Nance and Lisa mentioned GoodsUniteUs in the comments the other day as a way of checking out the politics of companies we're giving our $$ to. I agree that they're outstanding.
On a similar note, I've used Buycott in the past to check out specific brands--the app can scan UPCs, QRs, and barcodes while you're in the store.
Engie mentioned looking up local stores on social media to get a read on their politics as well--I hadn't thought of that!
J mentioned that she would be supporting local businesses and using cash, and that's such a great way to bypass the system. Several friends have mentioned this as a way to support small businesses as well.
Stephany wondered where one would go for basics in the long term, and I haven't figured that one out yet. Bodegas?
The People's Union USA is taking the lead on Friday's economic shutdown--they're very new and worth/need keeping tabs on.
Pic: I find it so hilarious when Max does this--he bops Huckie on the head when he wants to play. They've already cleared all the pillows off the couches, but apparently there's more wild rumpus to follow.
22 comments:
Those are two of the cutest dogs of all time! I really love the sites and ideas you mentioned. Thanks for sharing Lynn's info -- signed up.
Yes, I have questions! So Target, Walmart and Amazon are no good. Where do I go if I want to buy something like an oven mitt? Or a dustpan? I guess the answer lie in the websites you mentioned. I have to delve into this more deeply! Thanks for the links.
Good for you.
Thanks for all the info. Buying things has gotten very complicated. I mean it always was, but I am finding it more so these days.
The inside of your house always looks so colorful and inviting.
It is challenging when the big companies are all problematic when it comes to household goods and such. :/ I need convenience in my stage of life and the convenient options like Target and Amazon are terrible. Sigh.
Your dogs are so dang cute!!!
Dogs really are the best (and I say that as a satisfied cat owner of many decades).
I learned a long, long time ago that the act of buying anything was political. When I was just a little girl, I used to go grocery shopping with my father, and I remember when we didn't buy grapes even though I wanted some. My dad, a union steelworker, told me that the farm workers who picked those grapes were treated unfairly and not even paid enough to provide for their children. The only way to help them was to stop buying the grapes and force their bosses to pay them more.
My dad taught me an enormous amount about politics in his lifetime.
Laughing at the head tap. Mulder used to do that too, and if the other dog doesn't know what's going on, ANNOYING!
Trying to be a good consumer is complicated, right? A few months ago I decided that I really wanted a nice tissue box holder for my bathroom, because the bright garish boxes they come in do not match my decor. That is the epitome of first world problems, right? I went to several stores, and no one had anything that would work. (Can I mention that my downstairs bathroom is the only room in the house that looks EXACTLY as I want it to look? No input from anyone else, no compromises? This is big when you live with a spouse that has very different taste from yours.) I ended up finding a perfect one on Amazon. Sigh! So I am not ready to say that I will NEVER shop on Amazon or Target, but I AM willing to say that I will do my darndest to look around thoroughly first. And look at buying things directly from the company that produces the object, rather than through a third party. Like Nance, we did not eat grapes for a while when I was a kid, and we would not buy Minute Maid OJ, because of Anita Bryant and her anti-feminist agenda.
I just had to pause my yoga because I have more to say and getting it out of my head is a good thing. Regarding Engie's very good point about local businesses and their politics, that can be really complicated, right? Here's my example of that.
We have a locally owned pizza place, the pizza is good, the service is fine. The owner is extremely involved in the community. For decades he has been sponsoring youth sports teams and school fundraisers. During the lock down phase of the pandemic, and really all that summer, he donated meals to the local hospitals for the workers dealing with COVID (every day, 2 hospitals), asking only for volunteers to deliver them. I loved him for this, and I volunteered and also bought pizza to support his business. Then when the BLM/George Floyd protests were rocking our town, and people were marching on the freeway and disrupting traffic, he made a comment on Facebook that really pissed me off. So he's a good guy in many ways, and an asshole in others. Complicated. I don't buy pizza from him anymore, and it makes me sad
I resent how much energy I waste on whether or not something is okay to buy. That's all.
Thanks, Jeanie... I tend to agree :)!
And I think you'll love Lynn too.
Jenny, Same questions for me. I have to remember a time before I started using them...Smaller stores? Secondhand? Etsy?
Thanks.
Steph, it's mostly food and basics at this point--but it's not as automatic as before.
Thank you! Renewing my invitation for a visit! Are there any plans for another Michigan visit?
Lisa--The inconvenience is certainly huge! It would be so easy for Target to just reinstate the DEI--it's a simple ask.
Thanks, I adore my permanent toddlers :)!
Nance, I am becoming a big fan of your dad. I come by my union politics through reading and movies, so your real-life grapes story brought a lump to my throat. I know this one! The United Farm Workers strike! I recently saw the Cesar Chavez movie and grapes were boycotted by union families even across the pond! Love that solidarity.
Isn't it the worst when the other person doesn't respond to your cues? Mulder was right to be annoyed.
I'm glad you have your downstairs bathroom as a sanctuary for your decor decisions. You're a responsible consumer, J--I like your idea of using Amazon to find the product and them buying directly from the company (basically bypassing Amazon?) Genius.
I love your grape story, too. As I told Nance, the grape boycott features in the Cesar Chavez biopic, and it moves me that you have a real experience of it as part of your childhood memories. We boycotted Kelloggs in solidarity with striking workers a few years ago, I wonder if my kids will remember?
I was confused by the Anita Bryant reference and had to go look it up--I thought you meant Anita Roddick (who founded The Body Shop) and is considered to be cool.
Yeah--this story just made me so sad. (Also, the thought of you needing to get this off your chest to the point where you had to pause yoga!) It reminds me of a radio interview with a Minneapolis small business owner who said he supported BLM until his business was disrupted... and ALL of this reminds me of _Do the Right Thing_
And you're buying less, right? Me too... I was thinking this morning that that's not a bad thing, either.
Probably not. North and Avery are not in touch as much as they were when they first found each other, which is making North sad. They did find a couple more half-sibs, though, one of whom is in culinary school for pastry!
The first part is a bit sad, but the second part is sweet (all puns intended).
I'm still trying to figure out where to buy the products I usually get at Target (mostly toiletries/household supplies) and Amazon. Some of the swaps are easy (once I stop shopping at Aldi, hopefully I can buy most of my toiletries/supplies there) but some are harder. I was tempted to buy a pack of thank you cards at Target because I knew it would be cheaper. But I decided to look on Etsy instead. A lot more expensive, of course, but a product that's going directly to an artist at least. (But what are the artist's politics?!?!? ARGHHH.) It's all so complicated.
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