As one is aware, I'm far from a huge, big box shopper...and beyond despise Amazon and Walmart. I'd sooner go without my gin and tonics that use them or one of their services. So, what's that tell you about how strongly I hate them? But today kids, is an Economics Blackout! Spread the word. A grassroots organization is encouraging US resident not to spend any money Friday as an act of "economic resistance" to protest what the group's founder see as the malign influence of billionaires, greedy big corporations, and both major political parties, on the lives of working Americans. The Peoles Union USA call the 24 hours of spending abstinence that started at midnight last night, till 12am this morning. The activist movement said it also plans to promote weeklong consumer boycotts of particular companies including Amazon, Walmart, home improvement centers and other and big box stores. Other activists, faith-based leaders, and consumers already are organizing boycotts to protest companies that have also scaled back their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, seen to be weak and giving in to the Dump and his administration on their moves to abolish all Federal DEI programs and policies.
WE THE PEOPLE don't need or want these conditions and treatments,
WE THE PEOPLE don't have to accept them either.
WE THE PEOPLE can and will make them feel it,
and as momentum grows, we can and will get results whether here in this kind of protest, or hopefully everyone sleeping... will wake the hell up and WE THE PEOPLE will show our distain in the ballot box.
Happy Non-Spending Day.
Anyway, just relax, have a cocktail, lounge and read a book. One day of not spending won't hurt anyone.
Carlos has an appointment with the acupuncturist but that's it for us.
ReplyDeleteRESIST!
Good job, everyone!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I stole Six's artwork, too.
ReplyDeleteYep. We won't be spending a penny today. Not unless there is some catastrophic thing which forces us.
ReplyDeleteSave money, don't waste it; there's always a rainy day around the corner.
ReplyDeleteI'm participating and it's no great hardship to any of us to be a participant for a Day. I don't think Economists are realizing the Power of the Purse and how effective it can and will be with Unity of Purpose and The People exercising our Power. Billionaires didn't get Rich without The People and as with all Parasites, depend on their Hosts to Survive and Thrive. Hitting them in their Wallets is all they understand and respond to, becoz that's where it hurts them, no matter how much they have and pretend it doesn't. Greedy folks are insatiable and when the source of what feeds them becomes more limiting, they aren't used to not having their way and realizing who actually holds the Power over them. I too rarely Shop Big, I Support Small Business and Humane Providers of Resources, since, I prefer not to be complicit in exploitation practices and giving in to Cheap mass produced crap over Quality and Ethically and Responsibly Raised Animals and Plants that provide our Food Sources. I had to smile if you'd not resort to getting your Gin from certain Sources, that spoke Volumes my Friend. *Winks*
ReplyDeleteI adore you Dawn!!!! Very well said here too.
DeleteThe one day event will have to be extended to affect the corporations and their investors. One day just won’t do it, they’ll see it as a joke. But the threat of long term boycotts will make them scared, scared enough to turn on Trump and the maniacs behind Project 2025.
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is do they support their customers that keep them afloat or an oligarchy that never will, they can’t have it both ways.
-Rj
Its not about affecting their bottom line, per se. It's about sending a message, pulling together, raising our voices, uniting! Any and all action, resistance, and messages we can send matters. Now is not the time to poo poo efforts based on their success. We must do everything can, no matter how big or how small, else we're just giving in an accepting the Oligarchy. But I agree, Americans need to change their spending happens, en masse, and ongoing, to really have an impact. Force them to stop seeing (and referring to us) as consumers! We are people, not engines for their profit machines!
DeleteI agree RJ! One day won't even make a ripple....but your second paragraph sums it just perfect. Hopefully this will just be a starting point. I myself very seldom shop any big box. Does it make a difference? Probably not...but I feel better about myself and my choice.
DeleteThank you for reminding us. I will only buy from the used local charity thrift store that supports the locals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for supporting this, MM. I have been trying to spread the word among bloggers and friends. I'm saddened out how much resistance I've gotten. Apparently, giving up one day of shopping, for some, is to high a price to pay to help fight Fascism and the Oligarchs.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
It's sad that many don't care. Just give it another year or two and his bullshit and CEO's and Billionaires get greedier, and people all over start to feel his plans, lose their jobs, and have to downsize because they can't afford anything. Then the rat bastards will care.
DeleteHappy Non-Spending Day to you as well. From the look of the number of cars in the nearby mini malls, there's not a lot of support for non-spending going on around here. But every little bit helps, so I'm in. It's the end of the month, rent is due; but I'm not even paying my rent or sending in a check to the IRS to pay my taxes until Monday.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you....I don't think it would make a dent, but just the point of it as a launch pad to turn into something bigger...who knows. As we know Americans are gluttonous must have beings.
DeleteA laudable idea - and I shop locally and buy second-hand as much as I can. Trouble is, "they" control everything now, even here. Blogger is a wholly-owned product of Google/Alphabet Inc. My computer runs Windows, a Microsoft product. Many people here (not me) have mobile phones on which they read this stuff, bought from by Apple or Samsung and run by Apple (again) or Google (again). At home, electricity and gas are owned by conglomerates, as is oil supply, clothing manufacture, packaged food and home utensils. So it goes on...
ReplyDeleteUnless one were to go completely "off-grid" and survive in a yurt, hunting and gathering one's own food and becoming totally self-sufficient, it's a battle that mere humans can't win, sadly. Jx
I'm like you. It may be vintage or second hand...but the way I see it, it is better made and quality, and let's face it, still has more style than the crap now. Every time I get compliments on clothes I'm wearing or home accessories, It's almost always a found sourced vintage or thrift shop find.
DeleteI do this already, and for the last 50 years - I buy always only what I need, and I don't need much - I never understood why people buy, buy, buy what they don't need - and with my years long experience I can tell you, you don't need much !
ReplyDeleteJust keep it going for more than a day. I plan to do it for as long as I can. Thank you for the today!
ReplyDeleteYou gotta start somewhere and boycotting can be an effective strategy if organized, consistent and persistent! My parents grew up on dustbowl farms in the 1930's and their lifelong ethic was to "make over, make do, or do without". Buy the best quality you can afford, take care of it to extend it's use, up-cycle, recycle, barter or thrift with friends and relatives. And learn to cook from scratch to stretch your budget! BTW, the artwork above is great -- what does the red rabbit signify? (asking for a friend)
ReplyDeleteDespite traveling home, I didn't spend a dime yesterday.
ReplyDelete