Sorry, I think 'Not One Damned Dime Day' is

[cali]

pointless. If it makes you feel better, fine, but really who's going to notice a shopping boycott by a few internet activists? In fact all the wailing and breast beating over the inauguration hoopla strikes me as silly. I expect nothing more than obscene excess from bushco. I just want this day over with so that we can return to more meaningful debate.

[purji]

1. Its really easy for me

because of our wonderful economy ,I have no money.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

2. same here

i find it easy not to spend a dime when i am waiting on my paycheck to get deposited tonight.

[ally_sc]

53. right there with you...

it is an economy for the rich not for the middle class or those impoverished.

[vi5]

3. I sort of agree....

It would be interesting if it did have some kind of noticeable impact, but unfortunately even if it did how would anyone know? They sure as hell wouldn't report it on the news.

[SemperEadem]

75. who cares if it's not reported on the news?

it will be noted when stores tally their receipts for the day.

I doubt it was done to catch the attention of MSM--it was done to send a message to businesses. They will take notice because they need for everyone to have a job so that they stay in business... when factories are shut down, jobs sent overseas and unemployment cut, they are in trouble, too. They get a one day taste of what the next four years could end up being for them.

It's a shame that the small businesses will be impacted, but for the most part, many of them voted for *--they need to feel the consequences of their decision where it will hurt them the most--and they need to snuggle up to the fear that they, too, could lose everything because they're not a part of *'s filthy rich boy posse.

[justinsb]

4. Agreed

what's needed is a sustained boycott. Fortunately, it's happening - all over the world.

http://tinyurl.com/5nomf

[WildClarySage]

5. Even if loads of us participated, it would not have an effect

on the people who actually make the policies we object to. These "in-activisms"- where people try to make a point by NOT doing something- are unsuccessful because you cannot clearly estimate the effect, there's nothing to show on TV or in news reports so it doesn't draw the publicity that activism depends on.

If you really want to make a difference in your community today, do it by DOING something- not by doing nothing.

[LSdemocrat]

6. Exactly

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. If Everybody Who Voted For Kerry Didn't Spend Any Of Their Discretionary

Money They Could Bring The Nation To It's Heels In About Two Weeks...

But then the bad guys could use that form of blackmail also....

[WildClarySage]

8. A lot of us who voted for Kerry don't have any discretionary income!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. There Were About 58,000,000 Kerry Voters....

Surely they weren't all busted...



I know lots of high living folks who voted for Kerry..

[robbedvoter]

21. Thanks for the cold water. It's in the press - the effect already occured

So you can try to make it go away as hard as you want - it already sent the message. Today is a day od messages. Has to be from both sides.
Theirs: "We're shoveling" Ours: "We ain't buying"
No, go home and shop till you drop. Even for shovels.

[el_gato]

51. exactly

[el_gato]

54. we should all just roll over and take it up the ass

[BurtWorm]

76. That is really very well said.

:toast:

[el_gato]

9. so what, at least it is something

and as far as I am concerned the idea is to start making that connection between your consumption and the continued destruction of our liberty and democracy. This action is, imho, a precursor to what eventually could become a national strike. Whine about it if you want to but this effort is not without merit. In fact, in spite of so much blustery talk by people who oppose bush some of them don't want to change their consumption patterns and actually enjoy the benefits of empire.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. I'm All For Conservation...

I drive a car that uses a modest amount of gas (22 mpg).... I think most SUVs are obscene but I do enjoy my standard of living....

[cali]

12. Ah yes, the typical 'If you're disagreeing

with me, you're whining' response. Please. As for me, I've long believed that excess consumption is an American plague. I simplified my life years ago, and refrain from participating in the consumer society consistently, not just on one day.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. As A Practical Purpose...

The numbers of folks who would have to abstain would have to be huge....

[robbedvoter]

30. Good. Then why start a thread discouraging activism?

What skin is it off your nose?

[gratuitous]

56. So, you didn't start simplifying on just one day?

You emerged a full-blown anti-consumerist? May I suggest you give folks the grace and space to find out what you already know?

And who is to say what the effect will be before it happens? Suppose for just a moment that folks not rushing heedlessly through the consumerist society for one day stopped, and a bunch of their fellow citizens stopped as well. And they found out the lesson that Nelson Mandela imparted during his inaugural speech, that they are worthwhile, and powerful, and can be a force for change and for good, rather than being helplessly dragged along in the fascist slipstream?

I'd say it's worth taking a chance that people might find that out.

[WildClarySage]

14. But this is not about changing our patterns of consumption, it's

about not spending money one particular day.

By all means lets talk about consumerism and it's destructive effects on our society. I'd love to see more discussion of business ethics and practices. I want people to see exactly what Walmart, et al. is doing to America.

But chosing not to spend money anywhere today and deferring your spending til tomorrow doesn't selectively impact businesses that engage in crass consumerism or which donate primarily to conservative causes. A better effort is to selectively patronize companies that engage in socially healthy practices every day and avoid those that don't. This isn't whining, it's being practical.

[el_gato]

46. tell me something I don't know please

I understand full well that one day isn't gonna make a huge difference but it is a step in the direction we need to be heading. Until people realize their consumption patterns enable the maintenance of the status quo people will continue to financially support the people who are ruining our country.

[Career Prole]

15. "a precursor to what eventually could become a national strike"

My fondest wish, El Gato. When they own the media other protests can be (and are) minimized.
Economic action scares them...that's why they've fought against labor organizing since the beginning.

[edward3]

16. Exactly! and it makes us look foolish

Even if 10 million people did not spend $100 each, that is only 1 billion dollars out of a daily economy of of over 60 billion, and is nothing but a deferral to the next day.

Don't these poeple that start this stuff realize that on one hand we say 47% of America did NOT vote for Bush, then they read about this "not one dime" day stuff and see that it has ZERO impact, they dismiss us as insignificant!

[robbedvoter]

23. Welcome to DU. We didn't have enough cold water pourers.

Go shopping. There's enough of us who won't.

[el_gato]

48. us?

yeah right

[robbedvoter]

71. Stuff your 47% - we are the majority, we won and are doing it

Last night I wasn't even so determined and forgot to stock my fridge. But thanks to threads like this, I am eating crackers today rather than buy anything. So, thank you, all those who try to shake our resolve - just strangthened mine.

[BurtWorm]

77. This "inaction" will probably not register on most people's radar

screens.

[CWebster]

17. Well,I suppose a couple of angry patriots (terrorists?)

pouring tea in the harbor didn't amount to much either.

[cali]

18. C'mon, I read your comments

You're smarter than that comment indicates.

[CWebster]

22. I must be suffering a mental lapse

Why don't you tell me?

I think the purpose is mostly representitive of a mindset. It is symbolic or a psychological attitude of empowerment and participation. And maybe for some, a start.

Where is the harm if it mobilizes some to take action?

Why does it seem that we are ready to sabotage our own intent every step of the way?

[FromTheLeft]

37. But that was doing something...

Dumping tea into the harbor was an aggressive act, boycotting for a day is not...passive resistance only works if it is enacted by large amounts of people over long periods of time when those people are actually losing something, not just a minor inconveince...

[CWebster]

42. Maybe dumping the tea wasn't the first action?

Maybe it started with smaller acts and symbolic stands?

This seems like much ado about nothing. If some are consciencous consumers, more power to them, but this is just a demonstration of an anti-corporate statement in a corporate dominated culture.

It serves to focus.

[Mend]

19. Do It Anyway...

Our family feels a sense of empowerment in an otherwise weakened political nightmare. If we were the only ones on earth to boycott, and we aren't, we would not spend a dime today.

[WildClarySage]

25. How will punishing people who have no political power help?

First off, I have to go buy my father a birthday present. So I'm going down to a (democrat) friend's shop to buy him the tie I get him every year as a gag gift this morning.

Then I'm going down to a health food shop/restaraunt to meet a friend for lunch. If we cancel, there's a waitress who won't get a tip from us that I bet she needs very badly.

Then I've got to go get some fabric so I can make some curtains for my living room- a project I've already procrastinated on- so I'll be going to another small business to shop for that. And if I didn't go out there today to buy it, I'd still have to go tomorrow. I could go to Walmart for the fabric- I need cotton duck canvas, and it's a pretty generic fabric- and pay less there, but I'd rather the small business gets my money.

My last errand for the day is to yet another small business, a pagan/new age bookstore to pick up a special order I placed last week. The owner has to pay overhead costs whether or not anyone goes into her store today- lights, rent on her shop, etc. She's a great lady who is far from conservative- how is not buying the pendant I ordered on one day versus another going to make a difference?

I feel empowered by choosing where to spend my money, not by inactively refusing to shop one day over the next.

[robbedvoter]

31. Bully for ya. Your actions will not cancel our boycott no matter

how much you shout them from the roof tops. You are alone, we are many.
Shop till you drop, dear. Go to those fabulous destinations for all I care. Still not tempted to join you.

[el_gato]

52. that's all fine and dandy

but the real point of this is not destroying small democratically owned businesses as you so dishonestly try to portray it. Go give another pro-democracy business owner some money, there is no problem in doing that. The point is not giving money to the corporate fat cats. You know that just as well as I do.

[WildClarySage]

70. Of course that isn't the point.

But it may be an unintended effect. For instance my friend owns a restaurant. We'll call him Mac. He and his wife, Roni are Democrats. They hire Rita, a waitress. Rita has two small kids at home and is a single mom. Tonight, instead of going out to eat, you eat at home. Rita doesn't wait on you, she doesn't get a tip. Roni still fires up the kitchen and they still owe for gas, electricity, etc. Also, any food that is unsold that day may need to be thrown out. They lost a lot of revenue because this protest was huge and every democrat participated. They had half their busines that night. Rita lost about half her tips. The next night, their patronage is not doubled, allowing them to make up the difference. Rita doesn't get twice the tips, to make up for losing out the night before. She has that much less to care for her family with.

Meanwhile, Walmart notices that their business is half what it usually is on Thursdays. The next few days, though, make up for it as more people are coming in than usual over the weekend.

[robbedvoter]

26. That's the spirit. I wish the powerless dems in the senate would

get this idea - you empower yourself when you act your conscience.
It's why our family is doing it as well. Ot only takes a few people with conscience.

[robbedvoter]

20. Remember "The Day Stood Still?" One hour - made its point.

It's a show of strength (the kind the folding dems you admire so much refused to do in senate yesterday). You are consistent. You want "meaningful debate" - as long as BFEE is not inconvenienced in any way. Just talk to ourselves....:sigh:

[Demit]

24. If you follow that "it won't make a difference anyway" logic, I guess that

means you don't bother to vote either? After all, it's just one vote. Who will notice that? It's insignificant.

[WildClarySage]

28. The problem I have with this kind of in-activism

is that it accomplishes nothing except to make people think silly responses to real problems are effective enough to excuse them from actually doing something that might BE effective.

For instance, if you really want to do something to stop corporate parasitism, do some research on which businesses are most ethical and shop with them only. It accomplishes nothing to hurt waitresses and small business owners and it tends to alienate them from our cause.

Liberal energy can be channeled more effectively and pro-acively than this silly don't spend today-do it tomorrow stuff.

[robbedvoter]

29. When you'll have a concrete effective proposition, I'll consider it

So far, you only sound like a scared RW-er (not saying you are one, just sound like one, OK?) The whole" but if we do something we'll alienate such and such" has been done around this selection to death.

[WildClarySage]

32. My concrete proposition is to

change your habits of consumerism to reflect your values, not simply for today but every day.

[FromTheLeft]

40. I have idea, but I could not start a thread...

I posted a few minutes a in another part of this thread that the only way to make passive resistance work is too sustain it over a long period of time... I propose that we boycott Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, the number 11 donor to the Bush campaign, for the entire month of February. This is the first month of their fiscal year and this is a very distinct reaction to a particular company. If even just a few hundred thousand Kerry supporters were to go else where for the month it would hit wal-mart hard enough that next time around they will think harder about where that 2.8 million of campaign support goes. I say wal-mart because they are the most feasible to boycott out of the top ten because it is easy to know when you are in one and where you aren't, this is an idea that EVERYONE can partake in unlike attempting to boycott Altria or try to get everyone to switch their phone service from AT&T.

I wanted to post this as its own thread, but I am too new.

[WildClarySage]

43. Many of us have already ceased to shop Walmart, Sams and Lowes

for exactly that reason. Switching long distance carrier to Working Assets is another way to put your money where your values are.

And welcome to DU!

[FromTheLeft]

47. But the need is not for just many here but all!!!

I know that most of my democrat friends had no idea until I told them that Wal-Mart was a huge part of the problem. Once again we need to be proactive. We need to spread the word pro-actively the key to doing this is a hard push to have it know across the country, we need to scream it from the roof-tops, get congressmen, and senators on board. This is the number one employeer in the USA, there is one thing that is more important to them than Red or Blue and that is Red and Black. Profits and losses. They need to feel threatened. This is what the Republicans do that we don't they make americans feel afraid. There is no more motivating factor in the world than fear. And the only thing that these companys truely fear is profit loss. And not just for a day. Yes there are those of us who are in the know enough to have changed our shopping habits, but there are tens of millions of others who are unaware that a portion of every purchase that they make at wal-mart doesn't go to to tsunami add, that it doesn't go to social programs, that it doesn't go to health care for the elderly, that it doesn't go to social security, that by shopping at wal-mart they are effectively casting a vote against these programs.

[ClassWarrior]

62. I first heard about NODD Day elsewhere. It's not just us.

NGU.

[FromTheLeft]

68. I wasn't talking about NODD...Check out my repost below n/t

[SemperEadem]

78. it has to start somewhere

clearly, there isn't a full blown, fully thought out agenda proposed yet... someone said "not one dime" today; it has to start somewhere and it's a start towards something bigger with more impact.

Now, if it's so silly and ineffective for a one day boycott that will impact Mac and his establishment, then where is your web site and your action committee and agenda on how we're going to do this up right, which will guarantee the outcome that we're all looking for?

Just saying "it's dumb, it won't work" while having no fool-proof plan that guarantees success doesn't cut it. But you go ahead and spend today--and buy meals for some hungry folks at Mac's while you're at it if you really want to help him out today to keep from going out of business. The rest of us will exercise restraint and discipline until tomorrow and gear up for v2.0 of this good idea to be implemented.

[PennyK]

55. Thanks, Dem

Just like when I participated in the Moratorium back in college in the late '60s. I am watching the protesters on the'span...many people travelled far and are outside in the freezing cold to make their voices heard...not shopping is easy by comparison!

[Village Idiot]

27. Don't be so negative.

Could it hurt you to NOT shop for one damn day? Get some perspective.

[WildClarySage]

33. It's a bandaid solution to a gaping wound problem

and the solution is more harmful to the people whose side we're supposed to be on. This kind of 'feel good' answer that doesn't involve any real sacrifice on anyone's part (except, as I've pointed out, the most vulnerable-employees and small businesses) fools people into thinking they're doing something so they don't bother to do anything that is real and meaningful and does involve some level of effort or sacrifice.

[ClassWarrior]

35. It's a fucking symbol.

No one's going out of business because of this - everyone who ISN'T buying today WILL run out and make up for it tomorrow. I know I will. But if it does have an impact, it serves as a symbol - and symbolism is sometimes good in and of itself.

NGU.

[el_gato]

50. all I see from you is no solutions just whining about others actions

perhaps if you had something to offer?

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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

[ClassWarrior]

34. One more "give up, it's pointless" post.

Don't you people have ANY imagination?

NGU.

[ibegurpard]

38. Sometimes even useless gestures

can make US personally feel like we are doing SOMETHING when everything else seems out of our control.

[clem_c_rock]

39. Agree, it's not the business owners fault, especially their employees

The only thing it's going to hurt is the people on the bottom end. So many businesses are hanging by a thread even one lost day's of revenues could the final straw for one employees job.

Your punching the wrong face.

[bc0001]

44. Agree

This sort of reminds me of the Boycott the French campaign...there was no recognition that many French companies own enterprises here ...and consequently employ many Americans - all of whom didn't vote Repuk...nor did it recognize the contribution the French made in forming our country.

There needs to be a message sent - agreed. Is this the best way?

[ClassWarrior]

45. No one's going out of business because of this...

...as I said in another post. Everyone who ISN'T buying today WILL run out and make up for it tomorrow. I know I will. I'll need groceries by then.

But it does have a symbolic value. It sends a signal - to some powerful corporatists, if no one else - that we're powerful too.

NGU.

[clem_c_rock]

49. It's not going to affect corperatists in the least, the Mom and Pop...

Businesses will be the ones affected.

[ClassWarrior]

58. It would help if you'd bother to read the posts to which you're responding

NGU.

[clem_c_rock]

61. No I see your point, but

Many independent businesses in the DC area could benefit greatly from the extra business generated by the 100,000's of people in the area.

Tommorow, those people won't be there and, in vacation/extra spending mode, so these businesses will lose out.

Not all the folks in DC are going to be GOP'ers. Many will be protesting and also, be spending money if they don't take part in this ban.

[ClassWarrior]

63. Oh, I'm sure the Radical RWers descending on DC won't help one bit.

Your logic is astounding.

<LOL>

NGU.

[clem_c_rock]

66. What the logic that a huge # of people descending on DC

will also, be protesters who also have the potential to spend a great deal of money?

What part is hard to understand?

[ClassWarrior]

67. If it wasn't Bush**, the protestors wouldn't be there anyway.

So what's the diff?

NGU.

[clem_c_rock]

69. Again - the diff is

1. Many Independently owned business are hanging on by the skin of their
teeth. Is this debatable?

2. Many of said businesses could desperately use a little boost from
A large event where 100,000's of people are attending. An event
like this, especially in January (IE. look at January sales in the
food service industry), could be an absolute godsend to many
businesses. Is this part debatable?

And I'm only discussing something worth discussing. Can we lose the little hostile, mocking tone? Put your bad vibes to use on someone who actually deserves it.

[Atman]

41. All protest is pointless, then

I just posted this on a NODDD link to my blacked-out TSC ad...

---

To those who think the whole NODDD is a silly protest...aren't ALL protests short of outright armed revolution "silly?" Isn't carrying a funny slogan at the end of a stick silly? Isn't wearing a blue bracelet silly?

No one I know has any pretense that not shopping today will bring down the government. But this is a corporate-controlled Mall-mentality government, whose best advice to us while the nation was supposedly under seige was to display an orange square and say "Go shopping!"

That's a bit silly, too.

Symbols are just that -- symbols. I couldn't make it to DC to carry a funny saying at the end of a stick, or turn my back on a passing car 200 yards away, or whatever. This is just a symbol of my disgust, and I know many others share it. It'd be nice if the democratic party showed some unity on something, just once. While we infight and tell each other we're silly, the republicans are watching us, marching in lockstep and kicking our asses. So forgive me...I'll be silly today.

It's either that or I'll just give up caring. And I'm not ready to do that!

(BTW, above my silly black square are ads that say "Backhanding the left into submission" and "Piss on Liberals." If they can send that message, why can't we send our silly message?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1511733

[rman]

57. it may be a first small step in becoming independant

from big bad corporations' production.

[Freddie Stubbs]

59. It certainly won't hurt Wal-Mart

How many people who would participate in this boycott actually shop there? This will likely wind up hurting local coffee houses and organic food co-op before it will hurt large corporations.

[FromTheLeft]

64. I am reposting my message from earlier

I have a feeling it got lost in the shuffle:

47. But the need is not for just many here but all!!!


I know that most of my democrat friends had no idea until I told them that Wal-Mart was a huge part of the problem. Once again we need to be proactive. We need to spread the word pro-actively the key to doing this is a hard push to have it know across the country, we need to scream it from the roof-tops, get congressmen, and senators on board. This is the number one employeer in the USA, there is one thing that is more important to them than Red or Blue and that is Red and Black. Profits and losses. They need to feel threatened. This is what the Republicans do that we don't they make americans feel afraid. There is no more motivating factor in the world than fear. And the only thing that these companys truely fear is profit loss. And not just for a day. Yes there are those of us who are in the know enough to have changed our shopping habits, but there are tens of millions of others who are unaware that a portion of every purchase that they make at wal-mart doesn't go to to tsunami add, that it doesn't go to social programs, that it doesn't go to health care for the elderly, that it doesn't go to social security, that by shopping at wal-mart they are effectively casting a vote against these programs.

[FromTheLeft]

65. Sorry ment to repost this one

40. I have idea, but I could not start a thread...


I posted a few minutes a in another part of this thread that the only way to make passive resistance work is too sustain it over a long period of time... I propose that we boycott Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, the number 11 donor to the Bush campaign, for the entire month of February. This is the first month of their fiscal year and this is a very distinct reaction to a particular company. If even just a few hundred thousand Kerry supporters were to go else where for the month it would hit wal-mart hard enough that next time around they will think harder about where that 2.8 million of campaign support goes. I say wal-mart because they are the most feasible to boycott out of the top ten because it is easy to know when you are in one and where you aren't, this is an idea that EVERYONE can partake in unlike attempting to boycott Altria or try to get everyone to switch their phone service from AT&T.

I wanted to post this as its own thread, but I am too new.

[robbedvoter]

72. Sounds good to me. Next step is to spread the word.

make a website/yahoo group - to organize it - pass a link. I'll help with that.

[FromTheLeft]

74. I sent out the following email this morning to a few friends and family

Feel free to amend but be sure to pass the word.

So here I am on Inaguration Day not spending on damn dime and
thinking...isn't there something better than this that we can do. So I sit
here about to start my first email that I am actually hoping reaches further
that those I send it to. NODD is a good idea, but only a symbol. Passive
resistance needs something more to be truely affective, time. I propose
that for all of February no one who believes that Bush is wrong buy anything
from Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. I know that this won't be easy and might mean
that some of us who don't have much right now have to spend a few extra
dollars, but Wal-Mart was one of the Top 15 largest contributors to the Bush
Campain at somewhere over 2.8 million.

The most powerful motivating factor in the world is fear. It was fear that
caused much of this country to shove its collective heads in the sand and
support the republicans, now it is time for us democrats to use fear against
them. The one thing that can reverse the big corperations outlook is fear
of lost profits. So lets make Wal-Mart afraid.

February is the first month of the new fiscal year. Lets see if we can put
them where they seem to want to be...IN THE RED!!!

If you agree with the spirit of this email please ad your name to the list
below and send it on to all those you care about and all those who truely
love America.

Concerned Citizens,
Samuel Goldberger

[LittleClarkie]

60. Well, I've met folk on the left who were good at that

I knew a woman who refused to ride the elevator because of the company who made it and what they had done. Yeah, that helps.

As for me, I. NEED. COFFEE.

[The Gigmeister]

73. Agreed.

It's all pointless, childish and embarrassing. But then again, so are the "Dean was takend-down by the media, Kerry, and the DLC" Tinfoilers...

;)

Call radio stations instead. Some station up in Mass recently switched to Air America from all Puke Wing. And in the interview, the station manager said he was impressed by the 124 emails he recieved urging him to switch to AA.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR!!! Now that's "Doable"!!

[robbedvoter]

79. Thanks, Cali. Day's over, feel great. I might have broken it

if not for you. I felt bound by my words, so I survived on crackers with an empty fridge - and feel empowered.

[pattyloutwo]

80. People feel so powerless

but our power is in our pocketbooks. Cancel your cable. Shop at your independent hardware, grocery and drug stores. Use Working Assets long distance. Join a credit union rather than a bank. And boycott corporate spending for one day. If millions do/did it, it sends a message and makes a difference. I think it's fabulous.

[MissBrooks]

81. I couldn't figure out how to get my car out of the carpark

so - I had to spend some money yesterday.

Perhaps we can try it again on a non-work day?

PS... Someone told me that Orthodox Jews do this every week!!!
Did you know that?