Decide where to spend your money, LIBERALLY

[waywest]

Here's a great site that just might help you make a better decision about where you should buy what.

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php

In 2005, my money is going to speak for ME.

[Pachamama]

1. Excellent....I too am going to have my money go Blue - starting NOW...

I'm also passing this on to friends....


:kick:

[Pachamama]

2. Take Gasoline for example - only one that is Blue is Shell Oil....

Interesting fact since almost everyone I know who is an environmentalist says to buy gas from Shell...

[Swamp Rat]

3. That's where I but gas but I mostly ride a bike.

I HAD to go to Chevron once this year - that really sucked!

[Pachamama]

4. Good for you biking Swamp Rodent!

Bet your buns will start to look as good in Spandex as my husband's!

:hi:

[Name removed]

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[fnottr]

13. if you just use a bike to get around, it's not really necessary

but if you're going to go on long, intense rides, the tight little shorts make things much more comfortable. First of all, they're padded in the groin, which makes it so the seat doesn't damn near castrate going down a rugged, bumpy trail. Also, the tightness of them makes it so your legs and ass don't chafe.

As to the bright color thing, I guess some people just like that, my shorts are solid black, and usually I wear another pair of normal shorts on top of them.

[Name removed]

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[fnottr]

15. well, I'm mostly a mountain biker, and not to serious at that

But here's what I know about things like this. First, there is an organized ride called Critical Mass where the point is to get so many bikers on the road that cars can't get through. I've never been a part of one of those rides, and I don't think I would. The point of those rides is to protest how bikers are treated during normal conditions, and to show people that there are alternative to the car. However, I think the only thing they succeed in doing is making people hate them even more.

As for individual bikers who choose to ride in the road. I think if there's a bike path, they should take that, but often times, even when there is a path, if often times doesn't go through (ie the road might have a bridge over an arroyo where the trail doesn't), or goes way out of the way. Where I'm from they've started putting in bike paths, but you certainly can't get a most places in the city without using the road. The root of the problem is growth and development that was designed with the assumption that everyone has (and wants to use) a car to get anywhere.

[Name removed]

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[Pachamama]

16. Maybe this helps:

My husband at 42 is a longtime "cyclist" (not biker), and he is a triathlete who competes annually in atleast 3-4 races including the Ironman competitions. He rides for long distances (50 miles+) atleast 5 times a week including one super long one on weekend for training. He also bikes to work atleast 3 times a week which is about 20 miles. Unless he wants to be castrated, chafed and walking funny, there is no reason for him not to wear spandex biking shorts. In terms of banning them or any reference to how they look, I have to say that my husband looks amazing in them....He has incredibly muscular legs and great ass. In reference to your "brightly colored costume" reference, I assume your refering to the biking shirts commonly worn (since the majority of biking shorts are black) - these serve a very important purpose - its called "visibility"...maybe it doesn't matter to some people, but I like to get my husband back in one piece and alive.

Speaking of one piece and alive - the helmet thing - umm, can you say "scrambled eggs"? That's what your brain looks like without a helmet....hope that helps explain that one. And, if you want an example that I even saw first hand about 6 months ago, I was at a friends house and a man was riding his bike along the road and my friends neighbor had just pulled up on the street and parked and opened his door just as the person on the bike (without a helmet) approached him. It happened so quickly and the bicyclist went flying off his bike after being hit with the door....landed on his head...was unconcious and died hours later of head trauma. The firefighters and paramedics sat thre shaking their heads and said if he had been wearing his helmet, he'd be alive and most likely without brain damage.

:eyes:

[Name removed]

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[Pachamama]

21. I wasn't insulted..and I will say, there are some men and women who should

be banned from wearing spandex of any kind... :hi:

[Name removed]

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[loudestchick]

8. What about Costco gas? Costco is blue.

[Pachamama]

17. Good point...Costco gas would be considered blue too...

And the prices are excellent and if your a Executive business member, 2% goes toward your rebate.

[RebelOne]

11. I have a Shell gas credit card.

It looks like I will be using it a lot more. Isn't Citgo Blue? I also have their credit card.

[JanMichael]

23. Costco sells gas. And even though CITGO wasn't on the list...

...it's owned by Venezuela's national company: http://www.citgo.com/AboutCITGO/CompanyHistory.jsp

[AP]

5. The companies that don't donate to either parties are the best.

Southwest does little lobbying and uses the money they save to keep ticket prices low.

Citgo apparently doesn't make this list, but they use most of their profits to build schools and hospitals for the poor in Venezuela.

Use your common sense when shopping. Is the company competitve? Are they giving a valuable service at a reasonable price to the public? Are they trying to make life better for people or worse? Do they share their wealth with their employees?

[AmandaRuth]

6. no. No.

I just got done reading about boosh's plan for the EPA. I know he will appoint a scotus judge that will be far far right. Boosh wants more war and he wants to bankrupt the country so he can eliminate any type of social spending, including the public schools. I could go on. Repuke donor companies support these policies. They will get no money from me. I will support Dem contributors such as Barnes and Noble, Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond.

[waywest]

7. I agree with AP above...

A socially responsible company is ,generally, progressive.
I just want to make sure that NO pennies out of my dollars spent, will go to GOP coffers.
If everyone who voted for Kerry did the same, we would , no doubt see more BLUE companies next cycle.

[loudestchick]

9. What about Costco gas? anyone?

[waywest]

12. See the company's donations.

I would buy Costco gas.

[Pachamama]

18. It's an interesting site, but needs more content...but atleast I found out

that I can continue to be a Costco shopping girl who wears Gap, buys her books at Barnes & Noble and when I travel on Jet Blue and Alaska Airlines and stay at Hyatt Hotels, its supporting Blue companies!

:bounce:

I'll tell my husband that when I'm shopping at the Baby Gap for the Kids or when we go on vacation that we have to stay at the Hyatt Maui, that its in the name of Democracy! :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

24. Check out our DU group that give tons of resources for finding progressive

companies

Economic Activism and Progressive Living Group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

[PROGRESSIVE1]

25. .