For one thing, boycott Dell Computers

[quiet.american]

Everyone's asking what they can do.

For one thing, 55 million people is one hell of an economic block. Where to start? Don't buy Dell Computers.

It seems to have slipped way under the radar that Dell CEO Michael Dell is an ardent, avidly fervent loyal Bush supporter.

Meaning he's an ardent supporter of raising the national debt ceiling, keeping the minimum wage to a minimum, welfare for the wealthy, privatizing Social Security, men telling women what they can and cannot do with their own bodies, lying the country into war, slaughtering tens of thousands of innocent people, faux Christianity, Fox News, Sean Hannity, e-voting machines with no paper trail and all the rest of Bush's agenda.

Here's a snippet of what Dell has contributed to Bush:

"Dell Computers executive Michael Dell has also played a big part in the Bush campaign. He’s personally donated $250,000 to the RNC, and his company’s given has swung heavily to Republican organizations--$353,000 vs $145,549 for Democratic groups. Dell has also been a very public supporter of Bush, lending his name to the campaign in several published letters and editorials."

http://www.knowthecandidates.org/ktc/bushcontributors.htm

More fat cats ripe for a boycott here:
http://www.corporateswine.net/pinkpages.html

Some may think Dell computers are way cool, but the next time you're tempted to buy one, just know your hard-earned dollars are going towards a stamp of approval for Shrub's smirk.

[shaolinmonkey]

1. Buy a cheap, bare-bones system and install

Linux. Mandrake is nice.

[hollywood926]

3. I was just in the market for a Dell - not now!

[quiet.american]

24. Thank you!

Please pass the word on.

Michael Dell, with a substandard company and anti-democracy politics is making piles of cash off American consumers to the tune of his own personal salary being $82.3 Million -- a year:

Dell Computers Net Sales 2003: $35.4 Billion

Michael Dell's 2003 Salary: $82.3 Million (Third highest paid CEO in 2003, according to Forbes.)

[one_true_leroy]

22. how would you go about doing that?

I've wanted to build one from scatch, but I'm not experienced enough to do so. Any suggestions?

[shaolinmonkey]

27. You can get bare-bones systems at pricewatch.com

I'm still not comfortable building the whole thing myself either. Use an other computer with a fast connection and download the cd images from http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ before you do the install. It installs just like Windows. It comes with a word processor, web browser, email client etc. The biggest drawback is in the area of print publication (no Adobe stuff, but there are similar image editors. I'm not sure about the print quality).

I'd suggest a beginner's linux book as well. It's more hands-on, but hey, it's free.

[eleonora]

2. Think Different. Buy Mac ;)

[dirtyduck]

13. who'd want a dell anyway? buy a mac -- it's a thinking man's computer

[one_true_leroy]

20. almost agree...

except it's like a car with the hood welded shut. great, until it breaks down. (written on a mac, so I know of which I speak)

[Cobalt Violet]

4. Dude your gettin' a Bush.

:argh:

[quiet.american]

23. Nice one

n / t

[billbuckhead]

5. Al Gore is on the board of Apple computers

Also, one can buy Linux using off brand computers for as little as $200.

[Chiyo-chichi]

6. never mind.

[candy]

7. I have a Dell Inspiron 1150 and I DESPISE Dell.---- long story--

but I tell everyone to avoid that crappy company. They care nothing about their customers once the purchase is actually finalised.

[juliagoolia]

8. NOT ONLY THAT>> THEY OUTSOURCE TECH SUPPORT

and put skilled workers out of a job!

We need to boycott all the high tech folks that do that.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

9. I, unfortunately, have THREE Dell computers

My desktop at work, my work laptop, and my personal laptop (which I purchased before knowing what I do now about Dell)

They're all junk, especially my personal laptop (which is a "consumer" model, e.g. built from the cheapest components they could find).

So even beyond the facts about Dell's political affiliations, their computers are crap so you're better off buying elsewhere.

[PretzelWarrior]

10. how bout this? don't buy ANY computer from a mfg.

buy a used one you can upgrade or live with at it's current clock speed and memory level.

The idea here is to create ZERO extra spending in our economy for a quarter or so. REALLY bite down hard on spending. Consumer spending and consumer confidence are the HUGE drivers of this economy.

Don't buy a new car, buy a used one. (not certified used from dealer)

Don't buy a home right now. You may be living in an area where housing market will start to fall flat and you can get a deal soon anyway.

[physioex]

16. Tehehe...

I've thought about that. I am hoping for a housing bubble burst, but I am not sure if it will happen... :evilgrin:

[PretzelWarrior]

19. if it happens...it tends to happen locally in certain markets

like if a huge mfg company suddenly deserts a town and people have to sell in droves and there are foreclosures...

a general stall in housing across the country could mean only one thing...HUGE INTEREST RATES...which means the seller trying to unload would have to do so at a price below what they would recover any equity on and the buyer will get a "steal" but have to pay outrageous rates.

that is what happened in early 80's. guess who wins in that situation? you guessed it. investment class who can waltz in and pay cash on homes and property at dramatically reduced rates.

it is coming. it won't be pretty.

[physioex]

28. I agree on the huge interest rates...

And plan to save up to pay for most the house up front... :)

[physioex]

11. I am confused....

On one hand he supports Bu$h and on the other he is pro-outsourcing. Since the voters seem to care more about gay marriages than outsourcing, I have "flip-flopped" have become pro-outsourcing myself. Let the dumb MF's learn their lesson when all their jobs have gone overseas...

[quiet.american]

29. Er...

Pro-Bush IS Pro-outsourcing. No conflict there.

[ET Awful]

12. A boycott I would much rather see. . . .

boycott cable TV.

Imagine if 55 million people cancelled cable TV for just one month.

Think about that for a minute, think about what that would do to the Bush shills in the media and their enablers.

[kick-ass-bob]

14. Makes me so proud to see this

:(

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1799233p-8099461c.html

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

15. You want to set in motion a liberal economic bloc?

Find local computer builder and have them build one for you. That's what I am doing to keep my head above water and I have happy customers and the list is growing.

If you live in Northern NJ or NE PA and you need a computer, get in touch with me.

[physioex]

17. Sorry dude...

But the voters have spoken, and they are pro-outsouring. Unless you want to work for 5 cents an hour, your services are no longer required.

[kikiek]

21. That was why I didn't buy one of theirs. But good luck finding one

that isn't.

[kikiek]

18. My sister is looking for one now. I will pass that on. Thanks.

[physioex]

25. No buy a Dell...

The voters are spoken. Let the dumb MF's lose their jobs......

[quiet.american]

26. 55 million of us have spoken, too

And we SAY NO to the Bush agenda!

[physioex]

30. Hiya quiet...

Welcome to DU...Nice to have you on board. :hi:

[quiet.american]

32. Thanks Physioex

Nice to be here.

[quiet.american]

31. Thank you!

Does it really make sense to continue to fund Bush supporters with our hard-earned dollars?

Thanks again. Please do pass it on.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

33. "Slipped way under the radar?"

Sez who?

When the champagne corks popped in India over Bush's re-selection, the same thing was going on at Dell's place.

This falls into the category of "The Pope is Catholic."

[quiet.american]

35. Didn't get the e-vite --

Sorry, but I was neither in India nor at Dell's place, so got to put the word out here.

Gee, the Pope is catholic???!!!!

[SW FL Dem]

34. My son wants a Dell for Christmas -what is better?

Based on this, he won't be getting a Dell, but I am definitely not capable of building my own and our other computers are not compatible with Macs so that isn't an option.

[quiet.american]

36. I'm not a techie --

--and my computer was custom-built for me, but maybe a start would be to comparison shop on the "Internets."

[quiet.american]

37. How Bush pays Dell back

More on Dell here:

http://www.corporateswine.net/dell.html