Do NOT not go to stores. Do this instead:

[Deja Q]

Go to a store, preferably if it's repuke owned.

Get a cart, and stock it up with things.

Go to the checkout, leave a note saying WHY you did not buy the items in the cart, and leave.

The economy is ashes without we, the consumers.

Let's remind them of that.

[Placebo]

1. Umm, we all need to buy things.

You're going to have to shop there eventually.

[Tweed]

2. Right, but then you go to Costco which gives to Dems

[Deja Q]

5. Food = yes. DVD = no. Clothes = yes. CD = no.

Essentials.

How many essentials are at "Circuit City", for example? (I dunno that they're repuke, but if they were...)

[leftofthedial]

7. they are repuke

big time

[DuaneBidoux]

24. NOT COSCO NO WAY. THEY GAVE 95% TO KERRY

THEY PAY LIVING WAGES.

[leftofthedial]

59. the post asked if Circuit City is repuke

yes they are. big time

Costco is terrific. big time

[Placebo]

9. I dunno, but I like my...

CD's and DVD's and electronic goods, I can't give them up. :shrug:

[name not needed]

22. They sell CD's and electronics at Costco.

[Deja Q]

28. Okay, reduce to only your favorite shows:

I will keep Dr Who and Red Dwarf, but ditch Three's Company and Good Times. Maybe even The Golden Girls because Disney owns the company and I hate their guts.

[Zookeeper]

38. Target sells CD's and DVD's, also....

and they have a much better record of giving back to local communities and the arts than other large chain stores.

[regnaD kciN]

89. When Target moved into the L.A. area...

...they bought out a similar chain (FedCo), then shut the whole place down for six months. Just locked the doors and waited. Why? Because the employee's union contract stated that it would be automatically void if the chain was closed for six months. Once the six months were over, they reopened, making the employees re-apply for their old jobs...which were now at minimum wage.

:puke:

[RPM]

43. CDs and DVDs are sooooooo much more important than your freedom

enjoy your useless shit, slave

[fudge stripe cookays]

70. Go to

used CD stores for the CDs.

They're just as good as new, cheaper, and you're buying from smaller local stores.

I almost NEVER buy used CDs.
FSC

[ContinentalOp]

26. The problem with your idea is that most of the people employed...

in the industries that create the DVDs and CDs are Democrats! Why do you want to screw over CA & NY? I would say go ahead and buy that CD and DVD but keep your old clothes and stop supporting those companies who pay pennies to 3rd world workers to keep you in up-to-date fashions.

[Deja Q]

29. Link to some proof? Your cushy mindset is wrong, I hate to admit.

We cannot have a painless revolution. Or painless change.

Right now, the misadministration is bestowing pain - and there will be lots more.

And I will be using Ragstock for now on, even ditching Target.

BTW: Name a clothing company that DOESN'T use 3rd world slave labor? They all must do. Designer brands do, remember Nike? A 10 cent shoe to make costs $120 in the US. :crazy:

So, in other words, it's okay for us all to whine but then sit back and do ntohing because somebody may get hurt. Well, guess what? Millions have ALREADY lost their jobs - with MILLIONS more to follow. It's already happening and boycotting isn't the reason. Repuke greed and anti-Americanism IS THE REASON.

[bhikkhu]

33. I would live in a hole in the ground

before I financed any more Guantanamo's and Abu Grahibs. Dissent without action is nothing and the repugs know it. They don't give a crap what we think, but if we stop spending, all hell will break lose.

BUY NOTHING

[ContinentalOp]

34. I think you misread my post. I meant it half jokingly.

I agree with you about the clothing. I just thought the idea of boycotting DVDs and CDs was kind of funny since those two industries in particular are thought to be full of dems. And I thought that the idea of NOT boycotting the clothing industry was strange. But then I'm just a weirdo who views CDs as more of a neccessity than food and clothing :) I guess we'll all set our own boycotting priorities. Boycott on!

[auburngrad82]

91. I think the point is to be selective

If you have to shop at a repuke store, buy only what you have to. Buy non-essential items like cds and dvds online or from a store that doesn't cater to the right. For instance, if Wal-Mart is your only option (please God, say it ain't so!), only buy what you need from Wal-Mart. Then shop online for non-essential items. It does two things. I hits the GOP supporters in their pocketbooks and it helps Dem supporters.

Another thing you can do if you live in a red state is buy online from out of state companies. That takes money away from the repuke stores you might normally buy from and it also punishes the red states by taking tax revenue away from them. The loss of tax revenue combined with the loss of federal funds due to cutbacks by the nearly bankrupt Bush-led federal government will be a powerful message.

[Abelman]

52. Here you go

http://www.americanapparel.net

[The Doctor.]

53. I'm all for bailing totally and leaving the fools to their own devices...

but I'd hate to watch America crumble.

I say let the idiots who thought Bush** was in their best interest get sucked dry by corporations until the corporations have nothing left to feed on but the government which has nothing left to feed on but itself.

It'll be one beautiful implosion.

[Lorien]

36. To some degree this is true

the entertainment industry leans Dem. Dreamwork's Jeffery Katzenberg is one of the biggest contributors to Dems and Dem causes. Order CDs and DVDs from progressive owned stores ONLY, and we'll be funneling our money in the right direction.

[NuttyFluffers]

27. Damn right, use gov't services instead! Library, library, library!

Books, CDs, DVDs, VHS, Cassettes, etc. all FREE! Woohoo! keep using up gov't services like they are going out of style. Spend this country's money until there's nothing left. and if suffering accrues and someone complains about it just say, "Go blame it on Grover Norquist." keep repeating it until they get off their ass and go find out about that little maggot on their own, preferrably in a library....

[Zookeeper]

40. Also, with the rabid anti-tax fever threatening public services...

it's important that we USE our libraries! There have been efforts to close a couple of the smaller ones in our county.

[notadmblnd]

48. Oh I plan on using Governmrnt services alright!

28 yrs with one company and job offshored in August. Still too young for my pension. My husband died last year and we have a young son. So, when unemployment runs out (I'm looking for a new job, I really am), I'm going to sign up for social Security survivors benefits. I got a good ten yrs to work that. Now that I'm a widow on a fixed income there should be lot a of govt services available to me... free lunches at school..hardship propertytax relief etc. I will sign up for xmas baskets and thanksgiving baskets at the local churches(this will be my faith based initiave). If anyone has more knowledge of any programs my poor ass can take advantage of.. please let me know.

[NuttyFluffers]

49. invest in a grant writing class somewhere

get a gov't subsidy to fart in conservative yahoos' faces, i'm sure the NEA is pissed off enough at the moment to consider it.

(seriously though, grant writing is a useful skill)

[notadmblnd]

61. Good idea!

I'll apply for educational grants for next semester.

[kayell]

88. Clothes - Maybe

Most of us already have more than we need. Check what you have. Is it really necessary in your job to be in fashion? Can you sew on some buttons or mend the seam? Can you do laundry more frequently or air out that sweater for a day?

Used clothing stores, rummage sales and yard sales are great sources of many items. I always have great luck with sweaters and coats (high ticket items). I've even gotten great buys on never worn shoes and boots. I have some Timberlands that cost me $6 and appear to have NO wear. Some people just shop too much, and then get rid of stuff they never wear.

I've never had luck with buying pants, but some people find them - especially people who wear small sizes. I've seen nice dresses and jumpers, that I would feel happy with if I wore them.

Organize a clothing swap with friends. The stuff they're sick of you may love, and vice versa.

IF you HAVE to buy some new clothes, get something classic (won't look dated) and well made so it will last.

[NashVegas]

6. How Much?

How badly do you need that surround sound set-up? Gamebox?

[DaveinMD]

3. most corporations

give to both parties. Walmart is the exception.

[Tweed]

4. Costco is out Wal-Mart

[Stinky The Clown]

17. Home Depot is just as bad as Walmart

[DaveinMD]

18. good

I already hate Home Despot

[auburngrad82]

92. You have to look at the proportion going to the GOP

Most companies DO give to both parties. But in many cases it's just to cover their asses. Companies like Microsoft are relatively fair, giving approx. 50% to both parties. Companies like Wachovia and Home Depot are obviously skewed towards the GOP. Home Depot's contributions went almost entirely to the GOP (97%). I would boycott companies that are skewed largely towards the GOP and leave the rest alone.

[Liberal Classic]

8. I can just imagine

Being a stocker and having to spend time putting all the crap you yanked back on the shelves. What fun.

[NuttyFluffers]

30. y'know, being a clerk before, i can say it really is.

i found that, even with a gregarious personality, i can't stand like 30% of the customers. anything that becomes an excuse to get away from them is a blessing in my opinion, especially when those "problem customers" show up.

this is a great idea, it gives clerks a much needed break from @$$holes and ties up the economy of that store. this sounds like a wonderful diversion if i ever pass by Wal-Mart with spare time. i'll pass it on.

[Cleita]

10. A couple of problems..

Let's say you do this at Walmart. No one is going to see the note except maybe one of the greeters and an underpaid employee is going to have to restock the items. The only way this would work would be if you got enough people to go in en masse and it could raise awareness as a protest.

[Deja Q]

11. It's better than simply not going, where NOBODY would get the message.

People will still shop.

Having SOMEBODY see a note is better than nothing at all.

[pdx_prog]

13. a hundred people going in to Wal-Mart..

Stocking their baskets full of high price items, leaving all the baskets in one place in the store. It would work to open some eyes....it would be pretty easy here on the west coast.....lots of dems, and lots of people that don't give a crap about WM. Much harder in the MW or in the south....they HAVE to make their weekly or twice weekly trip to WM or they will explode....

[tanyev]

94. If 3 people do it, they may think it's an organization.

If 50 people do it, they may think it's a movement!

[Zookeeper]

42. Drip...drip...drip....

Small quiet actions add up. Big protests with the media present can bring some beneficial attention, but can also create backlash.

[ArkDem]

12. This could bankrupt Wal-Mart!

[bhikkhu]

35. Peaceful Protest Idea #9: Fuck up a Walmart

Walk around the aisles and move things around. You know how much trouble a messed up SKU or an item on a sale rack that's not on sale causes. An hour now and then, and they would probably never even catch on.

[ArkDem]

67. Or you could get a life instead

[Silverhair]

74. Next time you are in a Wal-Mart look above you.

Smile. You are on camera - full time. I'm not a lawyer so I don't know what they could do about it, but I would not want to find out.

[pdx_prog]

14. If we could get a list of chain stores

that are heavy repuke, we could all hit them at the same time....

[sweetheart]

15. Another possibility, likely even more effective

Write a very formal letter to the finance ministers of China,
Japan, Germany, France, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada and Russia.

Appeal to them as a deeply concerned citizen, that they stop financing
the war machine, and sell their stocks of US government bonds.

Print the letter on very fine paper and send it via registered mail
to your destination. Likely, you will get back a formal thank you
note, for your collection.

A note in a shopping cart is children's protest, and achieves little
except making the people at the store (working class folks) replace
the items on the shelves.

A note to a finance minister could crush the bush administration.
If you're serious about wanting to play hardball and not wiffle ball,
then that is where to put the writing effort.

[NuttyFluffers]

32. this sounds fun too! let's do both!

i always love getting in contact with my inner child! :D

[Minimus]

76. Greed is universal...

It is not likely these other countries will forfeit dealing with the USA for the sake of some concerned Americans. Unfortunately, most of the these countries do not even care about the views of their own citizens.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

16. Buy organic (local if possible) at co-ops

Target and Costco are decent mainstream retailers.

By not driving or owning a car, getting all my food from co-ops and choosing local produce whenever possible, patronizing (almost exclusively) a leftist cafe walking distance from my house where I run a tab (so less banking transactions), and eschewing most of the products and services that Americans buy... I can still have cable and not feel TOO guilty.

[Cha]

20. I work in a co-op in New YOrk..

upper state and we are definetly Dem.

They called me yesterday on my day off to see how I was!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

54. The organic store in my neighborhood is owned by Moonies

I never knew it until a DU member posted a link where you can look up all the Moonie-owned businesses state by state. They own a lot of health food type businesses. Just a word of caution.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

58. Too bad

I would still shop there so as not to feed the producers, who are much bigger offenders.

[Dob Bole]

19. I'm going to Bittorrent everything...even food!!!

I'm not going to spend money anymore.

[smbolisnch]

21. Is there a way to find out

which companies donated to the * campaign?
Thanks!

[Deja Q]

31. internet search

Here's a kickstart:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=corporate+republican+backers&btnG=Google+Search

[smbolisnch]

37. Thank you!!

Going to do some searching......

[laylah]

63. Another good

search for Corporate contributors

http://www.knowthecandidates.org/ktc/RepubContrib.htm

jenn

[smbolisnch]

65. Thanks Jenn! nt

[DuaneBidoux]

23. AGREE AGREE AGREE

And we need to get the meme to the Europeans and Asians and Everybody else in the world: for four years Bush told the world: Fuck Yourself. Two days ago, Americans agreed with Bush and threw in their own Fuck Yourself to the world.

The world must begin to boycott American products. When corporate America begins to hurt because the world is saying we don't like Asshole Bush, then Bush will get the message - and Americans will understand that we ARE NOT BETTER OFF WHEN THE WORLD HATES US.

[Hard_Work]

25. flashmob...

Flashmobbing Wal-Mart in this way would be good. Anyone know how/where to set one up? I have NO idea how those people communicate and decide, but it IS an idea...

[LSK]

39. i am reading a book on the great depression

You DO NOT want those days back.

[2Design]

50. fdr and the new deal came out of that - that is what bushCo and rethugs

are trying to disassemble

so if it gets rid of rethugs for centries maybe the sacrifice is worth it

[davepc]

41. and some wage slave working class person who we need to win elections

has to restock the shelves while muttering to themselves what kind of asshole would do that.

[Ladyhawk]

44. I'm going to do this to the local Wal-Mart...

...and ask local Dems to do the same.

[Cinletharwi]

45. VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS

It's the only vote of yours they care about.

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2589912

[medeak]

46. http://www.boycottbush.net/

check out website... even has alternatives to shop at.

Boy it's tough.. Phillip Morris owns Wheat Thins and A-1 sauce...Pepsi owns Quaker Oats.. fave family delights.

Phizer owns Unisom.. will have to find sleep replacement

[magdalena]

51. good fucking god......

looking at all the products here I'd think that I single-handedly got * elected via my pocketbook. I've always tried to be an informed consumer and have done my best to support prog businesses, but I realize theres clearly more I can do. Thanks for the link, very valuable info there!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

56. Damn...I thought Quaker was still independent

You can switch to store brands, but most of them are produced by the same manufacturers who put out the name brand stuff. After all, they're the ones with the factories and distribution channels.

[hinachan]

47. Here's another idea to protest the rightards!

Print out slips of paper with anti-Bush sentiments. Take them to your local library and, using them as bookmarks, tuck them into books by right-wing authors like "Man" Coulter, Sean Insanity, and Douche Limbaugh. Imagine the fury when these folks find the little present in the books they've checked out! :evilgrin:

[StickNCA]

55. Library?

How may repugs do you know who actually go to the public library?

[lizzie]

57. Some great ideas on this thread

but it made me think of something perhaps childish, or even dangerous in these days of the Patriot Act....but I smiled for the first time since the end of the world...how about we all buy a package of pretzels and mail them to George...just a snack and and some karma, that's all I'm sending!

[AlienGirl]

60. I'm a retail monkey, and this will just screw over the workers

Everything you leave in the cart has to be put back by some poor sap like me who has been on her feet for eight hours and probably only knows one area in the store really well, and so will have to drag her tired body down aisle after aisle dealing with the go-backs. :-( Much better to call the store's 800 numbers from pay phones and run up their corporate bills...

Tucker

[The Sad Little Pony]

62. I'm going to stop using money.

...and electricity.
And anything that gets delivered by a truck a train or a plane.














....Oh screw it. I need my Morning Cocoa and brioche.

[Zookeeper]

75. I'm not challenging you on this AlienGirl...

my only retail experience was working at a Jo-Ann Fabric (Ick, run by men, taking advantage of women....but that's another story..), so I am wondering what they have you doing if you aren't restocking shelves. Do you get to go home earlier if you aren't dealing with go-backs? Or do they have you doing something that is less tiring?

Post #30 said they he/she would welcome the relief from dealing with customers. I really wouldn't want to do anything that would make life more difficult for the retail workers.

[GreenPartyVoter]

64. Please do some shopping from the Fair Trade directories on my site

(No, I don't get anything from them if you do this except satisfaction that we are working on the new Boston Tea party. :evilgrin: )

-----------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT! Take this country back one town and state at a time!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/

[Carolinian]

66. Boycott corporate Amerika - Don't shop WALMART!

[Carolinian]

69. Don't do business with Bush supporters.

[shmendrick]

68. How?

How does being a moronic crybay help the country or the party?

[wellstone dem]

71. Yesterday

I bought a lawn mower at a small shop "Ken's mower sales and repair."
Today I went out to eat at a family owned restaurant. It had a Kerry sign in the back room.
Today I bought a book at an independent book store.
Tomorrow I'm buying groceries at the local food coop.

[Keirsey]

72. Wal-Mart basket buddies

If you are going to participate in filling up carts and then leaving them, be sure to put the potato chips and cookies on the bottom.

Items like those will be in no condition to be put back on the shelves.

[Jane Austin]

73. Please don't do this at my store!

We have a hard enough time with the bush economy and competing with Walmart and Petsmart to lose even more money restocking things. :(

True, we only employee 10-12 people, but we sure do buy from a lot of suppliers who employee people.

[LiberalAndProud]

77. Only 10-12?

Speaking as an entrepreneur, CONGRATULATIONS and job well done.

[Jane Austin]

86. Thanks

We start above minimum wage and offer employer-paid health insurance, too.

Hope we can stay in business. :)

[Zookeeper]

79. It sounds like these ideas are being directed at ....

Wal-Mart. And most posters are suggesting shopping at a business like yours instead of a Petsmart or Walmart. (Unless you contributed millions of dollars to Bushie's campaign.. ;) )

[Jane Austin]

87. Cue Fred Willard . . .

I don't THINK so! :)

[Whoa_Nelly]

78. This whole thread sounds like a revenge Freeper thread

You can't hit the corporate, but you can win over people, one at a time. This whole idea of leaving a note on a cart full of products not bought is not very creative, nor is it very constructive.

Do I have better ideas? Not at the moment. But am going to keep pushing for regaining our democracy. I do believe our Dem representatives at all levels need to hire a crackerjack team of people who know how to hit the voting republican public in the many available types of achilles' heels', and hit first and hard and keep repeating until the mantra has them hypnotized...but this time have it be with the truth.

Can Dems be rebrobate? Sure they can. With better strategists STARTING NOW! And they can be reprobate with the truth.

Who knows? There may be one particular issue that takes fire with the many uninformed brain dead in this nation, and a Bush et al witch hunt ends this administration before the four years are up.

[Zookeeper]

80. I respect what you are saying...

and I'm not sure I'm going to Wal-Mart and load up a cart with chicken. But, the truth clearly doesn't work with a huge percentage of our voters. Even with the media shilling for BushCo, there was enough information to have a clue about what Smirk was up to....it just doesn't matter to enough people.

[Whoa_Nelly]

81. That's my point

The "truth" as given by spoon and soundbytes over and over again, choosing which ones were given and at what time,were all part and parcel of the Roverian think tank.

The Dems can do the same thing, but with actual truth...over and over again, until it becomes the litany of the masses.
But what is needed are strategy teams that will hit hard, fast and lowball with the truth when it counts and can be used to start the Bush cabal running.

BushCo, a la Rove, targeted groups of voters and nailed them. There are many other issues near and dear to these target groups, which can be used to teach them actual truth, not the Bush version.

The Dems play defense way too much. Time to take the offense and punt like hell...right where it hurts.

Bad behavior is no secret. And, as far as BushCo goes, the secrects need to start coming out now, not in two to three years as people are gearing up for another election.

[CelticWinter]

82. Just dont go into Walmart or any store like them....

and get as many of your friends and family to do the same, soon they will see the customer number start to fall. Especially this time of the year when people are getting ready for the holidays. Go to your mom and pop stores, there are many other ways to get what you need than spending money in the Walmarts or other repuke stores. If your consistant with this sooner or later you will hear reports that consumer spending is down in these stores and up in others. A silent yet effective way to get your message acrossed.
Blessings
~~Celtic

[MileHiStealth]

83. Think Ice Cream .....gooey little time bombs ....

set them on top of the magazine racks, book
displays, etc. and walk away ...

[erniesam]

84. I agree, let's do it

In this cold cultural war we Democrats need to reinvent the Reagan theory of spending the Russians into bankruptcy--Democrats should stop spending money on needless stuff and let good Republicans pick up the slack. If Democrats stopped purchasing I'm sure Bush would make another announcement pleading for people to consume and keep the economy moving.

[vetwife]

85. Come on...You don't fight Bombs with Rocky Road....I think

we can come up with more civil disobedience than that. Sorry. its not my idea of a revolt. My husband when we were property managers kept telling the people to quit hangin their solicitation signs on apt. doors. They wouldn't. He went to a phone booth and called pizzas in on a friday night to empty apartments. We knew they were empty and they had like 50 pizzas they were stuck with. The manager called us the next day and said, "You win" and never threw those messy little tags on doors again ! We stil like that story.

[Bridget Burke]

90. Sure, punish the clerks.

But you'll feel like a really big rebel.

Kind of like Che Guevara. Except at WalMart.

[auburngrad82]

93. We can punish the GOP by using their tactics against them

We need to discredit them every chance we get. Hit them on immoral activities by their members, ie Ken Calvert's arrest with a prostitute, Strom Thurmond's rape of his maid, etc.

Hit them on race issues, ie the fact that income differential between blacks and whites is worse now than it has been in 25 years. Also use racist comments by top GOP members like John Ashcroft, Bush, Trent Lott, et al against them.

Use the potential federal sales tax to outrage the lower income people and get them mad enough to vote against the GOP. It's easy to show lower income people just how a federal sales tax will hurt them and help the wealthy.

Every time we write a LTTE or OpEd piece, or talk to people about the GOP, we need to use inflammatory language. The GOP has perfected this tactic against the Dems and we need to turn it around against them. For example "the morally bankrupt and fiscally irresponsible GOP has created a deficit that our children will inherit and that will negatively effect the quality of our children's lives for years to come." How's that for a legitimate attack on the GOP?

Boycott the GOP MAJOR financiers, ie Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Pilgrim's Pride, Wachovia, etc. Cut off their funds by hitting the bottom line of their sponsors. Make their sponsors ads worthless by NOT watching the Fox Network or Sinclair owned networks or listening to Clear Channel radio stations.

Maybe we can start a national campaign to have people cash in their federal savings bonds and T-notes. Take our money out of the government. That will send a message to the people in Washington that we will not finance their corrupt practices.

There are a lot of things to do. We just need to get organized and follow through on the ideas.