I have been giving a lot of thought to boycotts. Look at the figures: 51% of voters voted for Bush. 48% voted for Kerry. How much of that Bush support was solid? From recent poll figures, 75% of Republicans give Bush a positive job approval. So if I extrapolate that figure, 75% of Kerry voters are die-hard Dems or Kerry supporters. Out of 53 million people, that makes 39,750,000 Americans who are really pissed off right now, and want to show Bush that his mandate means nothing. How to do that? Boycott. But not one day: ONE MONTH - FEBRUARY
I know the arguments against boycotting - the only people we hurt are those lower and middle class people who lose their jobs, or have their hours cut back. And this it true, to a certain extent. (And Sean Hannity used this argument last night against a boycott.) But, to be blunt, if these people are Bush supporters, perhaps a dose of reality will throw them our way. After all, we want health care and housing assistance for those among us who cannot provide for themselves, for one reason or another. The Republicans do not give a damn about the working middle class and poor. And I am sure many in Ukraine lost their jobs because they were blocking government roads and buildings, but they felt freedom was worth it in the long run. So perhaps we can find some way to help those "blue" establishments and people as much as we can while still boycotting in February.
How, you may ask, will I get the things I need??? Well, try ebay.com for one solution. You can choose from whom you buy, (I usually try to buy from blue state people, silly, I know) and BONUS - there is no tax!!! So you are not adding to your state or federal tax base at all!! It is a wonderful thing, ebay! In the last year, I have bought fabric for curtains, a sewing machine, comforters, matellase bedspreads, sheets, pillows, furniture, lamps, plant holders, shoes, jackets, halloween outfits (I was the Prom Date From Hell this year!) - anything you may want to buy, you can buy from ebay and help local people and local economies. It is the neighborhood version of a yard sale in the World Wide Web. (NOTE: Always check Feedback before buying - and be careful buying electronics on ebay, many have been ripped off)
Just think - 39,750,000 pissed off Americans boycotting during the month of February. Can you imagine the impact we could have on Bush's economy??? I know there are issues, and I would like to hear them, but I have become convinced that the only way we are going to hurt the neo-cons is in the pocketbook. No one and nothing is holding them accountable.