An idea regarding boycotts

[auburngrad82]

I have been checking out http://www.followyourmoney.com and have an idea regarding boycotts. Why don't we come up with a letter that we can hand deliver to a business that says basically that they have been selected to be boycotted by Democratic Underground due to their campaign contributions to the Republican party. We need to make sure that they are aware that we have over 55,000 active members nationwide. Additionally, we can rub it in their faces that not only are we boycotting them, but we have selected one of their competitors to receive our business. Example, boycott McDonalds because they give much more to Republicans than to Dems, but support Burger King because they support more Dems than Repugs. Same with Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement Centers, and Wal-Mart and Costco.

We would have to have someone that could come up with the letter. We would need Democratic Underground letterhead. A Word doc that could be e-mailed to volunteers would be ideal. Then the volunteers could deliver a letter announcing the boycott to their local store and one announcing DU's support to the store that supports Dems.

This would do two things. It would scare the bejesus out of the store manager, who probably gets a bonus based on his sales, and it would be much more effective than sending one e-mail to the company headquarters because all of the store managers would call the headquarters in a panic and would tie up the company's phone system and cause them to spend a tremendous amount of time and money answering the calls and calming their managers.

I volunteer to deliver letters in the North Raleigh, NC area. I would do it proudly and with a big ol' smile on my face.

[auburngrad82]

1. Here's an example of what I'm talking about

this one would be aimed at McDonald's:



November 8, 2004

Dear store manager:

Congratulations. Your company has been selected for a nationwide boycott by Democratic Underground because your company contributes heavily to the Republican Party and their candidates. We feel that your company’s contributions to the morally bankrupt and fiscally irresponsible GOP are contrary to what is in the best interest of your employees and your customers. We cannot continue to support you when your company continues to support the Republicans.

Now for the good news. Your competitor, Burger King has earned our support because we feel their contributions are in the best interest of both their employees and their customers. Democratic Underground has urged all 55,000 of our members to participate in this boycott and to support your competitor.

A word about Democratic Underground. We are a politically active group whose membership is over 55,000 strong. We are determined to bring honesty and accountability back to our government through support of the Democratic Party and the defeat of the isolationist and misdirected policies of the GOP that have made America the most hated country in the world.

Have a nice day.

[Heath.Hunnicutt]

2. I like it so much!

I would move the paragraph about the size of DU to the first paragraph; maybe make it a little less good news/bad news punchy and just be direct.

[seraph]

5. WOW! That's awesome! I'm in!

Whopper, here I come!

[TrustingDog]

10. DUers eat McShit burgers?

something tells me not.

Instead of going after the big guys like Macdonalds or Walmart, why not reverse it and make a special effort to support your local small businesses that are not repugnant? And let them know with correspondence and commerce. They sure could use a bit of business nowadays with all the behemoths about.

Doing good for a smaller number of people has more effect than trying to undo the big evil locusts with your 'government' in their pockets.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. Good deal

let's move on this.

Sonic is another fast food place. Their donations go 100% to Dems. I've been telling my Dem friends that and they go right out and get Sonic! LOL!

[auburngrad82]

4. Let me redo it and we'll see if we can get enough people to deliver them

to make it worth the effort. It has to be all or nothing. The threat of a boycott isn't as bad as an actual boycott. We need ALL the DU members to participate or it won't work.

[ydya]

6. Is it possible to get people registered with MoveOn.org and other such

orgs to join in this effort. 55,000 sounds good but a seven figure number would be great. Plus, add "and their families and friends have agreed to participate".
You idea is a good one. People have been discussion variatiions on this theme for a while now. My point with numbers is that if we can convey to them that we can reach a substantial chunk of the 55 mil Kerry voters thru our grassroots organizations, then they have to listen. In one of my rants last Wednesday to a friend, I wrote that if every Kerry voter spent one dime less per day at a Bushbacker business, that amounts to $5.5 million those businesses make per day. 165 million dollars a month. About 2 billion dollars a year. That will punch them in the guts.
Think about it, 3 dollars a month per Kerry voter can put that dent. Or, more reasonably if only a tenth of the Kerry voters participate but then withhold about 30 dollars a month. Thats a reachable number of people using online grassroots methods. And diverting 30 bucks a month from Bushbacker to Dems should be easy. I can already see in my monthly expenses how I could knock morer than that off; even on basic needs such as gas and food. We just need to be aware of where we spend our money. You'd be amazed.
I know I'm preaching to the choir here (no pun intended). Anyway, my main point is about conveying to the businesses what strength we have. So it may be worthwhile spending a couple of weeks seeing how many Dem orgs we can sign up to this. And then go in with force.

Also, if somebody like Soros will start a credit card company with primary "blue" business partners so that you can accumulate points, miles and all that kind of stuff with them, it will fly huge. I know I'll sign up instantly.

Final point: We have to be careful when we try to support or boycott or co-opt businesses. Many business may be sympathetic to us but may not be able to afford pissing off the neo-con dollar, and so may be very guarded about the publicity generated by such a movement. That is why I think big numbers will make it happen. If you go to a business saying we got 50K people on board, they may or may not give a dump. If you go and say we got millions on board, they will be less inclined to be blackmailed by the neo-cons and their operatives.

[auburngrad82]

7. Good points

Any suggestions on how we can make it a bigger movement? How would we combine with moveon.org or even Dean's organization? I'm good at ideas but not so good on the planning part.

[ydya]

9. I think first we have to bounce it off Skinner or another DU pioneer first

I'm still pretty new here, so I dont know the history of our founders. Anyways, someone who can speak for DU can then contact MoveOn, Dean's group and other such organizations.
In my previous post I omitted to mention a very important point I wanted to make, i.e. We can, and should, go international with this effort. Many neo-con businesses (e.g. WalMart) can be kicked in the nuts all around the world. Judging by the reaction of the world press and populace, they are chomping at the bit to exact a measure of justice against Dumbya and his backers. They would be on board with glee and would stick to it. Many "damn furriners" are smart that way.
Anyways, the organization part will not be simple. I volunteer my e-help fully. I just do not know whom to contact etc. The people who take the lead on this need to have plenty of time and drive. Like I said, due to work constraints, I cannot commmit a lot of time right now to leaqding such an effort. I will be active---try make some time day to do a little something to help.
Anyway, initially, we need someone with deep cred here at DU to get in touch with other orgs that may be interested.
Finally, when I started typing this email, there were 7 messages in this thread. If that number does not go up significantly, we can forget about an organized effort.
I, for one, will keep boycotting neo-con businesses whether we have a campaign or not.

PS: I am a RollTide guy, but I with you, WarEagle, totally on this one. Plus, looks like you guys are gonna make a run for the title this year. Good luck.

[graywarrior]

8. This is excellent. Exactly what I'm looking for

How about working through local democratic offices for voters names. I don't know if they are allowed to supply that info, but I will check with my DEC and Dem Club.

[auburngrad82]

11. New question? How do we make this boycott work?

As some of the posts mention, it has to be huge. 55,000 members is a lot but spread out across the country it amounts to very little. How can we get other Dem groups involved? Does anyone have contacts with groups that would be willing to join in a boycott of a company solely on the basis that they support Repugs?

I really would like to do this and I'm willing to create the documents and e-mail them to people who would like to distribute them but let's get our ducks in a row.

If anyone can get other groups interested, please let me know. It won't be an overnight thing so it may be that we couldn't carry out a true nationwide boycott until after Christmas. But that's ok. We could aim for Christmas 2005 to boycott huge chains like Wal-Mart. Smaller chains that have more to lose would be my choice for the initial targets. Then, if we can establish a record of success, we can use that record for publicizing our efforts and to scare the crap out of larger chains.

Also, any ideas on who the first target should be let me know that as well.