Forum Post: Can we boycott "bad" companies and "BUYcott "the good ones?
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 4, 2011, 9:28 p.m. EST by RewardAndConsent
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When we find irresponsible companies to boycott, many of us want to know where to spend our money. Can we BUYcott the responsible companies? For example, someone tweeted a recommendation to remove money from Bank of America and put money in a credit union. That would mean a boycott of Bank of America and a BUYcott of the credit unions.
Yes I think that is important. One doesn't have to have a large disposable income to boycott/buycott. You can chose one companies food over another at very least. Sometimes the ethically produced item will be so much more expensive that you can't afford it. But if everyone did this to the extent feasible in their lives, it would probably make a big difference.
Although I believe that we need government regulations to protect peoples rights, it is not possible to write laws for every unethical circumstance that may occur. The choices of consumers are the most direct way of getting corporations to change their behavior. With legal changes all they have to do is comply with the letter of the law. With informed and ethically astute consumers, they must comply with their customers ethical ideals.
My roommate had a great idea regarding this the other night: Labeling on product packaging that gives a few key bits of information that give insight into the companies ethics. Our ideas for this kind of info were the following: 1) A histogram showing income distribution in the company. How much do most workers make compared with management. Do they provide health insurance to all their workers? 2) A numerical environmental impact estimate, based on info of public record such as pollution output and EPA violations. 3) A pie chart showing what countries the materials used to make the product were sourced from (in terms of what % of every $ goes to what country) 4) A pie chart of total company expenses, ie materials, wages, taxes, charitable donations, regulatory fees et cetra.
If it could not in practice be fit on labeling, there should be a central website where this information is posted, with a code to look it up printed on the product packaging.
By facilitating informed consumption, I think the government can facilitate at truly free market.
Wait...i thought ALL corporations...particularly banks (even CUs) were evil. Dont start injecting nuance and judgement NOW! Much simpler when we hate and envy everyone else. Keep it simple please
i agree with keep it simple & focused.
there are (and have been) lots of groups already trying to do this.
besides, very few of us have disposable income, not a huge concern for the 99%.
unfortunately my mortgage was sold to bank of america. i hate it, but zero options. i would love to switch to a credit union, but nobody else will give me a refinance in this economy (thanks to wall street greed). this would not help me.
what would help me is a permanent, long term fix to corporate greed - like the "GET MONEY OUT" constitutional amendment. then maybe (eventually) we can have some fairness in our system.
Excellent. This is the only true vote we have left.
Yes. Good idea. On a related note, you better get your money out of Bank of America not just because they suck, but because they are about to collapse. Stock down 50% in 3 months, lol. Wait until the recession hits and Europe implodes.
Don't forget the swat
This is a great point. Lets get more recommendations!
THANK YOU for a rational idea!