Actually, we do still have some power.

[cornermouse]

The power of the purse, the ability to cut off spending.

Perhaps it is time for us to remind the business community that fully half of this nation did NOT vote for Bush and will NOT support companies who contributed heavily to Bush.

Perhaps it is time for us to remind them that although Rove and DeLay have made it their business to punish those who donated to the democrats that following the dictates as laid out by Rove and DeLay is costing them sales/money.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

1. Can history be a guide?

Can anyone cite an example of a boycott that worked? Perhaps there has been success at the local level, but has there ever been a national-scale boycott that yielded desired results? Just askin' (but by skepticism may be showing). If there has been success, or not, let's learn from history on this in order to be more effective. Can enough people be mobilized?

Was Heinz hurt much by the conservative boycott of Heinz ketchup during the 2004 election? Is "W" ketchup even being sold anymore?

[Warpy]

2. South Africa

The boycott was worldwide and yes, it did work. The worst aspects of Apartheid, the Pass Laws, were discarded first.

The boycott of US goods is only beginning, worldwide. It is likely to continue, and to get more severe.

Remember, even a 10% decline in business will be seen as "crippling" by crybaby corporate types. Anything over that gets them clamoring for a change in policy by government.

Add to the nascent worldwide boycott the fact that they're choking of the US as a major marketplace by holding wages down and throwing people out of work in favor of overseas workers whose currency is at a disadvantage compared to the still fairly strong dollar.

A domestic boycott won't have that much of an effect. The international one will.

However, I won't support right wing business if I have a choice.

[cornermouse]

3. Apparently it can.

Check out Rove and DeLay for extreme examples.

I'm sure freepers would strongly prefer it if we just sat back and did nothing... That seems to be their on-going message.

[punpirate]

4. There have been a few...

... mentioned here:

http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/boycotts/successfulboycotts.htm

Other examples here:

http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/actionkit_en.php#back

It's not impossible, but takes more organization and time than a spur-of-the-moment campaign can allow.

I think perhaps the most notable international effort mentioned above was directed toward apartheid South Africa.

There is a problem with boycotts today, in that most of the alternatives to a particular company's products or services usually mean directing money toward yet another violator, or doing without (a more difficult thing to convince people to do).

Cheers.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

6. List of "good" and "bad"?

Thanks for the links.

Wasn't there a list of red and blue companies up at http://www.majorityblue.com? That URL was not working for me today.

[punpirate]

7. I believe there was a list...

... gradually being expanded. But, yes, doesn't seem the site is up right now.

Cheers.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

10. http://www.choosetheblue.com/

Sorry, it was choosetheblue, not majorityblue!

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php

[Eagle_Eye]

5. Buying products to support progressives couldn't hurt

Ben and Jerry's ice cream
Apple computers

[hinachan]

8. Yes, "W" ketchup is still around

And the Repukes are idiots for boycotting Heinz, b/c Heinz overwhelmingly contributed to the GOP. So they're basically only hurting a GOP contributor!

As for your other question, there's a first time for everything. If nothing else, at least it makes you feel good, to support Democratic contributors instead of the people giving money to Bu$hCo.

[luaptifer]

9. Sinclair Broadcasting! and that was a powerful signal because

if you will remember, Sinclair had planned to curry favor with the bu$hwhores and FCC in order to further their consolidation agenda this term.

instead, they are SO addicted to the quarterly profit cycle and nearterm revenues that our pressure on the advertizers...well i remember JUST HOW PISSED OFF were the freeple at the final broadcast. that was suhwEET!

very powerful signal that they sacrificed their longerterm agenda to the shortterm! afterthought...i guess it's possible they were hedging their bets since it was becoming clear kerry was gonna pull it out but pressure helped nonetheless.