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IdaBriggs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 02:59 AM
Original message
Holiday Shopping Boycott -- Will You Join? (Wear a Black Armband, Too!)
Okay, folks, another one of our members came up with this idea (but can't post yet according to the new rules), so I'm doing it for 'em.

Its a HOLIDAY SHOPPING BOYCOTT!!! Come, join the fun!!! Pledge NOT to spend money on gifts, etc. this holiday season (except home made, second hand and/or from LOCALLY OWNED stores), AND wear a black armband AT LEAST UNTIL the "inauguration" of the "mandate man!"

WE WANT THE ELECTION FRAUD INVESTIGATED, ALL OF THE VOTES COUNTED, AND (HOPEFULLY) JOHN KERRY AS OUR PRESIDENT IN JANUARY!!!

If we REALLY did lose by such a HUGE margin (sarcasm!) and Bush has a mandate, well, it won't really hurt anything, will it, because this is a democracy, and if there aren't enough of us to make a difference, who cares? BUT if we are right, and SHOULD BE RESPECTED, HIT THEM IN THE POCKET BOOK!!!

RISE UP, RISE UP & JOIN THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING BOYCOTT!!! Wear a black armband to show YOUR SUPPORT for investing the voter fraud, counting the votes, and the RESURRECTION OF OUR DEMOCRACY!!!

Take that, you CHEATING son of a bitch!!!

P.S. Can some other people post this in the other forums? I don't want to irritate the mods with the same post four times!!! (But I did copy it to the "Help & Support" forum from the "Presidential Discussion" -- WE NEED YOUR HELP & SUPPORT!) :)
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Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:02 AM
Response to Original message
1. Yes
buy nothing you don't absolutely need from here on out.
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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:42 AM
Response to Reply #1
54. Exactly what I intend to do!
Just the basic, what my family needs to survive, food--etc. That's it for me. Nothing more and a whole lot less!
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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:05 AM
Response to Original message
2. absolutely. PLEASE do this folks. send to your friends.
please send this out. I want to grind this fucking machine to a halt until we get our grievances addressed. I'm starting to know how those Islamics felt. Just don't agree with their methods.

We must use nonviolent protests. CIvil disobedience. and checking out of the MACHINE. We must not allow business as usual. SHut this place down.
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ProudDad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:07 AM
Response to Original message
3. I'm in!
I posted something like this somewhere else tonight.

I pledge to buy Xmas presents ONLY from 2nd Hand and Thrift Shops or locally owned mom and pop stores.

:nuke: bush
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IdaBriggs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:18 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. The idea was FROM YOU!
I got so excited, I didn't wait for your reply before posting it!

Good job! Yeah, You!!! :)
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proud patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 11:23 AM
Response to Reply #3
59. Hey everyone Say Hi to My dad
Hi dad :hi:
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PsychoDad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:09 AM
Response to Original message
4. I'm in.
Kick
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ekm Donating Member (1 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:23 AM
Response to Original message
6. boycott
count me in; I had same idea earlier today of wearing a black armband...
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Cinletharwi Donating Member (141 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:26 AM
Response to Original message
7. Similar minded thread:
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PaulaFarrell Donating Member (840 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:34 AM
Response to Original message
8. good idea and tell all your relatives who voted for bush
they should send their money to iraq/afganistan or local charity to help the people being hurt by bush instead of giving you anything this christmas
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phylny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:02 AM
Response to Reply #8
39. I absolutely LOVE this idea! n/t
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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:44 AM
Response to Reply #8
55. Very good Idea!
I love it!
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KT2000 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 03:53 AM
Response to Original message
9. Yes I'll boycott holiday shopping
and as much commerce as I can.

I will wear a black arm band too.
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Nag Champa Donating Member (271 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 04:17 AM
Response to Original message
10. I don't understand... wouldn't that just further fuck up our economy?
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:15 AM
Response to Reply #10
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:47 AM
Response to Reply #11
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:54 AM
Response to Reply #15
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:15 AM
Response to Reply #16
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:17 AM
Response to Reply #19
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:26 AM
Response to Reply #21
26. You called
someone else a jackass, and I threw it back at you. Stop your crying, and defend your position.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:31 AM
Response to Reply #26
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Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:27 AM
Response to Reply #21
27. me too. thanks. I'm glad it's not just me seeing it.
they love this stuff. I NEVER go over to freeperland. THey can play there all they want. I don't need to know what they are saying.

People who come over here and call someone immature for posting their genuine thoughts really are the immature ones.

If he's got nothing better to do than that...something really lacking in his life.
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:31 AM
Response to Reply #27
28. For the love of crumb cake
you are hopeless. pardon me for not liking your idea.
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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:33 AM
Response to Reply #28
30. hey. it wasn't my idea. I was agreeing with someone else
but you know what? the lovely side effect of our pointless debate is that this thread is staying kicked up to the top so others will read it..and soon it will have a flame on it with so many responses and even more will open it.

so thanks for providing at least a small service to this board before you are banned.
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Paxdora Donating Member (223 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:41 AM
Response to Reply #19
34. You sound like an arrogant
neocon spewing self-satisfied consumerist/corporatist hype. B* has already begun the process of destroying America's economy and healthy workforce for his Corporatist cronies who are busily establishing a "new & improved" corporate feudalism! By severely reducing the profits of monopolistic megacorps - in order to put them out of business - opens doorways for smaller start-up businessess and the creation of more diversity and many more jobs.
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:53 PM
Response to Reply #34
66. Sounds good.
But instead of destroying something, why not build something? For example, many Unions can act as venture capital companies, and authorize the expenditures needed to create business from the pension funds(it can be used for many things, assuming there is prior approval, every Union is different, and the NLRB does not have hard fast rules for this, although there are many applicable ones).

So you take a Union, a large Union, in a decimated area like Flint, Pontiac, and Detroit( I live in Michigan, Go Blue, Go Feiger,) and invest in a factory that has been abandoned. By refurbishing, you could than use said factory to create a product for which there is a demand, and supply it to consumers, or through retailers, who are friendly to American workers.

Now the last line, friendly..., may not apply. So, if you took the massive organizational aspect of Unions, and began doing this on a national scale, you could create manufacturing jobs.

If you organized co-ops to sell the goods, on a National level, perhaps by recruiting retailers put out of business by corporate megaliths, you would have a viable alternative to wal-mart, ie, amerimart!

This is an idea, a positive one, to fight the corporate interests. This is all that I am suggesting, that we do something, not nothing(a boycott is an act of not doing something, which is why I am referring to it as nothing, although you could point out that it is literally "something", but I just saved you the trouble).

So, by illustration, I have demonstrated what it is that I am getting riled up about. I think that there is enough talent, brains, and energy in our side to do something, but we usually do things that are ass-backwards.

As far as being a Freeper, I feel some are being a bit McCarthy in labeling those who dissent.

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libertad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:09 AM
Response to Reply #16
41. I think it's a good idea, and I've already started. My kids are fine with
it because they think America is starting to resemble 1930's Germany from what they've read in history books. I tend to agree. We need the suffering to be noticable so that the neo-nazis, I mean neo-conservatives, wake up.
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0007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:19 AM
Response to Reply #10
22. STFU!
.
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Nag Champa Donating Member (271 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 01:25 PM
Response to Reply #22
63. Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
I see that I was likely flamed while I was away. That's very nice. I didn't insult your ideas, I didn't say anything that I can see would be offensive, I just didn't understand. The idea of intentionally slowing down the economy, regardless of what the King is doing, sounded self-defeating to me.

You know, when I first found DU, I was stoked that there were so many people saying the things I was thinking. I was happy to find a place where issues could be discussed instead of the simple sophmoric nonanswers they give each other in Freeperland. I see now that DU has more than its share of non-thinking, intolerant shits too. Thanks, folks.

I will learn from your wisdom and never question it again. I'm truly sorry for not simply going along with the herd.
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:57 PM
Response to Reply #63
68. She's a witch!!!!!
Just kidding. But seriously, never disagree again.
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Sara Beverley Donating Member (989 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #10
73. Not really. And you will have more money in your pocket than the tax cut
Bush gave you.
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Sara Beverley Donating Member (989 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:56 PM
Response to Reply #73
74. We can call it a grassroots tax cut. If you don't spend it, you'll have
Edited on Thu Nov-04-04 08:57 PM by Sara Beverley
money in your pocket. Remember, Bush said his tax cuts would put more money in the hands of families who knew better what to do with their money than the government. Well, not buying anything for Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries will put lots of money in your pocket. save, it. Buy bonds or put it away for your children's education. Anything, but don't spend it and DON'T CHARGE A DAMN THING!! In fact, make an extra car payment or two or an extra mortgage payment; that will cut down your interest.

LET'S PASS THIS ON BIG TIME. WillPitt, Michael Moore, Greg, where are you?
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kayell Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:24 AM
Response to Original message
12. I'm in, and going further
I will not be buying ANYTHING other than bare necessities for the forseeable future. In addition to keeping my dollars from the corporations I'm saving enough to quit this place, either as a planned relocation, or enough to run if/when I feel the need.
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Clintmax Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:31 AM
Response to Original message
13. Greekspeak and I are in!
No shopping and spending for the next four years except from thrift stores and flea markets (there aren't many of those in north Florida) and Mom and Pop stores. Away goes our cable and we are cutting our cell phones down to the barest plan available (we just signed a two year contract 4 months ago and would cost us out the ying-yang to cancel).
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:44 AM
Response to Original message
14. This is why we lose elections
Edited on Thu Nov-04-04 06:45 AM by Danger Duck
That might be one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard. Something along the lines of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Should those of us with jobs wear black armbands, or does this idea only apply to unemployed anarchists? And what will this boycott accomplish besides hurting business? Incidentally, there is a greater probability of a local small business owner being a Republican than there is of a hourly employee at a "big evil corporate store" being one.

My last point, quit dwelling on this cheating nonsense. There was no cheating, we lost. You need to accept this, study it, and think about how we can prevent this from happening again. Perhaps you feel that all media is biased, and you get your news from a local tree house occupied by schizophrenics, but the exit polls used an improper sample, weighted 60 to 40, women to men. Additionally, they tended to be conducted in urban areas. Which would explain the disparity.
Or as you state, there was cheating, because you know this country so well. So strap on your black arm band, boycott "shopping", and keep on trucking, if you believe your own BS. Or do a reality check, and do something productive for your party and the country.
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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:16 AM
Response to Reply #14
20. quit with the condescension. can you hold more than 3 thoughts
in your head at once? FIrst, black armbands is over the top. You won't see me sporting one of those like I lost a good friend in the line of fire or something.

But there is nothing wrong with the boycott. People deal with this in different ways. Whether someone boycotts a chain store or not is going to have little impact on the quality of life of some hourly schlub. so I don't quite see what the point of that comment was.

Can I boycott certain companies or just stop shopping for all but the mere necessities for awhile AND do something constructive for my party or my community? Why yes I can. It's called multitasking. Or parallel processing for you computer geeks.

Let me ask you Duck. Do you have more material shit in your life than you know what to do with? PRobably so does most everyone else here.

If they protest...so the fuck what? No skin off your nose. And anyway, you haven't explained why some exit polls were so similar to actual results in other states but way off in say...FLORIDA.

I'm not wedded to this idea of cheating w/e-voting. But you know what? THose assholes opened the door on this whole argument because they specifically chose to purchase machines that DON"T provide any kind of backup trail such as printed receipts of votes. So...motive and opportunity. THe old prosecutors best friends. THere's just too much there NOT to question it. Without jumping to conclusions. On either side of the fence.
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:22 AM
Response to Reply #20
23. Fair enough...
but the hourly schlubs would be hurt if the boycott actually worked. Which it wouldn't, which you're conceeding, so, touche.

No big deal, I'm just sick of this party not taking responsibility for it's own messes. We have a mandate now, to fix this mess. Organizing a shopping boycott is a waste of time. But if it makes you feel good, do it. It's a free country, for a while.

As far as the other states, exit polls, ect...., I stand by what I said above, the sample's were dilluted in cetain states, but even Zogby had a huge Kerry majority, and than retracted it on his own site due to polling errors, margin of error, ect..

i am moving on. The election is over. Have fun with the boycott, make sure it includes wal-mart.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:48 AM
Response to Reply #14
35. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
flygal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:08 AM
Response to Original message
17. Hubby and I are donating money to dem causes instead of gifts
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sherilocks Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:10 AM
Response to Original message
18. I started for the Sinclair Boycott
and I haven't stopped. Once you get used to it, it gets easier. Shopping at the natural food store and the farmers market ia actually more fun. I haven't tried the thrift store for clothes, but haven't bought any lately. I need some suggestions on where to buy gas. Any better than others? I'm reducing my cell phone, cable, etc. to a minimum. I'll probably change banks to BoA because they are located in a blue state. My current one is in a red state.


I'm in all the way.
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Gruenemann Donating Member (753 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #18
50. FWIW, BP is supposed to be the greenest oil company. eom
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sherilocks Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 11:46 AM
Response to Reply #50
62. Thanks for the info eom
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sbj405 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:23 AM
Response to Original message
24. The past few years, I have given $ to charity in my family's name in lieu
of material gifts.

a few ideas

NARAL
Planned Parenthood
ACLU
Democracy for America
DSCC and DCCC
MoveOn
State and Local Dem parties
Sierra Club and other environmental orgs
Public Radio and TV
and of course, DU :-)
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Sara Beverley Donating Member (989 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:25 AM
Response to Original message
25. Will join. Someone posted this last year and asked us join. Few did
Maybe we all have good reason to now. We can donate a small portion of the money saved to Dem causes and charity.
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:37 AM
Response to Original message
31. Yeah, Shopping Boycott!
That's easier to take than the reality: No money to spend on gifts this year.
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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:40 AM
Response to Reply #31
32. huh?
just wondering. I have lots of money. how bout you?
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:01 AM
Response to Reply #32
38. Kids going to college soon.
No real job security for the future. That means, no real money for burgers today.
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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:03 AM
Response to Reply #38
40. gotcha. understood. soooo...you'll join our boycott? LOL
take care. hope all goes well for you in the holidays.
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2Design Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:41 AM
Response to Original message
33. yes good idea - remember bush reaction to 911 was to shop -
not shopping will help
if you need things for gifts buy used, recycled. Go to yard sales. and charity places - the money will go back to someone or something good and the new stuff that is being built off shore can sit.

kill the economy and this administration

the economy is dead anyway
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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:49 AM
Response to Reply #33
36. excellent point. shouldn't keep kids from having gifts...
but they could have something bought from a private individual or from a used good store or something.

I like this? We should subtract ourselves out of the economic picture where possible.
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Triana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:57 AM
Response to Original message
37. I don't DO Holiday Shopping
...and that's exactly why. Nov and Dec should be NO SHOPPING months - except for food or supporting local, INDEPENDENT merchants.
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sherrem Donating Member (87 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:20 AM
Response to Original message
42. I live a pretty frugal life
for the most part. I have chemical allergies, so I've had to adapt to a world full of chemicals. This has meant making my own soap, making my own laundry detergent, not wearing perfumes, not getting new carpeting...and the list goes on and on.

Take the christmas shopping boycott one step further. Start MAKING the things you need. There are frugal websites all over the internet with recipes on making not only inexpensive, non-corporate, cleaners and meals, but also environmentally safe.

I can only speak for my children, but they appreciate much more the shirt or quilt I MADE them for Christmas then the Barbie dolls grandma gets them.

:)
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wellstone dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:26 AM
Response to Original message
43. As a Christian
Edited on Thu Nov-04-04 08:27 AM by moonkee2
I am 100% in favor of taking the commercialism out of Christmas. And holding accounatable the merchants who use the name of Christ to justify their support of an administration that murders, that lies, that does not practice social justice, makes non-commercialism feel even better.

edited to acknowledge that the second sentence isn't very Christlike. I'm still working on being a better person.
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devinsgram Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:27 AM
Response to Original message
44. I'm more than in
Let's get them where it hurts in the pocketbook.
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Paxdora Donating Member (223 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:39 AM
Response to Original message
45. SPITE THE DEVILS! (Memetic Activism!)
SPITE THE DEVILS!

SHUN THE CONSUMERIST PLAGUE!

BOYCOTT ALL MONOPOLIES AND THEIR ADVERTISED BRANDS
TO SHOUT YOUR MESSAGE, TO REDIRECT THE DISTRIBUTION
OF *YOUR* MONEY, AND TO BEGIN RESTORING THE BALANCE.

-NEVER BUY MAJOR BRANDS OR "DESIGNER" LABELS
-GET OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET (IF YOU'RE IN IT)
-INVEST ONLY IN SMALL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES
-PROMOTE AND PATRONIZE SMALL BUSINESSES & SHOPS
-BUY ONLY GENERIC, 'NO-NAME' PRODUCTS & SERVICES
-BUY ONLY RECYCLED, USED PRODUCTS/MACHINES/RESOURCES
-PATRONIZE/PROMOTE LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS (OLDIES, BUT GOODIES)
-DONATE USED ITEMS TO LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS (AND TELL OTHERS)
-PATRONIZE LIBRARIES FOR BOOKS MAGS, CDs & VIDEOS
-DONATE BOOKS MAGS, CDs & VIDEOS TO LIBRARIES
-DON'T BUY NEWSPAPERS WHEN YOU CAN GET *ALL* THE NEWS ON THE INTERNET (SAVE PAPER, REDUCE GARBAGE)
-PURCHASE ONLY BASIC NECESSITIES

PRO-PEOPLE ACTIVITY:

-INTRODUCE NOVEL SYSTEMS OF RECIPROCITY TO HELP ALL OF
US KEEP OUR MONEY AWAY FROM THE VAMPIRES IN CONTROL.

-OFFER VOLUNTARY BUS/MINI-VAN SERVICES DURING RUSH HOURS.

-START PERMANENT CAR POOLS WITH NEIGHBORS.

-SHARE NEWSPAPERS, MAGS, CDs & VIDEOS WITH NEIGHBORS.

-PUT UP FLYERS TO ORGANIZE COMMUNITY CO-OPS & SWAP MEETS.

-ENGAGE IN YOUR LOCAL POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND GET RIGHT INTO YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES' FACES.

-START KICKING UP THE DUST BY DEMANDING MORE PUBLIC REFERENDUMS AND CITIZENS' FORUMS.

-START CHANGING PEOPLE'S MINDSETS, BECAUSE:
"THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING."

SPITE THE DEVILS!

SPITE IS A POWERFUL, NON-VIOLENT ARMOR OF RESISTANCE
THAT CAN BE EMPLOYED FOR THE PLANETARY GOOD.

JOIN THE RESISTANCE NOW - PUT ON YOUR ARMOR OF SPITE,
BEFORE OUR REMAINING ALTERNATIVES ARE ELIMINATED - FOREVER.

SPITE THE DEVILS -

WE'RE NOT THEIR SERFS OR PRISONERS... YET!

STOP COLLABORATING AND COLLUDING WITH THE ENEMY!

RESIST FEEDING THE IMMORTAL, OMNIPOTENT WEALTH VAMPIRES.
WITHHOLD YOUR *MONEY* FROM THE POWER CLUBS THAT THRIVE
ON YOUR OWN CONSUMERISM - MONEY IS THEIR LIFE BLOOD.

STARVE THE RAMPANT, PATHOLOGICAL PROFIT VIRUS THAT IS
RULING, CONTAMINATING, AND CONSUMING ALL LIFE ON OUR PLANET.

CREATE NEW OPENINGS FOR CONSCIENTIOUS ALTERNATIVES.

SPITE THE DEVILS - SHUN THEM, AND STARVE THEM!



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Dob Bole Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:42 AM
Response to Original message
46. I'm not going to spend money anymore...
I'm also not going to watch any cable news...I'll cancel it if I can.
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Paxdora Donating Member (223 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 08:47 AM
Response to Reply #46
47. kick!
n/t
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Carl Yasutomo Donating Member (153 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 09:28 AM
Response to Original message
48. I will definitely stop buying non-essentials, not just to protest * but
also because I feel a need to save as much money as possible in preparation for the day when the shit hits the fan and I lose my job and the economy goes into the toilet because of Bush's incompetence.

Absolutely no spending on non-essential items except for contributions to People for the American Way, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, etc.
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txindy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:14 AM
Response to Original message
49. Absolutely. Already discussed it with my kids.
Edited on Thu Nov-04-04 10:14 AM by txindy
We're in, without hesitation. Hey, my family came from Ireland -- I'm tenacious and have a looooooooooooooong memory. NEVER give up! NEVER surrender!
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SmokingJacket Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:37 AM
Response to Original message
51. Sure... my family are all repubs anyway...
I won't be buying them squat.:P
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Catfight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:39 AM
Response to Original message
52. I'm skipping Thanksgiving and Christmas this year...I don't plan to
spend ONE dime, so YES, count me in! I won't donate either any longer, my money is BLUE money, it doesn't go to fucking bigots. I'll just tell them I'd rather flush my money down the toilet than to help one Bush supporter in this world.
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Digit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:10 PM
Response to Reply #52
70. Me, too.
I will not celebrate Thanksgiving, I don't have any Thanks to give.
I will advise my friends to not buy any gifts for me as I am not doing the "consumer thang". I will place a simple black bow on my front door for Christmas and otherwise no decorations will go up.
Screw it.
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mbee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:40 AM
Response to Original message
53. I am not planning on do that much shopping in the stores because
the last four years pretty much emptied our our bank account with periods of unemployment, etc. I doubt even freepers will have much credit left a this point.
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GoSolar Donating Member (295 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
56. Excellent idea!
I don't buy much for the holidays anyway, but this year (if anything) I will be giving gift subscriptions to progressive causes, along with an explanation of why I am doing it.

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dirtyduck Donating Member (274 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 10:54 AM
Response to Original message
57. Maybe buy people honorary memberships to groups- ACLU
Planned Parenthood, Democratic Underground, etc.
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MISSDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 11:02 AM
Response to Original message
58. I'm in. What an easy thing to do.
I hate shopping to start with so all I need is an excuse to not do it.
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recoveringrepublican Donating Member (779 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 11:28 AM
Response to Original message
60. Have been trying to buy as little possible anyway
my kids don't believe in Santa and have way too much stuff anyways. I'm in. I'm canceling cable today (though I will keep my internet connection), buying as little food as possible, any clothes will be from thrift shops, and walking as much as I can to places (though this is a little trickier with 2 young children lol).
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Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 01:28 PM
Response to Reply #60
65. I canceled cable today too.
If I really want entertainment, I'll rent from Netflix. No commercials that way.
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Hamlette Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 11:40 AM
Response to Original message
61. we've shopped locally owned for years.
for those who you want to give a gift to anyway, make a donation to a charity in their name.

I give to the ACLU for all my friends. Been doing it for years.

I'm doing my part by spending my tax cut overseas this Christmas. Going on a fun trip.
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Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 01:26 PM
Response to Original message
64. STARVE THE BEAST!
Edited on Thu Nov-04-04 01:26 PM by Jen6
the Beast being BushCo, the feed comes from America's corporations. Starve the beast by no longer feeding the corporations, and the Beast will wither and die.

Buy from local farmers, buy used, or best of all, don't buy. Save your money-you'll need it!
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Danger Duck Donating Member (464 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 06:54 PM
Response to Original message
67. Sounds good!
But instead of destroying something, why not build something? For example, many Unions can act as venture capital companies, and authorize the expenditures needed to create business from the pension funds(it can be used for many things, assuming there is prior approval, every Union is different, and the NLRB does not have hard fast rules for this, although there are many applicable ones).

So you take a Union, a large Union, in a decimated area like Flint, Pontiac, and Detroit( I live in Michigan, Go Blue, Go Feiger,) and invest in a factory that has been abandoned. By refurbishing, you could than use said factory to create a product for which there is a demand, and supply it to consumers, or through retailers, who are friendly to American workers.

Now the last line, friendly..., may not apply. So, if you took the massive organizational aspect of Unions, and began doing this on a national scale, you could create manufacturing jobs.

If you organized co-ops to sell the goods, on a National level, perhaps by recruiting retailers put out of business by corporate megaliths, you would have a viable alternative to wal-mart, ie, amerimart!

This is an idea, a positive one, to fight the corporate interests. This is all that I am suggesting, that we do something, not nothing(a boycott is an act of not doing something, which is why I am referring to it as nothing, although you could point out that it is literally "something", but I just saved you the trouble).

So, by illustration, I have demonstrated what it is that I am getting riled up about. I think that there is enough talent, brains, and energy in our side to do something, but we usually do things that are ass-backwards.

As far as being a Freeper, I feel some are being a bit McCarthy in labeling those who dissent.

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PretzelWarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:11 PM
Response to Reply #67
71. well, now that you have clarified your views...I apologize.
I think we are all a bit raw these days...and we've been bombarded with people trying to undermine us.

So...when you seemed to be purposefully poking fun at what people are saying here...it felt wrong.

Anyway, I like your thinking. What you say is a very good idea...and together what others have been talking about re: MEDIA...we could form a media group that is a coop and supported by hundreds of thousands.

Well, we shall see.

Thanks
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readmylips Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:08 PM
Response to Original message
69. Yes. Democrats are 50% of the population..BOYCOTT...
Don't give an inch to bush. Proposition 200 passed in Arizona. It was a white racist issue against poor Mexicans who come to this country to pick tomatoes and clean toilets for the rich. Let's call on the Mexicans to boycott and don't come to this country to do slave work. Let those racist rich white farmers rot in hell. There was talk on the Spanish TV station about the racist 200 proposition and they hope someone stands up to boycott, like Cesar Chavez did. If that happens, we need to support it.

I for No Holiday Shopping. 50% of the population can cripple the economy...a little help for bush.

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wiggs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 07:25 PM
Response to Original message
72. I believe strongly that witholding money is our only strong tool.
But this has to be done in targeted, organized, widespread manner.

Pick two companies to boycott for two months. Reach most of the 55 million who voted against Bush and ask for commitments. Do it well and it will work.

I posted something like this earlier, believing that the RW needs every one of us to be good consumers and spend money. If we buy things, we count. If half the country didn't spend money on certain things, this would get someone's attention real fast.

We are out of the loop in all three branches of government and in the media. Our votes aren't enough so the election is not a source of power for us. We are in the loop in the economy, however. They need the progressives, the Deaniacs, the libruls, the atheists, the wild-eyed democrats, the lefties....they need us real bad, to spend.

I was initially thinking that NBC should be boycotted for two months. Get people by the millions to do it.

DNC and related entities raised hundreds of millions of dollars in the campaign. It would be easier to WITHOLD hundreds AND HUNDREDS of millions of dollars and there would probably be greater effect. 55 million people not spending 10 dollars is 550 million dollars lost for someone.

It should be done soon to take advantage of anger and frustration. It should be done by someone with national visibility or national organization.
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Sara Beverley Donating Member (989 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-04-04 09:37 PM
Response to Original message
75. We need some ideas and help on how to get this message out without
Edited on Thu Nov-04-04 09:38 PM by Sara Beverley
making it a big media splash to talk against. Do we have access to Dem voter lists? This is wonderful!

Even some evangelicals should want to join to get back to the "true meaning of Christmas." They should be against commercialization of the Christmas holiday, shoulsn't they" ;)
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