Things I will no longer buy:

[TacticalPeek]

http://www.worldofkoch.com/

on moral grounds.

[hlthe2b]

1. Good luck with that... his subsidiaries are involved in making

all kinds of things that are not readily apparent.

[truth2power]

2. Every little bit helps. eom

[hlthe2b]

3. I already avoid the major brands listed...

They are ungodly expensive to begin with. I wish I had an alternative solution to fighting them... Unfortunately, it appears only more $$ and power can defeat these asses.

[truth2power]

5. I don't buy them either. I do what I can. Interesting how there's always

someone on these threads saying boycotting doesn't do any good. I wonder why?

It might not be the whole answer but at least it's something.

[Warpy]

9. I tend to favor the unbleached towels, myself

and use them very sparingly. A roll of towels will last me at least six months and are used mostly for Chinese cooking and picking up hairballs. Everything else is done with sponges and kitchen towels, more efficient for mopping up spills and the other things they try to tell us to use paper for.

I usually buy the cheapest no name or store brand, though, and leave the advertised stuff for the suckers.

[MH1]

10. lol ... picking up hairballs ... my #1 use of paper towels

:)

[revolution breeze]

14. Two years ago I made a big decision to use only products

grown or produced within 200 miles of my home. If it is unavailable and I cannot do without, I buy generic products or resale products. It had given my spending more power and has also established a relationship between me and those I buy products from. I also feel I get better quality because of that.

[felinetta]

20. I will say this, the only thing I bought from this list is Brawny and that's been awhile ago.

[elocs]

4. Not buying things or boycotting is mostly about making yourself feel good about your decisions.

There's nothing wrong with that. People make choices everyday based upon many different factors, but today companies and businesses are so widespread and interconnected with all of their subsidiaries that it is hard to avoid them.

[revolution breeze]

7. Yes, but knowing you took a stand, no matter how insignificant

is still taking a stand. I beleive one of the biggest problems with our society is people do not beleive in anything. LET'S BOYCOT WAL-MART until they have a great sale on a flat screen television I have been looking at, LET'S BOYCOT PROCTOR AND GAMBLE except for the Puffs facial tissue I can't live without. Beleive in something and do it, and I support you 100%.

[elocs]

15. Absolutely, and each person has their own stand as to what is important to them

however insignificant it may be to others. And if somebody chooses to make a stand on something then that is their choice and not necessarily mine.

Walmart is a great example here at DU where you routinely read of those who self righteously proclaim that they would never shop there or even set foot within the doors. What they don't tell you is that they live in an area with lots of shopping choices or that money is no problem for them. However, for many others even here at DU, Walmart may be the only place in their area to shop and they cannot afford to go elsewhere.

I view Walmart as an example of what I am talking about. Don't shop there if you choose, but don't set yourself up as being more righteous or noble than those who do not or cannot make your same choice.

[pipi_k]

8. that's about the size of it...

Sometimes you can't avoid it.

Mr Pip has a friend who refuses to buy, or have anything to do with, anything made in Germany (she is Jewish, still pissed off at Germany over the Holocaust).

Only trouble is, some of the things she buys have had parts and pieces made in Germany and added to the whole, which she didn't find out until later.

What to do, what to do...


That's probably an example of some extreme behavior, but still, I think it does illustrate your point. There's no way to avoid some of this stuff.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. I disagree, although there isn't anything wrong in doing

something right for yourself too. If a boycott could be widespread enough, it would make a difference. It has in the past and still is a reasonable strategy. When you dismiss it as a tool for change, you make it all the harder for it to work, and discourage people from doing it. This means nothing is done.

I realize that you have to have a large portion of consumers participate to affect change, but it can be done. It was done with the grape boycott that lasted for years, but did bring change. I refuse to believe that we have changed so much that we are not able or willing to withhold our dollars to send a message. Our dollars do matter.

"The consumer boycott is the only open door in the dark corridor of nothingness down which farm workers have had to walk for many years. It is a gate of hope through which they expect to find the sunlight of a better life for themselves and their families." (Cesar Chavez)

http://library.thinkquest.org/26504/History.html

[elocs]

13. I never said there was anything wrong about it, in fact I said the opposite.

Broad and global boycotts of large companies are usually unsuccessful. To truly have a chance of being successful a boycott should be local and/or specifically focussed. The grape boycott which is always held up as the example of a successful large boycott was focussed.

[xchrom]

6. Recommend

[Dreamer Tatum]

12. Why do you associate purchasing decisions with politics?

Silly.

[yellerpup]

16. Thanks for the list.

Nice to know I'm clean of Koch contamination. :kick: & Rec.

[DeSwiss]

17. K&R n/t

[1monster]

18. I already don't buy any of those...... On the grounds that they are inferior to other

brands sold.

Now I can pat myself on the back and say that I am doing the moral thing too. :D

[Cleita]

19. Huh, I haven't bought any of those products in years

and many never. It may have something to do with the price, which I always check very carefully. I've also been checking where products are made lately too if available.

[doc03]

21. I don't think I buy any of those brands anyway of course

they probably make many store brand products we are not aware of.