The current hostile corporate takeover in the USA and the clear loss of political power of the common people, I started wondering what happened if people used consumption as their leverage. Since the system is designed for continuous growth, what would happen if a mass movement of people stopping buying new non-essential consumer goods?
It would send a much stronger message than angry public protests. Thoughts?
Edit 1: Received some fantastic responses one of these highlighted February 28th as the âNational No Spend Dayâ that we can consider the rehearsal.
*Do not make any purchases Do not shop online, or in-store, No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy, Nowhere!
Do not spend money on: Fast Food,Gas,Major Retailers Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non essential spending
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Only buy essentials of absolutely necessary (Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies) If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.*
This movement is the definition of equitable, not spending means everybody can contribute within their means, and if you canât afford to buy shit anyway, youâre already doing your part!
It certainly would, but I would be worried about the people at the bottoms whose salary depend on this. Rich people can afford not getting revenue for a month, but people with precarious work contracts often canât.
What about mass boycott targeted at the companies undeniably supporting this government?
It could impact bottom people less.
This is where mutual aid comes in.
Share cash with people who need it. Pay their bills, pay their rent, pay their bail money, pay their medical expenses.
The capitalists will hurt people to try to get you to stop boycotting and striking.
Not to be a dick, but I barely have enough money to cover myself and my wife. I donât exactly have any extra money, and our budget is tighter than a tightrope wire, which I suppose is part of the point.
Maybe⌠You shouldnât have to be on a shoestring budget? Maybe this economy should let you support yourself more comfortably.
And maybe you should be the recipient of mutual aid during a general strike if you need it.
We need society to go back to our earliest economy. The gift economy, just sharing things expecting nothing in return. I wonder what life would be like if that was our main economy.
I try to explain to people how incredible that would be. I donât believe in pay it back or pay it forward. I believe in helping people because itâs what we should be doing, itâs the way society should function. I donât expect anything in return, and I donât want someone I help to pay it forward because I helped them, I want them to help others because itâs what everyone should be doing at all times, so much as they are able to. Building the new within the shell of the old and all that
Should turn Amazon prime week into boycott week. We just did a one week break from Amazon in our house and it was refreshing.
