Why I support economic boycotts

[cally]

We will not hurt any company by not spending money today. That is not my goal. My goal is to make a blip on the revenue figures of major corporations. When Macy's tries to understand why their retail sales were down this quarter and last, when Walmart looks at sales figures, when Sears does, and they see that sales are slightly down on the west and east coast. They then send someone just out of graduate school to analyze why. This young analyst looks at all the variables and comes back with a great analysis. "Many liberals are not buying from our store because they perceive us as a Republican company. As further evidence, in liberal areas we had a drop in sales on January 20th. I've included some articles about a boycott on sales on that day. My analysis shows that the boycott had some effect in some areas."

That's all we need. We don't need to disable the government but we need to show that there is a base willing to make economic decisions based upon politics. If a company is overtly political, folks will notice and take action.

Then the emails, the letters to the editor, letters to politicians...all are meant to put pressure and make it uncomfortable to support only Republicans.

For the historians...look at what happened with the economic boycotts against corporations supporting apartheid. I doubt we ever had a measurable economic impact, but we made it very uncomfortable to support companies investing in apartheid. We made them prove that one company was better than another and that's hard. It was easier to disinvest.

[Dora]

1. Thanks for posting.

I get so tired of people on these boards who take a defensive and accusatory stance about those of us who support economic boycotts.

Every little bit helps. Whether it's $1 or $1M, it matters.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. I will boycott ANY right wing artist who said the Dixie Chicks....

should be censored because they are anti-Bush. I know who's who, especially in the NASHVILLE KOMUNITY!

There are VERY FEW good people in the Country "Music" Komunity such as the Cash Family and Willie Nelson!

and I give the MIDDLE FINGER to:

Kelsey Grammer
Patricia "Hitler" Heaton
Dennis "Facist" Franz
Angie (C Grade) Harmon
Arnold Gropenator
Travis ("I'm a Nazi")Tritt
Tayna (Drugie) Tucker
Lorretta (Deu the Gigalo) Lynn
Charlie "Chickenhawk" Daniels
Toby KKKeith
Alabama("Lynching Land")
Kenny Chesney
The Judds (Naomi the FRAUD and "both" Wynonna's)
Vince Gill and Amy Grant(a "good" Christian NEVER commits adultry)
Tracy Bird(he should go back to drinking)

Yes, I take every opportunity to stick it to the right wing entertainment crowd!!!

!Oh and PLEASE feel free to add to the list!

:puke:

[KurtNYC]

3. Respectfully

I think boycotts are only effective when they are sustained until a change is forced by them - Aparteid, Sinclair Broadcasting, etc.

[cally]

4. Respectfully disagree

Boycotts are effective when they are noticeable IMHO. If corporations realize that many will not buy their product because of their politics they will change. Well, some will. Profit margins are slim in many industries. It doesn't take much to influence sales. I've heard investors make disparaging remarks about lefties. I've also heard them worried because they want to invest in a progressive area. They tone down their politics then.

[OnionPatch]

5. I agree with you

I keep trying to tell people that we are not going to break the system or put anyone out of business and that's not the purpose of boycotting! They purpose is to create a market for ethically produced products and services. Look at what we did when we boycotted tuna companies that were killing dolphins in their nets? There is plenty of evidence out there that a boycott will have an effect. If corporations understand that there are a lot of people out there who are paying attention to their ethics (and I consider donatating huge sums of money to politicians unethical) many of them will make an effort to change. Not only that, boycotting the bad guys supports companies that *are* ethical.

You can go ahead and be against all boycotts, but I personally feel it's unethical to spend money freely with no regard at all for who or what it's supporting.

[cally]

6. Just one kick..nt