Economic blackout
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wrote on 27 Feb 2025, 21:57 last edited by wtg
A grassroots organization is encouraging U.S. residents not to spend any money Friday as an act of “economic resistance” to protest what the group’s founder sees as the malign influence of billionaires, big corporations and both major political parties on the lives of working Americans.
The People’s Union USA calls the 24 hours of spending abstinence set to start at midnight an “economic blackout,” a term that has since been shared and debated on social media. The activist movement said it also plans to promote weeklong consumer boycotts of particular companies, including Walmart and Amazon.
https://apnews.com/article/feb-28-economic-blackout-2025-d6b0bf2d1c989ee3071016e36598d76c
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wrote on 27 Feb 2025, 22:14 last edited by
We will be observing this.
"observing"? that makes it sound like a holiday... "participating"?
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wrote on 27 Feb 2025, 22:46 last edited by
Most all of us have investments of one sort or another, even if your employer manages it. this is cutting off your nose to spite your face. And that doesn't even take into account how tough retail establishments have it right now.
It's a tantrum, nothing more. Do something that matters.
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wrote on 27 Feb 2025, 23:09 last edited by wtg
Gotta disagree with you on this one on a bunch of levels.
I've avoided shopping at certain establishments for years if I don't like how they run their business. Money talks.
If the stock tanks, so be it. The whole point of a boycott is to give up something, so to expect it to be painless is kind of missing the point.
Supporting small local businesses, I think, is a good thing.
It's not a tantrum. We are why the big guys are big guys. Withdrawing our support will remind them of that.
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Gotta disagree with you on this one on a bunch of levels.
I've avoided shopping at certain establishments for years if I don't like how they run their business. Money talks.
If the stock tanks, so be it. The whole point of a boycott is to give up something, so to expect it to be painless is kind of missing the point.
Supporting small local businesses, I think, is a good thing.
It's not a tantrum. We are why the big guys are big guys. Withdrawing our support will remind them of that.
wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 00:26 last edited by@wtg said in Economic blackout:
Withdrawing our support will remind them of that.
Exactly.
We have very few options for sending a message that we are watching and we don't like what we see. This is one way to do it.
Not doing anything is not a viable option.
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 01:06 last edited by
No more Kentucky bourbon for me. I’m drinking Canadian and Tanquerey - which comes from England.
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 03:40 last edited by
Stock market already is tanking anyway. NASDAQ down 500 points today. And it will get worse.
We are absolutely participating in the economic blackout day. Corporations are what got us to this awful moment, and they need to pay the price.
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 04:19 last edited by
Looking after tomorrow, I don't think I've seen anyone post about Goods Unite Us (https://www.goodsuniteus.com ) - also an app with a quick lookup that shows a percentage of donations from top execs and company... If money is speech and speech has consequences, you know what to do!
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 05:46 last edited by
I’m in. I have a couple of doctor appointments Friday, but no plans to buy anything. If something needs buying, it will be from a local, non-chain store.
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 08:31 last edited byThis post is deleted!
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 14:38 last edited by
Our Almond milk is out (Blue Diamond) as well as Charmin toilet paper.
The search continues... -
wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 17:04 last edited by
Have joined the boycott. I know boycotts are rately effective. This is easy, so I am not buying anything today.
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 17:27 last edited by
I wasn't going to go out today but we're expecting more snow overnight and I need bird seed. I need some for the Lovebirds and some for the wild birds and I don't want to count on the roads being good enough tomorrow. But I will go to local shops only.
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wrote on 28 Feb 2025, 23:07 last edited by Mary Anna
Weren't boycotts effective during the civil rights movement?
We are participating. Money will eventually change hands to pay for the colonoscopy I had this morning, but I think that's outside the scope of this effort.
Since we moved to a place with a functional downtown consisting of 100% (I think) local businesses plus a year-round farmer's market, I have made a concerted effort to patronize them. That kind of long-term change in spending behavior seems more likely to drive change, but the one-day event has the advantage of being something you can point to. If businesses can look at their financials and see a visible change on February 28, then a message has been sent. Whether it's a message that will drive action is another story.
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wrote on 1 Mar 2025, 20:55 last edited by
Checking Wayfair before ordering anything from Amazon...
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wrote on 1 Mar 2025, 21:46 last edited by
What are some other good "Amazon Alternatives" in terms of online purchases?
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wrote on 1 Mar 2025, 21:54 last edited by
@ShiroKuro What kinds of things are you purchasing online? Would help to point you to other sources.
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wrote on 1 Mar 2025, 22:22 last edited by
Temu, Macys, Kohls, Staples, Home Depot?
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wrote on 1 Mar 2025, 23:00 last edited by Rontuner 3 Jan 2025, 23:02
Percentage of donations by top execs and business
Staples 44% Dem 56% Repub
Macy's 65% Dem 35% Repub
Kohls 75% Dem 25% Repub
Home Depot 38% Dem 62% Repub
Amazon 68% Dem 32% Repub
Menards 5% Dem 95% Repub
Lowes 44% Dem 56% Repub
Harbor Freight 100% Dem
Target 52% Dem 48% Repub
Walmart 49% Dem 51% Repub -
wrote on 2 Mar 2025, 01:05 last edited by
Harbor Freight? Who knew?
