Will anything less than a high-participation, nationwide strike get their attention?
Marches on Washington have scarcely garnered any media coverage. More and more people cannot afford the time away from work or the expense of traveling to DC for a protest. At the same time, local protests in cities around the US also don’t garner the kind of media coverage needed. And they have negligible impact, if any, on the corporate kingmakers who seem to run our country these days.
Perhaps it’s time to call for a nationwide strike, against the current administration’s choices, with a minimum of 3 months advance notice. Just for one day, using our collective purchasing power, refuse to spend any money, refuse to go to work, refuse to watch TV, refuse to spend money. Vote with your pocketbook.
Ahead of time, request the day off from work. Also put in any supplies you'll need to get through the day without spending a dime.
The day of the strike, hang up your flag at the front of your house or in a window, so people know what you’re doing. Put a sign in another window, that says ON STRIKE. Stay home and mow the lawn (having purchased the gasoline beforehand). Or pop a DVD into the player. Sit on the front porch and drink a beer. Invite friends or neighbors over for a beer, or host a neighborhood block party (strike party). Volunteer for the day (but if you have to drive to get there, get gas sometime beforehand and put an ON STRIKE sign in your rear window). Pack a lunch rather than buying fast food.
Go to your public library for a couple hours. Write a letter to your Congresscritters, the president, your state representatives, and/or your mayor, explaining what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Explain that you’re fed up with the current direction, that your voice as a voter isn’t being heard, so your exercising your rights as a consumer to refrain from consuming.
Send that letter to the companies you’d normally be consuming from, that day. An oil company, your usual fast food company, your grocery store. If you can do it without retribution, write your employer and let them know why you arranged to take time off – to strike. Write your department store, hardware store, pet store, and doctor’s office. Write your favorite TV station/s, your favorite news program, your bank, and the 5 biggest advertisers on the TV station you watch the most.
Work in the yard. Paint your bedroom. Go through your closet and get rid of some clothes or shoes. Walk a dog; pet a cat. Take a nap. Make lasagna, homemade bread, or chicken soup. Make sun tea. Call friends or family, if your long distance is free or already included in your phone bill, but not if it's an additional charge.
Go on strike.
Maybe Monday, September 10th, 2007?