Forum Post: An Idea
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 16, 2011, 12:56 a.m. EST by birkhaus
(5)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I was thinking about ways for the OWS movement to make a deep impact, and I had an idea.
We are already inconveniencing and slowing down some corporations, Chase for example, but I think perhaps we need to go further to make an example out of a specific corporation. I think we need to destroy a corporation. I'm talking about a massive, specific boycott, one in which we force the news media to report on, and whose impact can show this plutocracy we can affect their bottom line. A boycott is something that everyone can do even if they're not able to support the movement in person; we just have to get the message out. And if it works, it doesn't effect surface institutions, it go right at the root of plutocratic oppression: profits.
Additionally, boycotting a big company might mean opportunities for a smaller, more ethical company to stand more of a chance. This could represent an opportunity for startups in an economy that needs them. I know that's getting a bit ahead of myself, but it's cool to envision actual results, no?
If we can even slow down sales for a big company, that's huge. The corporate oligarchy thinks of us as commodities, and tries to spend money to make us think like commodities. But since when do commodities affect the profits of the business itself? This could show Wall Street we mean business.
If you guys are on board, we should select a company and go with it.
-birk
I need to call Marines , they should protect us from so greedy shi....t
That's it!. We could boycott VISA!
Boycott credit cards.
Also I wouldn't suggest profits would decrease, I'm saying they would be redirected. If you are laid off at McDonalds, get a job at Burger King, which has gotten a boost from the boycott. Or if possible, at an In N Out Burger. This is not about getting people fired and to say there is an opposite to the movements purpose is to say you have a firm grasp of the movement. Which it seems you do not, boycotts are an integral part of non violent protest.
Change isn't easy, it's not slick and it doesn't make everyone happy. And honestly I don't think a boycott could HAVE a big enough impact to get a BUNCH of people fired. This would be a huge corporation, not a mom and pop store.
getting a bunch of other people fired is exactly the opposite of the movements purpose.
I think a focused approach on one company allows for a bigger impact. Say the corporation targeted is McDonalds. People could still eat at Burger King, but Mcdonalds would feel the heat. That's transferring power from the capitalist to the people, they aren't telling you where to eat, we're telling them they can't.
You don't kill it, you lower its profits. Yes there would be job losses, but if change is going to happen, you have to think big picture.
Personally I think boycotts are a good idea, but why target one corporation? I already boycott some institutions and I think more people should do the same. The only way to hurt these people is to affect their bottom line, their profits. You can't boycott all big corporations, however, they're too pervasive. That's why over the last couple decades they've been buying up all their competition. For example, all multimedia outlets in America, all magazines, newspapers, TV channels, music companies, movie studios, news programs, ALL multimedia outlets are owned by just five corporations. Twenty years ago there were fifty. Years ago when McDonald's got caught rigging their "Monopoly" game so that all the winning pieces wound up in the hands of friends and family members of McDonald's Corp. (rigging the game), I've never spent another penny at any McDonald's. I've never shopped at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club after research showed that for every dollar they inject into a community, that community actually lost a dollar fifty, plus the highly unethical way they treat their (underpaid) employees. On 9/11, a chain of gas stations across the river in Illinois called "Casey's" began gouging their customers by charging $7 a gallon within hours of the towers falling. Although they lost a lawsuit and paid back some of the money, fuck them, I've never shopped there again. I think if more people would've been taking this stance a long time ago maybe businesses would still treat their customers with the respect they deserve instead of treating us like the "enemy."
I say we all get HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH.
yeah dude, lets smoke out Wall street. maybe they'll give up some of their money!
I think what you suggest is preposterous. You can not "kill" a corporation by boycotting as you would subsequently shop at other corporations for goods. The free market roots out any attempts to mess with the system. Not to mention the job losses. SMH.