The rich aren't rich without consumers.

[Skidmore]

Why not a consumer strike? Nothing but essentials. Food and fuel to get to work, medical care if needed. Otherwise, just quit buying trinkets. Make due with the clothing you have for the time being. Shut them down.

[KillCapitalism]

1. Well, thing is that they no longer need us.

China and India with their rising middle class are their consumers.

Soon Americans will be as poor as Haitians and unable to consume much of anything.

[Tippy]

3. We could go on strike...it would work

But those of us who would consider this as an option would still come up of the short end of the stick, simply because no one wants to be put out...let someone else do it....is te prevailing attitude...

[Demeter]

6. Not true

It should also be a taxpaying strike.

[daleanime]

2. The simple response is....

that they can hold on longer then we can, they have all the resources.


Now we do need to practice 'educated' shopping practices. Don't like the causes that Target gives to? Don't shop there. And for God's sake block Fox channels on your TV and get the channel changed when you can away from home.O8)

[hughee99]

4. Which will work out well, because consumers won't have any money

once they lose their jobs. That will happen when rich people lay them off because their business isn't making money. The rich people will have the money to weather the storm, while the very people striking will lose their job, health insurance (if they even had that to begin with) and their life savings, not to mention their 401K (if they had one of those) as the stock prices tank because no one's buying anything.

But it sure will teach them a lesson!

[liberal N proud]

5. But if you squeeze every dime from the consumers you don't need them

You can then just enslave them for pennies a day and keep them as servants.

The rich want it all and they want it now!

[Gin]

8. I was laid off 2 years ago...going green this christmas with made in USA

gifts.... giving US dollars to the grandkids

[Goldstein1984]

7. A boycott of nonessential spending by consumers

would hurt consumers because so many workers now earn their income selling nonessentials.

And as India and China rise, American consumption will become a small piece of the pie.

But this is class war, and there is no war without casualties. And American consumption is still significant enough to have an impact, if only by driving the Dow down. Finally, the rich may be bulletproof, but the message sent to politicians would be significant--a people desperate and organized enough to boycott and desperate and organized enough to take their revolt further.

Finally, the American GDP is based about 70% on consumption. A drop in consumption would shake the economy and the markets, and it would ripple through global markets. This could be very big.

I'm on board.