It may be easier to simply make a list of what companies and products

[Zorra]

to patronize rather than worry so much about who not to patronize. We can focus on this quickly and make it all simple for distributing the idea and putting it into nationwide practice ASAP.

Kind of a neat "boycott" package plan made simple and understandable for people who are too busy to research but wish to engage in a boycott.

We all, pretty much, need certain basic goods and services, and if we identify which companies and products are Progressive and provide the goods and services that we need, we can patronize them, increasing their profit and prosperity, and allowing them to grow. We could offer several Progressive company choices in each category. This would eliminate losing focus and simplify the "boycott".

For example:

Insurance: Progressive Insurance Co.

Telephone: Working Assets

Shopping: Costco

Gas: Citgo

Bank: Credit Union

We can also, of course, list products according to this model.

If we can make a list of the services that pretty much everyone needs and list the Progressive Companies that provide these services, we can patronize these companies exclusively and not have to worry so much about who not to patronize. Once we "perfect" the list, we can notify these Progressive companies that we plan to patronize them because of their Progressive ideas, products, services, and practices.

This will simplify the boycott process, and make it easily understandable distributable through email.

People that are very busy can read our list from an email and begin "boycotting" without having to go throught the confusing process of having to investigate every company's practices.

After we finish the list of "good" companies and distribute it on email to everyone that we think may participate in the boycott, we can begin a list of "bad" companies and write to them and tell them why we do not use their goods and services.

I'm strapped for time right now, and not sure if my idea is completely clear.

I plan to work on this later and would appreciate any and all input.

Thanks!

[kayell]

1. Here is a thread already started on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=255x11

Although I think your idea of breaking it down by product and service will definitely help also. Perhaps these could eventually be added to the proposed database.

[sherilocks]

2. Actually, I like your thinking here

The other thread was getting complicated. Not that I didn't do some of the complicating due to some bad data. Mia Culpa. Please, if we start a new thread of good guys here, don't add to it. Maybe another thread with suggestions that some of us can check out and discuss before it goes on a permanent list would be in order? What say you all?

[kayell]

3. Maybe we could set up a list types of businesses and seek volunteers to

research businesses within those groups. I would be interested in more in depth research than just political contributions, since I would hate to give my money to a company that had dem contributions but also ran sweatshops or union busted. (and there are such critters) I would be happy to volunteer to do research on either Food or Clothing producers (although both of those are multi-person projects)

[sherilocks]

4. Okay--I like that

I'll volunteer to do research where needed. But I think that has to be a long-term goal, over the next few months.

In the meantime we need a short list for this holiday season. Absolute necessities-food is the only thing that comes to mind: grocery stores, brand names, etc. Plus the list of alternate kinds of giving.

This will give us a breather to get to the secondary issues that you mentioned. The Democratic Underground Directory of Purchasing or something like that.

More ideas anyone?

[sherilocks]

5. I just looked at the new database

and it looks like we will be able to incorporate much of our research into it. But I did have some concerns that I am waiting to hear about in reference to whose info is allowed in there.

http://www.globalblogs.com/progressivepages/index.html

[kayell]

6. It does look like the Progressive Pages will do a lot of what we want

and I can start devoting some time to research after next weekend. I would like to see some evaluation of companies beyond red/blue contributions. And some sections on alternatives to buying at all is desirable IMO, although that may fall outside the goal of the developers.