There are lots of reasons why this type of collective action can be a good thing. One major thing the new regime wants is for people to feel powerless and demoralised. Even collectively not doing something has value.
The one day blackout is flexing a muscle. It is a first tentative step people can engage with, asserting their collective economic clout by delivering a noticeable sting at the corporate world, which — make no mistake — has exploited the rigged election system and, through it, corrupted government.
For the effort to have a bigger impact we also need to wean ourselves from Amazon, meta and other companies and platforms that don’t support democracy.
My understanding of the boycott is to show corporations who are pulling back their DEI efforts that we are not happy about it, and that we have the power to effect their bottom line. Moreover it shows all of corporate America that the collective we have power with our spending choices.
I haven't shopped Amazon in a year and still shop locally. Most small businesses have websites to order the product. You just don't get the products overnight. Sometimes, they take weeks, but it's worth it.
@newrepublic.com Do you see this? You’re getting compared to Breitbart for this tone deaf and awful article. Maybe you had one of those cliche meetings where you want more money and you think the solution is to be more MAGA.
You’ve been warned. We will not tolerate this garbage. Our freedom at risk.
Wait, what part aren’t you following? You see by simply not buying anything for one single day with no plans for continuing or any actual pressure being applied to anyone for any specific purpose, by tomorrow egg prices will have gone down or something.
I think boycotts are good, and I think French farmers getting together to make a point is good. This has basically nothing to do with that though. In the case of farmers, those are people working in the same industry strategically withholding their labor to achieve a specific end.
Consumers are a strategic group...for to long, we have had no choice, no service, no say
We need an outlet to speak out....and a boycott does that. Its just a venting. On the positive side, it attracts headlines and gets the politicians attention.
This is at best a loose collection of people with no clear ideology, goal, target, or clear method of getting anyone to do anything. I’m really sorry, but it’s just very poorly conceived of. Boycotts need a purpose and a target. This has none of the things that make boycotts useful
Um. If your spouse doesn't speak to you or look at you; avoids you and disappears for a day: you notice. Sure, it's harmless. But if you don't get a message from that action, your relationship is in deep doodoo.
Thanks for the permission. I’m being sarcastic if it isn’t obvious. Today’s boycott allows for people who aren't able to march or protest on the street, as a way to do their part and participate.
Yes. It’s also a very simple way to show that the regime doesn’t control everything - discouraging people because “it’s pointless” is doing the regime’s work for free.
I'm in the trenches, working in advocacy and directly lobbying our representative while simultaneously trying to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault while our funding is threatened at all levels.
But that's also a problem. People feel like they're doing something, so then they don't necessarily engage in the harder, more impactful thing. And that's the trouble with low bar protests like this. Don't get me wrong, I still think people should participate. But it NEEDS to lead to more action.
I don't think anyone is naive enough to think this one act of resistance is all it's going to take, yet an initial step is necessary for future actions.
If this action makes people feel like they have taken an initial step, than that bodes well for future protests.
I agree and disagree. Agree with your second point, for sure. One step can lead to a second, and on and on. As to the first point, it's true that people won't necessarily be naive enough to think that this is sufficient, but it might lead them to feel "I've done my bit".
It's true. Again, I think this is a good idea, I just think we need to be very deliberate when talking to people about it; as a first step, not a solution.
How the fuck is anyone supposed to know if messaging reaches enough people if you don’t try? Jesus you want to talk about how the left in America fails? It’s these god damned PURITY TESTS! Fucking stop! 🤡
1.
The problem is the US "primacy of profit" at ANY COST.
Let me use the FAA, airline industry example.
Airlines could boycott itself, pilots refuse to fly until FAA is returned to its original state.
Investors control this.
SEC law requires company's MAXIMIZE profit. This law must change!!
Boycotts are very powerful.
But, it must be organized and with stated expectation.
Elon doesn't care if companies go under.
But governments care bc this determines a national GDP.
It’s a start. Personally I use more specific targets for boycotting that have a greater impact. Canceled Amazon, won’t vacation in Florida or Idaho and I support small businesses that also support my politics. I use cash for small purchases. This isn’t about virtue signaling, but doing my small part
I'm hopeful, but realistic. I'll be interested to see if this registers as more than a blip. In the long run, it won't make any differences, because those purchases will just get made this weekend instead. I hope people organize, but what this country really needs is a general strike.
Canadian here. That sounds like telling us we shouldn’t boycott American products. I think the made in Canada movement here is strong And will be felt by retailers. Boycotts are a good start for Americans to start exercising their economic flex to corporations. Corporations only talk in money.
Tomorrow let’s start a new Blue Economy by consciously spending only on reliable Blue List businesses that have openly defied dictatorship and doubled down on democratic ideals! Canada, California, other Blue States, and all pro-DEI businesses can mutually support each other. Who’s with me?
Money talks, and it truly is the only language spoken by this group in the White House. If it resonates, perhaps a few members of our gutless Congress will stand up. This is a worthy attempt.
Additionally, it is practice. For most of us we have to figure out how to buy what we need from local and independent non-fascist supporting retailers.
Did the author interview anyone at People’s Union? I would like to understand it better myself. I don’t think an economic boycott is such a bad idea (think Target and Tesla), but would appreciate a perspective based on more than what was gleaned reading their FAQ.
You can't look at it as having any financial impact. What it does is show solidarity. It will let them know that there are many people who don't agree with the countries current direction. Lack of participation will only add fuel to their madness.
Currently on a road trip. Haven't bought much except for gas and lodging during the past two weeks, but that will continue today. No real way to avoid it.
Some action is better than no action. If we want change in this country (income inequality, dei, etc) the most efficient way is through fiscal pressure. Take the money away and watch how quickly govt and corps change.
The tone of the article is snarky which I don’t appreciate. Bc what’s the harm in this?? If you opt out, that’s your prerogative. But there’s one thing I agree with.. (quote)…
Why isn't hurting companies' profits not a good way to protest? If enough people boycott, voices can be heard, virtually, loud enough to at least make the businesses notice. If not enough do, then it doesn't make a dent.
This was tried before andd fell flat then. The best is for the sake of our Nation is "Remember the Midterms" and get rid of these shallow minded t-rump followers.
Your inability to grasp coalitions is why that man is in the White House and they are laughing at our inability to get organized. You like to know what you’re boycotting? You are boycotting all of it.
Then don’t do it. Are you kissing the ass trying to dissuade people from acting? That’s how
you look. You don’t know the future. Why not at least wait to see what happens. Or continue on with your myopic Washington “reporting.” Keep on licking.
This is preaching and telling people not to act. @newrepublic.com better get with the program. I suggest they fire this “journalist” before it becomes a problem for their entire paper. We will not tolerate this kind of propaganda.
Right? They don’t need to preach about it. If I wanted this garbage I’d turn on Fox and CNN. I hope @newrepublic.com realize what a terrible mistake this article is. Time to fire someone.
Like a fad diet, it makes you feel like you doing something without having to actually do any major life changes. A one day boycott is a good start, but if people are just shifting their purchases by a day it will be a blip that will be ignored. A lifestyle change of permanent boycott is required.
I don’t disagree and think that it is a good start. But if all people are going to do is shift buying shit from Amazon from Friday to Saturday, all that will prove is that we need them more than they need us.
Delays cause significant economic damage. Most financial institutions rely on a constant stream of revenue.
Also we need to test to see how effective messaging, organizing and outreach is. 1 Million participating or 50 Million? There is absolutely no downside to doing this.
This article says don’t participate in the boycott today - there are no concrete ideas about what to do instead (those are coming later supposedly). I am in a federal employee family - I don’t have the time to wait for some future ideas. We are protesting any way that we can NOW.
It’s 8 months to our next election, 20 to the midterms, 48 to our next presidential. Most folks can’t show at a group protest, they have work or kids. This is something that literally anyone can do. It won’t make a difference. This time. But it’s a training day for those learning to protest.
You're wrong. Its about getting people who are upset and to do just one little action thats beyond talking. Then knowing they have a touch of agency feel that they can do more.
Not purchasing for a day is normal for poor folk. How about a general strike?
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed". Abraham Lincoln
🟣 This effort might be more impactful if it communicated the following:
“Amazon and Walmart perpetuate and further embed systems of working poverty through market concentration, tax avoidance, and a reliance on social safety net programs to subsidize unsustainable business models.” https://bit.ly/43fehjC
🟣 And the benefits of shifting the economy towards small businesses:
“counties with larger shares of local small businesses outperform their peers on three critical economic indicators: they have stronger per capita income growth, faster employment growth, and lower poverty rates.” https://bit.ly/4iexKoI
true - but it's SOMETHING - certainly it isn't the only way to protest but at least it brings like minded people together for a worthy cause and who knows - it might help a little (better than nothing)
There's always someone who undermines attempts to build solidarity. The one day blackout is meant to be a beginning and a way to practice not participating in capitalism.
I’m afraid this is worse. They are using their platform to scold people and shame those into inaction. It’s disgusting and I’m considering putting @newrepublic.com on block lists. If they keep this shit up, no one will see them again.
Having seen dozens of actions like this over the decades, I have yet to see them do much bc they are disconnected from any actual mass politics. They are less collective action than dispersed individual actions. I think it's very hard to turn general consumer boycotts into political power.
I agree with this. I think we should be upfront about the actual (in)effect it will have. Meaning we talk about it for being a come-together moment that is a commitment to more.
Annoying when an action is poo-pooed but no alternative. That won’t work so why bother. You know what really doesn’t work? When you do NOTHING. Action creates more action.
Harmless? Telling the big corporations that we are in control of the economy with our collective $? It’s that “what’s in it for me” mentality that’s what got us here in the first place and will keep us here.
Sorry. I would’ve read your insightful article but I was inundated with requests for money and product ads. Not surprised that you don’t understand the protest.
You have to actually have a target and a strategy in order for boycotts to be effective. Like they didn’t just randomly pick tea to throw into the river at the Boston tea party. That was a vital export that severely hurt Britain financially. This “boycott” doesn’t even have a target, let alone that
Yeah. I’m pretty sure what they’re going to notice is a graph for consumer spending that looks like this: 📈📉📈 Thursday. Friday. Saturday. People aren’t “not” spending. They’re just doing it before or after and not targeted at any particular business or even industry or region.
I’m actually not entirely sure it would even be realistically possible for anything significant to be detected let alone effected in such a short period of time
“You were thinking of protesting, but why bother? Join us as smug journalists scold you into inaction over a vegan hojicha latte.”
-The New Republic, probably
Comments
Tell that to Black people who definitely view racism embedded into every American system as a problem with the “system as a whole”.
Our problems started way before Trump.
You are ALWAYS in danger of falling as low as the bottom allows, so it behooves you to make the bottom higher for EVERYONE.
Dems have ignored Black suffering to their own detriment.
Just because you're a small business doesn't mean that you should be supported
You’ve been warned. We will not tolerate this garbage. Our freedom at risk.
I tried a little experiment here with liberals and democrats - I had asked them to use my Avatar as a protest to Trump - just for a day
None did. it seems difficult.
We need an outlet to speak out....and a boycott does that. Its just a venting. On the positive side, it attracts headlines and gets the politicians attention.
Whenever you design the perfect protest, let us know.
You fucking DO something.
Cool I guess.
If this action makes people feel like they have taken an initial step, than that bodes well for future protests.
We will do what we want
Fuck off
The problem is the US "primacy of profit" at ANY COST.
Let me use the FAA, airline industry example.
Airlines could boycott itself, pilots refuse to fly until FAA is returned to its original state.
Investors control this.
SEC law requires company's MAXIMIZE profit. This law must change!!
But, it must be organized and with stated expectation.
Elon doesn't care if companies go under.
But governments care bc this determines a national GDP.
This is a time for us to come together in a united goal.
And it is just the beginning. More will join. More protests, blackouts, boycotts and strikes will happen.
It is people like YOU who help the fascists and oligarchs by telling US we have no power.
WE hold the power. Not them.
This isnt about money. This is about showing both the billionaires and Americans that we CAN organize.
Stop helping fascists by shitting on societal organization. Take this post down immediately.
you look. You don’t know the future. Why not at least wait to see what happens. Or continue on with your myopic Washington “reporting.” Keep on licking.
Also we need to test to see how effective messaging, organizing and outreach is. 1 Million participating or 50 Million? There is absolutely no downside to doing this.
"Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed". Abraham Lincoln
Remember our power. Shut it all down.
https://Generalstrikeus.com
Now we need to get all the pilots, engineers, ship captains and dock workers to strike
“Amazon and Walmart perpetuate and further embed systems of working poverty through market concentration, tax avoidance, and a reliance on social safety net programs to subsidize unsustainable business models.” https://bit.ly/43fehjC
“counties with larger shares of local small businesses outperform their peers on three critical economic indicators: they have stronger per capita income growth, faster employment growth, and lower poverty rates.” https://bit.ly/4iexKoI
No choice, no service, no say
This is a marathon, not a sprint.
-The New Republic, probably
Muting you.