One way to take your country back. Don't shop at corporate stores.

[shance]

I'm choosing not to shop at all this season and I wont be buying anything for Christmas.

However, if you have to, please give the business to the independent small shops. Its time to show Corporations we are not enslaved to them and they don't own us....yet.

Exercising our power as citizens against the corporate structure as a whole I think is the strongest message we can send.

The small businesses will thank you and you are truly being a Patriotic American.

:)

[adolfo]

1. try

http://buyblue.org/

[rzemanfl]

2. The only problem with this is that the products most of them sell

are made by corporations. Try to find a small business made I-pod for example.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Here is a list of places to shop this holiday season

http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/index.htm#shopping

[RC]

4. And what about the people like you me that work for them?

[Gormy Cuss]

5. It is hard to be pure about this but it's worth a shot.

I buy goods from local independent merchants but have no illusion about the goodness of the manufacturers. I also choose smaller big businesses like Stonewall Kitchen, a company founded by two gay men in a small state where the jobs provided are important.

I like to think every little bit helps.

[Redstone]

6. I always spend my money as locally as possible, but you forget

that those EVIL CORPORATIONS you carry on so about happen to be made up of people.

Screw it. If I need a router bit, I'll try my local Main Street Hardware store first. But if they don't have it, I'll go buy the goddamn thing at Sears and not feel the slightest bit guilty.

And by the way, I'm not doing any Christmas shopping because I "have to" (which seems like a bit of snide wording); I'll be doing it because I WANT to.

You make a good and sound proposal; I do agree that it's a good idea to spend your money as close to home as possible. But (just some friendly advice), your post a a bit too much negative tone to warm people up to your idea.

Redstone

[shance]

8. At least you try to give business to the locals. That's important**

And I'm sure it's very much appreciated.

You betcha. Corporations employ people. However Im sure you and I both know of many small towns that have had their town squares wiped out by corporate business coming into town, namely the Walmarts and Kmarts.

Communities are ruined when that happens. And with it goes the soul of small towns. We can't let that happen. When towns become more isolated, the life of towns are greatly affected and I don't believe its for the better, do you?

[Redstone]

12. Here in Connecticut, it's as simple as A, B, C.

Ten years ago, we had our choice of three New-England-based department store chains: Ames, Bradlee's, and Caldor.

They're all gone.

Nobody in my family spends a cent at Wal-Mart.

I understand that there are indeed people who don't have a choice, because of lack of nearby alternatives or lack of money or both, and there's NO WAY I'm going to criticize them for doing so.

But if you can afford the alternative, it would good for America if you didn't shop there. Remember, that two dollars you save on a (made in China) window fan buy buying it at Wal-Mart may be the proverbial straw that breaks an American fan factory's back.

Redstone

[shance]

17. Im so sorry to hear about those stores! I love the names of those stores.

You're absolutely right.

[Redstone]

19. Well, we didn't like Caldor very much, and Ames was kind of crappy

(but great for arts & crafts stuff), but the important point was they they were all New England chains.

And now they're gone.

Redstone

[Radio_Lady]

24. We shopped at all three -- but in Mass., there was Lechmere.

All four are now gone. I used to be the voice of Lechmere Sales a very long time ago!

Radio_Lady, former Massachusetts resident, now living in Oregon

[msongs]

7. support local ARTISTS, crafts people, musicians, entertainers

people who live and work in your community.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[shance]

9. ABSOLUTELY***** Thank you for that very important addition msongs.

I will drop by your site as well!

Thanks.

[Drum]

11. Indeed!

I made this decision last year. After a dozen+ crazy winters shopping here in NYC, I vowed to buy all christmas presents at outdoor vendors and people selling crafts on the street. It felt great to withold my dollars from the corporate bigboys, and was much more refreshing to stroll and see more of my city than the inside of crowded buildings. Meeting the artisan and table-tenders was much more fun than waiting on lines for the indifferent and overworked gang in the bloated department stores. I got much cooler things for all on my list...and could smoke as I browsed.

What's not to like?

[shance]

14. Rock on Drum. You GO****

Thank you for posting that experience. Very cool.

[Bluestar]

10. Some Corporate Owned Stores are actually franchises

And as such, could be classified as small businesses themselves. Also, as someone pointed out above, the products that mom and pop sell are usually made by corporations or, imported directly from foreign companies who have worse sweat-shop rules than American-owned plants in foreign countries.

I believe I will be flamed for this, due to my small number of posts but I'm no freeper. Just a Dem who believes that we have to look at the whole picture. There are many, many ordinary folks who are employed by "corporations" who benefit when we purchase from them.

[shance]

13. You won't be flamed blue*** My opinion is our country is at a very

critical juncture. We are kind of undergoing a revolution where those in power want us to remain sleeping.....and shopping.

I think a pragmatic approach is always important.

However in dire times, even though to many of us they may not look dire because we are being censored by the media and because many of us have not been hit yet, we are about to face a tsunami of our own if we don't wake up.

In fact we will be hit anyway, however the more viligant we are in taking our cities and counties and neighborhoods back, the stronger and more capable we will be to confront those globalizing forces who are trying to co-opt their wealth with a rather small minority. The only way to beat this force is to quit giving them our power and our money.

[Redstone]

15. Anyone flames you, send them to me and I'll kick their butt.

You posted a perfectly reasonable opinion.

I ALWAYS buy as locally and "small" as possible, both for myself and for my business. (Who do you know who buys computers at a local computer store (not a chain, even) anymore? I do.)

But there is a big picture as well, and nobody should give you any crap for pointing it out.

Also, I know that Sears is a big chain and a big corporation, but I can't help myself. For some reason, Sears seems to me to be a local store. Maybe because my parents shopped there (it was cheaper than other places in the Sixties)...or is it just all the TOOLS they have?

Redstone

[renate]

29. didn't sears keep paying the benefits, or

or maybe even the salaries, of National Guard employees who went to Iraq?

After all this time I don't remember the specifics, but I remember writing them a letter a year or so ago, thanking them for doing their employees in the service a kindness they weren't legally required to do. I'm certain they were at least continuing the benefits. It may well have been even more.

Doing a little extra is a lot more than this administration is doing for the troops, so rock on Sears!

:patriot:

[electricray]

16. I think it is an admirable aim to avoid corporate stores, but

the stores are not the true source of the problem. I would reccomend shopping wherever you need to but reward the retailers that stock responsible merchandise. There are good products out there but not necessarily getting the same attention as the XBox. If we shop responsibly then it might actually help to begin fixing some of the societal wrongs that plague us.

Don't buy China. Don't by union-busting companies products. Consider the actual price of every item you buy and relish in the fact that every dollar you spend on a responsible product goes toward moving that responsible company forward. Seek out good people to do business with. There is nothing good nor responsible at Target or Wal-mart.

At the risk of sounding shameless, my wife just started (last year) an online store with conscientious products. The name is HulaChicken.com. The products are good and we have met many of the owners of the businesses that supply us in person. Not every item is perfectly conscientious but every item has a few conscientous aspects about it. The other benefit to starting this business for us is that when we go to trade shows we ask every business rep that we meet about the origin of the products, the manufacturing process, etc and that represents demand for those products that fit our descriptions. So hopefully next year when we go back to the trade shows, the dealers that didn't have a product that met our standards will have tried to meet our demand and sell us something good for the planet and the country.

I didn't mean this to be a sales plug but if anyone is stuck for a gift idea please free to click on through. Thanks DU.

[shance]

18. Thanks ER***

I love the name! I'll hula on over there in a few.

Thanks.

[prescole]

20. Absolutely essential to taking country back from Big Money.

Think locally...act individually.
I love my local BBQ joints, hardware stores, produce stands, mom and pop restaurants, even the local car dealer (it's Ford, but keeps the money near home.)
I try to avoid fast food...not always successful. And I do shop WalMart occasionally, for the prices. (Local weed, not locoweed, is also a nice way to keep the cash local. NO CORPORATE BEER! )

Great idea for a post--helps to see how others resist Bushco's corporate oligarchy.

[shance]

31. Thanks for the post Prescole.

LOVE local BBQ - can't get it any better than that, although I forget about it far too much. There are some great places around my neck of the woods.

And the farmers markets? Totally the way to go.

No corporate beer! Have to love that.

I have to remember, no CORPORATE WINE either. I live in Californey and there are plenty of California vineyards with which to choose.

Thanks again for the reminders and the post*

[Independent_Liberal]

21. I hardly ever shop at corporate stores.

My grandma and I are true WalMart boycotters. My parents shop at WalMart every once in a while. But for the most part, they shop at the independent grocery stores in our area.

[shance]

32. Good for you*** I do my darndest.

n/t

[lwbaby]

22. lwbaby

My favorite store is a local Co-op but today I confess dh trundled off to Home Depot and purchased a shop vac at more than half price off. He didn't stay and buy anything else but it was a really, really good price and an item we were thinking of purchasing for a while now.

[BiggJawn]

23. Ah, the Noble Small Businessman...

There was a woman who ran a "boutique bakery" in our town. Great bread, excellent product, fair price, and she seemed like a kindred spirit.

Imagine my shock one Saturday when she told me that she supported George Dumbya Il Douche, because he was "looking out for the Small Businessperson, not like those lawsuit-and-tax-lovin' Democrats"...

Well, y'know, gas started going thorugh the roof, and no matter HOW yummy it was, I just couldn't swing a $4 loafa bread anymore. Wasn't too pleased with supporting a Bush-bot, either.

Guess Il Douche REALLY was "looking out for her". She went out of business this Fall.

The Moral of this story is that even though you THINK you're supporting the Blue Cause when you shop a small business, more often than not they vote for whoever promises to save them from high taxes and "Frivolous Lawsuits".

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. HEY I am a small bidness persion

and no way I will EVER vote for a puke. EVER!

[Jane Austin]

28. Same here!

And it really does help to buy locally and from independent businesses, even if the merchandise is manufactured by big corporations.

We don't extract tax breaks from your cities and school districts, we pay full price for utilities, and in our case, we pay way above the minimum wage for all our positions, offer time off for personal issues, and (so far) pay for Blue Cross health insurance for all our employees that want it.

We are local school sponsors, support animal rescue groups, give discounts to non-profits and buy advertising in local publications.

These are just a few of the ways it really does help if you buy from independent businesses.

Lots of us are on the web, too, so you can shop our wares from the comfort of your own home. No bad weather to cope with and no traffic tangles to undermine your good mood. :)

[shance]

33. You have a valid point Big Jawn. There are many who still don't

realize their power lies within maintaining the strength of the local's power.

You bring up a good point and anyone who is a Chamber of Commerce member, PROMOTE those small businesses at every meeting you can.

***

[Redstone]

38. Bullshit, BJ. Sorry about that, but you found an anomaly.

Small business owners do NOT "more often than not they vote for whoever promises to save them from high taxes and "Frivolous Lawsuits" as you claim.

That's simply not true. Just because you found one, doesn't make it true. And anyone can find out that your claim is pure bullshit by polling their local business owners.

Did you do that? No, you didn't. You just made a broad-brush generalization based on one small business.

Redstone

[BiggJawn]

51. No, I checked Open Secrets.

If these small business folk in my area are Liberals, they sure have a funny way of showing it in their political contributions.

The only "anomaly" I saw was that the Attorneys tended to contribute more to Kerry and the DNC. Odd....
Doctors, Dentists, Optometrists, Builders, Retailers, Car dealers, all Bush-Bots and Steve Buyer financiers.

Remember: I live in a relatively Red area.

So I call bullshit on YOUR bullshit.

[alittlelark]

43. I'd have to agree w/ your observation.

It seems that many small business owners are under the impression that 'R's' are good for small business. I guess that's why we had 3 close up shop w/in 1/2 mile of me in the last 2 years. They supported b*sh to the end.

[Qibing Zero]

47. My father was a small businessman, a baker as well.

Same exact thing, I assure you. Charming little Greek guy who made awesome original breads. Big time fundie conservative though.

He took me out one night with a few of the people he did business with, and they all gave off the same kind of 'I love the free-market' aura, and actually voiced their approval of Bush, though a few did find his intelligence lacking in an only-joking way.

[stevietheman]

26. Let's not forget that not all corporations are bad.

I think it's much better to make a value judgment.

Let's say you have a choice between a local grocery chain, a regional chain like Kroger (unionized), and Wal-mart for buying your groceries. Perhaps a moral shopper would tend to shop first at the local chain, and then, if they can't find everything they want, then go to Kroger... then, still, if there's items remaining you couldn't find, then go to the "evil Wal-mart". A moral shopper might even reverse the first two choices.

Just a thought. I think it would do our country a much greater service if we just tried to ignore the biggest of the corporations, especially the ones treating their employees or the environment poorly.

[shance]

34. Absolutely. If you can, please supply us with corporations that

have records of supporting and promoting the local establishments and their schools and local activities, along of course with SUPPORTING adequate and fair wage benefits for their employees.

No doubt DUers are more than eager to show their support!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

27. Wasn't there a list of small businesses owned by DUers a while back?

I seem to remember something like that around here. Anybody remember this?

[renate]

30. eBay and Costco

Small (some of them very small!) businesses and a blue company.
They'll cover pretty much anything you need.

[DavidBowman]

35. You're going to be popular this Christmas

I hope your family doesn't Rodney King your ass when you show up to Christmas empty-handed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. And christmas is all about gifts? WOW

amazing... I beleived all this years that it was about the birth of a one Jesus Christ not keeping the bottom line of Walmart going. Correct me if I am wrong, given that I am Jewish and Madison Avenue is still trying to figure out how to comercialize Channukah.

[DavidBowman]

39. Yes, you're wrong.

Christmas is all about gifts.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. WOW so it is not about our fellow men

and good will to others? I swear I should be correcting those Seminarian down in TJ, you know I used to work that night so a fellow medic went home and ahem CELEBRATED it with his or her family... all these years I thought they were just having a family dinner and going to midnight mass... hell even the Padres and the Seminarians told me it was about good will and about that one man called Jesus Christ.

Hmm, sorry but this crass commercialization turns my stomach... but if consumption is your god, no insult meant, but I believe false idols are a no - no in the ten commandments...

[DavidBowman]

48. WOW You're not getting me

So go correct those "Seminarian down in TJ."

[shance]

45. You must be John Ashcroft in drag***

Hi John :)

[DavidBowman]

49. Why do you say that?

[shance]

44. Wow. So presents are what the holidays are about for you David?

I hope thats not all its about for you.

[progressivebydesign]

37. I always do about 30% bigger stores and the rest local.

It's not always feasible to shop entirely in small businesses. However, I do not shop in malls, in box stores, or anything like that. I may order a few things online, but mostly try to find special gifts at small businesses... also I make a lot of gifts, and all of my christmas cards.

I just can't get into the idea that you walk into a mall and shop for everyone.. how utterly impersonal. what's the point?

[Rainscents]

40. I shop at three corporate stores...

1) Costco
2) Macy's
3) Fred Meyers

Only reason I shop at here is...They're ALL UNION workers!
For grocery... I shop at local Co-Op and for gas, Citgo!

[shance]

46. Hey there you go. That's great they support their unions.

Always good!

[stepnw1f]

42. Yup...

go all local... we don't need what they sell us. Simple is better.

[leanin_green]

50. I've been doing that for years now. I'm with ya!