"10 Ways to Screw Over the Corporate Jackals Who've Been Screwing You" by Scott Thill

[StarfarerBill]

"The New Year is nearly here, and so much has happened. Wait, what's that? Nothing major at all has happened, you say? Oh right, we've been stuck in neutral since dumping the toxic trash of the Republican Bush administration and embracing Democratic promises of hope and change, neither of which have blossomed.

"A year of our collective life has flown by and our global culture is still rife with schemers, screw jobs and sorry excuses for solutions. And we just sit back and take it, year after year. But no more. When you make that hefty list of New Year's resolutions, drop some of these bombs. Then duck. You'll get your change faster than you can say, 'Teabag this!'"

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/144679/10_ways_to_screw_over_the_corporate_jackals_who%27ve_been_screwing_you?page=1

[ima_sinnic]

1. #11: avoid big box stores and China outlets whenever possible

Here in rural Maine, to avoid having to drive a lot and counter the sometimes limited choices available, I've found I can also support small businesses by patronizing sellers on Amazon and eBay who appear to be merely individuals trying to make a living. If I have to buy imported stuff, the profit may as well go to someone besides Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Best Buy. I also browse etsy.com looking for unique things when I can afford to.

Happy to say I've already implemented a couple of the writer's suggestions:

I dumped the piddly stocks I had slowly bought through sharebuilder (only a few hundred dollar investment that about broke even after 5 years) 6 months before the market melted down in mid-2008. When that meltdown happened, I remembered telling the guy on the phone, confirming that I wanted to sell everything, that the game was rigged and about to blow. He was like, "mm hmm, yeah, okay, and what was your address again?" I wondered if he thought of that "weird lady" when the market tanked a few months later.

I dumped satellite TV (the only thing available in the boondock area of Maine where I live) in July 2009 when I bought a house. I feel as though my IQ has even been raised without that idiot crap constantly on--I'd gotten so lazy and unmotivated, just sinking down on the couch and letting whatever was on distract me from any reading, hobbies, fitness--any productive or insightful use of my time. I have gained hours per day without it, and I feel good about being immune from TV advertising and propaganda.

My credit card has only $250 left to pay off, then it's going into a block of ice in the freezer. Might use it to pay my electric bill each month, then pay it immediately, just to keep my "credit score" acceptable.

[girl gone mad]

3. I bought most of my Christmas presents on Etsy this year...

and from small sellers on Abe Books. I have been boycotting the Big Box stores for years.

[Jamastiene]

4. +1

Great idea

[Jamastiene]

2. "With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?"

K&R

[callous taoboy]

5. "Do not watch whiny bitches." Love it!

I am really amazed at the number of posts cogitating over what mental midgets like Beck or Limpballs have to say. I never click on those posts. I don't know what Glenn Beck or Ann Coulter sound like. I have accidentally been exposed to a total 20 minutes worth of Faux Newz in the last 10 years while waiting to get my oil changed. People at work who've attempted to bait me with statements like, "Looks like Al Franken has stepped in it with his dealing with Acorn" are met with a blank stare and, "That's an interesting perspective." I have had basic $12.99 / month cable for the past 20 years and most of my T.V. watching is PBS.

[Jamastiene]

6. Sounds like we'd get along great.

It is way less stressful to just live our lives. I haven't laid eyes on CNN, Fox, or MSNBC in 6 and a half years now. :thumbsup:

[Triana]

7. I already do most of them and have been for years...

...(insert self-righteous grin here)

:evilgrin:

[hunter]

8. Don't buy stuff.

If you've got surplus money burning a hole in your pocket buy food for the hungry and shelter for the homeless and medicine for the sick so that you yourself might walk lightly upon the earth and among your fellow man. Jesus said something like that. Which is why of course the Jackals created Christmas complete with a "Black Friday" and a Jolly Red Elf who's name is an anagram of Satan, "HO HO HO, Drink some poison and throw away the can!"

[lunatica]

9. Now this is revolutionary thinking

When we all do this (most of us because we have no choice) it'll do much more damage than guns, pitchforks and torches.

[blue neen]

10. I loved these ideas!

If you shut off the cable, you're also saving electricity by not having the boob tube on all day and night.

The citizens of this country are mad as hell, and Washington politicians and lobbyists refuse to believe it.