Use Your Dollars Wisely

The publisher of Yellow Scene recently identified the owner of our neighborhood bike shop as a MAGA sort. She alleged that he scoffed at diversity issues, trans rights and was otherwise rude and dismissive in dealings with her.

I will seek confirmation of her allegations, but I have no immediate reason to doubt. If true, this will lead me to a small personal boycott, even though I enjoy the convenience and have had pleasant experiences there.

This one is easy, as everything they sell and services they provide are available within 10-12 miles, including at REI, a co-op with great values and value.

Virtue signaling? I suppose so, although I’ve always wondered why signaling virtue is a bad thing. If the signals are not linked to action, I guess criticism is merited. But I suspect that those who “signal” also do.

Signaling virtue may draw snide retorts from the virtue-free conservative opposition, but has another salutary effect. It sets an example to emulate, signals a cause to join, and may raise an issue others have not noticed. Boycotting a small business is small potatoes, but it is a start.

During my many decades of progressive inclination and progressive exhortations, I’ve never entered ethical calculations into the majority of my economic choices. In recent years I’ve assiduously avoided the homophobic leaders Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby and shifted my home maintenance shopping from the odious Home Depot to the slightly more reasonable Lowes, but for the most part have been indiscriminate.

Now, as we wobble on the precipice of autocracy and watch our democratic norms crumble, these ethical calculations seem more urgent. I wish it was as simple as bike shop boycotts and avoiding mediocre fast food. But it is not.

Unless one has the strength and circumstances to live off the grid, in all senses of the phrase, ethical compromise is inevitable. The tentacles of corporate greed are all around us. As an older couple with the usual array of maladies we are at the mercy of Big Pharma and corporate health care. There is no realm of life where total avoidance of corrupt corporate practices is possible.

But we can and should try our best.

Many good folks have begun assembling lists of the good and bad actors in various business sectors.

Here is a piece about companies who continued or discontinued diversity initiatives since Trump’s ascension.

Here’s a Newsweek report on Trump financial supporters.

At the end of this post is a long list by sector of companies that contributed to Trump’s campaign or inauguration. I cannot attest to its accuracy or completeness, but it can be a reference to start your own review of spending choices.

I strongly urge you to visit The People’s Union USA and join the boycotts they organize or support. If you visit their Command Center, you will find details about a February 28th total boycott and several specific weeklong actions, including against Amazon and its many subsidiaries. You may be surprised how much you are unknowingly contributing to Jeff Bezos.

And, of course, do everything in your power to enfeeble Elon Musk, although we are all but gnats trying to dent an elephant’s ass. I see that there are Tesla owners with bumper stickers like “bought it before we knew how awful he was.”  Now that’s virtue signaling I can disdain. Sell the damn car then. Or drive it over a cliff just like Elon is driving our country over a cliff.

Anyone who owns a Cybertruck is beyond hope, so just don’t let your children near the monstrosity or its owner.

When this reaches my wife’s inbox, she’ll challenge me to put my money where my mouth is. Fair enough.  We, like other concerned folks, should at least look at where we can do better.

I expect we’ll at least support the People’s Union boycotts.

And I know where I’m not getting my much needed mountain bike overhaul.

The List

Cars

Buick

Cadillac

Chevrolet

GMC

Hendrick Motorsports

Home-Goods

Ace Hardware

Ashley Furniture

Dirt Devil

Farberware

George Foreman Grill

Hoover Vacuum

My Pillow

Oreck Vacuums

Stanley Black and Decker Hardware

Stiletto Tools

Toast Master

Electronics

Boost Mobile

Garmin Sports Products

Motorola

Groceries

Chiquita Brands

Dean Foods

Dole Foods

Folgers

Land o’ Lakes

Martins Famous Pastry Shoppes

Purdue Farms

Publix

Smucker’s Products

Automotive

ArmorAll

Auto Zone

Discount Tire

NAPA Auto Parts

Shell Oil

Sunoco

Turtle Wax

Travel Services

Allegiant Air

Horizon Bank

Las Vegas Sands

Norwegian Cruise

Omni Hotels

Wynn Resorts

Clothing

Anthropologie

Brooks Shoes

Champ Clothing

Hanes

Marshalls

L.L. Bean (likely just one family member donated)

Leggs Pantyhose

Soma Intimates

TJ Maxx

Urban Outfitters-Free People

Restaurants

Arby’s

Baskin and Robbins

Buffalo Wild Wings

Carls Jr.

Cinnabon

Dairy Queen

McDonald’s

Papa John’s

Schlotzsky’s

Wendy’s

Retail

ACE Hardware

Marshalls

Sierra Trading Post

TJ Maxx

Walmart

Underwear

Bali Underwear

Fruit of the Loom

Hanes

Leggs Pantyhose

Maidenform Underwear

Playtex

Soma Intimates

Alcohol

Bacardi

Coors Beer

Grey Goose

Miller Beer

Milwaukee’s Best Beer

Molson Beer

Tito’s Vodka (Tito’s claims they do not support any politician)

Sports Teams

Arizona Diamondbacks

Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Angels

New Orleans Saints

NY Yankees

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Miscellaneous

1800 Flowers.com

Bausch + Lomb

Big Heart Pet Brands

Fruit Bouquets.com

Harderg Diamonds

Keller Williams Realty

Public Storage

Rayovac

The Popcorn Factory

Wow! Cable

Vanity Fair Paper Products

Rental Cars

Alamo Rental Cars

Enterprise Rental Car