Interesting Comments at Atrios -- re economic boycotts

[Eloriel]

Hi -- don't have much time these days to check this forum out, but "accidentally" ran across this at Atrios and wanted to share. Not sure I totally agree with him and his conclusions re causation (from a fairly narrow, IMO, sampling), but thought I'd pass it along for discussion --

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004/11/here-we-go-again-its-economy-stupid.html

Monday, November 29, 2004

Here we go again; It's the economy, stupid.

First off I agree with upyernoz that protesters should absolutely be allowed access to quasi-public spaces such as malls. The proprietors of these malls are shooting themselves in both feet if they think this is the way to deal with harmless street theater protesters (I would have offered them store coupons). Someone seriously needs to sit management down and explain a little public relations to them before the local news decides to do a number on them under the header of Human Interest.

So here I was, reading along as the comments predictably ran into another rehash of the weekend's point/counterpoint debate over the more commercialized aspects of the holiday season, fully intending to get back to work without commenting, until reading the following comment by Hecate (who I still hold dear to my heart):

Can you imagine if, for one month, Americans decided to stop buying anything except necessities?

Yes. As a matter of fact I can clearly imagine what it would be like if Americans decided to stop buying anything except necessities because it actually happened during the week of January 17, 1991.

-- more, for the punchline and his conclusion --

[Lorien]

1. A sampling of the comments:

Americans are consuming the planet. We devour over 24% of all earth resources.

Going on a diet could save our culture, our planet and our own lives.

This is all so tragic. We are literally drowning our landscape, our lives, in tons of trivial or unnecessary junk.
Elaine Supkis | Email | Homepage | 11.29.04 - 8:57 pm | #

yeah, i can see that continued american affluence is more important than taking a stand against american policy. but only if you're an american.

the rich are more attached to being rich than they are to being fascist. as long as corporate interests are bankrolling an administration that makes war i refuse to play along in their market. others may do as they choose. but as far as i'm concerned no american should be deriving benefit - or even comfort - as long as some of that money is being used to kill innocents.

since the average american would clearly rather have a plasma TV than world peace, i don't think this is much of an issue, though.
sfgary | Email | Homepage | 11.29.04 - 8:58 pm | #

"Americans need to discover a life that isn't based on acquisition and throwing things away. Only this time, it needs to be deliberate.
"

Deliberate, focused and long term...
dry fly | Email | Homepage | 11.29.04 - 8:58 pm | #

That's correct, Thumb. There has to be a better way because the middle class cannot afford to be jobless now that the repugnants are planning to slash social services left and right. Why can't we be like the citizens of Ukraine? Where are those 49 million people? Americans don't stand up for themselves - maybe it will take some serious sould searching, but who is going to point that out to them? Where are the powerful Dems? Why are they not in the Media screaming and yelling? As Atrios posted before - the abused syndrome. We are screwed; if we do not rise we'll be led to the slaughter like sheep.
Lima | Email | Homepage | 11.29.04 - 8:59 pm | #

[crispini]

2. Interesting article, thanks.

I think most of us here agree with him (or rather, the "update" he posted) that what we're REALLY trying to do is "Starve the obvious Republican connected companies, not our natural allies in your local markets."

That reminds me, I guess I gotta go write a note to Target telling them why I will be bidding them a tearful goodbye. Heavy sigh. I LOVE TARGET SO!!!!

[Lorien]

5. Do you have target's contact info?

They were one of my four shopping spots (Costco, Health food store, holistic pet store, Target), and now I only have three! I loved Target and was so sad to see that they give to the dark side-no more for me. :-(

[crispini]

7. Viola.

http://www.targetcorp.com/targetcorp_group/contactus/contact.jhtml

I'll post my letter when I write it.

[mdmc]

3. Hi Eloriel!

:hi:

[JaneDoughnut]

4. Good read

Thanks for the post. Frankly, I think Americans could be a lot happier if we went through the necessary pain of shrinking our economy. How long can an economy based on extravagance survive without collapsing?

[kayell]

6. No damage we could possibly do by abstaining from insane consumption

will be as severe as the collapse that is coming from destroying the ecosystem and using up the resources of the world so we can wallow in toys. I'm not going to try to do my part to keep a disastrous system running either.