Shop BLUE this Christmas and from now on!!

Hope this isn't a duplicate-- here's a great website that gives you the scoop on who our favorite companies really support politically. For instance, the popular amazon.com spends 61% of its political monies on repugs!! (I've since dumped them)

Here's an introductory quote from this website:

"Shortly after realizing the election was not going the way we'd hoped, we sat down to figure out how best to get our rightful place back. Was Howard Dean wrong? Did we not have the power?

"It only took a little bit of checking around to realize that we do have the power - but most of us Democrats and Progressives have no idea what it is or how to use it. The power is quite literally in our grasp. It's only as far as the checkbook, the credit card, or the ATM (ok, that's a bit of a walk, but you get the point.)

"What do we mean? Every day, we go to the supermarket, the convenience store, the gas station, shop online...and every day we unwittingly rob ourselves of our own influence by spending our hard-earned money with corporations whose interests and money go to the Republican party. We are actually bringing about the circumstances we find ourselves in."
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Some examples:

Best Buy - 89% of their political money goes to the repugs
Circuit City - 89%
Geico - 94%
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BUT
Starbucks - 100% Dems!
Barnes & Noble - 100% Dems
Sony - 100% Dems

http://www.cobb24.com

Whether the stores are owned by Republican or Democratic capitalists, the production jobs are still exported abroad.

but I don't think Best Buy and Circuit City qualify as progressive consumerism. Aren't labor standards more important than if the home corporation happens to be in a blue or red state? The corporations you mentioned are all huge, with branches and profits in red and blue states alike. Also, the publicly traded companies generate profits for stockholders and investment firms, where Republicans abound. Perhaps a local, small business might be better? Maybe an artisan or small business that manufacturers locally? Just a thought.

There is a link there to the Progressive pages & other lists of corps to boycott or support.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

:hippie:

DU is an amazing place

:hi:

From memory, correct me if a word is wrong.

The point is, we have a republican government. If you want to support the activities, agenda, and stability of the government, keep shopping. If you don't, don't. Where you spend your money is of little consequence, and any satisfaction that you might get from "shopping blue", if it leads you to spend more money than you would otherwise, does more harm than good. The government as a whole is supported entirely by tax money drawn from the US economy as a whole, regardless of who or where it is spent. The is the "big basket" idea of the economy. Two thirds of this economy is driven by consumer spending.

So again, if you don't like the agenda or direction of the government, if you don't like the war, Guantanamo, etc, STOP FINANCING IT. Simply put, stop spending and consuming. The blue vs. red thing is an idea with little or no practical effect (though in the midst of my not-spending, I certainly won't set foot in a Walmart).

You're on a computer right now. Chances are you bought it or you're using one therefore there was a reason for someone to buy it(Cafe, library, etc.). There is no way to stop consuming unless you go live in a cave somewhere.

you can reduce. Most consumption is unnecessary - trips, luxuries, plastic crap. Some is necessary but can be reduced. Keep thermostats down, drive less, eat simpler. Christmas is a significant driver of the US economy. This Christmas my family is buying very little. Small presents for nieces and nephews, and small presents amongst ourselves. Wherever possible we are making presents rather than buy them.

So yes, I bought a computer last year, and pay for my ISP, but we spend very little aside from necessities. My family of four gets by on 1500 a month, and we have at least some satisfaction that we are only marginally participants in the war economy. Note that I don't suggest producing or working less in order to earn less, thats would be equivalent to recommending poverty, which I wouldn't do. But spending less is easy for anyone, and has a real impact.

That government money you're talking about still goes toward social programs that may help people. When you buy something a lot of that money may be going to your state instead of straight to Bush. Grants to get your kids into college and all sorts of other things could be done at the state level that are actually benefiting people's lives. Also, taking that money out of the economy affects people's jobs potentially getting people laid off of work if people aren't buying. If there were a mass boycott like you're talking about IMO it would do more harm than good.

The government does have some good programs, and I would rather they be expanded than cut. I would rather everybody have jobs, enough money, and good hopes for the future.

But the largest part of our tax burden funds the military. The pentagon budget is only a part. Nuclear weapons research is a big part of the Dept of Energy budget, a great deal of intelligence funding is off the books, a large part of our "foreign aid" is made contingent on weapons purchases and war commitments, in effect offesetting the pentagon budget. While speaking of spreading peace and freedon, we are by far the largest weapons producer in the world and the most aggressive war-promoting country. This could be argued, and it could also be argued that its not our problem, its the rest of the world's problem.

At some point, however, conscience might lead a citizen to weary despair...I don't want to see the latest crop of death and wonder if I paid for those bullets in their heads. My daughters might learn to despise this generation, but I won't be one who traded his values for the conveniences of the moment. Sorry for the piety.

at least try to spend your money with a corp that is less repugnant or maybe even one that is socially conscious. I ,for one, have not yet found a recipe for toilet paper, I guess I will keep buying that but I will not be setting foot in the evil walmart when I do.

I gave up the consumer lifestyle years ago. Really I was never part of it: by choice.

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Strange way of defining "perk". :eyes:

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www.choosetheblue.com


:bounce: :dem:

I took a look at the Buy Blue website and was surprised by some of the companies. I will try to curb my spending habits to Democratic supporters. However, I try to shop at locally owned stores if possible.

I COULD shop at Marsh, I guess...AND change my car insurance to Progressive, and unload my Ford for a Toyota...
The increase in costs would surely cure me of "Consumerism" on *MY* 38-kilobuck paycheck....

Progressive quoted me $1600 a year for insurance. State Farm charges me $650. Duh.

At least I buy my magazines at B and N.

Wow,thats shocking to say the least....

Man,thats weird,they own the AM station in Wichita station that runs all of Repuke hate radio yet they give 94% of the donation money(which isn't all that much) to Dems?!?!?!

This is where AA radio needs to jump on board instead of just being in the blue states. Kerry got a higher % than Gore or Clinton here in Kansas. We need more than Repuke radio in this State.

They lost a good chunk of business from me. Plus, I bought some Sony products from a local guy! Double win.

Screw the Repugs and anyone who bankrolls them!!!!!

I'm new here, waving hello from Minnesota. Since the election I feel very alienated, so I have decided to do the "unamerican" thing and stop shopping as much as possible. I am going to shop in locally owned stores and the food coop as much as possible and then do without or purchase second hand the rest of it. Glad to hear about B&N, Starbucks and Sony...since I have a Sony TV. Yeah, we have a computer but we had a local guy build it for us. "Worst" Buy is one place I definately stay out of!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Progressive Pages

and don't forget to Shop DU too! check out the Marketplace forum for links to DU-owned businesses.

Four copies of Jon Stewart's America for my family - and free shipping b/c I bulk shipped them to my mom :)