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January 08, 2005
Not a Damn Dime Day
I received this as an email and its a darn interesting premise...easy enough for me to do (especially since it's not a weekend). However, it would only have impact if the masses respond.
Not One Damn Dime Day (or how to protest the inaguration)
Dear all,
I think this is an important idea that could have an impact if we all promote it, and forward it widely. It is easy enough to implement with a little advance planning. And it's an action that's an inaction -- instead of taking your time it will give you time. And a breather from spending. Just leave your money at home that day. And ask everyone you know to do the same.
Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20th, 2005 is "Not One Damn Dime Day" in America.
On "Not One Dime Day" those who oppose what is happening in our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of all forms of consumer spending.
During "Not One Dime Day" please don't spend money. Not one dime for gasoline. Not one dime for necessities or for impulse purchases. Not one dime for anything for 24 hours.
On "Not One Dime Day," please boycott Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target.
Please don't go to the mall or the local convenience store. Please don't buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter).
For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy down.
The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting it and that it is their responsibility to stop it.
"Not One Dime Day" is to remind them, too, that they work for the people of the United States of America, not for the international corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations and funnel cash into American politics.
"Not One Dime Day" is about supporting the troops. The politicians put the troops in harm's way.
Now 1,200 brave young Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis have died. The politicians owe our troops a plan -- a way to come > home.
There's no rally to attend. No marching to do. No left or right wing agenda to rant about. On "Not One Dime Day" you take action by doing nothing.
You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed.
For 24 hours, nothing gets spent, not one dime, to remind our religious leaders and our politicians of their moral responsibility to end the war in Iraq and give America back to the people.
Please share this email with as many people as possible.
Posted by crystallyn at January 8, 2005 09:03 AM
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Comments
Who would it really impact? The big bad corporations who couldnt care less about one day or the small immigrant store owner who lives day by day on the sale of their goods. What about that starving college student who makes their tips as a waiter. If I really thought this idea would get off the ground, I would be concerned. I think this attention grabbing scheme would have the impact on the wrong people at that end of the day.
Posted by: Michele at January 8, 2005 06:09 PM
Actually, I hadn't thought of it that way, but you are probably right.
I think the thing is...too many people worship at the altar of Walmart and the like. They don't care about the practices of corporations like that and how they negatively impact communities; they only care about saving a buck. And in this economy I can almost understand. It's a vicious cycle that too many people just don't have the werewithal to realize that sometimes saving an extra dollar isn't really worth it when it comes to the preservation of our cities and neighborhoods.
Really, the only answer is to not patronize stores like that at all, which Joe and I really try not to do. We rarely eat at chain restaraunts (and never fast food); we don't shop at Walmart, etc.
Then again, maybe we're just snobs. :)
Posted by: Crystal at January 8, 2005 08:40 PM
Yeah, this is kinda like Buy Nothing Day (the day after Thanksgiving) that AdBusters and other groups try to promote. I think you blogged about it before, actually. I tried it once, but I wondered the same thing--how is not buying a sub at the corner store hurting big corporations?
So, if this somehow could be changed to only hurt the big companies that I think the campaign means to, that would be great, but those companies are SO damn big that it's likely they get a piece of whatever the little guys are making anyway. 5 or 10 steps down the line, but I bet they do.
Posted by: Sean at January 8, 2005 11:16 PM