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Sadly, it appears that Barack Obama is unwilling or unable to take on corporate America. He talks tough, but accommodates when the chips are really on the table – as the health care debate has conveniently demonstrated. More and more Americans are waking up to the fact that with a few notable exceptions, both Republicans and Democrats in Washington are basically employees of corporate lobbyists.
Perhaps one of the best ways to counter the stranglehold large corporations have on our economy and our government is to go underground. We can take the legs out from under the Wal-Marts, Exxons, Monsantos, and Coca-Colas of the world by finding alternatives to the corporate-consumer culture we have been raised in. Here’s a quick list of 5 ways we can get started:
1) Refuse to purchase anything from the three largest companies in any industry. This would eliminate the incentive to glean maximum profit no matter what the cost to human lives or the environment. For example, imagine how the oil business would change if all of a sudden Exxon, Shell, and BP were trying to be #4 instead of #1. If you’re feeling really daring, you can refuse to buy anything sold by a Fortune 500 company.
2) Shop more at yard sales and thrift shops, and engage in the ancient practice of bartering. Our culture is already saturated with material goods. Anything we buy new is probably already sitting unused in one of our neighbors’ houses. The idea that we should purchase something new every time we need something is a false imperative created by the corporate marketing and advertising machine.
3) Eat locally grown and unprocessed food. It’s better for you, better for the planet, and better for the non-corporate farmers. Plus, it almost always tastes better.
4) Stop watching television. Or at least watch it with an awareness of how the advertising is manipulating you. Marketing firms pay the best psychologists a lot of money to help them produce commercials to make you buy their products. The best defense against them is the "off" button.
5) Read, write, and talk about the dangers of corporate control. Even the most knowledgeable of consumers have been "branded" and make shopping decisions for reasons they’re not consciously aware of. Research shows that children begin forming brand loyalties at a very young age. I’m a pastor, but my 4-year old son can name more brand names than Biblical characters. It’s not unreasonable to say that consumerism and corporatism have become the true belief systems in our country. Like an addiction, the first step to recovery is admitting we have a problem. And we can’t admit it unless enough people know about it.
What would you add to this list of underground ways to fight the corporate beast?
63 Comments
Ride a bike or walk when possible. Grow as much of your own food as possible. If possible go off the grid by using solar or wind power. Stop using plastics wherever possible and recycle everything else. Insulate your home this reduces the need for using coal, gas, and oil to heat and lowers your carbon footprint. By used stuff like you’ve said our homes are literally stuffed with things. Repair old machines, old clothes etc., when ever possible instead of buying new things. ( they’re mostly all made in China anymore anyway). if we can’t starve the Corp. beast we can al least but it on a diet.
And … Move Your Money to a locally-owned credit union or small bank!
Possibly OT– Given the abuses of too-big-to-fail banks, do you think this should be allowed?:
Beaverton, Oregon’s First Tech Credit Union announces merger with Palo Alto, California’s Addison Avenue Federal Credit
I really agree on everything you’ve said. However most people just wanna go to Walmart cause it’s easier, convenient and they’ve convinced themselves it’s cheaper.
As for TEEVEE, I hate the thing. there’s never anything on I want to watch and goddess knows what subliminal messages are pouring into my poor fraught brain.
So where do you go, when all the mom and pop stores have been eaten? To say nothing of , say, single moms being attacked from all sides,- wages, school/parenting, and now shopping?
Capitalism is the problem, period.
If people are struggling to make ends meet, then I have no problem with them going to Wal-Mart for groceries. The burden for change is on those who can afford to shop local and small whenever they can – again, not being perfectionists, but being conscious of what we buy and where we buy it.
I did my banking at a independent bank for a number of years. Finally, as my bank became larger it caught the attention of a larger bank that bought my bank out and now my bank is just a branch of a big banking corporation. Sadly, I think that’s the way it is with all businesses. They start out as independents but their ultimate goal is to sell out to larger corporations for a big profit. So when we patronize small business we’re just helping them become profitable enough to attract a big corporate buyer. So what’s the point?
That’s an excellent point. I’ve heard that for banking, a credit union is the best option, though they don’t offer as many amenities as larger banks. I use a regional bank that doesn’t seem to have the “urge to merge” as much as other banks. It has remained relatively healthy throughout this crisis. But you never know, they might sell out for the right price.
As for other industries, there are many independent small business owners that have no desire to sell out. They love operating a modest, community-minded business. I try to seek those businesses out and patronize them.
Become a dumpster diver and discover what Americans are throwing away. I guarantee that you will be amazed by what you find. A lot of it is new and all of it is free.
A hand full of middle class liberals adjusting their spending habits. That should scare the crap out of the Robber Barons.
What if it was 25% of the middle class? That would certainly get the Robber Barons’ attention. Every worthwhile social movement starts small and takes years to grow into significance. I’m glad you weren’t around when people started talking about ending slavery or giving women the right to vote. The consumer revolution is the next great movement.
“Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered“– what a concept!
Thank you for promoting the book Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher. Like so much, we had these progressive (evolved) ideas back in the early 70s, but Reagan and Rove two huge corporate water carriers (and other reactionaries) pushed back, and 40 years later we are still struggling against outdated corporatism.
All those notions of corporate efficiency just ionized again–
“Abandon All Hope
If you think Wall Street and the big banks are capable of reform, think again. This is the conclusion you are forced to when reading the report of the Examiner responsible for investigating the Lehman Brothers collapse and bankruptcy.”
More here by Numerian in a concise review of the Lehman collapse and why the American people should keep pulling the plug on this sham of an economic system.
All those notions of corporate efficiency just ionized again– “Abandon All Hope If you think Wall Street and the big banks are capable of reform, think again. This is the conclusion you are forced to when reading the report of the Examiner responsible for investigating the Lehman Brothers collapse and bankruptcy.” More here by Numerian in a concise review of the Lehman collapse and why the American people should keep pulling the plug on this sham of an economic system.
My sentiments exactly–
Lehman triggers investigation into accounting practices
“What the hell do the authorities need to see to actually change the system?” Someone else that will give them even bigger bribes to change it or the specter of the Guillotine. So don’t expect much in the way of REAL change any time soon.
There are certain aspects of retail which have been changed completely. My best example is shoes – now all we have, basically are huge chains which are either vertically integrated and have their shoes directly made in China etc. for their stores (Payless is one example of that), or they buy up other shoes from manufacturers who do all their manufacturing in China etc. My goal this year is to find a US manufacturer that makes women’s shoes that are NOT glued together so that I can get them repaired when I need to. And if that means that I don’t buy any new shoes this year, then so be it.
American made shoes and clothes
Toby – For shoes, I’m afraid it’s expensive specialty brands or make-it-yourself. But I’m trying not to be a perfectionist on this stuff. If we can just reduce our corporate dependency by half, it would make a huge difference.
I can go to Footlocker and get two pair for the price of one and a half in mens casual business shoes.
For about $55 I’m set for a year in the office place. I can’t get that anywhere else, including the online link for Shoes USA.
And for me, every penny counts. I want to know what other men in the office place are spending any less than $55 a year like I am? And I mean IN the office place, not working from home ya loafers . . . ;-)
I was looking at the list in your linky and, just off the top of my head, I’m pretty sure Adidas does NOT produce shoes made in America.
well, poo. I guess you are right cause it is a German company. I sometimes lend too much credit to the google machine.
Doesn’t using “Google” violate step #1 of the author’s post?
Technically, yes. That’s why I think we don’t need to be perfectionsists about this. If we follow that rule just half the time, it’ll make a big difference.
Just to clarify:
When purchasing a good, does the rule apply just to the retailer, just to the manufacturer, or both? What about the general supply line, if it is grown independently, but shipped on a top 3 shipping corp, can I still buy it?
And how do corporate subsidiaries work, are they all assumed to be alter-egos of their corporate parents? So no purchases from subco if it’s owned by a top-3 parentco?
How does the rule apply when hiring service providers? is it ok if they are independent, even if they are using goods manufactured/shipped/sold by a big-3 corp; or is their purchase of the good imputed to my purchase of their service? (e.g. I’m thinking a local plumber using tools he bought at wal-mart)
It’s just a general guideline. Apply it however you think it will do the most good. Anyway you do it is better than just consuming without thinking about the effects your choices have.
Mary – thanks, but these are US brands. Aerosoles, for example, is HQ’d in Edison NJ – but they only design, market and distribute from there; all of their manufacturing is overseas…see..this is tricky.
Phooey.
For men’s shoes: Allen Edmonds, based and made in Port Washington, WI. When you wear them out, they will recraft them for about $100.
Men’s suits: Hartmarx, based in Chicago. Uses American union labor right here in the USA. Their Gold Trumpeters are as good as any Armani or Canali for a fraction of the price.
Thanks for that marvelous resource link. I’m going to bookmark it. I looked at the site and saw that virtually all of the shoes offered in my size represent about 1/10 of my monthly SS income. But buying shoes from other resources also means I can’t find any shoes that will fit me. Alas.
If you’re lucky enough to find such a pair of shoes, good luck with finding a shoe repair shop that can/will fix them. :-(
Shoe repair, we got – our area used to be the home of Endicott Johnson Shoes, so we probably have a half dozen shoe repair shops in the metro area.
Toby, I like Birkenstock shoes. They’re not Made is USA (but not China, either), and they are glued. They are all easily resoled and can be entirely rebuilt including footbed and leather. Lots of styles, including boots and traditional “dress” shoes.
I don’t give a damn and just wear my Boston clogs or London shoes everywhere. One pair is probably 15 years old now, resoled twice and cork rebuilt in the heel once (my fault for putting off the resole too long).
Right now, it will take more than political parties or movements to fix what’s wrong with this country.
The Mondragon Coop in the Basque region of Spain is a good example of anti-corp. And buying local. But, it won’t fix the problem.
Cartoon: Hype, not Hope.
http://www.trentonsun.net/opinions_pics/2010mar10-3.jpg
6) Find a way to get this message out to your neighbors, co-workers, relatives and other people who don’t read blogs or get any news aside from that on drive-time radio or the TV network news. And try to do it in a way that doesn’t make them want to punch you.
*heh* That’s a mighty fine line there, PW…! ;-)
not getting punched is on the top of my list.
Particularly, when they don’t want to hear it in the first place…! ;-)
As to #3 – Eat at home instead of eating out. Make it social and enjoyable by having friends over.
It’s amazing how much restaurant money gets distributed back to Big Ag and Big Food in general (Sysco, Monsanto, etc.) Mr. B and I very seldom eat out.
never say or write “insurance company “. “A malignant insurance corporation ” sounds about right.
Book Salon up at the Mothership with Amy Goodman’s Breaking the Sound Barrier hosted by Sara Robinson
I agree with your beginning premise that Washington is dominated by corporatists, be they Republican or Democrat. And I’m sympathetic to your general intent. But wrt to your suggestions, a couple of comments…
1. While boycotting the largest 3 players in any industry may feel good, based on the assumption you are rooting for the underdog, there’s little general reason to believe it accomplishes your goal. There’s no guarantee that #4 in an industry is any more ethical or local or accountable than the 3 largest players, just that they’re smaller and likely less efficient. As a result, they may in fact be less ethical, less likely to pay better wages, etc. Stay data-driven, and fact-driven.
4. If you continue to watch some TV, like I do, invest in a TIVO. You can then watch what you want, when you want, and virtually free of commercials. Once you’ve watched TV this way for a week, you’ll never go back to watching commercials or real-time programming. Life is just too short.
Finally, resist the urge to give up on capitalism. Even if you believe you have a better alternative–I’m unaware of what it is–you almost guarantee the continuation of the status quo by marginalizing the rest of us who don’t mind capitalism when bridled, but can’t accept the inherent injustice in unbridled capitalism. I see nothing wrong with a free market, if by free we agree to mean competitive and fair, due to appropriate regulation. It’s the unbridled brand of capitalism, the free market absolutism, the corporate welfare, that has become the status quo in our country that I object to. That doesn’t make me a communist or even a socialist.
By allowing the right wing to frame the choice as one between free market absolutism and socialism, we progressives handicap our cause. Frame the choice as one between corporate welfare and fairly regulated markets, and we’re much more likely to be successful in moving the country forward.
Unfortunately our president is so corporatist the closest he has come to effecting real change is to give a great speech.
Who’s giving up on capitalism? Everything I’ve mentioned involves making better consumer choices, which is at the heart of healthy capitalism. It’s a false dichotomy to say that those who oppose corporate dominated, free-market capitalism are socialists. What I’m saying here is a lot closer to Adam Smith’s economic vision than what we have in America right now.
Sorry. That comment wasn’t directed at you, but fuckno. Should have said as much. Agree completely with your comment.
As for the “top-three in each industry” boycott – it’s not saying that the other companies are any better. The idea is that it will cut down on the cut-throat competition to be #1. It would make maximizing profit at all costs no longer a desirable thing.
Still disagree that your recommended tactic will have your desired outcome.
A very long time, daily lurker resurfacing here, mainly to say thanks for this post that is so relevant at a time when many of us are very discouraged, if not outright frightened by and for America. As a senior citizen with only Social Security for income and Medicare to keep me going, and as someone who was born and raised in Canada where they at least have healthcare right, if not their winter weather, I find it hard sometimes not to worry about what’s coming down the pike for us all.
But as someone who lives literally 10 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, I consider myself very lucky that with even minimal creativity, it’s not hard to get by day to day. Also, as someone who has never stepped inside a Walmart – a matter of principle – it’s real easy to get along without them. Thrift stores are a great idea, and in abundance here. We also have flea markets and swap meets galore. Craig’s List is a godsend. Another advantage of the big city is discount or outlet stores, restaurant supply stores, and best of all, maybe, is Chinatown. If you haven’t explored the little, junky stores in any Chinatown, USA, you’re missing out on lots of great bargains as well as a chance to get to know a whole other culture. And their food is both cheap and good, too.
My veggie garden is in boxes on my garage roof, and populated with heirloom seeds purchased from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog [www.rareseeds.com] for less than I’d have had to pay at the nurseries here. The boxes are made from the former 12-foot rafters of my play-son’s restored Victorian house, and filled with soil made with peat moss, vermiculite, and our own compost, a la squarefootgardening.com’s methods.
The herb garden is in decorative pots under the sundial in the front yard.
You get the idea. Try a little creativity in one area, and you’ll surprise yourself about where else ideas pop up. It sure beats being scared and angry all the time. Again, thank you for this post.
Thank you. I encourage you to write diaries here and on other progressive sites about some of the ways you have learned to live and shop more responsibly. Good stuff!
Not watching television AT ALL is the biggest and most transformative step most Americans can take. But no one can be convinced of this until they’ve been weaned. You simply would not believe what happens, how one changes inside, after several years of not ever seeing a single commercial. One becomes sensitized again, and when one next encounters what passes for popular culture, the effect is shocking. Nauseating. Repellent.
Is anyone really surprised that Obama turned out to be such a joke? An affirmative-action president with no record and no accomplishment, with even his college grade records sealed, and people are SURPRISED that he’s turned out to be an empty suit?!
I probably have more questions than answers here, but let me dive in. Several years ago my wife’s grandmother bought her and the other grand kids a couple shares of stock in Wal-Mart. Through splits and such, that has become something like twelve shares. Which of course is nothing, except that Wal-Mart is obligated to send her all of the annual stockholder information they have to send to someone who owns 1,000,000 shares of Wal-Mart Stock. And, she gets her vote. I would think Wal-Mart would be obligated to honor a query about corporate compensation from a stock holder, no matter how much or how little stock the share holder owned. Seems to me the same thing would be true regarding any political contributions the corporation is making. I am sure others posting here know much more about shareholder’s rights than I do, which isn’t much.
So, what if I bought one share of stock in twenty of the companies whose practices I most detest. I figure about a $1,000 investment, counting fees. Seems to me, owning that one share entitles me to every right as any other share holder, including responsiveness to inquiries regarding executive compensation, political contributions, and a place at share holder meetings.
Seems to me this strategy, if employed by enough progressive folk, could be a viable vehicle for impacting corporate decisions. At the very least, it might just irritate the hell out of them, which if I could do that to twenty corporations for my $1000, I think that might very well be money well-spent.
Here’s one of my ways of talking about corporate control . . .
this is nice and all, but don’t fool yourself.
It’s going to take way more than this to make a difference.
If you think this has to be a binary change everything or change nothing situation, you’re a tool of the system.
Change yourself and your situation. The world will follow… or not. Either way, you are better off.
…and children must be shown how to not buy-to make, how to read-instead of watch, how to play with Nature- not plastic, how to hug- not hit, to eat what they grow, and mend what is broken.
To Inquisitr above: yes, it is going to take more than this to make a difference to them but it will make a great difference to each of us. Righteous understanding that we are trying not to enable the dismantling of human progress.
I think 4 of your suggestions will probably be practiced by more and more people due to the economic straits in which they will find themselves. Unfortunately, buying at Walmart will probably still be perceived as the cheapest alternative by many (no, I never have and I never will).
Go vegan. You will almost automatically stop buying a lot of corporate crap that way. You will be helping the planet. Keep stuff longer. My last car lasted for 17 years. Support alternative media. The Internet is a goldmine in this regard. Don’t lend the corporate media your eyes and ears, not even Maddow, Stewart, or Colbert. They only perpetuate the status quo. They don’t go nearly deeply enough into the problems we face. They keep us endlessly distracted.
All good ideas – especially the media part – although Stewart and Colbert are comedians, and we shouldn’t be considering them news sources. And Maddow does as well as is possible in the corporate media world. I give her lots of props and thinks she does a lot of holding feet to the fire that no one else on TV will do.
Hi Jim,
Re: Point #1
Yes, I can imagine how the ExxonMobil Corp. would behave if its market share fell. I imagine it would behave just as it does now.
That would be the same as the old ESSO behaved 75 years ago. And that would be the same as old John D. Rockefeller behaved in his day.
1. Cut up all your credit cards except one. Don’t become enslaved to debt. Do not use debit cards because they make it too easy to spend without thinking.
2. Move your banking to a smaller community bank. Why allow the same predators who brought down the world economy make money off your life.
3. Live with one vehicle if possible. Ride your bicycles.
There’s at least three subversive actions almost anyone can participate in.
And here comes Chris Dodd, determined to make the Fed even stronger.
Eat and shop at locally owned restaurants and businesses. Barter goods AND services whenever possible. Services are usually much more expensive than goods and everybody is hurting so they’re easy to come by. Of course the biggy is to move your money to small banks and encourage your community organizations to do the same. Avoid packaged foods and cook and eat better. Shop around the perimeter of the grocery store where the produce and raw meats are as much as possible. Get together with neighbors and pay your teenagers to go to the dump instead of expensive pickup. I love garbage pickup but this is a way to cut back on bills that’s pretty easy if the dump is close by. Don’t forget Craigslist. Carpool.
Well, Toby, I found you some very nice American-made shoes with very nice craftspersonship but I don’t know if they will be your speed:
Catskill Mountain Moccasins
http://www.catskill-moc.com