Shopping boycott day after Thanksgiving to protest evoting

[intheflow]

I suggested this in another thread and was asked to post it in this forum.

I envision a national boycott of chain stores. It would throw big retailers into a tailspin--they count on those after Thanksgiving revenues to help boost their yearly profitability. (If you MUST shop the day after Thanksgiving, go to locally owned stores. I don't want to screw small business, only the national retailers. This will make regular people more sympathetic to our cause while making a national statement.)

This would be a completely non-violent and yet totally chaotic way to protest electronic voting. And a one-day boycott should be easier to organize than a long, drawn-out boycott.

I invite everyone to send this idea out to their networks.

The only problem as I see it is how to get the message out so that the retailers and the government know this is a protest and not just an economic indicator (i.e., retail numbers are down b/c no one has money). How do we get the word out?

Everyone who has any thoughts on this is welcome to pirate the idea and run with it.

[Lorien]

1. Nov. 26 "Buy Nothing Day" has been going on for years

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=255x143

Adbusters has tried to get the word out for more than a decade, but corporate America won't allow them to do any advertising on television or radio (or most newspapers, for that matter-so much for freedom of speech)!

I guess the internet is the only way to go anymore. Use e-mail, and ask your friends to pass it along!

[vinessa4freedom]

2. not selling anything either

I have a small homebased business (of one-just me). I usually do a "phone-a-thon" sale the day after Thanksgiving. This year I've decided not only to refrain from shopping, but from selling anything as well. Even though all of my contributions (although modest like my income) go toward liberal causes, I thought it was the best way to raise awareness for the boycott. I've had calls about the sale, and it offers me the opportunity to tell people I'm not selling anything that day, and why. Some think I'm nuts, but others are intrigued by the idea. I guess it's my small way of getting through to people that wouldn't otherwise listen.

[Kenneth ken]

3. very cool

I think that's wonderful of you to do!

:thumbsup:

vinessa
:yourock:

[vinessa4freedom]

4. thanks Kenneth ken!

That made my day.

[HuskerDem]

5. No problem, we'll just kick around the house and watch football

I hate shopping in massive crowds anyway.

[JaneDoughnut]

6. I didn't shop - did anyone notice?

I'm buying only one Christmas gift this year - the rest of my holiday spending will go to charity - and I didn't buy so much as a soda on Friday.

But did anyone notice? How do we measure the impact of our boycotts?

[JaneDoughnut]

7. Wait - I guess Wal-Mart noticed!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2762266

Yea!