When Newt Gingrich took over as Speaker of the House in 1995 one of his stated priorities was to "defund the Left." This meant attacking all forms of social programs and organizations. And over the course of the past 16 years that has largely happened - welfare "reform", steady cuts in the social safety net, education, the arts, all have suffered under Republican ideology. We are now in the end-game in which they try to kill off Planned Parenthood, NPR and labor unions while also cutting the remaining shreds of the safety net to confetti.
We need to fight fire with fire. And I propose we adopt the Firehouse Strategy - so-named in honor of the Wisconsin firemen who started the run on M&I bank yesterday. Why should we continue to patronize businesses that are funding those who wish to oppress us? The same strategy used by these firemen should be repeated across the country - especially in those states where similar GOP efforts are underway to destroy the remnants of the middle class and take their retirement funds as a final "screw you".
What happened yesterday should be making executives feel just a little queasy in boardrooms everywhere. It is hitting them where they least like to be hit - the bottom line. And if we follow through on this it may give us a chance to turn things around. People are awakening now to what is happening to them. The numbers are overwhelmingly on our side. It is now time to reach out and give them a way to join the fight while they are energized.
Defund the Right. It's so simple, anyone can do it! Just stop spending your money at businesses that support Republican and/or conservative politicians - this INCLUDES ConservaDems. Our initial efforts should be directed at the other GOP majority states in which the legislatures and governors are working to destroy unions and cut services while also cutting taxes for the wealthy. We can use the internet as an organizing tool to let people know who the corporate enemies are and how they can avoid giving them their business. Sites like DKos along with viral emails and other means of spreading the word can be deployed. Target the big money contributors to Snyder, Kasich, Christie, Scott, and others. Make them sweat.
We should also be pushing the idea of avoiding the big box chains and instead spending our money with local merchants. Get the Main Street small businesses firmly on our side and keep money within the community. This also creates an opportunity for liberal-minded entrepreneurs and investors to provide reasonably competitive local alternatives to Home Depot and Walmart and the other megacorps. And with 60% of the public on our side in this, these new local businesses should be able to succeed and return a decent profit.
Food co-ops are another weapon we have, credit unions, employee owned businesses, these are all means of denying right wingers our hard earned money. For example, here in the Willamette Valley we have a chain of food stores that is employee owned and managed - WINCO. Their prices on many things are good, maybe not as low as Walmart on many items, but within competitive reach. The things that Walmart has advertised at extremely low prices are typically their loss leaders - the things they're willing to not turn a profit on to lure you into the store. If you feel you must, go to Walmart to buy these things, but try to not buy anything else while you're there.
And like everything else in the liberal world, this project will need to be self-directed by people who care. We have a lot of folks who have time on their hands due to layoffs and such. Spend some of that time to make a difference in your home state. Take names, make connections between corporate execs and odious politicians. Prepare lists and let people in your circle of influence know what you've discovered. Encourage them to pass it along and to also take action themselves. In addition to being a viable means of fighting back, it is also a means of empowering people who have spent years feeling downtrodden and beaten. The events in Madison have given many of them reason for hope, and this project gives them a tangible way to join the fight.
On Wisconsin! Let's Badger the oligarchs into submission. Perhaps as they watch their profits dwindle these greedy bastards will have second thoughts about trying to destroy the middle class. Maybe even direct their puppets in office to pull back on their plans for total domination.