fact DOING NOTHING and that while they are sitting back all pleased with themselves and twiddling their thumbs... they could IN FACT be doing something meaningful and infinitely more satisfying.

>> A waste of time denigrating others making at least some attempt at taking action? A waste of time indulging in snark to the extent that you do?

What action? What attempt? This would be like my "boycotting" the USPS because postage stamp prices were too high and because I disapprove of DeJoy. So, in response, and to let them know what "power" I have over them, I choose to NOT mail my holiday cards on December 1st as I normally do... and instead WAIT until Dec. 2nd. The reality is that they won't care about microfluctuations like that. And even if someone noticed a .001% reduction in volume on Dec 1st, that was recovered on Dec 2nd... how would they know what I was protesting about? What kind of metrics could they assign to that brief fluctuation? Was it the weather? Illness? Flat tire? Dissatisfaction with the USPS? With DeJoy? With Trump?

>> "I am so far above all you silly folks and your foolish tactics. Let me explain, again and again, how naive you are as compared to my own immense sophistication as a political organizer."

Those are your words, not mine. I cannot be held accountable for someone else's fictitious quotes that are falsely attributed to me. In fact, this is not about me at all.

However, I should probably let you know that whenever someone does such things, it tells me that know they are arguing from a position of weakness. Rather than telling me why I'm wrong about how ineffective this one-day-boycott is, the argument turns instead to my "tone" and what a horrible person someone thinks I am.

[thucythucy]

199. Have to run to a meeting

but I again am astonished at all the time you seem willing to spend to accuse others of wasting their time.

As for my use of "fictitious quotes" I notice your characterization of people doing the boycott as being motivated by self-agrandizemen, as in: "look at me" and "virtue signaling" and such. Those are your projections, evidence I would think of your own "arguing from weakness."

Other people in this discussion have already responded to explain why they think this action may produce some positive results. I think I posted some of that as well. So it's simply a waste of time to keep repeating the same points.

Time will tell if anything will come of this. In the meantiime, best wishes.

[Oopsie Daisy]

203. I think we're done here anyway. We're talking past each other...

... and there is no resolution or mutual understanding in sight. I've already made my points, so there's no reason to continue talking in circles over and over.

[Bengus81]

168. Again...this will NOT be the only economic blackout. It will be longer and grow.

[Oopsie Daisy]

177. No it won't. A more likely outcome will be *

* that these enthusiastic "participants" of "doing nothing" will become demoralized when they realize that NOBODY NOTICES and that the CEO's and shareholders do not pay any attention to micro-fluctuations on a day-by-day basis. They're only concerned about the long term.

Are others planned? Who's planning them? Who's organizing them? When do they start? Who is being targeted? Or is this just another random, flailing, foot-stomping and aimless tantrum of a boycott?

Multiple one-day or one-week "boycotts" are ("again'') just micro-fluctuations that level out when the month-over-month and end-of-year sales figures come out.

All this huffing-and-puffing will not blow their brick house down.

[Bengus81]

178. LOL...You don't know who's doing the organizing? It's only been planned now for 2-3 weeks

Don't participate...if you think just setting around watching the latest outrage video on You Tube does any good...think again.

[Oopsie Daisy]

181. There ya go! Nobody knows, nobody cares.

A one-day microfluctuation in sales that recovers the next day (or next week) is just pissing in the ocean with the belief that it will cause a tidal wave. It's indiscriminate and it's a weak response. Its little more than virtue signaling, but it has no real effect (other than the momentary pride one may have for NOT doing something) but that pride will quickly turn into disappointment and renewed feelings of helplessness when they realize that they've been wasting time NOT doing things when they could have actually been focusing their efforts in meaningful ways that actually help people, or that strengthen our party, or that weaken the GOP.

Random and non-specific boycott of just "one day of not buying" is silly. It needs to be targeted and sustained. But even if sustained, people aren't just going to STOP buying, STOP driving, STOP eating... everything, indefinitely. It would need to be focused so that key industries, products, companies are targeted... and so that ordinary people can participate without starving their families or going without clothes and heat.

Eggs. That's a good place to start. Why not "boycott eggs." We can live without eggs there are other things to eat. Boycott Unilever, boycott Georgia Pacific, boycott specific store chains. A sustained and focused effort will be noticed when targeted in that way (either by product or manufacturer or retailer).

In reality, doing nothing (and doing it poorly, haphazardly, un-targeted, and not long enough) is the true equivalent to watching "outrage videos" and feeling proud for having done nothing. It's a lazy form of "protest" that will accomplish nothing meaningful.

It's like protesting the price of postage by NOT mailing one's holiday cards on December 1st... and instead waiting until December 2nd. (Yeah, that'll teach the USPS!)

[Bengus81]

182. LOL...you still admit you don't know who organized this blackout. Funny!!

But....I'll bet your just brimming with "alternatives" right?? Let's see one.....

[yagotme]

183. Well, I counted at least 4 alternatives listed in their post.

The Bud Light example that has been used before is a "proof positive" example.

[angrychair]

193. There are targeted boycotts

After this from March 7th-14th there is an Amazon boycott.
March 21st-28th a Nestle boycott
April 7th -14th Walmart
April 18th economic boycott #2
April 21st-28th General Mills

So there are targeted and it's meant to escalate.

Honestly I believe a week long general strike will likely be required.

[Oopsie Daisy]

197. Those won't work either. It will take longer than a week.

Again, microfluctuations will not be seen or felt or noticed. A one-week "boycott" of Walmart would be no different than snowy weather that delayed purchases... and that someone eventually bought anyway. It will just be a blip that evens out at the end of the month or at the end of the quarter.

The only entity that will maybe notice a General Mills boycott (for an entire week? Oooo! Wow!) will be the individual grocery stores... but only for a week. When people rush back the following to restock their Lucky Charms and Cheerios... who'll care? Not the grocer, not his wholesale supplier, and certainly not General Mills.

With so many false stops and starts and ZERO results, people will have become accustomed to the idea that it's not helping and they'll get bored with it.

There are a finite number of times that someone can cry wolf or predict the Second Coming before people stop listening and stop caring. The same principle applies here. Folks will be thinking "Oh? Another boycott? Why bother? The last one didn't make any difference, why will this one? Besides, I need a new pair of shoes today."

>> Honestly I believe a week long general strike will likely be required.

I agree. But it would need to be longer than a week. And, not enough people are suffering deeply to be motivated to do such a thing. Things will need to get much worse. Also, I wonder, would hospitals and firefighters and police take part too? What would the "demands" be? Who would be responsible for the negotiations? Are we striking to get the attention of Trump? Johnson? Musk? How would "success" be measured? Would it be enough to just get their attention? How fast would the "success" and change need to happen in order to be considered as being "meaningful"?

I know a lot of people imagine (want to push?) the US to have an equivalent of the French Revolution, or the Russian Revolution, or the Iranian Revolution, or our own Arab Spring moment... but it won't happen.

[angrychair]

201. I get the point you are trying to make

Think your approach could be a little softer.
You come across as if you are just shitting on these ideas and that nothing is actually worth doing. That's not constructive or helpful.
In a single paragraph you went from agreeing about a need for a general strike in the first sentence to saying it's not possible by the last sentence.

I get it. Dark times. Feckless indifference is going to be our ruin. I have been very disappointed in turn out at protests so far. I see protest in European countries over our situation that are exponentially larger than any protests here and it's our country.

That all said we have to operate under the principal of "any action is still better than doing nothing". That is a bitter pill. I want more from people. I expect more. But I'll take what I can get.
I do expect that as things get worse that it will hit a tipping point and then what happens is anyone's guess

[Oopsie Daisy]

205. I've been very clear and never said that "nothing is worth doing"

and if something is to be done, then it needs to be targeted, sustained, meaningful. It needs to hurt. The target needs to hurt financially or their reputation needs to suffer. The boycotters need to be uncomfortable as a result of their efforts too. It needs to be quantifiable, it needs to have specific goals and and definable outcome as a measure of success.

As it stands right now, it's going to be no more effective than an online USA-Today poll.

I think my "approach" was largely influenced by those who were making arguments (in favor) by assuming anyone opposed to this boycott were only opposed because it was "too much to ask" and not because it was inherently flawed and doomed to failure. And another asked how they could look at themselves in the mirror (or maybe they wondered how I could look at myself) knowing that they/I did "nothing" in an effort to put forth a minimal effort of, uh, well, doing nothing?

Bad idea after bad idea after bad idea is going to make people less likely to participate (or even listen) when by some luck of the draw a decent idea actually surfaces.

I'm looking forward to reading the headlines tomorrow about how this one-day not-buying boycott brought our country's oligarchs and our corporate masters to their knees (or whatever measure of success this boycott is supposed to have).

[Bengus81]

167. +1000

[ibegurpard]

11. Yes because everyone owns property

To grow a garden...
And you're telling me missing out on savings for ONE month is going to break the bank for you?
OK...

[spooky3]

36. Requires large enough yard, plenty of sun (ie, few or no trees) and water,

Fertilizer, insect and disease protection, bird and squirrel repellent, etc. And fruit trees—where do these grow, except in very specific climates?

The vast majority of gardeners do not have enough of all of these to do more than a few vegetables and herbs, if that.

And: it’s February! Only small segments of the US can provide the conditions for year-round planting and harvesting.

How many people have the physical abilities and tools/equipment to garden on a large scale?

OP is very unrealistic. I say this as a hobby gardener.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Your larder runs deep. I can last until May Day I think.

Good time to work off a few pounds too.

[Shellback Squid]

14. we'll miss you and I don't consider you a scab

[DoBW]

30. yeah, scabs are people who cross the picket lines

personally, I'm with the resistance, so I'm boycotting. If only not to give maga the "look at the left, big talkers, but they can't even do one day" argument

[Raftergirl]

15. I want a smart Tv for my bedroom. We discussed going tomorrow, but then I remembered the boycott.

I am going to a local store for the purchase, but will go sometime next month, instead.

The TV in there now is 14 years old and my kid won it at his high school senior prom and I wouldn’t let him take it to college, so I put it in my bedroom. It’s too small for me to see a tennis ball from bed and I want to be able to stream on it. Only Netflix is available through my Verizon Fios cable.

[Freddie]

46. We recently bought 2 TVs (24" and 32"), $153 for both

Needed “smart TVs” to get rid of cable. Ridiculously cheap. Look for sales, got both at Best Buy.

[Raftergirl]

49. Yeah, I don't want too big, 32" would work. The one now is 24".Needs to go on my bureau because I can't lose

The mirror over it for a TV on the wall.

My local owned store has Samsung 32” smart tv for $199. I don’t mind spending more to support local business.

[Freddie]

53. The one locally owned appliance store nearby

Went out of business a few years ago. ☹️

[Raftergirl]

106. We still have a few. One is super expensive and do huge home entertainment theaters , etc. Their sets start around

$4k and go way up from there.

Several of our locally owned appliance stores (that sell kitchen appliances, etc,) also sell TV’s.

I always prefer shopping at locally owned business.

[elocs]

77. I can remember when a 23" b&w tv was huge. n/t

[Raftergirl]

99. I had like a 8" or 10" b&w tv in my kitchen for years. It was a give away at my dad's company's Xmas party

in the mid ‘70’s. It sat on my kitchen counter until we gutted the kitchen and opened wall to put a family room addition on in 2011!

[Bengus81]

175. I've wanted a 4K for years,now the prices are down. I won't be buying though until Trump is gone

And by then they'll probably be $100

[MerryBlooms]

16. Direct deposits and payments will be made tomorrow as scheduled

We won't be shopping, but we try to avoid Fridays in general.

[Basso8vb]

17. This is why we keep losing.

Where am I to grow a garden of vegetables in a 400 square foot studio apartment with no balcony?

Community gardens also don't exist anywhere near me.

[Raftergirl]

42. Can you sign up for a CSA. We have had a half share since the pandemic. Love it. We get produce once a week

from early June to late October.

And there are farmers markets almost every day everywhere.

[Voltaire2]

51. It is ONE DAY

[elocs]

81. We keep losing because we seem to be unable to simply show up and vote

for the Democratic candidate like it is our duty. No excuses.

Oh, and I eat a carnivore diet, no veggies for years.

[Bengus81]

179. That's one thing that MAGOTS and Republians are good at

they will organize,boycott and VOTE. We have to be better.

[Clouds Passing]

19. The boycott is on non essentials

[elocs]

83. Who gets to decide what is essential?

Boycotts really only work when they are small, focused, and local.
Come Saturday, the ones who are fired up about a broad and nationwide boycott will be blame shaming the ones they saw as not supporting it strongly enough but have no way to prove their accusations.

[Clouds Passing]

86. Food and medicine.

I’m going along with the boycott completely.

[Torchlight]

21. Incandescent light bulbs can be cool.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. If you wanted to say something negative, how about wait till after it went down instead of kneecapping it ahead of time?

[JohnSJ]

78. Thank-you. Why discourage it before it even happens?

[Prairie Gates]

25. ...

[happy feet]

27. OK

I’m still going to do my part and participate regardless of results. I don’t require promise it will be successful.😶

[Arazi]

28. Food and medicine are not included. That's specifically mentioned

in every promo I’ve seen.

Personally I’m not going to buy anything tomorrow but if you need to go to the grocery store or pharmacy, go!

[SWBTATTReg]

29. Just pick another day to do your boycotting if this day is so important to your shopping efforts. Everyone will

understand. But I don't understand really what a 24-hour shopping boycott will do in the long run anyway, won't most people go and buy their items the next day?

Maybe fashion a boycott against more unique items, such as not buying big ticket items, which, most of us don't really engage in massive purchases anyways (other than the occasional house or car, etc.). But this will hurt workers (particularly union workers so I don't know about this).

And make boycott(s) longer duration too, if we going to make our voices heard, especially above the siren screams of tRUMP and muskrat, we need to make the boycott(s) longer and very pointed, very directed at specific items (such as the Tesla) that we know will hurt those causing this painful and idiotic things to happen in the American economy.

A boycott against Tesla would be more functional I suspect (and there is a boycott apparently against Tesla now as we speak, from the news I've watched this a.m.). And it would be directed at muskrat too, since he is more associated w/ the Tesla brand than anything else I can think of. This particular boycott is doing wonders too, against Tesla.

A boycott against tRUMP? Boycott his businesses, his golf courses, anything that tRUMP pushes as part of his ridiculous periodic White House sidewalk sales that he puts on a periodic basis to pad his pockets even worse than he's doing already. Maybe we should run some sort of ongoing tracking mechanism on items to boycott, publish it in some manner.

[elocs]

70. No, Friday is great since I'm poor and not buying anything that day anyways. n/t

[Blasphemer]

33. By itself, one time is clearly not enough. I hope that part of the idea is to spark interest in long term boycotts

I am slowly moving away from all corporate entities. It will take time. I fully support any and all economic boycotts whether collective or individual action. I think the individual action is already working. The Washington Post boycott was spontaneous and not particularly organized but it worked. Imagine that at an even greater scale. Giving up on it before it starts would have doomed the Civil Rights Movement. We have to start somewhere and I firmly believe hitting them in the pocketbooks will be far more effective than protests in the street that will herald martial law.

[Scrivener7]

140. Yes. This is another good reason to do the boycott. It is a beginning.

[Jilly_in_VA]

34. You do you

I'm doing it. Everything I need is bought today.

[Grumpy Old Woman]

39. Trying to make a small dip in the "spending data" trend line is an almost painless way of protesting.

Better yet, they can't arrest you for not spending.

Myself, I was disappointed to find that February 28th was also the date of my long-planned trip to the "free for seniors" day at the zoo.
The transportation is also free, so I'm going to participate in 'No Spend Day' by avoiding buying my usual unhealthy snacks at the zoo and packing a lunch, and I'll walk instead of paying for a scooter or taking the tour bus inside the zoo. I daresay it won't make a blip on the radar - setting fire to a Cybertruck would be much more satisfying, but it is at least doing something.

“Man is not a rational animal; he is a rationalizing animal.”

― Robert A. Heinlein, Assignment in Eternity

[dweller]

40. yeah , probably not a good

time to do this …. 🫤
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220077810
🤔



✌🏻

[Deuxcents]

41. I'm so thankful my parents and their generation were not so wishy washy..they stuck to their word

For four long years and did without and literally fought for the defeat of what we’re facing today. This non essential boycott is just a show of solidarity..a very small gesture. I’m gonna participate.

[Mariana]

89. For four long years they did without etc.

This doesn't require anyone to do without. People are buying stuff Thursday or Saturday instead of Friday, as if that will accomplish anything. It's the people who have made a long term commitment and carry it out who will make a difference.

[Deuxcents]

124. Thank you but you missed my point and that being this is only a one day event..not a long term

Event but..if it’s too tough for some to do one day, there was a time we had to do it for four years and thankfully, they did.

[Mariana]

125. If people are buying on Thursday and Saturday so they can skip Friday

then they've given up nothing. Apparently is IS too tough for those people to do for even one day.

[Scrivener7]

139. It isn't about giving things up.

[thucythucy]

161. You keep saying this.

Several times you've said here people "are giving up nothing," they'll just buy stuff on Thursday or Saturday.

Was there a poll taken about this? Personal experience? An assumption you're making?

If anecdotes count, I know several people who are making a conscious effort to step back from the consumer economy, myself included. At least one person I know decided to do this because of tomorrow's boycott--it's what gave him the idea, or added impetus. I suspect there are others as well. I imagine there are also people doing as you say, who see tomorrow not as a blow to consumerism, but as a sort of one day general strike--a nonviolent way to show their outrage. The goal isn't to have an immediate economic impact, it's to show the potential to do so as time goes on and the outrages continue.

Of course I'd prefer more be done, and hopefully this will be a small step in that direction. Personally, I think it's too bad the use of the general strike has never taken hold in the US, as it has in other countries. Then again, I suppose your same argument would be made against "only" doing a one day general strike. Though it's worked pretty well as a demonstration of people power in places as diverse as India and France.

We'll see if anything comes of this. I'm not sure what good it does though to denigrate the idea even before it's tried.

And I have to ask: what do you plan to do tomorrow instead? What action will you be taking that will be so much more effective in dealing with the shitstorm coming our way?

[Scrivener7]

138. EVERYTHING we try will make a difference. Oligarchs get their wealth and power

from our numbers. This boycott is an opportunity for us to show that we could take those numbers away from them if we choose to.

It is also an opportunity to show ourselves that we can unite and when we do we are a mighty power.

This boycott in itself will not bring them down. It's not meant to. But that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile.

[BoRaGard]

43. "But, but, but I must have my latte and brioche." - Sunshine Patriots

[maxsolomon]

44. I probably wasn't going to buy anything anyway.

So it's super easy to do.

MFer and the RW Noise Machine won't even notice, except to mock the effort.

[yaesu]

47. I'm doing a 4 yr + economic boycott, only buying Canadian goods if I need anything outside of local food needs. nt

[Blasphemer]

71. This is my goal as well. nt

[Scrivener7]

137. Me too. Food, fuel and emergencies. But I think the one day boycott is a good message to send.

A display of unity of buying power does send a message.

The oligarchs get their wealth and power from our numbers. The boycott is a warning that we can take those numbers away.

[synni]

48. Wow, that was tone-deaf

Those of us who are disabled can't just run out and plant our own food. Those of us who are disabled can't just sit idly by while our benefits are stolen by a South African.

How about you start looking beyond your own fingers and toes, and actually care about people other than yourself? Thanks.

[Gimpyknee]

113. Excellent response!

[Gore1FL]

50. It's a statement. It's a start.

The first one will be largely unknown to most people, largely unfollowed, and largely ignored.

This can't be the only thing we do, and it can't be the only day of this.

[bif]

52. Than don't do anything. The status quo is just fine.

[Mike Nelson]

55. I will participate, but I agree...

... people can just shop the day before or after. Much better to change buying permanently. Buy at MAGA supporting corps infrequently or not at all.

[Mariana]

87. People can just shop the day before or after.

That's exactly what is happening.

[bif]

56. This was posted just to rile folks up.

I noticed this person hasn't responded to any of the comments.

[Mike 03]

67. Thank you for noticing this. I'm a little surprised so many people

respond to obvious Instigation Bait, especially when it comes from one of the three, four, or five individuals who engage in this conduct so frequently.

Out of respect for our rules, I will go no further. But others here have done some very incisive posting about these types of posts, and how inevitable it is that these posts achieve their objectives. I hope I've been careful, vague and nebulous enough, but still made my point.

[bif]

92. I was going to comment further

But decided to bite my tongue. We have enough cat fights here as it is.

[nilram]

206. We should have a DUU

Democratic Underground Underground, for the opinions to juicy to print.

[Timeflyer]

57. Nope. Any form of resistance is welcome. Gardening works for you, great. Phoning, emailing, confronting legislators,

any way one chooses to oppose the destruction of the US representative democracy is good. Some are capable of gardening, others can march in protest, whatever. And go shopping on Friday if you must. Just don't surrender or discourage others from raising hell anyway they can.

[AStern]

58. I thought it was solely an economic blackout of Trump supporting businesses

Last edited Thu Feb 27, 2025, 05:41 PM - Edit history (1)

Not hard to boycott most of those.

[LymphocyteLover]

60. Yes, exactly! PLEASE at least boycott AMAZON and WALMART !!!

[LymphocyteLover]

59. I'm sorry but this seems incredibly petty

[Doodley]

61. Are you saying to all those who are taking part and want a display of consumer power and

a united front to make statement about what is going on, that this is a waste of time?

[elocs]

74. I'm saying that because small and focused & local boycotts are the successful ones.

This one reeks of self feel-goodism. And then there's the Law of Unintended Consequences where little people end up being hurt by it.

Small. Focused. Local.

[Doodley]

80. Who is being hurt by it?

[elocs]

84. How will it be known exactly who is being hurt?

The Law of Unintended Consequences says there will be people hurt who don't deserve to be hurt but the supporters of the boycott will claim the ends justify the means.

[Doodley]

91. To be clear, are you against this action?

[elocs]

134. Yes, because it will not have a significant impact

and innocent people will be hurt by it. But it will make some feel like they are really doing and accomplishing something when they are not.

[Doodley]

162. You haven't been able to say who these people are that will be hurt. The reason is nobody will be hurt.

[Mariana]

85. No one will be hurt by it.

That's why it won't be effective.

[stillcool]

62. whatever

see you at the next protest

[RockRaven]

65. A one day boycott seems pointless, if the spending is merely shifted to a different

day then the only lesson learned will be that American consumers are feckless and weak, and their threats to not spend shouldn't be scary to TPTB. In order for a message to be sent, that day's would-be spending must be permanently avoided, not shifted forward a few days.

It would be better if everyone used that day to assess ALL of their spending and choose something to cut out semi-permanently. Especially something recurring/automatic/subscription-based.

[Scrivener7]

135. I disagree. Strongly. The boycott has many purposes. One of them is solidarity. It is saying, "This is what we can do.

We are the numbers. You are not. Our numbers are what gives you your wealth and power and we can take that away from you. See? We're doing it today. Abuse us at your peril."

[Marthe48]

68. I shopped on my payday

I don't plan to buy things tomorrow. I am meeting a friend at a locally owned coffee shop tomorrow. They work for a federal agency and we are on the same side about the destruction of our government.

[Kingofalldems]

73. Don't participate then.

I certainly won't miss you.

[live love laugh]

76. Laughable.

[S/V Loner]

79. I would start with 1 month...

only buying essentials while absolutely avoiding Amazon, Walmart and others of the same ilk. Nothing else. That might actually get their attention. If not then 2 months.

[Bengus81]

176. And...that's where this movement is headed. You have to crawl before you walk

[Bernardo de La Paz]

82. OP posted and ran away from an active thread. Is the motive disruption? Post and run is symptomatic. . . nt

[Kingofalldems]

96. Did you notice the 14%?

[relayerbob]

88. It's exactly because it's a busy shopping day that it was picked

They oligarchs are counting on people not doing anything collectively to hurt them. The vast majority of the people in the country have neither the place nor the knowledge to grow anything, to say nothing of the fact that it isn't just food that is getting boycotted. Also, it's February, what exactly do you think can be done to grow food that is ready now?

[mike_c]

90. missing one Friday sale is too big an ask?

Nobody is going to bring in their victory garden by tomorrow. Maybe you could offer good advice about that, while recognizing that it won't happen in the short time, so a boycott might make a better point right now than a harvest in six months? Plus a one day boycott is within more people's immediate means than agriculture.

[Scrivener7]

129. There's always going to be someone. I think tomorrow will be good for all of us who participate.

[Kingofalldems]

93. How dare you call a plan to fight back Nazis 'bullshit'.

A clear attack on Democrats.

[Pinback]

95. After a nanosecond of consideration, I realized that this OP is bullshit.

I am joining the boycott tomorrow and encouraging others to do the same. It’s a start.

Trashing thread.

[DownriverDem]

97. Just ask Target

They have lost tons because of their DEI stand.

[Mariana]

130. If people had decided to stop shopping at Target for just one day

and then went right back to going there as before, Target would be doing just fine. Target is hurting because people made an actual commitment to stop buying from them long term, and have stuck with it.

[joanbarnes]

100. I wish I could do this but I seem to have black thumbs.

[mcar]

101. Gee, sorry it inconveniences you

[MichMan]

104. Economic blackout is extended to the big tech companies like Google, Comcast, AT & T, Verizon, etc. too ?

People shouldn't be using the internet, cell phones or posting here.

[Captain Zero]

145. Turning off my Xfinity box @midnight !

For 24 hours. If millions of people switched off their Internet connection for as long as they could tomorrow.

Hell half of the Internet is a Russian / Republican psyop anyway.

[womanofthehills]

105. Over 70% of population lives payday to payday

So why is payday a good day to do this?

Many families have little food before payday. I’m sure they will not be into fasting on Friday.

[IbogaProject]

107. The request isn't absolute

If you can save 30-40% on Fridays at one store don't skip that one store, just skip anything else you can.

[Richard D]

108. I'm firmly commited to it!

Just doing the boycott on February 29th instead.

[Hope22]

110. Suit yourself! Why the fuss?

You do you while you still can!

[Keepthesoulalive]

111. I went to Sam's to get some twirly birds

The gentleman behind the counter wanted to know about the boycott and we talked.
It’s about getting people involved so they don’t feel helpless and discouraged. Change happens in small steps, don’t crap on people for trying.

[Scrivener7]

128. This is a REALLY important point. It's as much about solidarity as anything else.

[SocialDemocrat61]

115. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil

is that good men do nothing unless it means missing out on a sale.

[Blues Heron]

116. Thanks for sharing

obviously these things arent for everybody, so you do you!

[Scrivener7]

126. So don't do it. I think it's an excellent idea. I'm all in.

[Captain Zero]

132. Ok so you can't do it. That's ok.

I think there are going to be more mass Actions, so maybe you can pick one of those and join in. Maybe not discourage others who are committed?

I think next week mid week there will be deals because if this is successful then it will backlog their inventory and they will have some markdowns by store to make room for inventory coming in. I'm just making stuff out of my pantry from tonight until next Tuesday or Wednesday and then I have some coupons Meijer has targeted to me and I've got all of ZMarch to use them at lowest price that fits my budget when I'm in there.

[phylny]

133. I disagree.

Yes, people will shift their buying. But for some people who have never experienced one single act of resistance, or have never been part of a movement, it’s a first step and an easy one.

[senseandsensibility]

136. After careful consideration

I have decided that I will show solidarity with others of the same mind and hope that this step will lead to others.

[hunter]

141. If I have big bags of rice, lentils, and dried fruit in my pantry I'm happy.

Also, kibble for out dogs.

Shopping for Friday bargains at the big corporate supermarket is a fool's errand, like going into a casino expecting to come out with more money than you entered with.

Generally I buy my bulk necessities at Costco but I also like to shop at the Mexican and Asian markets around here.

Boycotts are easy for me. I generally boycott most everything anyways.

It's going to be very easy for me not to shop tomorrow. I don't shop most days.

[CareyOn]

144. This is all about a show of unity.

There are different things we can all do according to our capabilities, but successful resistance depends on large numbers of people getting their message across. This is really not about consumption but is a start to show willingness to act.

[AntiFascist]

148. It needs to be longer term, say 3 years and 10 months...

DON'T BUY THINGS YOU DON'T NEED!

[Hellbound Hellhound]

150. Agreed. At its core, it's yet more meaningless "virtue signaling" at best.

No big business will notice a blip, since the reports are quarterlies. I've got a pretty solid ear to the ground of the "Grassroots" level content creators and this has gotten nary a mention outside of a few fringe extremist cases on the right wing mocking it.

End of the day, people have to do whatever they have to do to feel good about themselves so I won't outright dismiss it, but in the end, it accomplishes and means nothing.

[Callie1979]

151. Of course its bullshit. It only matters if you stop using Amazon TOTALLY

I've NEVER used them.

[hatrack]

152. Then don't take part.

The end.

[kenziemom06]

156. I wish we could all quit Amazon

Aim anger at Bezos and stop giving him money. Instant gratification has been addictive but every time I am tempted I read another news article about our descent into fascism and resist picking items from my online cart. Tomorrow and every day after.

[Bengus81]

174. I used to buy pretty much everything from Amazon over the years. No I can go a year without buying there

I buy more local AND if people would really do a search for what they want many times Amazon is NOT the cheapest,in fact it can be one of the most expensive.

[Easterncedar]

157. You know better than Robert Reich?

Geez. Don’t want to do it? Don’t! but what do you gain by persuading others to follow you?

[Paladin]

171. +1000.

The last thing we need right now is alleged Democrats, undermining nation-wide protest efforts against the trump regime.

[Prairie Gates]

189. "I say this as a gardener."

I thought the gardener disappeared...



https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20045610

[Prairie Gates]

188. Bomb dropped in the forum, 100s of responses, no reply

And then another next week, with some personal story or anecdote that miraculously mirrors current events.

I mean, if people keep giving the 100s of responses, why not, right?

[haele]

158. The primary issue I see against tomorrow is that it's the end of the month.

And payday for many organizations.
It's going to be hard for people living on a shoestring not to buy groceries or other things they've been putting off for a week or two tomorrow.

[PeterIsMyBrother]

159. I trust you

to know bullshit when you see it.

[Bengus81]

165. So instead sit at home,watch the latest outrage on MTN/BTC and shout at the TV

That'll bring Trump/President Musk and Corporations to their knees...........

[samnsara]

172. this is to establish a baseline for future methods of resistance...

...its only for a day. its shouldnt hurt anyone to not buy stuff for a day. If it doesnt work then so be it...no harm done.

[Mosby]

186. If we want to upend the oligarchy lets cancel Christmas.

Most people here are atheists so it shouldn't be a problem.

Stop buying presents and having Christmas dinner. That'll show them.

[nolabear]

190. It is NOT bullshit. It's unity. The point is unity!

[GoreWon2000]

191. Every act of resistance helps

the overall fight. Your calling the 1 day boycott bs is wrong. Maybe next time it'll be a different day of the week. Both the civil rights and women's rights movements started with the smallest of actions. Those small actions planted a seed that blossomed into a large movement.

[NJCher]

194. More boycotts

[Hotler]

196. Why do you feel the need to trash the idea? If you don't want to participate that's fine. Just move along.

Or wish us luck instead.

[Chakaconcarne]

198. As a first step and effort, it's not BS at all

At the very least it's raising awareness of the company's involved.

I'm happy to be reminded several times a day of who supports this administration and DEI elimination.

Think what you want, but it is activating something...a different mindset and an expression of activism....and this just isn't a boycott in the US, it's happening all over the world

Why would anyone discourage that?

[nilram]

202. If missing today's sale is going to break your bank then go get your cookies or whatever.

And go promote gardening. You're on the bandwagon for gardening, right? Shout it from the rooftops! I'm all for it. Promotes biodiversity, economic well-being, healthful eating, and, if done right, keeps a person busy enough they don't have time to tear down other good efforts at impacting the oligarchy.

[jrthin]

204. Bless your heart.