How long do you think it would take the Walmart Klan (via their army of paid lobbyists) to beat a path to the hallowed doors of their personal favorite congressmen IF BLACK FRIDAY and the Christmas sales figures were to completely tank? Think it might generate some commotion?
And what if nobody bought any (nada, zero, zilch) spanking new smartphones this holiday season? Think Tom Wheeler might get a call?
What if those big-box techno palaces were empty of consumers but full of those geeks in blue twiddling their thumbs and playing with the products because the "may I help you" moments are few and far between.
How about if Target doesn't hit their quarterly earnings targets and nobody buys those cheap Chinese toys that may be soon recalled?
Sound like holiday cheer? Beats the sounds of tear gas being shot at people.
I am just an old white man in Texas who has a dream.
Not about looting, although I completely get its point. Not about hurting anyone because it only escalates to more hurting...No, I am dreaming about some really painful pressure protesting.... about the ultimate non-violent action: THEPOWER OF THE PURSE.
Hit 'em where it hurts the most-IN THE POCKETBOOK!
I am so spittin' mad (some people here in Texas actually do get spittin' mad) on account of the deeply disturbing, stomach-turning bullshit that just went down in Missouri- the non acquittal of Darren Wilson!
But if you read on below the fold, you'll see I have what could be a powerful and revolutionary strategy.
What if we all sat down with our children and had an honest conversation about racism, justice, and civil disobedience? And then talked about the real meaning of Christmas...you know, how Jesus said love your neighbor. period. Or maybe draw some comparisons between our annual orgy of consumerism and those ever popular money changers in Walmart, I mean the temple.
And why loot stores when we could avoid them altogether and be richer for it?
I can't think of a safer, more legal, and less violent civil action than not giving your money to corporations- any of them! Corporations have no sense civil responsibility, as so often demonstrated with tax-avoidance strategies, inversions, and shipping the livelihoods of Americans to anywhere but America....Buy Local instead.
So what do you say? How about we drag them into this discussion...make them have to look us in the eye and maybe acknowledge our concerns- instead of turning away with disdain and dismissal after gladly taking our money?
My proposal is simple but deadly. I propose that this year we all skip BLACK FRIDAY.....don't go, don't stand in line (if you do have an uncontrollable urge to stand in line, do so at a protest or food shelter), don't risk being trampled, and don't get fleeced. Keep your money...DON"T give them one single cent. It only ends up at the top 1% anyway and is that something you really want to encourage?
Let's try a revolutionary idea-WHITE FRIDAY and a REAL CHRISTMAS!
That ought to light up O'Reilly like a Kwanzaa kinara and Limbaugh like a holiday tree!
As just another old white man I can feel their pain.