We Ain't Buying It
Support the planned economic boycotts however you can!
In a previous post, I shared information from an organization called Black Out the System which has challenged Americans to stage a mass economic boycott. Many have balked, saying the things they are asking of us—no work, no travel, no spending—are too ambitious.
But not everyone has to perfectly observe every bit of this boycott in order for it to be effective!
Rather than deciding that because you can’t do it all you should do nothing, please consider participating at whatever level is possible for you, and maybe even consider stretching yourself a bit.
I’d like to offer a personal example.
Some years ago, I read several books about animal agriculture in this country. I was disturbed enough by what I learned that I decided I would go vegetarian, which for me meant no beef, no pork, and no poultry, but I still ate seafood, eggs, and dairy products.
Immediately I came under fire for supporting the cruelty of the dairy industry (a fair point), and for consuming sentient beings like salmon and trout, some of whom were even farm-raised for that purpose. One of my friends, a long-time vegan, explained that I shouldn’t eat honey either, because the bees were being exploited. It would have been easy to throw up my hands at this point, and go back to eating whatever and however I wanted.
But it still seemed to me that SOME effort towards limiting the harm done to animals, workers in animal agriculture, and to the Earth was better than none.
And so for more than ten years, I was this version of vegetarian. (I went back to eating chicken again a few years ago. Yes, I feel guilty. I do still avoid beef and pork.)
So for anyone who found Black Out the System’s approach too extreme, consider the campaign called “We Ain’t Buying It being promoted by several progressive groups, among them the national Indivisible organization, Black Voters Matter, and Red, Wine and Blue.
Participants are asked not to spend any money at Target or Home Depot or on Amazon from Nov. 27 - Dec. 1.
Why these companies in particular? Target infamously dismantled their DEI initiatives after Trump and his followers attacked the programs; Home Depot is allowing Border Patrol and ICE to terrorize workers in and near their stores; and Amazon is buying influence with the White House by donating funds for Trump’s ballroom (among other sins).
I am going to observe those prohibitions, and also try not to give my money to ANY corporations from 11/25 - 12/2. I have already bought most of my Thanksgiving groceries, and if I need something last minute, I will go to Rouse’s or Greer’s instead (locally-owned). As another example, a few months ago, I took my money (such as it is) out of a corporate bank and opened an account at a credit union. Maybe you can choose your very own economic protest specific to your values and do it the week of Nov. 25-ish - Dec. 2nd-ish as well. Make it a family challenge! The first person to buy a coffee at Starbucks loses!
We can all do a little, however imperfectly, and if we do it together, there WILL be an impact.
The idea is to fire a warning shot, to let the oligarchs know that without us—the laborers and the consumers—they are nothing. We have the power, not so much individually, but collectively. And our collective power can be great.
So let’s do it! Let’s don’t shop together! Let’s lend our neighbors a cup of sugar, and knit everyone scarves for Christmas! Let’s stop propping up the machine that harms us, and tell the people who profit from that machine that all of us TOGETHER are the ones in charge.
Prefer to make a one-time contribution?
Target has definitely suffered as a result of the boycotts. They have a new CEO who is planning store upgrades and price drops to turn around poor sales. I think it will take them a long time to win back shoppers’ trust.