What do we HAVE to buy from the GOP?

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

I have a feeling some very wealthy businesspeople and investors lurk, or even post, on DU. I'm starting this thread mostly for their eyes.

There is a great deal of sentiment, here and in the real world, that we as consumers no longer wish to do business with Republicans and their supporters. The question is, what categories of product--essential, or popular non-essentials like video games--are entirely in Republican hands at the moment? Is there something a lot of us want or need that we HAVE to pay them for?

The idea is that a liberal company crashing into one of these monopolies would be guaranteed an instant market share.

Off the top of my head, gasoline is the only product I can think of that we are required to buy from the GOP. Or is that even true? Doesn't Venezuela have a chain of gas stations in the US?

So, highly informed people: what consumer product categories are entirely GOP dominated? This would be a good place to post buying advice (Apple vs. PCs, etc.) too.

[LamedVov]

1. Life isn't all politics

Michael Jordan once said that he wouldn't say what party he belonged to because he wanted to sell his shoes to Democrats and Republicans. I don't care who my vendors voted for as long as their products are first rate (or at least better than the competition).

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

6. What if price and quality were equal

Would you rather buy from their side or our side?

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Good question. I have been thinking more of places where

I _should_ shop, not where I can't help but shop.
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/index.htm#shopping

--------------------------------------------------------
Have you secured your town and state voting systems yet?
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

3. Oil, Gasoline, Plastics eom

[meti57b]

4. Just spend as if the gop has implemented that "value added" sales tax ...

that george bush vwants and abolished the IRS and income tax. That means that everything you purchase would have something like 35% - 50% sales tax added to it.

I know I won't be buying anything that I can possibly get by without. (ATTN: small, medium and large business owners!!!)

[kayell]

9. Me too. We all consume WAY too much anyway, and this looks

like a very appropriate time for many reasons to reevaluate our spending habits.

[Worst Username Ever]

5. Electricity n/t

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

8. Don't they have some environmental companies now

Committed to a percentage from alternative sources, etc.? I think "Green Mountain Energy" in the Bay Area was doing this a few years ago if not still.

[kayell]

7. Petroleum Industry companies with best environmental programs

http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/article343.html
"Shell and BP have superior environmental management programs, particularly the level of engagement in sustainable development and triple bottom line issues," said Dr. Martin Whittaker, Senior Analyst at Innovest. "They were also considered to be particularly strong with respect to renewable energy development programs, corporate social responsibility, and climate change."

Even if we can't find a gasoline provider without heavy repuke ties, we can at least choose the less damaging one.

AND seriously limit our consumption to only the necessary.

[NJ_Lib]

11. This is the best idea I've heard in a week...

If we can really band together and do this, it will definitely hit them where it hurts them most, their bank accounts...

Why would we support them anyway? We're just making them more powerful...

It is soooo important now more than ever, to support our own businesses....

[kayell]

15. Look at this thread for a LOT more.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2600099

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

10. I would only boycott a companies products if they are OVERTLY right-wing

e.g. Overstock and their 10 million ads for FahrenHYPE.

Companies are bound to be composed of a mix of different people, and it is a given that well-paid executives are more likely to be conservative than not.

That said, if I had to choose between two companies, one run by liberals and one by conservatives, I would pick the former.

[happynewyear]

12. Barnes & Noble - MBNA ...

Huge long list ...

Where do you go if you need something or some sort of services? I think they've got us nailed like it or not.

:(

[City Lights]

17. Where'd you hear about B&N?

According to their website they don't make donations to political organizations, and from what I can see, their CEO, Leonard Riggio donates to Democrats.

[BiggJawn]

13. Well, we could run around hungry, cold, and naked...

Because the ReTHUGs control it ALL bay-bee!

And please don't inform me of good, liberal-run workshops who can put me under a nice wool blankee for $450, because I can't justify spending that kind of money.

Remember the "Boycott for Tibet" moivement in the 80's? I needed a pair of shoes. I had 2 choices, buy the chinese-made shoes for $20, or go barefoot, because I couldn't afford the $85 american-made shoes.

Face it, ReTHUGlicans control almost EVERY vital thing in our lives. you want Food? Fuel? Entertainment? "Personal Lubricant"? Transportation?

You gotta pay the Elephant.

[yardwork]

14. I don't think that things are that bad.

It depends on where you live and how much time and energy you have to shop around. Opportunities and results vary.

We can buy things from food co-ops. We can buy at second-hand stores or from individuals selling on ebay. We can buy from a local shopkeeper instead of a giant chain.

I don't intend to start asking local shopkeepers whether they are Republicans or not. I don't think it's right to demand an answer. If they put a big Bush-Cheney sign in their window I will go elsewhere. Otherwise, I'll shop at the local stores and feel that I am doing the best I can to support true American values.

As for the things I absolutely have to buy that are controlled by the Republicans, I'm not going to sweat it. I'll look for alternatives and choose them and support their development, but I'm not going to lose sleep over the fact that I really do need to drive and therefore must buy gasoline.

[kayell]

16. Abandon all hope, All is Lost! Let's all crawl into a corner and DIE!

With all the constructive ideas that have been posted on this board in the last week on this subject - this is all you can come up with?

Pffft.

[BiggJawn]

18. Yeah, that's all I can come up with.

No Costco, No Home Depot, no Artist Colony of Deaniacs making hand-crafted goodies, and no energy companies that aren't GOP donors.

Shit, the owner of our local "boutique" bakery even voted for Shrub!

[sofa king]

19. I think Coors beer probably qualifies.

The Coors Brewing Company's line of beers has been known as a "scab" (anti-union) beer since I first started drinking, and Coors Light has directly targeted underage drinkers practically since I can remember. Heir to the Coors throne Pete Coors set a new benchmark for negative television advertising, to the point where it may have harmed his Senate campaign.

I don't drink anymore, but when I did Coors Light was the same thing as sex in a canoe--fucking close to water. However, Coors also has a well received fake microbrewery line, called Blue Moon. The Blue Moon Belgian White was, in my opnion, a fine beer, perhaps the best ever produced by a major brewery. So those of you still on the sauce (People, it's been a week, already! Sober up!) may like to continue the decades-long and totally ineffective boycott of Coors products.

Maybe I shouldn't say it's totally ineffective. Despite its huge advertising budget, Coors is still a distant third among American breweries.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

20. I still drink, but not Coors

I wouldn't waste my liver cells on something that tastes like piss and doesn't produce a buzz.

Usually when I find out a product is GOP I haven't been using it anyway--they are crap peddlers in the material as well as the political and spiritual realms.