Vote wit yo' pocketbook!
There is a lively discussion going on at Fight fo' da Future concerning da "Wal-Martization" of America n' shit. They are talking 'bout how reach Wall Street execs who manage da paper; 'bout outsourcing 'n how stop that shiznit." All important points n' shit. All valid concerns n' shit.
Maybe I'm blind or not bright 'nuff "understand" but me da whole problem is quite simple, know what I'm sayin'? In general, Americans want buy stuff fo' da lowest possible price, know what I'm sayin'? Most of us don't care where a product wuz made; how much da person who made that shiznit wuz paid; what harm wuz done da environment in order keep da costs down; whether or not da person stocking da shelves is underpaid or overworked, know what I'm sayin'? Until we stop shopping en masse at Wal Mart 'n da other giant retailers they will continue dominate da marketplace."
Go ahead 'n fine 'em." As long as da fines do not surpass da paper they saved by breaking da laws/regulations they will continue break 'em 'n continue pay da fines, know what I'm sayin'?
Picket? We could picket izzall da Wal Marts in da country but as long as muthas cross that picket line shop fo' bargains, Wal Mart execs won't care."
But, if muthas stop spending they paper at Wal Mart (or da orange place, blue place, red place) 'n da shareholders (da almighty shareholders) begin see lower returns that is when a change will occur n' shit.
Bottom line is this: Somehow we gots convince muthas of da consequences of shopping at Wal Mart, know what I'm sayin'? Ultimately that shiznit's in they best interest support local shops, know what I'm sayin'? The small shops are da ones that will employ they teenagers, support they charities, take da extra step satisfy 'em, know what I'm sayin'? And, in most cases da smaller companies DO NOT outsource, DO NOT beat up they suppliers fo' every penny n' shit. And they DO follow da rules, DO offer advancement, DO provide a progressive working environment, know what I'm sayin'? The benefits are two-, three-, even four-fold, know what I'm sayin'?
1. Stronger local companies contributing da tax base of yo' community, know what I'm sayin'?
2. Livelier local commercial environment."
3. Higher pay 'n better benefits fo' workers."
4. An investment in da future of yo' community, know what I'm sayin'?
For progressives, there is mo' incentive." My anecdotal review of other small business owners (I co-own a business that could not be much smaller) shows that we tend be mo' liberal, mo' concerned wit da future of da country 'n mo' engaged in izzle communities than da monolithic corporations n' shit.
Vote wit yo' pocketbook, know what I'm sayin'? I used adore Oprah Winfrey." I read her magazine, watched her show when I could, thought brizzle wuz da cats meow, know what I'm sayin'? Then, a week before da California Governor's Recall Election brizzle had Ahnold 'n Maria on her show fo' da full hour, know what I'm sayin'? I wrote her a letter explaining my bomb diggity disappointment in her choice of timing 'n explained that brizzle had lost a loyal magazine customer 'n a intermittent viewer, know what I'm sayin'? I don't shop at Wal-Mart." Even though glasses from they vision center are da least expensive wit my vision coverage, know what I'm sayin'? I'm no saint." These a small gestures."
It works da other way too n' shit. Dal LaMagna, da founder of Tweezerman is a remarkable fool, as founder 'n executive director of The Progressive Government Institute tha dude has given us a way monitor 'n evaluate unelected presidential appointees who are making choices fo' us each day n' shit. So next time yo' ass need tweezers, or manicure scissors look fo' da Tweezerman Brand, know what I'm sayin'? See this post fo' mo' 'bout MistaLaMagna n' shit. There are many mo' progressive heroes in American business n' shit. Find 'em n' shit. Spend yo' paper wit 'em, know what I'm sayin'?
So, how do we do that shiznit? How do we persuade muthas that da extra few bones they spend wit a local purveyor will help 'em build a stronger community, a stronger state, 'n a stronger country." This is da discussion I want has n' shit.
Cross-posted at Blog fo' Democracy."
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