Let's Boycott

[Liberal Gramma]

I'm disgusted that corporations we patronize use their profits to fund right-wing causes, and they also own the media so they have undue influence on public opinion. I think we should compile a list of companies that support right-wing politics, and vow not to use their products, watch their networks, invest with their banks, read their magazines, or drink their beer. I'll start with Mellon Bank, the guy behind the SBV, and Coors Beer is off my shelf. Do you have any more?

[Eurobabe]

1. My hubby and I have been trying to do this

as often as we can, we have a pact to no longer shop at Home Despot, Wal-Fart, Advanced Auto...I cancelled my Curves membership (got suckered into a year contract last Oct.) and made sure I told them that the real reason I was cancelling was because of their pro-life rantings.

[Carla in Ca]

5. Home Despot....

now that is funny!:-)

[sffreeways]

2. General Electric

if it's possible. They own everything.

If I boycotted evey company that disgusts me I'd have to live in my garage with no electricity and go on a hunger strike. Hmmm, maybe that's a good idea.

I guess it's best to boycott what you can, when there are alternatives otherwise we are pretty much at their mercy at this point.

I try my best not to spend my money where I know it's doing the wrong thing. It's not easy with todays giant corporations owning everything and having their hands in everything. Even companies that you think are okay sometimes have investments in things that aren't.

[murielm99]

4. Try to live simply.

Technology is a must. Some of us have to have cars to get to work.

But consume less. I swear, shopping is the great American pastime.

Rather than telling us that we can't marry someone of the same sex, that abortion is wrong and that we have to vote for shrub, religions should be telling us to consume less. I suppose they do, indirectly, but the message needs to be made more clearly.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. There is somethign you can do RIGHT NOW

TURN THE TEEVEE OFF, permanently

DO NOT watch the news, if you need to find out what they are doing, READ Media Matters but DO NOT watch the media, IF we all did this... then their ratings will go to the crapper... and then some

[MatrixEscape]

8. Solutions?

It seems that we are all paying them for our virtual enslavement and a clear, Fascist outcome in the future.

We buy all the "stuff" they TELL us to, and they turn around and use it to our disadvantage as individuals.

Just "not watching" TV is not going to have the same impact as telling other people to reject the biased mass media and showing them just how biased it is. Lead others away from the power that enslaves them, and you are accomplishing something.

Quit buying all the crap they tell you to! Sure, it will have economic impacts, but the boycott has to happen along certain, viable lines.

The list of stuff you want and pay for is treble the list that people had thirty years ago. Go check your bills and statements now.

If you cut this and that and the other thing off and make strong vocal announcements, via email, the Net, and to your "providers" that you will go "cold turkey" until they knock of the Fascist crap, then you are going to have a personal impact ... and that CAN grow exponentially.

As long as we are all only blabbing complaints, we don't get very far. Hit them in the financial arena and you may, eventually, get their attention. If not, you are just funding your own undoing.

[Barney Rocks]

6. we need to make a master list,

and keep it stickied someplace where people can find it easily. It seems like people are always talking about which companies are bad to support--but we don't keep a master list that everyone can find anytime they need to. We really should. We may not be able to avoid ALL the bad companies--but we could try to make good choices.

[Sugarbleus]

10. Some of us talked about this weeks ago. Perhaps we could

Make a list of especially offensive companies/businesses---ones that don't affect our actualized daily needs-like medicines or electricity/power companies.

Every month or so we (Collectively) chose ONE company/business/product to boycott. Then rotate to another one, from the list, for another month or whatever time seems appropriate.

Doing this sort of thing all together seems much more effective and powerful. Better than one lone person refusing to shop at a certain store for a day or a year.

Repugs group together for their boycotts with much success.

Imagine tens of thousands, maybe more, not buying a certain newspaper for a month or two. Not buying gasoline from a certain station, not buying computers or accessories for/from a certain company for a short while.... the possibilities are practically endless.

Just a thought. :)

[Barney Rocks]

12. Now that is

brilliant! If we all work together, we can really make a difference. Your idea is fantastic and we really should follow through. I would be willing to help with this.

[Liberal Gramma]

14. This is exactly what I had in mind

Thanx for stating it so well. Next question: how do we compile such a list and where can we post it?

[goclark]

15. Master List With A Twist

Any time we are near a Home Depot... Walk in wearing your Kerry Button and ask to speak to the manager. Tell him/her that you wanted to buy a new refrigerator but since Home Depot is supporting Bush you will go elsewhere.


I say that because it will cause the Manager to tell someone and it will go all around the store to the cashiers and everyone. Those are the people that need to hear that their boss supports Bush. They will not loose their jobs just because one customer complains. We would not want that to happen.

The manager WILL need to tell someone up the chain of command and that is a good thing!

If everyone of us decides to do this at just a Home Depot this week it will make a huge impact.

I'm going to go their on my way to register voters today.

[jerryman814]

7. It's hard....

because companies become parent companies to smaller companies. The average consumer really doesn't know (and doesn't have time to find out or care) about where their money is going. Most Americans are lazy and just want to go about their lives conforming to their society, which in my opinion is pretty damn sad. I am a native New Yorker and in the city, most people that I encounter have too much on their mind to even think about where they shop and what they eat. ALso, some companies are so large and diverse that boycotting them would be almost impossible. Perhaps an all-out boycott wouldn't be very rationale. A movement to support smaller companies that you know aren't affiliated with any bigger company would probably be better.

The easiest way to neutralize the big companies' influence on media is to turn off your televisions, tune into balanced programming and to write to your national, state, and local representatives about what you think should be done. Peace!

Bush Bad. Kerry Good.

[Was_Immer]

13. How would you rank the networks?

Im curious, how would you rate the networks in terms of liberal to concervative. 1 being liberal, down the list.
Obviously FOX would be the bottom of the list.

Of the following networks, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC / CNBC, Fox News?

Which ones are fair and straight down the middle.

[waldnorm]

9. I'm Dumping My AOL Account

. . . because AOL/Time Warner/CNN clearly are not interested in the people's interests (including their customers).

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[mourningdove92]

16. The Mods could set up the master list at the top of

General Discussion. We could then add to it and announce the chosen "boycotee" of the month.
I like it.

[Flammable Materials]

17. Nashville Businesses to Boycott

Beaman Automotive (CEO gave $25,000 to the RNC)
Central Parking (CEO gave $25,000 to the RNC)
Cone Gas Stations (Chairman gave $12,500 to the RNC)
Demos Steak & Spaghetti House (Mr. & Mrs Demo gave $2,000 each to W)
Mrs. Grissom's Salads (Mrs. Grissom gave $2,000 to the RNC)
O'Charley's Restaurants (CEO gave $10,000 to the RNC)
Cracker Barrel Restaurants (indicted in illegal contribution scam tied to Tom DeLay ... plus they're just plain evil anyway)

[Zorra]

18. I just boycott it all and let God sort it out.

After Bu$h stole the election in 2000 I just up and left the country.

Now I live in a warm place and use alternative energy and don't give my money to monopolies.

No phone, solar power, bike, public transportation, locally grown veggies and fresh caught fish, no newspapers, magazines, TV, etc.

I do spend about $5-10 a month on gasoline though.

IMO, conscientious folks in the US may want to start exploring the idea of an alternative economy. There are many small alternative businesses owned by anti-RWers that sell very good products at places like health food stores and co-ops. Working Assets is an interesting alternative to mega-corporate phone companies.

Sometimes these products are more expensive, but learning to be frugal can offset costs.

Mega RW corporations have proven to be the world's foremost enemies of democracy, and very particularly in our own land. We should see to their demise ASAP, or they will soon control every aspect of life in America, including many of our minds.

[Hamlette]

19. A simple way to start

1. Buy as much as you can from locally owned businesses. Keeps profits in your community, gives more choces, and they don't make enough to buy the GOP. If not locally owned, independents via mail order.

2. Commit to buying fuel efficient cars, hybrids if you can. Cuts the profits of Big Oil. Lobby state governments to give advantages to fuel efficient cars like using car pool lanes: costs nothing, encourages conservation.

3. The above two suggestions cost more, make up the difference by consuming less.

4. When you have to shop at a chain, know which ones are one of "us": Shop Target over Wal-Mart, Lowe's over Home Depot.

5. When you buy somone a gift, consider something "consumable". Candles, wine, scented soap. . . from a local business. Something they need but a "better than you'd buy for yourself" treat. Or a gift certificate to a local business to get your friends to shop there too.


I owned a small business 10 years ago. I made up the above rules for myself then. I LOVE shopping at independently owned local businesses. I've met some wonderful people who own businesses in my town and they will stock stuff I want to buy and call me when something comes in I might like (books I might like, clothes that might fit, earrings I would look good in, something that would make a great gift). It's the best service you'll get anywhere.