How about having "Not One Damn Dime Day" every month on the 20th?

[tommcintyre]

<A little more info:>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x295991

I noticed that people really took to this idea today. So why not have it every month to regularly remind people of what is happening to our country?

I ran it by some participating people that are not usually "activist types", and they were downright enthusiastic about participating! (They all had told their friends to participate today too.) I think its something that people can easily grasp on to/accomplish; and who knows, it may lead them to other forms of pro-Democracy activism.

<I just emailed NotOneDamnDime.com regarding this.>

[LittleClarkie]

1. How about "Not one Red cent" day

Buy Blue only?

Otherwise you're punishing those who don't deserve it.

[tommcintyre]

2. I chose this one because it seemed to really catch on.

Frankly, as an activist, my biggest challenge is to get people to actually "do" something.

As far as punishing the "blue" businesses, I have spent most of my adult life as a small business person, and I have no problem with making such a sacrifice for the "greater good". <That's a big part of what being a progressive is all about (being unselfish), isn't it.> I would never ask anyone to do anything I'm not prepared to do myself. Also, remember if we don't stop the neocons, small businesses (blue or otherwise) are likely to suffer much greater harm than a temporary reduction in revenues, one day a month.

Also, as they experience the satisfaction of "contribution", "it may lead them to other forms of pro-Democracy activism" (like "buy blue only").

[Pab Sungenis]

7. Well, I can tell you...

...it seemed to catch on around here. My movie theater did $11.00 in business all day yesterday. Normal the rest of the week, then BANG, $11.00!

Other people around me reported similar conditions.

...or maybe it could have been the snow. :)

Seriously, I think we need a way for blue businesses to identify ourselves, like the Christofascists have the Jeebus fish, so we can spend our money where it's going to do the best. As a Democratic Committeeman, there's no point in hurting me if you want to hurt Chimpy. Nor should anyone involved in the struggle against him need to suffer, either.

[tommcintyre]

13. WOW! That's encouraging!

It sounds like it had an impact.

"I think we need a way for blue businesses to identify ourselves..."

Excellent idea. When I polled my (shopping-oriented, though good-intentioned) friends about consulting a list to determine who to buy from, they said they probably wouldn't do it - too complicated. But your idea of progressive merchants identifying themselves at the point-of-purchase would certainly make it easier (although would the "Christofascists" make it a point NOT to buy from them?).

[Pab Sungenis]

32. Maybe...

But not if we adopt a relatively innocuous symbol. For example, blue background with the Statue of Liberty and "BUY BLUE" underneath it in tiny letters.

[RC]

3. NDD & NRC will catch on all by itself when

enough jobs are outsourced. So don't worry about it.

Until then it ain't happening. Moving a purchase from one day to another does nothing in the long run.
If everyone Stopped all purchases except for the basic necessities, that would hurt most business and they would lay off employees and/or force them out of business. Thereby adding to the unemployed. I am talking about people like most people reading this right now.
So each and every one of these no purchase ideas, if effective, is in reality counter productive.

The answer is to buy what you need, when you need it and come up with a more visible and effective way of protesting the crimes of the bu$h administration. NOTD or NORC doesn't cut it.
(Not One Thin dime - Not One Red Cent)

[itzamirakul]

4. I must disagree...

I think the project is most important and if nothing else it gives Democrats one day per month to show some solidarity.

Any small business owners are not going to go bankrupt after missing one day of Democratic voter's sales. The other side will still be buying.

I am so proud of myself. I did not spend ONE DAMNED DIME yesterday!

Edit: typos

[tommcintyre]

16. EXACTLY! "gives Democrats one day per month to show some solidarity"

I would just expand that a little. I think it is an opportunity for ALL people against the Bushco agenda to show solidarity.

"I am so proud of myself."

That seems to be the common feeling. As an activist, I've seen a disturbing trend toward apathy in those who oppose what Bushco is doing. I think it has come from discouragement, which comes from a sense of powerlessness. This is not so surprising considering how it seems like the REAL forces of evil (Bushco) have been able to act with impunity for over four years now!

This apparently small act of participation in Not One Damn Dime Day - of "fighting back" - seems to be giving people hope again. The feeling of: "I CAN make a difference. I Can fight back! I DO make a difference!

Who knows... Maybe this is where we "take a stand" - where we begin to "turn the tide"? I'm willing to participate and find out.

[Pab Sungenis]

8. Why not...

...paint your dimes or cents blue before spending them?

Or at least enamel the faces of Roosevelt and Lincoln. Once word gets around that that represents Democratic money, some people may get the hint.

[tommcintyre]

15. The purpose would be to focus attention on Bushco crimes

"Moving a purchase from one day to another does nothing in the long run"

I don't think that would be the main benefit.

Bushco is trying to make "permanent" their: election stealing, corporation/rich favoring tax cuts, Social Security privatization, social conservative agenda, and even their never-ending war.

This is a chance for us to "make permanent" a regular event that calls attention to this disastrous Bushco agenda. And, it appears that MANY people are willing to participate in NODD. That's what we need, massive action calling attention to the Bushco crimes on a regular basis.

[Freebird12004]

6. Much Better Idea ... "Not one RED cent"

[tommcintyre]

18. For some reason, NODD caught on

That's really what matters. I saw NODD everywhere (TV, radio, email, forums). The exposure was tremendous. We could much more easily capitalize on the continuity of keeping the same name.

[sepia_steel]

26. seconded.

not spending any money at all is not effective.

[sportndandy]

5. Bad Idea.

I am a merchant. Why must I be punished? Most merchants are small shop owners, not big time republicans. What is the point in hurting us?

How about we agree to spend a whole month without using credit cards? Combine that with an increased effort to spend only at local merchants. That way we are not cutting off our nose to spite our face. Let the big time republican donors suffer, not the small time businessman.

[el_gato]

10. life is about more than just buying shit all the time

and the target of these actions is more along the lines of Wal-Mart etc. anytway.

[tommcintyre]

19. See post 2, 4 and 13 above

"How about we agree to spend a whole month without using credit cards? Combine that with an increased effort to spend only at local merchants."

Both excellent ideas! The problem is, whatever is done must attract MASSIVE action; and, for some reason, NODD did. Frankly, many excellent ideas just don't catch on, so we gotta run with the ones that do.

The simpler and easy to do something is, the more likely it is to work. NODD is both.

As mentioned in the first post above, once people get used to doing this simpler/easier action, they may be willing to do more like your ideas above.

[sepia_steel]

27. I'm behind ya. (post 26) eom

[AtLiberty]

9. Not one red cent is awesome!

[texpatriot2004]

11. Good Idea! I'll do it...happily. Not one red cent, notonedamndime

either way I will participate.

[Mojorabbit]

12. How about

a campaign to buy from local small businesses only. I would go for that. Support the mom and pop businesses.

[tubbacheez]

17. That's what I did yesterday. Worked great for me.

I spent money yesterday, but I strictly confined it to local businesses I knew. I bought locally grown produce from a mom-n-pop grocery store. I had lunch at a locally owned restaurant (not a big franchise or chain).

And the funny thing was: they knew the Not A Damn Dime protest was going on, and they really appreciated my business as a result. I got excellent top-notch service!

AND!

I got to talk to the shopkeepers about progressive politics. They were quite agreeable.

This was a great way to get our message out.




I think a focused boycott of (say) big corporations and chains and GOP-supporters would be healthier for our cause than an indiscriminate one.

[tommcintyre]

20. Excellent "intermediate" activism

Hopefully, that may be where many progress to; but I still think we need a very basic "entry point" (as NODD proved to be) for "newbie" (the masses) "activists". <One of my personal goals is to turn everyone that cares into and "accidental activist". To do that, we gotta make it as easy as possible at first.>

[tubbacheez]

25. Fair enough to have a "beginners" boycott.

I'm with you on the new recruit idea. But let's also advance the n00bs as much as they can handle. It'd be doubly powerful if we could strengthen our base while jabbing at the opposition's.

It's focused and professional. It's very educational to research where one's money goes. Plus, by supporting progressive businesses, we would reinforce their belief that they've picked the right side.

If they have bet their business on liberalism or progressivism as a prosperous philosophy, we would need to be the ones to fulfill that notion.

It's up to us to be the market that proves them right. If not us, no one else will do it. (All the GOP-leaning consumers shop at the big chains.)





It's true that nailing all vendors equally does send out a loud message.

Unfortunately, that message can look a lot like a tantrum from certain points of view.

[nmoliver]

14. NO WAY

I went along with the boycott to support the activist community, but I think it's not a good idea. As somebody pointed out to me, it hurts small businesses, many of which may be with us in spirit. I'd sooner have longer-term boycotts of the large red corporations that support *, profit from the occupation of Iraq, or contribute to global scorching.

I would not support this as a long-term boycott.

Nina

[tommcintyre]

21. To put this in perspective...

I have to ask these questions:

Is this a matter of "inconvenience", or true hardship on the part of small business owners?

Is losing part of one days revenue per month going to make or break a healthy business?

Do the benifits of regular massive public action and solidarity against the Bush "disaster" outweigh this revenue loss?

The answer is obvious.

[Mojorabbit]

23. It is a hardship on many

My hubby and I have a small business. We have employees to pay and yes one day a month with little or no income can make a difference.

[keepthemhonest]

22. first of all Tom

welcome back ,I have missed your threads!:hi:
second of all I like your idea and the more we do it the more it will catch on.
Last night my boyfriend wanted to go to the mall and he never wants to go shopping but he needed some stuff, but I said no it's black thursday we can't.woo hoo.

anyway I am with ya.

[tommcintyre]

31. Thanks :D

"... he never wants to go shopping but he needed some stuff, but I said no it's black thursday we can't."

It must've been a lil' fun "turning the tables, eh? ;)

[RaulVB]

24. How are you, Tom?

We miss your "media blasting" magic.

Regards

[tommcintyre]

30. Doing pretty good now...

I should have the blasters firing on all cylinders (updated) in the next few days. I noticed some people are using them totally independently (that's great!), loading their own messages remotely, etc. Although, I'm not convinced all that would like to use them fully understand how they can do so. Also, I think there are people that would use them for their own purposes if they knew about them. I'm considering what I can do on my end to facilitate all this.

But first, I want to do an analysis of the Nightline anti-election fraud "infomercial" that occurred two nights ago. It was obviously, and intentionally, biased and orchestrated with a clear "sales job" agenda (hence infomercial). On the very positive side, it was unprecedented MSM exposure to the issue. I think all involved really dug their own grave with this one, and I fully intend to help them along in any way I can. ;)

I spoke yesterday on election fraud at our state capitol (Hawaii) NION rally. What I learned is we have a lot of work to do. A surprisingly small percentage of this naturally "progressive" crowd was even aware of Conyers work - although all I spoke with were very interested. Even the ones I spoke with holding "paper trail" (etc.) signs were unaware of him. YIKES! But there was amazing awareness of the NODD Day. That's why I'm intrigued with the idea of continuing it every month, and using it to build awareness of election fraud, etc.

[earth mom]

28. I didn't spend a dime yesterday

and I would be happy to do it again once a month or more.

[pstans]

29. Ed Schultz said this and I agree

Not supporting business just gives Rethugs a chance to slam Liberals as anti-business. I am guessing that the majority of people that observed Not One Damn Dime Day are not anti-business.

It would be smarter to boycot Wal Mart EVERYDAY of the month and to shop at blue stores or locally owned stores.

[torque]

33. It is our economy. We own it...

We feed it dollars and it benefits all of us. But it also benefits our enemies so a targeted campaign gets my vote.

I personally have cancelled all unnecessary services (tv, cable, cell phone etc.) because I refuse to give my enemy one damn dime. I shop in the downtown district, rather than malls and shopping (not walmart etc.) centers and purchase only what I require, nothing more. Sites such as buyblue.org are helping us spend smarter.

During WWII we conserved to support the war efforts, for the long term benefit of our society. In 2005 and beyond we should be highly selective and conservative consumers as well. Not one damn dime for the enemies of the people. We own it, we should control it responsibly.