To boycott everything is to boycott nothing. My latest: newrepublic.com/article/1921... - ThreadSky

timothynoah.bsky.social • 3 days ago

To boycott everything is to boycott nothing. My latest:

https://newrepublic.com/article/192126/not-joining-economic-blackout-day

Comments

meem2025.bsky.social•3 days ago

Your lack of support for the American people sending a sign to the Oligarchs that run our government is very telling. We, the people will stand up and speak out exercising our democracy every day in every way. Da, Comrade Noah.

whoadvertiseson.bsky.social•3 days ago

It's not everything, just big corporations: it celebrates small/independent business. Also the person who had the idea doesn't own it. It's a movement now, but also just a one day action. I do share concern with it being overly broad, which is why our flyer gives reasons.

whoadvertiseson.bsky.social•3 days ago

But finally, US capitalism right now does have a serious bias/money-in-politics problem as this analysis of data shows. Corporations are broadly giving much more to Republicans than Democrats, even as Republicans become more extremist. We can't just ignore that.

clearspies.bsky.social•2 days ago

Even better, this boycott helps people change habits and those ganged habits help stocks eventually crash and CEOs get fired.

coosbaypat.bsky.social•3 days ago

I would like to see your ideas on what actions ARE appropriate.

bjgt.bsky.social•3 days ago

He recommended these sites

https://indivisible.org/resource/guide
And
https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/

bamamontana.bsky.social•3 days ago

In the article he expresses support for the Tesla Takedown but he does not appear to have participated in that either.

tgatthesea.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you for this persuasive essay.

clearspies.bsky.social•2 days ago

It’s lame and sets purity tests for action.

giamonroe.bsky.social•1 day ago

So you shun the beginnings of a Power Of The Purse Movement because it’s not strategic enough for you personally rather than amplifying how it can expand into real tactical opposition? It makes you feel flaccid to participate? Do you also subscribe to the notion that one vote doesn’t really count?

slowsinkfeel.bsky.social•3 days ago

What part of boycott big business, shop local do you not understand?

greased7.bsky.social•3 days ago

The first attempt at nationwide solidarity and you shit all over it. Starting to wonder about your agenda.

timothynoah.bsky.social•3 days ago

My agenda is stated clearly in the piece.

greased7.bsky.social•2 days ago

There is the agenda you say you have and then there is the agenda you seem to have.

toothgrinder.bsky.social•2 days ago

mister timothy openly admits to supporting capitalism. he is no friend to the working class. he is just as much a tool of trumps as fox news is.

pelkyidorje.bsky.social•3 days ago

Oh, did Colin Powell make that argument?

notmuchfun.bsky.social•3 days ago

Didn’t read it (don’t sign up for stuff) but with boycotts there should be those being negatively pressured and those being rewarded. Is it useful to pit the “devils” against each other for your dollar too? There is no “pure” business. Sadly, small business isn’t their competition.

notmuchfun.bsky.social•3 days ago

How do you make Target feel that keeping and strengthening DEI policies gives them a competitive advantage over Walmart and Amazon?

serendipityfalcon.bsky.social•3 days ago

Too bad I can’t read it

laurarouth.bsky.social•3 days ago

As a caregiver, protests are a no; I’m housebound. All my congressional representatives are democrats and I’ve already contacted them. Perhaps, the idea behind the economic boycott could be further developed. After all, “shut things down” is a listed option at Choose Democracy.

timothynoah.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes, but do it strategically!

clearspies.bsky.social•2 days ago

laurarouth.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think you made some good points, and I even questioned my choice to participate (I’m still in!). But my sense is that people are itching for a unified way to help save democracy and were willing to brush aside an imperfect message from the organizer.

ohsaidwhat.bsky.social•3 days ago

This.

clearspies.bsky.social•2 days ago

This guy’s an idiot. This is a proof of concept to see if outreach and action at a large scale is effective and to see how we can make improvements. He needs to shut his mouth.

irishcowboy.bsky.social•3 days ago

You miss the point Tim, it's to show the republicans how people will control their spending when necessary to combat what they are doing to everyday people.

artforpeople.bsky.social•2 days ago

Even if a boycott cost some like Bezos a billion, he’d still have hundreds of billions. The intention is good, but it’s not going to cut it. Mass protests and labor strikes would do more.

globetrottergolfer.bsky.social•2 days ago

Google

Pepsi

Coca Cola

Disney

GE

Intel

PayPal

Amazon

Target

Chipotle

Comcast

Ford Motor

Molson Coors

Lowe’s

Walmart

McDonald’s

GM

John Deere
Harley Davidson
Jack Daniel’s
Boeing
Meta
The Smithsonian Institution
Amtrak
Accenture
PBS
Deloitte
Goldman Sachs
Citigroup
JP Morgan Chase

pranitsaindani.bsky.social•2 days ago

Protests will only inconvenience ordinary people. Nothing can be achieved without causing economic pain to those in power.

artforpeople.bsky.social•2 days ago

That may have been true 30 years ago; now these corporations have billions in value; a little boycott won’t phase them in the slightest. It’s nothing to them. Besides, Americans are too addicted to spending. People need to get in the streets and shout. Consistently. Shut it down.

pranitsaindani.bsky.social•2 days ago

Can you share any examples where street protests led to any change?

artforpeople.bsky.social•2 days ago

Have you heard of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? How about the Arab Spring? Does the fall of Romanian Dictator Ceaușescu ring a bell? Pick up a book and get off of social media, you might actually learn something...

pranitsaindani.bsky.social•1 day ago

Maybe someone needs to get their head out of books and into the real world? Then, someone might realise that economic and geopolitical reasons were the primary factors for change. The only thing those protests achieved is media attention at best.

artforpeople.bsky.social•2 days ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

murray2.bsky.social•2 days ago

Willful ignorance is still ignorance.... horrible take here. If you want to work for Fox News or take Scott Jennings' spot once he leaves CNN, just say so

shanemcoyle.bsky.social•3 days ago

Let’s focus on boycotting New Republic

bootowl.bsky.social•3 days ago

"Why I'm Doing Nothing." Every act of resistance should be praised. Others should be proposed and organized. Griping about imperfect resistance is worse than a waste of time.

ralphtheewiggum.bsky.social•3 days ago

Could’ve continued to do nothing and not write this waste of time article

mrcunn02.bsky.social•3 days ago

How did New Deal liberalism go for Black people?

vinkylu.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's called solidarity buddy. You may like capitalism but it will be the death of us all because the ruling class won't allow it to be regulated.

alysounm.bsky.social•3 days ago

I am joining, but you do raise good points re the fuzziness around some of the corporate targets.

keithmo.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yeah, I think this is a misleading take on the boycott, not that I disagree entirely with your piece.

Frankly I'd like to see the level of energy just for a simple protest action. I agree with a writer who said...

https://bsky.app/profile/lauraannegilman.bsky.social/post/3ljarpv63qc2h

lauraannegilman.bsky.social•3 days ago

It’s not either/or.

Not all people can physically protest. Not all people can safely take part in a national strike.

No one action is going to be The Answer. Dismissing any element of resistance because it’s “not enough” isn’t helpful.

keithmo.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think I agree more with you than with Timothy Noah, who I believe is mislabeling the boycott as "boycott on everything" and thinks it has a lack of focus. There are people in the comments who also say they cannot participate in the boycott for good reasons.

diedrichbader.bsky.social•3 days ago

It’s not “everything”
I think you’re an excellent writer but an easy search would show you that

ettringerglobal.bsky.social•3 days ago

It bears keeping in mind that the oligarchs (corporations and rich) have bought/taken our political representation away from us - converting us from CITIZENS into CONSUMERS. Thus, our ONLY power now is to buy or not buy from the true political influencers.

tannytanny.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm disabled and live on my Social Security. Today is just like every other day when I don't buy things. Twice a month i go to the Asian Market and the grocery store. Let them boycott. A General Strike would have more impact but we aren't there at all.

clearspies.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is a great way to organize a general strike. We need to practice organization and outreach not let this guy tell us to wait for perfection.

dortr.bsky.social•3 days ago

Shut the fuck up pussy

mrlurkenstein.bsky.social•3 days ago

Dimwitted take honestly. This is a time to grab momentum anywhere it can be found. Not the time to be sitting around waiting for your perfect target. Loser shit.

clearspies.bsky.social•2 days ago

Fuck this guy. Why the fuck are we listening to old white men telling us to stop?

jmarylyon.bsky.social•3 days ago

Good for you.

rokey.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don't know why I was following you but I am now not following you. Don't shit on other people for doing something.

onehumanity.bsky.social•3 days ago

“The Trump opposition needs to impose pain at carefully chosen leverage points. It needs (in a nonviolent sense) to do harm.” Yes! I’ve written about Dems’ need to unequivocally end the harm perpetuated by those who would destroy democracy for personal gain. https://onehumanity.substack.com/p/stopping-trump-and-musk

flopsie.bsky.social•3 days ago

Boycotting the complicit is is only bad for folks who are so pampered they can't even give up a day of convenience. If I have any complaints about the boycott, it that it isn't longer.

annatachcojimenez.bsky.social•3 days ago

I’m participating for the long haul. No more Amazon, Target, never shop at Walmart anyway, or any other corporation that is bowing down to him. I shop locally and at Costco. For a long time I’ve tried not to buy Nestle which is difficult because they own everything (they are evil) I can’t not try.

thegregshea.bsky.social•3 days ago

Tim, that's a weakass, BS, lamer than lame "argument" against the boycott.
It's a moment, a day, the first, the try to get all of US on the same page.

thegregshea.bsky.social•3 days ago

You want the "perfect" protest?"
Storm the WH and drag the felon, musky, and the hillbilly out and end this nightmare. Send them to Ukraine to fight.
But you'd want good weather, and matching outfits.
Yeah, I'm furious at all of it.

toothgrinder.bsky.social•2 days ago

you are a fucking coward. this is an article declaring your own stupidity, laziness, and support of harmful policies.

fuck off. you are just another mouthpiece of tyranny. fucking asshole.

usernamesgalore.bsky.social•1 day ago

So it's not perfect. That's the same "principled" objection raised by people who refused to vote for Kamala or Hillary.
It's a first stand. If you want subsequent ones to be better, start by getting involved, and by that I mean doing a lot more than writing opinion pieces, no matter how smart.

justgimmesometruth.bsky.social•3 days ago

This how US politics works “money talks bullshit walks”
The only way to impeach Dictator Trump in 70 days is to flip GOP Reps and Senators. Wealthy donors who don’t want to be extorted by Dictator Trump can finance it or be helpless targets like the rest of us. Putin’s been buying US pols forever.

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