The 'fascists' won't blink until you hurt their pocketbook

[Q]

- What makes the trains run on time? What motivates the gout-ridden, wealthy CEOs to get up in the morning and go to the office? Why do corporations send jobs overseas when so many Americans are unemployed?

- The answer: Money!

- Corporations are becoming so filthy rich off the 'blood, sweat and tears' of citizens that they have millions left over to buy media, politicians and legislation. Thus...they now work FOR the corporation...not the people.

- How do we stop this cycle of graft, corporate/government corruption and politicians selling out our nation to the highest bidder? (Homeland Security and the Iraq 'war' was 'bought' by the defense and energy industries.)

- We've seen that PROTESTING and MARCHING in the streets no longer works because the media fails to report the true size of the crowds or the significance of the protest.

- So what's the answer? No...it's not violence or civil disobedience. The answer it to strike where it hurts them the most: their cash flow and profit margin. Simply refuse to BUY THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES that makes them rich enough to purchase our representatives and their legislation.

- Hit them where it hurts the most: their bank accounts.

[the Kelly Gang]

1. right on..I've been saying the same for years. Soon we won't

be able to anyway..we'll all be outscourced

[SlingBlade]

2. Exactly, This is true.

These fuckers would sell out to anyone, They are the epitome of greed.
The China/Cuba episode proves this in a nutshell.

[ladjf]

3. The U.S. has become a colony of the global fascists.

[mopaul]

4. boycotts

the main target being our addiction to gasoline.
organized times, maybe one day a week to start, where no one buys ANYTHING. just to show em we know how to hurt them hard.

[Q]

5. Gasoline....a very good start...

- My family has done everything they can to cut down on gasoline/energy consumption. We WALK or ride bikes when we can. Our car is very good on gas. We use energy efficient lightbulbs, recycle and use gas and electricity sparingly. We're saving up to install solar panels on our house.

- Americans needs to STOP the out-of-control consuming of things they could really do without.

[mopaul]

6. No Shop Mondays.........a crazy idea

no shop mondays. everyone refuse to purchase ANYTHING on a monday.
it sounds trifling, but it would scare the hell out of them. it would be like....dare i say it....?......TORTURE for them

[Q]

11. While a good idea...

...it would be difficult in practice. Americans shop out of habit and buy things they really don't need. Hell...why do you think one of Bush's* first instructions after 9-11 was to 'go shopping'?

- America is consuming much of the world's resources at an astounding rate. We could make great strides if we simply SLOWED DOWN and bought only what we needed.

[sendero]

8. While that sounds good...

... I wonder why anyone thinks things like "time boycotts" will do anything. If everyone eschews gas purchases for a day, it doesn't hurt the oil companies one whit. They will still sell the same amount of gas, just on a different day.

There was an email floating around that had a slightly better idea, which would be to boycott a particular oil company. They suggested Exxon/Mobil. If everyone stopped buying ANY gas from them, well that would get some attention. For me, I have bought gas from them about twice since the Valdez, when I had no other choice. So I'm already a participant in this particular boycott.

The only way I can see to hit them would be to:

1) Identity the worst corporate offenders
2) Convince folks to not patronize them, to make an example of them

But, IMHO, the pain level is not yet high enough to motivate the masses into action. My fear is that the pain level will be that high within the next year.

Bottom line, I'm on board with the concept behind your idea. I think the exact mechanism needs refinement :)

[Q]

10. I'm not talking 'boycotts'. I'm talking about RESTRAINT.

- I'm talking about buying one less tank of gas. One less shopping trip to Walmart. One less bag of chocolate.

- Americans don't NEED half the shit they buy every day. How about showing some restraint and being a little more frugal? Stop buying things on CREDIT.

[sendero]

17. Well....

... in that case count me in :)

I especially agree about credit. Most Americans use credit like a junkie uses drugs. They pay way too much to get some quick gratification, and live to regret it.

[Wednesdays]

23. Organize no-drive days

>> There was an email floating around that had a slightly better idea, which would be to boycott a particular oil company. They suggested Exxon/Mobil. If everyone stopped buying ANY gas from them, well that would get some attention. For me, I have bought gas from them about twice since the Valdez, when I had no other choice. So I'm already a participant in this particular boycott. <<

Amen to that! Because with the standard "don't buy gas" e-mails, we're still CONSUMING gas at the same rate.

Even better still: organize "no-drive" days...where everyone simultaneously refuses to drive cars, but instead use non-petroleum modes of transportation (walking, bicycling, etc.). Even riding buses would have an impact, since the buses would run whether or not we ride them.

[Baltimoreboy]

7. Gout-ridden?

A litte hypberole?

[Q]

9. The word 'gout' bothers you?

- Then move on to another thread if you have nothing to say about the main premise.

- America is in deep trouble. If you can't see that then you're on the wrong thread anyway.

[mopaul]

12. b boy is on the wrong website..............n/t

[Q]

15. Yeah...and it's strange that some don't recognize...

...that today's CEOs take more than their 'share' of the profits. As we saw with Enron...even when the company was going down the shitter and investors were losing their asses...the CEOs were pulling 'bonuses' and raking in the cash.

- That's why I called CEOs 'gout-ridden'. They take more than they give and take it even when the company suffers losses. Meanwhile...the WORKERS suffer with loss of benefits and wages...poor working conditions and are treated like slaves.

[Baltimoreboy]

21. Sorry I am not part of your fan club

I don't think that is a requirement of being a DU member.

I have issue with ridiculous hyperbole and that applies to the gout comment and many of your posts.

[Brewman_Jax]

13. Platinum parachute report

http://www.ajc.com/print/content/epaper/editions/today/news_04ac0a55e0ba21680078.html

This made our local (Atlanta) newspaper--departing president and chief operating officer will take with him Steve Hyer is Coca-Cola's $23 million man after 3 yrs with the company.

My elderly parents are hoping that prescription prices won't go up and that they can afford them.

Our opponents have huge reserves and government and market support. We'd have to lay siege to them on all fronts, legislative as well as economic. This will not be easy or fast.

[wicket]

14. Costco

Costco is a great place to shop and they treat their employees great, we should all shop there! :)

[Q]

16. I used to shop at Walmart until I discovered...

...how they treat their employees and communities. They are part of the problem and not the solution. I now shop almost exclusively at Costco.

- But WHERE you shop is not nearly as important as HOW you shop. Americans have become deeply in debt by buying more than they need to live comfortably. They want MORE and they want it now.

[checks-n-balances]

18. Yes, credit debt mostly enriches the banks, which are very supportive

generally, of the GOP.

In fact, do some research and find out where the banks are that give the least to the GOP and bank there instead, if possible.

Consider every angle and go for it!

[ronatchig]

19. Dare I

mention that it is way past time for a national strike. For a variety of reasons. From protests of outsourcing to outrageous profits and national health care. I know this a painful option but if one wants to get the attention of the overlords then real protest is required. No freight being moved, no one at the checkouts, a complete rejection of the idea that the hired help is powerless.

I am not talking a one day show . I mean bring 'em to their knees. No paying power , mortgage credit card or loan payments. No participation in the fascists economic squirrel cage until a specific list of demands are met.

I realize this a drastic suggestion that many are not prepared to take but until the enablers of the fascists see that following the right wing is a recipe for economic disaster for all it will just be business as usual except for the coming retraining/work gulags they have in mind for all of us and our children.

[camero]

20. Geesh I've been saying this for the longest time

Finally someone else realizes that they make their money at OUR sufference. Not the other way around.

I was just thinking about this last night. We need a new Lech Walesa.
The only thing that will work are nationwide General Strikes.

[outinforce]

22. I would, BUT

You know, you have a really good idea there.

However, it would be very difficult for me to boycott products and services of major corporations.

Right now, for instance, I am using a computer that was produced by a corporation. And I am connected to the Internet using a service provided by a corporation. The electricity I am using to see and to power the computer? Provided by another corporation.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can cope with life without corporations?

[Jose Diablo]

24. I would suggest another approach

It is important to understand the relationship between the 'king', our government, and the citizen.

I suggest a start by investigating 'Invisible Contracts' at the link below:

http://usa-the-republic.com/amendment_14/invisible%20contracts/Invisible%20Contracts%20by%20George%20Mercier.htm

After becoming aware of our relationship to the 'king', then it becomes easy to understand when we are not receiving 'value' from the 'king' in the 'kings' enthusiasm to please his corporate sponsors at our expense.

The next step after understanding the legal foundation our 'king' uses to extract our resources in the lopsided 'value exchanged for value' we have been suckered into accepting, strategies can be developed on withholding our resources from the 'king' until we receive fair value from our 'king' in representing our interests.

One strategy may be legally incorporating to bypass the 'automatic' withholding of our money. This is after all, the mechanism used to reduce us to a form of slavery to those in power.

I must state for the record now, I am not advocating anyone to evade paying taxes, I am merely pointing in a direction that non-violent protests may take to convince the 'king' where his best interests lay. We are morally and legally obligated to pay 'value for value' in all our contractual agreements.

Corporate interests can only do what we permit them to do. If we allow these interests to control our 'king' to our detriment, then it is our fault. We are not powerless, it is our sweat that creates all value. The corporations are just using our 'king' to screw us out of what we create.