Is anyone out there sticking to the holiday boycott? (I am)

[Sara Beverley]

But the parking lots at the malls in neighborhood look full. I just don't understand most Americans. Sacrifice, greater good, altruism, are words they do not include in their volcabulary.

[graywarrior]

1. I was volunteering at Barnes & Noble today

Collecting books for the library that got destroyed in Port Charlotte. Next door at Best Buy it was so crowded they had security on hand to control the mob.

No one gives a rats ass, or they are shopping to avoid reality. I can't figure out which.

[shesemsmom]

4. Well said

the morons are out in force. Play this week and they'll never pay it off. I got what I needed on line and with cash. I got it from non shrub supporters

[luaneryder]

7. The media said this was the day

to shop...and so they did. I didn't even leave the house today.

[bliss_eternal]

21. I didn't either....

...still here in my sweatpants.

[anarchy1999]

44. We joined in the don't leave the house protest today. I have to admit

though, we spent plenty preparing to not leave. It still feels good. Not left the the house for "day after spend fest" since 2001, maybe 2000. We've hated the marketing for a long time. Kudos to all who stayed home today and spent not a dime!!! Most of all I love Lafayette, LA and whoever put glue in all the locks of stores. Beautiful, peaceful, non-violent action, provoked thought hopefully. God love Lafayette.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

13. I think some people shop to avoid reality

much like people use drugs and alcohol. Consumerism is the opium of the masses.

I actually love to shop, because I like nice clothes and home decorating. But I only buy what's necessary, and don't follow trends of 'the latest, greatest, and must-haves'. I enjoy decorating because it's creative.

[K8-EEE]

32. Check Out These Pix (Addicted Ebay Shopper) O...M....F...G!!!

This was posted on the Economic Activism & Progressive Living forum...

UN-BEEE-LIEVABLE pix of the inside of the house of this Ebay addict, yikes yikes YIKES!

Everyone over at the EA&PL forum has a different take on things. From minimalist non-shoppers to folks like me, who have switched over to "Blue Friendly" goods and services.

Check out this thread!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=255x806

[winston61]

39. it's easy to laugh

But this poor woman is suffering from a mental illness. Sadder still, it's completely curable, but this is one malady where the afflicted will insist that nothing is wrong, despite the evidence. So sad.

[Piperay]

45. More people than you could ever imagine

live like that in America, it is the mentality. This is what it comes down to when after an event like 911 you are told by 'your leader' that the patriotic thing to do is to shop, that is the mindset.

[noordinaryspider]

2. So far me and the twelve year old kid are....

...and his best friend's family: ten year old and 6 and 5 year old cousins.

The little guys got some hand-me-downs today that their Mom could have wrapped up "from Santa" but she didn't.

My son's making up funny rhymes to write on homemade cards.

[AllyCat]

3. Yesterday I volunteered at a church turkey dinner..

..for the poor. The whole time we were serving, we were reminded that we were there to SERVE THEM. Whatever they wanted, we got it for them if we could.

Yet most of the volunteers talked about their shopping plans for today.

Drove by a Wally-world and the parking lot was about a third empty. That made me happy.

Didn't buy anything today except gas at a Citgo.

[whistle]

5. I am buying nothing this holiday season, just food and...

...essentials. I am giving my family strict direction to purchase nothing for me.

As for most other Americans, what's to understand? The thinking goes like this, "I want what I want and I want it now!" I'll bet the holiday season will be a record breaker, but just watch the rise in new consumer debt jump to an all time high.

[JackintheGreen]

8. local artisans, people

I support a boycott of the establishment, but let's not forget the thousands of small, artisanal craftsmen (that's right, I said craftsmen in a non-gendered way!) floating around our own neighborhoods and this thing that Al Gore invented and * pluralized.

Support the people, not the establishment.

[serryjw]

9. Everyone is getting ONE of these for XMAS......

whether they agree with the sentiment or not........!


http://notmecampaign.tripod.com/

It fits my budget and my beliefs!...and I don't have to drive to the mall.

[lgardengate]

34. My family would toss it in the garbage ASAP.

Besides, i don't want to ruin christmas with a fight.

[lildreamer316]

42. Didn't buy anything today,but

..am going to a craft show tomorrow. I feel that is a good way to spend my money; buying from individual artisans instead of corporations.

[wantkerryin]

37. Boycotting The Establishment!!!

You are right! Boycott the establishment but not the artisans -especially since I am an artisan!!! But especially boycott stores like Walmart- where workers are treated horribly and paid very poorly( their merchandise is made in 3rd world countries by workers who make less than $5 a day.

[ooglymoogly]

6. me and anybody i can cajole

[MatrixEscape]

10. I support the boycott ...

and will honor it.

However, has anyone considered the state of this matrerialistic culture? How can we expect any sort of mass response in the attempt to starve the Beast unless there is a freeing of the minds?

First, you have the tradition of it. So, people will not want to be downers and spoil the "holiday". They will do it "for the kids", etc.

Second, and most important, you have a culture that is intrinsically designed to focus on filling the VOID, or that black hole within with a tangible item, sensory fix, or entertainment. There is a saying, "You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy!" That is more true than ever.

So, by way of manipulation-as-culture we find our undoing. The more foreboding the writing on the wall becomes, the more the barometer swings towards meltdown, the more people are encouraged to resort to the comforts of stuff, et al, as a catharsis, balm, and temporary comfort.

It might take a massive paradigm shift, or a tremendous tragedy, to move that kind of mountain. The "values" are entrenched.

[oscar111]

12. boycott? pls fill me in? havent heard of it

what items, or companies?

Rush sponsors? Bush donors? they are the worst bozos.

Another post targeted UPS and FEDEX, saying Postal Carriers are the best choice.. because US PS is unionized and public sector,, and does not donate big bucks to bush campaign. UPS donates most, FEDEX a bit less but still huge amount. Both near the top of all bush donors. So pick Post Office.. called USPS most sites. Confusingly similar to UPS.
Oh, be aware USPS still does packages.

[MatrixEscape]

16. I think it is more general ...

Call it a "Blue Xmas" ... buy nothing for the Holidays whatever you celebrate from your background.

Make things for others and bring it to the personal level.

Starve the Beast, knowing that we PAY for all the atrocities, etc., by providing the fuel as funds. It is extremist, but it has a valid message.

[Sara Beverley]

20. Some of us here at the DU are boycotting holiday shopping in protest

to the US elections, the war in Iraq, and the Bush administration in general. Some, hopefully, many have decided to not joing the holiday frenzy and overindulgence by not buying anything the holiday and asking family members to joing us. Families are deciding to exchange things they alrady have, including toys for children, cloths etc. Some have decided to spend quality time with the family, enjoy board games (in fact, my family has already revitialized board games and are having great fun playing these games instead of glazing over the TV screen. It's has also been suggested that the boycott be explained to children so that they can learn to appreciate the meaning of sacrifice.) Board games: Yatzee, UNO, Sorry,checkers, Backgammon. We are having great fun on the week-ends. For myself, this is going to turn out to be a way of life. The money I would ordinarially spend during Christmas is going to pay an advance payment of my mortagae and one car note. Happy Hollidays!!!

[Geek_Girl]

11. They're like Lemmings

Economist are saying American's are more in debt than they ever have been and we are facing some rough economic times ahead. But American's just keep spending like crazy. I guess we won't be avoiding Economic Armageddon.

[oscar111]

15. Halloween- boycott that too A RW holiday, sadomasochistic

not timely, but wanted to remind all that halloween is based in the sadomasochistic mind.. pain is fun.

Halloween is about pain and death.. not the LW goals of pleasure and a better life.

At a deep level, halloween conditions the mind to destruction and pain. Similar to what bloodsport video games do. Splatter is common to both.

Not to mention the risk of bad candy, ordinary food poisoning.

To really boycott halloween, have a family party based on some LW idea as opposite to halloween as you can cook up.. maybe a Maypole dance with cupcake delicacies? LOL.

[hippywife]

14. Only bought groceries

at a small local store. We stood on the intersection of two malls today with signs calling for peace.

[oscar111]

18. hippywife, excellent. I wish all were like you

so good to read reports like yours. If all did as you do, what a fine world it would be!

[mike_c]

17. me-- haven't bought a thing all day....

eom

[Pegleg Thd]

19. Only bought

a half gallon of milk. Not buying anything for xmas. On social security--can't afford to feed the corporate whores.:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[fugue]

22. Didn't buy anything

Spent the whole day banging my head against LightWave.

I'm sticking to it. I'm not buying anything I wouldn't buy at any other time of year, and even then from locals.

[Kitka]

23. What arrogant assumptions.

Way to assume that all people shopping today aren't interested in sacrifice, greater good, altruism,.... I include those things in my vocabulary 365 days a year, not just the day after Thanksgiving. You don't understand why most Americans need to shop on the day that stores give heavy discounts? Many of us are in tough spots, and we can use the savings.

It really sucks that although I spent my Thanksgiving (and many Saturdays) at the shelter, make a concious effort to live more minimally, am doing some sort of volunteer work constantly, am mindful of which stores are more socially responsible and spend my money there, support local stores, etc. every day - the fact that I was at Target this morning because they only way to afford the one gift my minimalist kid asked for was to go to the doorbusters sale would make someone like you assume the worst about my character.

[NurseLefty]

31. Please do not take offense...

It's just an effort to send a symbolic message that this day, touted by the media et al as the busiest shopping day of the year should be protested. I understand that if you have children, this is a time when you want to make them happy. But try to understand that the sentiment here is against this approaching cliche of people mobbing the front of Wal-Mart at 6am to run to whatever super bargain has been advertised. I did not see this evening's TV news but I am willing to bet that the lead news story has a mob a shoppers pushing their carts through the front doors of a store.
The Friday after Thanksgiving has almost become a holiday in itself. It is the greatest symbol of consumerism in itself.
We are ALL consumers, but we can choose how we consume.
Please do not take it personally - I hope your kid has a wonderful Christmas.

[Ima]

24. yes

[Dez]

25. Didn't even leave

the house today! I wanted to recycle gifts, or give things that I love, and not spend a dime.. but that's difficult to do for my 6 year old nephew.

[Ima]

26. Bake him some goodies!

[Dez]

28. I could try that, but his mother, my sis, would

have a fit! Even though the kid has everything a kid could want.. has his own Online puter even!

[Ima]

30. Well you may

have to get him something then. I have one, have to, gift also.I'll shop at a small local merchant. I'm not going to patronize big box stores.


Barnes and Noble supports Democratic Canadates, so to me it's ok to shop there. Maybe you could get him some kiddie books.

[T Town Jake]

27. When it comes to helping my kids have a happy Christmas...

...I shelve the politics. Especially of the priggish, self-righteous sort.

[yellowdogintexas]

29. My plans to not buy anything were foiled but I did not go

Christmas shopping, or anywhere near a mall:

I replaced a badly blown tire on my daughter's car
I purchased a 20 pound bag of cat food (I have 4 adult cats)
I rented a couple of videos
and
I ate supper at a local restaurant with a couple of friends.

[NurseLefty]

33. I think I'll be successful. Not a dime today.

Christmas won't be a picnic for me anyway. I am having surgery in 3 weeks, I won't be home from the hospital until at least 12/18, and I'll be at home recuperating dealing w/ pain. That alone wipes my Christmas out.
But I just got an idea - I have a stack of cardstock and envelopes. I can make my own Christmas cards. I am thinking of making a card that has John Lennon lyrics. Either: Imagine or Happy Christmas (War is Over) The only $$ spent is on stamps.

[Mist]

35. I think a lot of people sort of sense

the eventual downfall of the economy and are just getting a bit of fun before that happens. Also, they are often shopping for others (Christmas shopping). I can't stop buying presents for my family (and don't want to), but I try to go to locally owned stores, or "OK" stores, like Barnes&Noble. People also forget to give the gift of themselves: My mother, who is 75 and in a retirement community, certainly doesn't need more "stuff" (she had to get rid of stuff to move in)--she loves gifts of cooking dinner for her and friends, or "labor coupons" good for errand-running, etc.

[Ladyhawk]

36. I still plan on boycotting Christmas.

Today I boycotted Thanksgiving with family. They called about 35 times. I told them I wouldn't be celebrating Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. Maybe they'll believe me now. :(

[Marthe48]

38. my husband retired after 35 yrs

in a steel mill, been retired a little over 2 yrs. Owner of the plant went into Chapter 11, got a buyer, the new owner didn't want to and doesn't have to (evidently) assume the cost of benefits. They got a court to ok changing the current contract, so the active nuion members went on strike Monday. Today co. suspended retireees benefits (you know they are gone)The customers who buy aluminum from Ormet are supplying replacement wrokers -- believe it or not. Ormet got a restraining order limiting the picket line to 4 people and no other employees can come within 2000 yds of the plant entrance. Tonight the scabs came to work, escorted by over 20 carloads of cops. The union members did show up and they were yelling at the scabs. The cops said they were all under arrest. When some of the employees on strike began to leave the cops attacked them with stun guns and hauled them to jail.

Ormet Aluminum, Monroe County Ohio.

http://www.wtov9.com/news/3950111/detail.html

Although the active employees will lose much more than my family, its pretty hard to see all we've worked for and anticipated go down the toilet, and even worse to see the cops, the judges, and etc. side with the companies and allow them to keep doing this. I don't guess they understand that after the blue collar workers and white collar workers, it'll be professionals, etc etc etc.

[winston61]

40. like an alcoholic at a birthday party.

This is the time of year when it's OK to give in to self indulgent impulses. My wife and I spend very little for Christmas. First of all, we can't afford to and because as most of us eventually learn, acquisition and materialism are ultimately empty experiences. I'm no saint, I mean I'm sitting here typing this post on a newish computer, I pay for the Internet and we've got a mortgage on this stack of bricks we call home. We will buy a little something for our mothers, but we make it clear to our siblings and friends, that's all. We do like to cook up some good food and drink a little eggnog. Family and friends, that's what it's all about. I'm no Scrooge, I love Christmas and the solstice celebration, but there won't be any buyer's regret come January. In fact if there is something that you need, January is the time the shop and save. Except Walmart, I hate those bastards.

[2Design]

41. took things to a consignment shop to sell - no buying

taking books, clothes and other stuff - and doesn't even look like I made a dent yet -

trying to empty the apartment - to pack up to put in storage - and when I do get my next place to live I am thinking smaller - so I will have less room to put stuff and stop collecting so much

[Hippo_Tron]

43. No offense, but I agree with a different approach...

We have a system and unfortunately we have to work with it. There is merit to boycotting a certain corporation in protest of a certain unethical practice, it's called the power of the consumer. But I personally don't believe that boycotting shopping in general will really accomplish anything because not enough people will go for it. Our best bet to change the system is to work within it to get a government elected that will take the corporate influence out of politics and force corporations to have some sort of ethical practices.

[Vidar]

46. Yes

[noordinaryspider]

47. Sending out the cards this week....

....so folks know we aren't doing it; I think it's Buy Nothing Christmas that has a pretty cerificate you can download in .pdf that tactfully absolves the person of the responsibility of buying you a present.

Twelve year old boys aren't known for their tact; my son's suggestion:

"Money's tight
Times are hard
Here's your f*cking Christmas Card"

He made me laugh, but I think I'm going for writing "Wishing you a" over the top of old cards that say "Merry Christmas" and then writing, "We're not celebrating it because of the economy." inside.

My kid's the oldest in his circle of friends but we're passing along outgrown clothes, toys, books etc. so the little guys don't feel too sad. Even when things weren't this tight, we often frequented thrift stores for presents. The tykes remember the time with family more than they remember the $300 charge on your credit card bill from Toys R Us, anyway.