Mich. man starts campaign to boycott Alabama products

[babsbunny]

Mich. man starts campaign to boycott Alabama products

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812120320

Joe Babiasz of Huntington Woods, Mich., launched a Web site, www.boycottalabamanow.com, recently to protest Shelby's efforts to prevent Congress from passing a package of loans to the U.S. auto industry.

On his Web site, the General Motors retiree takes issue with Shelby's position and claims Shelby's support of federal grants for Alabama makes the senator a hypocrite. Specifically, the Web site questions grants for Alabama's fishing industry.

The senator's office released a statement calling Babiaz's efforts misguided.

"The purveyor of the Web site does not explain how an attempt to cause job losses in Alabama will save jobs in Detroit," the statement said.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. Thanks a lot repukes. Pitting states against each other. nt

[bluestateguy]

2. Did University of Alabama ever get around to integrating their Greek system?

Just wondering.

Only 10% of white people in Alabama voted for Obama, the worst in the nation.

If Alabama wants to convince me that they have changed, then show me the Blue. That's right, show me the Blue, and then I'll reconsider my views about that despicable state.

[bamademo]

5. How are you any less bigoted or hate filled than what you percieve Alabama to be?

http://stevensonblog.tuscaloosanews.com/default.asp?item=2281453

I'm tired of everyone in Alabama being painted with a big ugly racist brush just because Shelby voted against the auto worker bailout. Our Democratic congressman, Bud Cramer voted for the bailout.

Bill Maher owes Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a big, fat apology

EnlargeTUSCALOOSA | Two weeks ago on his HBO show "Real Time," comedian, social commentator and movie producer Bill Maher said something to the effect he would believe race had not played a role in the 2008 presidential election "When Tuscaloosa, Alabama, votes for Barack Obama."

Well, guess what, Bill, our fine city of 80,000 or so on the banks of the lovely Black Warrior River, went overwhelmingly for Obama, 62 percent to 38 percent, by my preliminary, rough estimate.

Now it is true that Republican John McCain carried Tuscaloosa County 55.5 percent to 44.4 percent, but within the city limits of Tuscaloosa, which is a majority white city and the home of the University of Alabama (whose Crimson Tide football team is ranked number one in the country, in case you haven't noticed), Democrat Obama had approximately 26,000 votes to about 15,600 for McCain. The countywide vote was 45,351 for McCain and 32,738 for Obama.

[1monster]

7. Get used to it... Every state is going to have its day being blasted as

bigoted or stupid or whatever.

It began with Election 2000 when Florida, a state that had a fine history of progressive laws (Government in the Sunshine, for one) suddenly became "Flori-duh, and the state that didn't know how to use a voting machine, etc.

Then came Ohio (and Washington state) in 2004.

And none of this was the will or the fault of the people of those states. It was dirty politics, law breaking, and election fraud.

We're all going to have our chance, it seems.

[Obamanaut]

51. Is Crimson Tide really #1? nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

6. Do you think they care?

[AZ Criminal JD]

16. What perfect state are you in?

Why are you hiding it from your profile?

[Syrinx]

28. his profile used to say he was from Texas

The state that gave us you know who.

[QC]

56. No wonder his home state is such a carefully guarded secret!

In fairness, though, the Bushes are the bluest-blooded of northeastern old money bluebloods.

Not Texan in any meaningful way.

[Syrinx]

30. Do you believe everything that John King tells you?

Obama received 17.5% of the vote in Winston County, Alabama, which is virtually all-white. I suspect he did better among white voters in counties where the white people have black neighbors. And Obama did five points better than John Kerry did four years ago, statewide.

[LisaM]

3. Just give Alabama the same return Michigan gets per tax dollar

on the last posting I saw, Michiganders saw 94 cents per tax dollar, while Alabamians saw $1.63 per tax dollar. I say, reverse it.

[TahitiNut]

17. In FY2005, Alabama received $1.66 for each $1.00 paid in federal taxes, while Michigan got $0.92.

That's over $15 billion in federal spending in excess of federal taxes paid by the citizens of Alabama.

That gives me an idea. I know where we can get the $15 billion. Just take Alabama off federal welfare!

:evilgrin:

In 25 years (1981-2005), Alabama has ALWAYS received more in federal dollars than they pay, and in those same years Michigan has NEVER received as much as paid.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/266.html

New Mexico $2.03 1
Mississippi $2.02 2
Alaska $1.84 3
Louisiana $1.78 4
West Virginia $1.76 5
North Dakota $1.68 6
Alabama $1.66 7
South Dakota $1.53 8
Kentucky $1.51 9
Virginia $1.51 10
Montana $1.47 11
Hawaii $1.44 12
Maine $1.41 13
Arkansas $1.41 14
Oklahoma $1.36 15
South Carolina $1.35 16
Missouri $1.32 17
Maryland $1.30 18
Tennessee $1.27 19
Idaho $1.21 20
Arizona $1.19 21
Kansas $1.12 22
Wyoming $1.11 23
Iowa $1.10 24
Nebraska $1.10 25
Vermont $1.08 26
North Carolina $1.08 27
Pennsylvania $1.07 28
Utah $1.07 29
Indiana $1.05 30
Ohio $1.05 31
Georgia $1.01 32
Rhode Island $1.00 33
Florida $0.97 34
Texas $0.94 35
Oregon $0.93 36
Michigan $0.92 37
Washington $0.88 38
Wisconsin $0.86 39
Massachusetts $0.82 40
Colorado $0.81 41
New York $0.79 42
California $0.78 43
Delaware $0.77 44
Illinois $0.75 45
Minnesota $0.72 46
New Hampshire $0.71 47
Connecticut $0.69 48
Nevada $0.65 49
New Jersey $0.61 50

[JNelson6563]

18. That's an interesting list

I've long known Michigan to be a "donor" state, what gets me is the hypocrisy of some of those states who are truly pigs at the trough.

Fuckin' Rethugs.

Julie

[TahitiNut]

20. The $47.6 billion in 'extra' federal taxes paid by Californians in 2005 kept a lot of GOP states ...

... afloat on the dole. Considering how the GOP sneers and demeans Californians, I think it's high time those welfare states got cut loose to fend for themselves.

[JNelson6563]

22. Amen my friend.

Let them "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" as they prescribe for everyone else.

Julie

[lukasahero]

50. As a "Massachusetts liberal", I can relate

I wish this information was better publicized.

[BrklynLiberal]

27. Interesting that as the return on the dollar DECREASES, the states tend

to go from red to blue. What an irony......especially since it is the red politicians that complain about paying so much in taxes.

[ColbertWatcher]

59. Anyway to know how much $$$ they got from DHS? n/t

[Wednesdays]

4. I agree with the sentiment, disagree with the tactics

It's really tough to boycott an entire state (especially if you're living in that state!).

What's a whole lot more effective is to focus the boycott on the specific financial supporters of anti-UAW senators (such as Shelby). Once word gets out to avoid particular products or services, many of those entities will back away from "controversial politics" and donating to "controversial politicians." ;)

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. In solidarity, I agree to boycott....uh.....myself.

Seems fair. It's what I get for living in this state.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. I added the boycott link to Shelby's truthiness page ...

... http://www.wikiality.com/Richard_Shelby It's at the bottom, claiming to be Shelby's "Official Fundraising Tube"

BTW, everyone is welcome to add anything else you may know about Shelby to the page, just make sure you create a free account first, so when you edit pages, no one can see your IP address.

If you've got questions, drop me a note.

[depakid]

9. What does Alabama make that anyone could boycott?

:shrug:

Found this site on Google:

Welcome to Alabama Marketplace -- Made in Alabama, Alabama ...
AL Marketplace - Home to Authentic Alabama products that are either manufactured , grown or crafted in Alabama.
www.almarketplace.com/

but apparently the site is down (or no longer exists).

[Fumesucker]

34. Mercedes has a plant in Alabama..

Other than that I can't think of anything right offhand.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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

[pampango]

31. We're not bigots. We just don't like people who live in Alabama.

:)

You gotta admit that there's a certain amount of irony to the strategy of buying products made in Japan rather than ones made in the US (but in Alabama). If our boycott of Alabama-made products works, we can then promote imports from China, India and Mexico (or is Mexico "Southern"?) over products made in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Georgia. ;)

[Syrinx]

33. that's a post-modern approach, I guess

:)

I peeked at your profile, and it says you live in Xenia, Ohio. That brought back some memories. I was a little kid, but I remember the horror of the Xenia tornado. I was up in the Dayton area visiting my grandparents when that happened. I'm not sure, offhand, how far Dayton is from Xenia, but I remember that day, the sky looked darker and more frightening than I've ever seen it. There's no real point to this remembrance, but if you are as old as me, I'm glad you survived it, and if not, I'm glad your parents did. :)

[pampango]

35. I didn't move here til the mid-1980's so missed the tornado. Everyone does have a story

to tell and 37 people died that day. Oddly we've had two tornados (much smaller) since I moved here. Thanks for remembering.

[Romulox]

38. No irony whatever. If we're not supporting Labor, then it makes sense to buy the best product.

Industrial products made in the South are, across the board, of lower quality than those made in Japan.

[pampango]

41. That's an interesting concept - free trade except when union jobs are affected.

It might be a bit cumbersome to determine which imported products are competing with union goods and which with non-union goods, but it could work.

My '89 Honda Civic was built in Ohio and my '99 Subaru Legacy in Indiana (when Subaru was owned by GM). They were not built in the South, but not by union workers. (My '05 Vibe was.) Does the quality of my Civic and Legacy fall in between that of cars made in the South and those made in Japan? (Not sure if you're using some research study that "Industrial products made in the South are, across the board, of lower quality than those made in Japan" or if that is a matter of your opinion. The South as our new domestic "China".)

[Romulox]

44. Hondas made in Japan, for example, have, on average, fewer defects than those made in Ohio.

I know this to be true, but I will not be able to retrieve a citation for you at this early hour.

[pampango]

46. I trust your accuracy (though it is a little depressing). Still buying Hondas made in Japan

is not exactly supporting union labor since Japanese unions are not similar to ours.

[Romulox]

37. Nothing bigoted about it. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE shows the cars made in the South are lower quality

than the ones made in Japan.

And that's what this is all about, isn't it? :hi:

[gravity]

11. Can we not screw over our neighbors

We shouldn't punish millions of workers because of the actions of one Senator.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Romulox]

14. Nothing from 'Bammy to boycott. Tennesee whiskey is off my list though.

Will toast the new years with Jameson this year. :hi:

[bamademo]

15. Do you wear cotton? Use velcro?

Cotton is still grown in Alabama, velcro came about from the space program.

Edited to add: Don't eat any seafood. You might be eating shrimp, oysters, flounder, crab or snapper from the Alabama Gulf coast.

[DRoseDARs]

19. Unless specific brand products are named, this is pretty meaningless. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

26. Velcro company headquarters is in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA.

Velcro was an invention by the Swiss not Alabama. NASA was put in
Alabama to help raise your state's intelligence and education.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro

Thanks Alabama demo for being ignorant, I don't oppose supporting your
states education but don't make up shit.

[Romulox]

43. Whew. Thank goodness. Velcro is the only thing in that list I'd miss! nt

[JustAnotherGen]

21. I won't/can't go along with that

My family has owned a farm there since 1866 (land my ancestors were slaves on prior to that). I still have a LOT of family there and own my share of our land . . . no can't go along with it. Family first. Everyone else take a ticket and go stand in line.

[entanglement]

23. Working class anger is being diverted along regional and nationalistic lines rather than at the boss

class - a consequence of extreme political confusion.

[pampango]

32. Great post. Many here have gone from posting about the evils of workers in China, India,

and Mexico to the evils of workers in Alabama and the South, in general. Sounds like the boss class has us right where it wants us.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

58. No one posts about the "evils of workers in China, India, etc"

People post against the evils of so-called "free trade" that is really an excuse to outsource U.S. jobs, suppress wages, and avoid safety and environmental standards. Others who are drunk on all the Friedman koolaid try to impugn them with ugly motives.

[QC]

57. And look how many people here are staying up late working tirelessly

to perpetuate that confusion.

Inspiring, isn't it?

[tuckessee]

24. Boycotts work both ways.

We'll see whose regional economy is stronger.

[Romulox]

39. I wish you guys would boycott the Federal tax subsidies you get every year.

"Regional economy" indeed. :rofl:

[tonycinla]

49. Exactly!

A lot of good ol boys down here might start buying "locally" manufactured pick ups instead of Chev.,GMC,and Dodge.Bring it on.

[MadHound]

25. And this will punish Shelby how?

It won't, it will punish the ordinary people of Alabama instead.

Somewhere Marx is turning over in his grave as the workers fight amongst each other while the elites walk away scott-free, laughing all the way.

And it's shit like this people that keeps the entire working class down, we turn on each other, fighting for scraps while the elites get the entire meal, including seconds.

Idiots.

[Romulox]

36. Says the guy who opposed the Big 3 loans from the beginning... nt

[MadHound]

52. Way to generalize a nuanced opinion

Nowhere do I say that I opposed bailing out the Big 3. I did say that I wanted some serious conditions attached to any bailout, that I would prefer that this current administration not do the bailout(after all, look how well that worked for the financial bailout), and that I wanted a bridge loan in order to keep the Big 3 afloat until the Obama administration gets into office and a substantial deal for the Big 3 can be worked out.

But no, in your mind that means I'm opposing the bailing out the Big 3. Whatever, you obviously don't do much nuance much, instead preferring to engage in black and white thinking:eyes:

[Romulox]

53. You were posting in support of cheap labor union busting early this very morning

"Nuance" is the watchword of those who don't like to be reminded of their inconsistent positions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4656485&mesg_id=4656612

[MadHound]

54. LOL, geez dude, get a grip, you're spinning worse than O'Reilly

You're not even bothering to hide the fact that you're flat fucking out lying on my position. Get a grip, and get a clue.

[Romulox]

55. "Everything looks bad when you remember it!"

I provided a link, and others can decide for themselves whether you were merely "understanding" the anti-union argument, or you were advocating for it.

Your posts, just like your sputtering name calling, speak for themselves. :hi:

[pampango]

40. The real hypocrites are those congresspeople who supported the financial industry bailout, but

oppose the auto industry loans. Those who opposed both or supported both may be right or may be wrong, but they are not hypocrites - they either support the concept of bailouts or they don't.

[Romulox]

42. A lot of DUers ignored the Wall Street handout, but became intensely interested in the Big3 loans

I've never been able to get any DUer to tell me what the CEO of AIG makes, for example, but there are several "experts" on auto industry compensation posting on DU.

This lack of interest or scrutiny of the massive financial bailout when contrasted with the intense scrutiny of the relatively modest auto industry loan package reveals a more subtle, but all too obvious form of class based bigotry and hypocrisy.

[pampango]

45. I guess we have our share of hypocrites here, too.

I agree that class based bigotry exists, but it's hard to accuse those who oppose all "bailouts" (financial and auto industries both) or support both "bailouts" as being class bigots. They may be, but this doesn't prove it. Now those who supported the financial industry bailout and oppose the auto industry's loans have made their bigotry and hypocrisy apparent.

[Freddie Stubbs]

47. The website does not include a list of Alabama products to boycott

Are we supposed to boycott moon pies and RC Cola?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

48. I guess I

should stop ordering all my banjos.

Right

Now.