Anybody see any signs of Not One Damn Dime Day?

[emlev]

Two people I never would have thought would do it were doing it.

The restaurant where my daughter works was so slow tonight they sent her home early, even though the last two nights it's been really busy.

Hmm...

[JDPriestly]

1. I kept the pledge.

[AllyCat]

2. I held it.

Didn't buy a single thing and didn't stock up or plan to indulge tomorrow. Just did without. Figure it's good practice for the coming years. :eyes:

[NGU]

3. I didn't spend any money n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

52. Ditto.

(you should pardon the expression)

[Sydnie]

4. I am happy to report that I made it all day myself and

my friends mother works at the local Walmart. They sent her home early tonight because it was so slow. That is a red letter day in my book!

[kitkat65]

5. And I also refused to even shower or get out of my jammies n/t

[emlev]

9. lol you sure are militant! n/t

[Sydnie]

13. Me too!

So glad I wasn't alone in my protest style today!

[Der Blaue Engel]

28. Lol...that was my protest too!

Until about 4:00 anyway, when I got ready to go to the protest...and then I didn't go to the protest. :( It started getting dark and I thought about taking public transportation over to the SF Civic Center area, and then back much later, and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I've got a bit of PTSD from being attacked walking back from the underground after dark a few years ago. That's the excuse I'm telling myself, anyway, but I'm still feeling guilty. :(

At any rate, I haven't even left the house today, let alone spent any money.

[chrisbur]

6. We were in D.C. protesting.

People were buying stuff left and right. I screwed up too and forgot my thermos of coffee. I spent one dollar.

[NYC]

15. Protesting is hard work.

It can't be helped if the protesters need to buy coffee or food.

[NickiWitch]

51. We had to feed the meter.....

our protest was downtown San Diego and there is NO free parking before 6pm. So I spent a couple damn dimes...but that was it!!

[NYC]

75. It's fair to make an exception for that.

And those of us who didn't have to make those exceptions spent NOT ONE DAMN DIME. So it all worked out well. Thanks for protesting. :hi:

[Maat]

7. My husband, my daughter and I made it the whole day!

I excuse all those that went to protest - you almost had to buy something then - they sacrificed for the Cause.

But the rest of us could make it.

[TexasLawyer]

8. My husband's whole office kept it

We're in Houston, Texas. They all brought lunch and ate in (6 people). I kept it too, but I work among the repukes.

[Atman]

10. I didn't spend any...and I didn't make any.

Not one damn dime today! But I blacked out my advertising and replaced it with a message NOT to buy my stuff. I guess it worked!



NBY 1st Amendment Shoppe

[Greybnk48]

11. My family and I stuck to it n/t

[muse]

12. I had to go to the doctor and get two prescriptions filled. :(

Illness got in the way on my not one damned dime day.

BUT, I did not lay out money for anything other than my unplanned medical expenditures! Not for me or my kids. I didn't pick up anything extra at the pharmacy.

[intheozone]

14. Hubby and I both adhered to it!

We spent nothing for the entire day, but then we hardly spent anything for xmas either. We just don't want to do anything that might help this administration.

[life_long_dem]

16. I was at Shopko (like Walmart) and there was no one shopping.

I had to get cat food for my wife's cat,(it must be a republican cat, because it won't eat people food), so I didn't have any choice. But,I didn't spend any other money today.

Impeach **

[tintin99]

30. that's because Shopko sucks!

[Sydnie]

17. I was bolstered by Michael Berg's words today too -

At the AWARE protest he spoke about Nick and his feelings about Iraq and the Bush admin.

He said this -- "The means to that action is in your pocket right now, and I hope you Keep it there today. It is your dollar and your dime. Everytime you spend one of them, you are casting a vote for the recepient of that dollar or dime. Did you vote for Exxon Mobile today ... Walmart, Kmart, Target? NO! Where you spend your dollars is important and it will starve or feed according to your choice. These companies and many other large corporations are part of the coalition against us.

Buy on Main Street and not at the malls. Make your money count. And if you have any money left at the end of the month watch where you put it."


Very sound advice I think.

[pgh_dem]

62. Michael Berg has the right idea...it's called BOYCOTT

Since the corporations, the media and the republicans (kinda blurry between those groups anyway) won't let you speak with your vote, speak with your wallet.
Check out BuyBlue.org (NOT .COM) for lists of huge Repub contributors as well as 'cool' companies you could shift your business to.
For example, those who like the megastore thing but can't stand WalMart, find a Costco in your area.
Find a local bank rather than a multinational monster (I've just started looking into this, found out how bad the Bank of America card in my wallet stinks, they gave 250,000 to the inaugural, not to mention campaign contributions...cancelling this week after 10 years).
Send a letter to businesses you refuse to patronize, make it specific that while they are free to contribute to the candidate of their choice, you just refuse to let them make those contributions with *your* money.

[sepia_steel]

79. Exactly.

Letting them know WHY they aren't getting your business is the most important part. I just finally got an account, and it was with BoA. I was so dissapointed to find out abou the inaguration donations. I'm dreading it (they're convenient - but no excuses!), but i will switch banks, too. Only had my account for 6 days. lol

[Indiana_Dem]

18. I didn't either!

My daughter wanted to go and buy some boots and pants for snow sledding and I said not today! She was upset but I explained it to her and she was okay with it! I even went without my daily coffee from the local coffee shop! Now, THAT was a sacrifice! LoL

[insane_cratic_gal]

19. besides the 25 cents for my kids milk

money.

I stuck to it as well.

[man4allcats]

20. I also kept the faith

though it was a little tough to go a whole day without a bagel. :-)

[CC]

21. I didn't spend anything

Hubby didn't even though he was on the road (truck driver) and everyone at work participated. Oh, family refused to spend money too. Plus we all (family wise) had agreed ( on Nov. 3)to spend as little money as possible the next 4 years.

[Nevilledog]

22. Spent no money and almost got my hubby in trouble.......

Reminded my hubby for a week about not spending any money, and then hid his wallet this morning so he couldn't spend any.... he can be forgetful.

However... I went a little further and decided to get my somewhat apathetic hubby to carry the message. I lovingly told him I'd pick out his clothes for work today (he's a middle school assistant principal). My, didn't he look nice in that ORANGE shirt... hehehe.

That's not the best part though... when he got home he said, "Honey, thanks for picking out the orange shirt. At least 20 students remarked how the color and timing of the shirt meant he didn't support Bush." I think I giggled for about an hour.

hehehe

P.S. pretty cool that so many youngsters had the savvy to even know about the inauguration today and the meaning of the orange shirt.

[MARALE]

47. Good for you!

And welcome!!
:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

My son is getting into paying attention to these things as well, he's 16. He says most of the older students (juniors and seniors) really dislike Bush and its only the freshmen that liked *. My nephew is a senior and really worked to get * out if the White House and I think that is wonderful! It will be these kids that will be drafted and they need to be involved.

[Nevilledog]

63. Thanks for the welcome!

Been watching these forums since the election. My secretary, a brilliant and very progressive person, directed me here after I expressed my outrage at the results.... that's when I started to educate myself.

[demodonkey]

23. Didn't spend One Damn Dime Here!

[smurfygirl]

24. I didn't spend one damn dime today

:bounce:

:bounce:

:toast:

[Rebel47]

25. I too didn't spend any money today, but I fear that all we accomplished

was to alienate lots of people that needed the money. Some folks were sent home early and lost wages as a result. My neighbor who is a Dem and a small restaurant owner was not very happy with our protest, and was very vocal in his opposition!

[demodonkey]

26. Where's his Restaurant? I'm from PA

I'll go there next time I am in your area -- and tell him WHY I am supporting him!

[Rebel47]

27. Limerick, Pa.

It's in S.E. Penna. and it's the Bravo Pizza which is relatively new to the area.
I fear this peaceful protest will end up being counter-productive.

[demodonkey]

31. I don't often get out that far (am from Western PA) But when I...

do I will make an effort to go there. (I go to Churchtown / Narvon several times a year, Limerick is not too much further; anything to support a fellow Dem!)

Is his Pizza good?

[Rebel47]

32. Yep, Best Pizza & Sandwiches in the area.

He's on Ridge Pike, behind the new CVS pharmacy.

[Carolab]

36. Good point.

We should make a point of not spending one damn dime with businesses that support Republicans. As a way of life, not just one day.

[ISUGRADIA]

39. YES! this one day thing accomplishes bloody little

a small % don't spend, there has been some publicity so I am sure there are conservatives who make a point to spend on this day. So really no noticable difference in the grand scheme of things. 1 day of 365 does not hurt a business or is even nted in any economic stats.

Instead NEVER shop at Wal Mart or big corporations that support the GOP or conservative causes. Support local businesses that are progresive in their policies.

[Ms. Toad]

42. In terms of big picture economics

I agree the one day doesn't accomplish much. I'm actually surprised that there was enough of a slow down to create even anecdotal stories of slow business. But even when you look at the impact on businesses, overall there is unlikely to be any impact since most of us probably didn't not spend as much as we shifted our spending to a day earlier or a day later.

What the day did provide was an opportunity for conversations with (and witness to) a variety of folks that might not otherwise have taken place -

The local coffee shop where I stop daily that wonders about my absence
The child who doesn't get to shop for whatever the item of the day is until the next day
and so on...

That, alone, was sufficient benefit in my book.

(Of course watching where we spend our money on an every day basis is also good and has a much larger economic impact)

[Fly by night]

48. The fact he noticed is an opening to explain why we kept our dimes.

You need to persuade your restaurant owning friend that when the majority of Americans opposed almost everything that the smirking chimp stands for and when the majority of us voted against returning the semi-erect primate to office AND THEN when his handlers fucked with the voting machines to return the smirkster to OUR White House for another four years, our not spending our money for one day is the least we can do. It's not us your friend should be mad at, it's the un-American Nazis who (through their vote-rigging coup) maintained their stranglehold on our democracy.

BTW, this thread is very inspiring. I hope some DUer can figure out a way to quantify the impact of this protest because the anecdotal reports on this thread are amazing and very encouraging to me. I also think that doing this once a month would be a great idea. Talk about catching the attention of other small business people that even passive support for Cheetah will cost them now (as well as in the long run.) I'm all in favor of repeating this nonviolent protest each month. Of course, I'm so broke that I don't have two dimes to rub together anyway.

[emlev]

34. Similar concerns are why I started this thread

I think it's important to look at the effects of our protests, and whether they're even visible. If the only way this protest becomes visible is by hurting small businesspeople, I question the tactic. Another question: Did it just give people a way to feel they were "doing something," which might in fact keep them from doing something more productive? Or did participating help people get a sense that they were part of something bigger than themselves, which could lead them to protest in more powerful ways?

[Pooka Fey]

29. Not one damn dime. Boo-Yaaaaaaah!

[floridadem30]

33. I didn't spend one penny and the protests in Sarasota FL just made my

local news on snn 6, however I didn't see any of those signs.

[Carolab]

35. I loaned a needy friend some money.

Does that count?

[gauguin57]

37. Oops, I bought a 50-cent newspaper from a newspaper box. Other than that,

the only place I spent any money was at an Uninauguration Party thrown by area Democrats (raffle tickets, cover charge, etc). And all of that money went to the Red Cross.

[Liberty Belle]

38. Read this: One damn dime day worked!

Posted earlier in another thread:

Inauguration proves to be hard sell for vendors


Inauguration proves to be hard sell for vendors
By Donna De Marco
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Business was so bad for vendors yesterday that some wished they had stayed home.
Because of the presidential inauguration's heightened security, the sellers of food and presidential paraphernalia were shunted aside, far from the parade route. They saw little traffic and, more important, few spenders.

"It's not worth it so far," said Mokhtar Sherif, who was selling snacks, pretzels, hot dogs and hot chocolate on 13th Street near F Street NW.

His business had brought in just $50 by 12:30 p.m. yesterday. "It is so very slow," he said. "I'm ready for 10,000 people." Mr. Sherif's vending cart is usually at Connecticut Avenue and L Street NW, where he earns between $700 and $900 in sales daily.

The inauguration usually is a cash cow for vendors, who rake in thousands of dollars more than they would during a typical January day. During past inaugurations, vendors have been situated on prime real estate along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route. Mr. Sherif said he made $13,000 during Bill Clinton's first inauguration.

http://washingtontimes.com/business/20050120-095852-907...

[skids]

40. Was going to buy cigarettes...

...but at a local deli that has for the last three months had photos of 911 protesters posted on the front door in clear view. So I figured that would be OK. But I didn't even have to do that -- my housemate brought home a pack.

So I guess I made it.

But the real question -- how about all you folks who work retail. Was it a slow day?

[Hugin]

41. Forgive me my brothers and sisters for I have sinned...

I had good reason to spend $6.38.

But, there are no excuses!

What is my penance?

P.S. My in-laws brought that @!%#$!^## O'Reilly child molester
book into my house. How do I deal with that?

[demodonkey]

49. Tell them politely that you do not want your child reading a book...

written by a person with such poor "moral values" as Mr. O'Reilly has.

Then throw the book in the garbage. And wash your hands.

[Hugin]

56. I don't think...

... there's a solvent strong enough to clean my hands
and since I need them.

I'll use and then incinerate some salad tongs.

Thanks for the tip.

[mopinko]

50. arrange an accident

ooopppsss! i don't know how that book ended up in the toilet!

[Hugin]

53. Thanx mopinko

Will do.

IMHO... This book *started out* in the toilet. ;)

[Hugin]

54. Fly! Be free with the fishes and -crock-odiles! :) n/t

[mopinko]

55. it was an obvious solution

as you noticed.

[kitkat65]

71. Return it if they still have the receipt. If you throw it away, Billy...

and the publisher have still made the money.

[autorank]

43. Yes, I have more money today!!!

[euler]

44. I traded all my dimes for nickles on Tuesday

Yesterday, I didn't spend a single dime.

[Jensen]

45. I kept my word....

After 3.5 years of not calling in sick, I did yesterday and not one red dime was spend by me or husband.
Once I know a company is red, such as Wal-mart, Target, K-mart, Sam's Club, Dunkin Donuts (My ex favorite) etc. I REFUSE to spend any money there!

[Hugin]

46. Bravo on your will power!

We will overcome! :)

[rodriguez94]

57. I heard both the DOW and NASDAQ closed down

yesterday.....was that was from us?????

[roseBudd]

58. I spent not one damn dime yesterday n/t

[mom cat]

59. I kept the pledge and am committed to boycotting Bushies supporters.

[SueZhope]

60. I did it also , however i did kept my utilities going n/t

[sarahlee]

61. Did not spend one dime

except for the electricity for the computer and TV and the day's share of the phone lines. Did not leave home so used no transportation fuel.

A friend had saved up items she needed to return so not only did not spend a dime, but returned those items and got money back out of the system. :)

[HEAVYHEART]

64. I did it

I needed to get groceries really really bad! But I stuck it out and didn't buy a damn thing yesterday. I ate ramen noodles for dinner but it was worth it. :-)

[bemis12]

65. 15 businesses

in my town had to fold, it was so massively successful. Thousands are in the soup line today.

[GoSolar]

66. I didn't spend any money.

It sure felt good!

And my husband went to the protests!

[bunny planet]

67. didn't spend one damn dime.

Even my teenager daughter refrained from spending, and that's really saying something for her.:)

[vanboggie]

68. Just took Harris Poll with interesting question

QU: Have you avoided purchasing a product or service or told someone else to avoid purchasing a product or service made by a particular company because the company's actions or policies conflicted with your values or beliefs?
-----------
I answered yes and wished there was a space to tell them why. Gotta wonder though why the question was asked! Our efforts are over the long term are bearing fruit I'd say.

[samdogmom]

69. Me too!

I buy a newspaper every day, at the very least. Yesterday, nothing...Nadda...zilch...nothing...NOT ONE DIME!!!! And, I made sure everyone close to me knew not to spend or to face my wrath. Even my college-aged son refrained. That's big!

[consciousobjector]

70. I kept the pledge - didn't spend a dime...

I just wish I could have turned off the gas, electricity and phone as well.

[Melissa G]

72. Local store owner with 2 locations

As a small merchant I felt kinda mixed about this protest but I personally did it anyway though I am grateful that all my customers did not. One store was very slow and the other was pretty normal in the afternoon. Almost no one in the morning though.

[rumpel]

73. me too, wouldn't let daughter and Mom did not either, also know of friend

who did not. She e-mailed me and others not to, too.
So there you have at least 30 people.

[loritooker]

74. Employee at my large food co-op said it was dead Thursday.

[probuddha]

76. I didn't spend a dime.

I didn't buy extra groceries the day before and fed my family omelets and pancakes for dinner. My kids thought it was kind of fun and even if it didn't make an impact in the big picture, it made us feel better on an otherwise very gloomy day.

[bear425]

77. I spent not one damn dime. n/t

[New Earth]

78. the only things i spent money on were

the Metro rides around D.C. and on beer and liquor :(

am i bad now?

[ms.smiler]

80. Cessation of Commerce - not a dime spent and we closed our

family business for the day. We usually process and deposit $0,000 in credit card transactions daily, but not on the 20th. I know what one small business could accomplish with this effort so I can't help but think there was an overall impact. Bad weather kept me from shopping the day prior so this actually cut down on my consumption. I nursed the last soft drink, sweets and the remaining coffee grounds.

I was pleased to hear from people who are not on the net asking me if I heard about the day. I really do think this sort of awareness and action is worthwhile. I've treated every dollar like a vote for many years by insisting on US made goods. Now my purchases, business & personal, have to also be blue. This is truly the power we have - our dollars.

[torque]

81. not one damn dime all week! n/t

[DearAbby]

82. Hunny and I kept the pledge and spent not one damned dime!

:hi: Stayed home and had a real enjoyable evening together snuggled on the sofa watching movies...quite romantic. :)

[candice]

83. A local Peet's coffee house was almost empty

(this is the Bay Area in Northern California). I used a pre-paid card ($ spent last month) for a cocoa, and explained that I couldn't transfer any actual cash. The person behind the counter and the manager were relieved. They wondered why there was almost no business that day. Kind of skirting the issue, but that was all that I spent that day (and three other people I know also were not spending). Today I found out that others would have, but didn't know about Not One Dime Day.