There are a plethora of protest opportunities available for Jan. 20. I earnestly urge people to do all of them (Not one damn dime, dress in black, turn your back on bush, hang your flag upside down - I'm doing all of 'em). But one of the best ways to register your dissent (and, niftily enough, one of the most "zen") is by doing...nothing.
Nothing work-related that is.
It has been several days since I posted a diary in reference to this, though I've seen several NODDD's go past. But now that the site is fully live (with downloadable/emailable flyer), I thought it was time to bring up
www.black-thursday.com again.
What we're urging: Not only not buying anything, but not participating in ANY economic activity of any stripe. That means not working. Calling in sick. Taking yourself out of the wage-slave market for a day.
THEY don't just make money from what we buy; they make money from what we do. More than from what we buy, really. And when we're "sick" - as any sane person will be when Bush is inaugurated - it not only doesn't make them money, it COSTS them. Including Chimpy himself. Dollars not earned that day are dollars you don't pay in taxes. And unlike giving up doritos or Amoco premium for a day and then having to buy it the next, you don't "make up" your productivity the next day; it's gone forever. A net loss to the treasury and to the corporations.
But staying away from work is only part of the equation. The other part is letting others know (not necessarily your boss...but, say, newspaper editors, or radio talk show hosts) THAT you're doing it, and why. Phone in. Email 'em. Let them know that there are people out here who not only sign petitions and post screeds on dKos, but who actually act on their beliefs (and certainly, bonus points if you're one of the folks at your state capital, or on the parade route).
I know, I know; I've heard all the naysaying already (there's plenty of "duzzn't make a difference" grousing in the NODDD threads, which I find interesting, since its such a benign activity). But I know that the idea is gaining traction judging by the number of hits and referrer URLs that are showing up on the site. A lot of people are talking about this, and a lot of people are doing it. Not enough to make a difference - yet - but that's where you come in.
Solidarity, y'all. Let's let the Repiggies know where we stand, by speaking to them in their language: Dollars. The dollars that, for once, they won't get from us.