I'm curious - how many here boycott known Republican businesses

[DancingBear]

From a personal standpoint, I refuse to stay at any Marriott motel/hotel chain, due to their heavy funding of Coronation II this past January. I was a very frequent flier during a previous job, and had top tier status w/Marriott re: rewards, etc.

I just recently sent them back my membership card, neatly torn up, with a note attached.

I also do not patronize Exxon/Mobil for the same (and many more obvious) reasons, and I have a list of local businesses that I also stay away from, although I must say that most of them are not businesses I would have patronized anyway.

What businesses have you decided are no longer worthy of your patronage?

on edit: I will not shop at Wal-Mart, and use Lowe's instead of Home Depot whenever possible (if a local home center is not available to me).

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Living in NC , I must confine my loathing to WalMart --

otherwise I wouldn't be able to go much of anywhere.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cdb]

4. I do it locally

There is a beer dstributor very close to my house that displayed B*sh campaign stickers. I no longer buy my beer there.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MissB]

12. Funny

conservative = running a business. Bwahahahaha

[cdb]

14. Hey.

You're teasing me. But I do what I can. I never, ever vist walmart...or many other stores, so there you have it.

[MissB]

15. Oh, you didn't last long.

Bye-bye

[fertilizeonarbusto]

6. "Massive" is rare, personal action can be every day

The only thing you can control are your own actions. If everyone took your tack and thought their own actions were ineffective no progress would ever occur. It's always our responsibility. Don't wait for the masses to get off their asses.
And, yes, I boycott. Feel free to find me ridiculous.

[Berserker]

60. Great statement fertilizeonarbusto

Don't wait for the masses to get off their asses.
I also remember the business that supported * in my town and I will never again spend a penny in their stores. I also spread the word everywhere I go whether they like to hear me or not.

[rurallib]

3. Hard to stay away from Wallyworld

Have cut my purchases way down, but they still sell some things I can only get there since they've run everyone else out of business.
Also, a local theater chain that made a production of supporting Bush. Pretty much avoid Target.

[marions ghost]

53. I thought Target

was one of the better ones. I'm wrong?

[SmileMaker]

5. I do whenever I can

[Marnieworld]

7. During the election I changed where I buy my coffee

I bought coffee from a gourmet drive-thru stand every day for about a year. Then it was bought by someone else. At first I kept going despite the new owner. Then, one day, while waiting for my coffee, I noticed taped up to a wall inside, but in direct line of vision of anyone in their car waiting, a picture of John Kerry in uniform (the day he was awarded the bronze star I believe) right next to a picture of Gomer Pyle in uniform. The obvious point of the juxtaposition was that they were one and the same. I'm non-confrontational but I speak with my dollars. I never went back there again. I really couldn't.

It serves him (it was just a guy really) right. If he deliberately puts something up that could offend a lot of people well he deserves to lose the business.

[madinmaryland]

40. I get mine from the little coffee stands on the street.

50 cents for a small coffee. not gourmet, but it works. And the folks working those things, don't look repub at all.

[hippiegranny]

45. your black kitty

looks like my black kitty, also known around the house as "hippiegranny's familiar!" My handsome little guy is named Scout.

[madinmaryland]

50. Thank you!

Unfortunately "Truffle" passed away last November at the age of 15. He was a Mainecoon. We are adopting another cat today who looks just like Truffle from another DU'er.

:hi:

[Cleita]

8. If they are a local business, not unless they are assholes, but

I'm definitely lessening my patronage of corporate behemouths like Wal-Mart every chance I can.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. I try to as best I can.

Sometimes, it's just not possible, because they seem to own EVERYTHING.

[B Calm]

11. I do.

I use to eat at a nearby resturant until the owner started displaying pictures of Bush and Laura at the inauguration. My insurance provider found out too when he was playing Limbaugh throughout the office. I cancelled all my insurance with them when he told me that we love listening to him, the receptionist was rolling her eyes...

[Devlzown]

13. I avoid Coors beer.

I also won't eat at Cracker Barrell. I worked for Cracker Barrell once for a little while and hated it. It's owned by RWers.

[rniel]

33. Foster's 53 %

blue rating. It's pretty strong, but drinkable.

[MindPilot]

16. for the most part I try to go the other way

supporting local business and tradespeople when I can. I use Working Assets long distance services, shop at Costco & Whole Foods. Sometimes it's tough to not do business with repukes, but living in a big blue city in big blue state makes some of these choices easier like No Wal-Mart ever.

My big downfall; I like Coors.

On edit: I buy my gas from a local independent station. The owner finally told Texaco to go stuff it and struck out on his own. There's a Union 76 Card in my wallet, but I only use that when the alternative is sitting on the side of the freeway.

And Lowes instead of Home Depot.

[mtnester]

17. We do not shop at Walmart or Sam's Club...

we stopped drinking,using and eating Pepsico products in 2003

We TRY not to consume Phillip Morris products, however, that is a hard thing to do as they have SO much food product.

We do not use AT&T

We use a credit card from our local bank, not MBNA (not underwritten by MBNA either)

We do not go to Home Depot, we use the local hardware store

We do not watch any programming that our local Sinclair Broadcasting company airs (ABC and FOX)

This is what we do...we wish we could do more.

We are getting a Whole Foods Market close by, Traders Joes just opened up nearby, and I would BEG Costco to come to Central Ohio...please please please.

[Extend a Hand]

19. I bought stock in Whole Foods Market (WFMI)

After I read an article about the company and how they treat their employees. I was even more impressed when I read about how the CEO responded to complaints from animal rights activists.

After the pummeling of the NASDAQ the last couple of weeks it's one of the few stocks I owned that did ok. :)

I wish we had a costco since they supported dems, but they were involved insome questionable ethical activities down in Mexico last year.

[leftofthedial]

18. Many local fundie RW repuke shops

Red chains and corporations.

Haven't purchased gasoline in a month now. I'm hopeful of cutting my driving by 75%.

[Extend a Hand]

22. Wow, good for you!

My husband I are working on a plan to do something similar but since we live in the burbs right now it's hard not to drive. :(
Hoping to sell next spring

[leftofthedial]

25. I live in the burbs too (if you can call it living)

but l'll be moving later this year. In themeantime, we have a reasonable-to-excellent bike path system

[Extend a Hand]

35. Recently our lame township/city

had to widen the bridge over the freeway to where most of the shopping centers are. This bridge is right next to low-income housing where a lot of people w/o cars live. Foot traffic on that bridge has always been heavy and those buttholes refused to put in a sidewalk as a part of the project.

Sometimes I really just didn't get it. :shrug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. Home Depot, Walmart, Curves, Papa Johns Pizza,

Disney (NEVER buy their movies OR go to the theater to see them) and I buy my gas at CITGO only. :hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

21. Whenever I can.

[azndndude]

23. In AZ. I shop for groceries at Bashas

Eddie Basha ran for governor of AZ on the Democratic ticket who narrowly lost to Fife Symington-R who later was run out of office for fraud. Basha's open several stores on the Navajo Reservation which is 95% Democrat. Buy my gas at Costco.

[katsy]

24. I'm corporafascist capitalism's worst nightmare.

I may be extreme in my shopping habits. But here goes:

I only buy from health food markets for food/household. Fruit/produce from local, American grown road stands (sometimes).

We cut down on eating out from about 4x a week to once a month (at a dem friend's restaurant).

Shop only at GAP & GAP kids, most bookstores. Everyone gets holiday/event presents from Barnes & Noble or Starbucks. Buy wrapping paper from local paper makers or Japanese paper online.

Visit Starbucks a lot & Panera sometimes.

Gas at Citgo.

Computer - new, a MAC. It'll last a looong long time.

Legal & medical - Dems (friends of the family).

Script drugs... none necessary. If we need them, I may try online drug stores or call a family-owned store I used to visit up north. Hmmm I need to research this.

Haven't had to buy any other big ticket items and foresee no such purchases in the near future. No SUV here either.

It was easier to tell you where I make purchases because I'm boycotting everyone else right now. I never shopped at wal mart anyway. I hate shopping... it's a chore. I really really hate shopping in big noisy places.

I'm corporafascist capitalism's worst nightmare.

:evilgrin:

[Mrs_Beastman]

26. Mr B and I just got out membership to Costco

We do not shop at Walmart.

Right now I'm stuck buying gas at BP...I heard Shell was blue, but the last time I used their gas it f*** up my gas gauge.

We do smoke. And as most people here know we quit about once a month. Mr B just got flamed for buying Jelly Belly as a non-smoking aid. We bought the Jelly Belly's at Costco...does that count?

[B Calm]

27. Buy Blue . ORG/

http://www.buyblue.org/

[JDPriestly]

28. I do not shop at a number of stores including

Circuit City, Walmart (except when only alternative), Albertsons, Ralphs, Von's, and some others, but it is hard to boycott MBNA, which is the worst of the lot.

[barb162]

29. Almost all big business seems to be GOP so how does one boycott

I read some things that Lowe's is quite GOP as Costco is. So, let's say we know Martha Stewart is a Democrat...but is KMart? I don't know how to get around the crap. Also I suspect most small business owners are GOP too.

[rniel]

47. Costco 99% blue

I know costco is good.

[Dr Fate]

30. I buy local & avoid all things GOP as much as I can.

n/t

[devinsgram]

31. I have found that I love going to

Bed, Bath and Beyond since I found out they are blue.

[rniel]

32. I don't do it as much as I should but

Arby's and Sonic were a few of my favorite places to eat. And we have always done a lot of shopping at CostCo. Only later I found out they have a good blue rating.

[Spazito]

34. I do, even here in Canada

I am boycotting all products possible by US corporations that donated to the bush campaign.

I still buy US products made by 'blue' corporations and try to look specifically for them.

[tinonedown]

43. Well, looks like the Canada boycott is on as well

What to do?!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3387532&mesg_id=3387532

[Spazito]

48. As I stated in that thread, I respect the right of

those who choose to boycott Canadian products due to their principled opposition to the seal hunt. I eat meat, therefore, for me to boycott or sign petitions regarding this issue would be hypocritical.

One should their most powerful weapon to encourage change and that seems to be through one's purchasing power.

[The Stranger]

61. Do you eat seal?

[byronius]

36. BuyBlue.org is GREAT. I've also stopped...

...buying my food at anywhere but the Co-op. Just going in there makes me feel better. It's like a spiritual exercise.

As soon as I get a whiff of the right-wing thingy these days, I speak out, walk out, and never come back. Never really thought that much about it before, but -- November Second changed everything. Forever.

[alfredo]

37. Wal Mart, Dell, Blockbuster, Coors

RJR products, and Perdue chicken.

[DearAbby]

38. I do it for sure when ever possible, and friends and family do as well

I have little control of my government, but I still have control of how my money is spent, what little there is. I will not give them one red dime, if I dont have too.

[Ernesto]

39. No Home Depot for this ol geezer

Not with their CEO's record of using his Georgia plantation for secretive fund raisers for the "thing in the liehouse".

[jbm]

41. I haven't been to Wal-Mart for three years..

I still owe a little money on credit cards, but I haven't used one in over two years. If we eat out we go to Arbys, Sonic, or locally owned places that I know are run by dems. We buy gas at Shell, and I've totally stopped using shopping as a source of entertainment. I even gave up smoking cause I was looking for ways to generally cut back on the whole consumerism thing and that seemed like a logical thing to give up.

Truth is, assuming we manage to survive the Bush experience, they've actually been a good thing for me in a 'law of unintended consequences' sort of way. Because of them I spend my money much wiser and so am almost debt free. I quit smoking, and instead of eating out we mostly eat at home. Between the healthier meals at home, and the higher energy level from no more smoking, I've lost thirty pounds. I'm actually liking this minimalist lifestyle very much!

[MountainLaurel]

42. Bought my laptop from Gateway

Since Dell is a prime Repuke donator.

[tnlefty]

44. I do.

Haven't set foot in WalMart in 7 years and the list just keeps growing by the year. Jim Hightower's publication, the Lowdown, printed a big list of Dimson** contributors and I use it.

Locally, I avoid businesses that I know are repug owned.

[LaPera]

46. More & More I'm encouraging everyone to stop buying known republican

businesses.

BUY BLUE AND STOP BUYING RED...HERE'S A LIST!!!

http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php

DON'T SUPPORT REPUBLICAN BUSINESSES---MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN POCKETS AND INTO DEMOCRAT SUPPORTING BUSINESSES!

IT'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE---SACRIFICE A BIT AND STOP BUYING REPUBLICAN...BUY BLUE!

http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php

[marions ghost]

56. Thanks for the list

As a result I will buy more Barnes and Noble and avoid Amazon.
:dilemma:
But I'm dismayed about office supply outlets, since I buy a lot of that stuff. Office Max, Office Depot and Staples are all red.

[BlueIris]

49. I do, I do, I do!

Not only do I boycott businesses known to contribute to the Republican party, I boycott stores with anything remotely like a "conservative" policy. Which, quite frankly, where I live, means I spend more money. But at least my hands are clean.

[Ganja Ninja]

51. I quit going to a local deli for lunch because ...

the owner was always bitching about liberals and had FOX news on every day.

[seabeyond]

52. without health and dental care and getting older,

with gas prices, raise in sales tax and milk up to $10 a gallon,.........i am just not going to spend any money anywhere, ever again

curling up in a little ball this morning and hiding from world. just totally in giving up mode this morning

[sendero]

54. Most definitely...

... with only 1 exception (Wal-Mart, I just can't pass up the 30% savings on groceries) - I shop Blue.

I didn't renew my Sam's Club, and got a Costco instead. I live 2 miles from a Home Depot, but if I'm planning to spend more than $20 or so I go the 6 miles to Lowes.

Coors is scared piss water so it's no sacrifice to avoid it. Dominos is ketchup on a cracker so I can do without it also.

I've been patronizing Sonic more since I found that they contribute blue.

[Danmel]

55. I'm conscious of it

I haven't purchased Exxon since the Exxon Valdez incident and don't buy Mobil either. I shop at Costco. I don't set foot in Wal Mart. I shop at Bed Bath & Beyond, but there is no Lowe's near my home. I try to buy at local hardware stores when I can, sometimes I can't avoid Home Despot.

We never eat at restaurant chains- I despise them, I like GOOD food, not processed formulaic crapola. (Go ahead, call me a food snob. I plead guilty!)

For local merhants, unless they are really screamingly obvious, I don't ask people their political beliefs. Sometimes, however, they tell me anyway. Just before the election I went into a local pet store (again trying to avoid the Pet Smarts and Petcos of the world and give the local merchant my business). I was wearing my No Bush button (which is a small button with Bush with a line thru it). The owner said to me, "I disagree with everything he stands for socially and I don't like the tax cuts and social security proposals, but I'm voting for him because we need a COWBOY" I said WTF? ( not literally, but I challenged his position and he just insisted that the world fears us and we need the world to fear us, not like us. I haven't been in there since. I just can't look at the guy- he's an idiot!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

57. I am becoming more aware and active in boycotting repuke donors.

[lynne]

58. Personally, I'm not one for boycotting -

- as it is usually the hard-working entry level employees who need the $$$ that end up feeling any successful boycott results first via reduced benefits, reduced hours, reduced pay and lost jobs.

I'd rather not have a personal hand in screwing the 'little guy' one more time.

[mondo joe]

59. I don't think of it as a boycott, but I do steer my spending away

from Red businesses and to Blue businesses.

I don't do Home Depot, never did WalMart, and some others.

The biggy one was changing over to Apple from Dell.

[auburngrad82]

62. I boycott GOP supporters.

Haven't shopped at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, McDonald's, Arby's etc, in about 2 years. Also won't drink Pepsi products.

[azndndude]

72. Arbys is Blue

[LizW]

63. WalMart

and Sams, I don't shop there.

I try to shop local businesses. I shop businesses that support our local public schools. I don't pay much attention to politics or religion unless it's really "in your face."

[fat free goodness]

64. I am not sure that is a good idea.

Not doing business with conservative businesses, I mean. It's great to let them know you disapprove of their politics (esp. donations.)

But consider: if they don't know why you have stopped shopping there, it makes no difference. If they do know, such behavior (if not widespread) is both effective and makes you look "extremist". Extremists only succeed in having their ideas ignored.

If it does become widespread we have to assume that it will be reciprocated. I think that having conservatives and progressives refusing to do business with each other is a bad idea.
It's a small step from there to refusing to hire someone because you don't like their politics. After all, if customers will shy away from your business because of it's politics, you have to control the politics of your business, right?

[Neecy]

65. I look at it this way...

It's not so much that I boycott Repug businesses - there are far too many, and a complete boycott is impossible - but I avoid the ones I can.

Mainly, I make every effort to give my dollars to companies and businesses that are liberal or donate to Dems. I buys spices at Penzeys (the Penzey family gives extensively to Democrats) rather than purchase spices through my Repug grocery store. You do what you can. When I buy coffee, I get it through a site that caters to Democrats and gives to liberal causes, again avoiding giving this money to Repug grocery stores (and the coffee is better!).

I'm much, much more aware since the election of where my money goes - and that's a positive thing. It's about all we have left in the next four years.

[Catchawave]

66. Eco-friendly businesses are a good "blue" bet....

if we create a demand, then the jobs will follow!

Here's a sample:

http://www.ecomall.com/

[suegeo]

67. TCF Bank, Twin Cities

Their executives are the heads of the Minnesota republican party. So, when I found that out, I moved my CDs out of there.

[Toots]

68. I do...

I will not support the Republican Party in any way if I can possibly help it. I take it so far as to not go to any movie with an outspoken wing-nut in it..

[adigal]

69. WalMart, HomeDepot, and any other company that I hear

supports the repub party.

[adigal]

70. I want to add, trying to avoid "Made In China"

although, as you can probably imagine, it is really difficult.

Any suggestions welcome.

[Arkana]

71. I do my best...

I went to BuyBlue and gave my parents a list of "blue" companies and "neutral" companies. I avoid things like Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's, all the major department chains, but there are times when you kinda can't...

[primavera]

73. No GE products

No MalWart, no Staples.