not one damn dime
January 12, 2005 2:24 AM   Subscribe

Boycott Bush's inauguration by not spending any money on inauguration day
posted by three blind mice (50 comments total)
 
So this will be as effective as not buying gas on a singular day right?
posted by andendau at 2:31 AM on January 12, 2005


Yeah, and just as fucking well-thought out, too. "I know, let's punish small business owners around the country because we don't like the fact that just over half the voting population picked the chimp!!"

And I say this as a guy who cannot stand even the sound of our great leader's voice, much less look at him: dumbass fuckwits...
posted by Irontom at 2:38 AM on January 12, 2005


Error: Logic Not Found.
posted by TwelveTwo at 2:52 AM on January 12, 2005


This is possibly the most fucking stupid thing I've seen on Metafilter in a long time.

http://snopes.com/politics/war/not1dime.asp
posted by aerify at 3:04 AM on January 12, 2005


This is goofy. The real story of the inauguration is DC being forced to foot much of the bill for the increased security required for this pageant.
posted by fixedgear at 3:14 AM on January 12, 2005


What do you prefer? An actual protest with real action?

"I know, let's punish small business owners around the country"

Hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but if the system actually DOES break down 'small business' will have the short brown sticky end of the stick no matter what.

Guess what? IF this was an effective protest, people whould shift buying the the day before or the day after. So hardly a 'punishment'.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:31 AM on January 12, 2005


Boycott Bush's inauguration by not spending any money on inauguration day.

Got it... ok. Ya know, the fact that this is absurd aside, I can go several days in row, often, without spending money. What the hell difference does it make if it's inauguration day or not? It's not like I'm being asked to fast for a day, where I might be actually making some kind of small personal sacrifice. It's like asking me not to mow my grass on that day. "Really? Ok. I wasn't planning on it anyway." I'm sorry for giving this topic even this much thought.
posted by Witty at 3:36 AM on January 12, 2005


You people are funny.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 4:50 AM on January 12, 2005


Help W fight terrorism.
Go shopping. Spend, spend, spend.
Or something.
Yeah, I remember that. How to sacrifice against the war on terra. Buy an SUV. Or something.
Speaking of stupid stuff.
posted by nofundy at 4:56 AM on January 12, 2005


How about instead, we march on Washington?
/obvious
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:17 AM on January 12, 2005


To celebrate GW's inauguration, i'm going to withdraw funds from my 401K early and buy some cocaine. Or something.

Actually, i'm just kidding.

The real story of the inauguration is DC being forced to foot much of the bill for the increased security required for this pageant.

Looks like GW is "balking" at repaying DC $12million for inauguration costs (security, mainly).
posted by tpl1212 at 5:27 AM on January 12, 2005


Is bad as that one is, I think this one might be even more useless.
posted by psmealey at 5:32 AM on January 12, 2005


I'm waiting for backthatassuponbush.com...
posted by tpl1212 at 5:40 AM on January 12, 2005


You people are funny.

Perhaps. And you, Steve, are often deluded and banal.

That aside ... NODD is just silly. The scope is too wide and the effect is too small. Boycott everything by doing nothing! Just like "real" protesting, just without all that annoying effort.

Sure, there will be a double-handful of well-meaning folks that participate (by their fervent non-participation), but Jane & John Q Public are going to have to carry on with their day of fueling the car, paying tolls, buying groceries, tackling bills. Even those that participate will still be on the Internet(s), blogging about their passive activism, which means that they will be using bandwidth that they costs them (or someone) money.
posted by grabbingsand at 5:49 AM on January 12, 2005


"that they costs them"

Sorry. Lost grammatical cohesion there.
posted by grabbingsand at 5:51 AM on January 12, 2005


How about donating to a charity instead? Or volunteering? Would that be less... uh... dickheaded?
posted by selfnoise at 5:52 AM on January 12, 2005


Yes it would... and most of all, it would really show Bush just how pissed off you really are.
posted by Witty at 6:10 AM on January 12, 2005


Indeed, I'd rather take my protest to the streets than do something as ineffective and pointless as this.

Two, one two three four
Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

C'mon
Ev'rybody's talking about Ministers,
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, evolution, masturbation,
flagellation, regulation, integrations,
meditations, United Nations,
Congratulations.

All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,
Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper,
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer,
Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare, Hare Krishna

posted by ashbury at 6:30 AM on January 12, 2005


I haven't spent any money for the past two days. Shit. Who have I been protesting against without realising it?
posted by flashboy at 6:36 AM on January 12, 2005


Whether or not you like it, I think it's pretty much beyond argument that Bush absolutely, completely, and utterly does not care what left-wing protesters think, say or do. Hardly seems right to punish merchants in pursuit of the existentially impossible goal of getting Bush's attention.

If you want to protest Bush's re-election, why don't you target your protests at the people who, more than anyone else, actually caused it -- the cynical Democrat leaders and power-brokers who sunk Howard Dean in order to protect themselves (win or lose in November), and the Iowans and New Hampshirans stupid enough to buy the con that John Kerry was "electable."
posted by MattD at 6:36 AM on January 12, 2005


[This is stupid.]
posted by bshort at 6:47 AM on January 12, 2005


I received the email forward this morning, and it had Bill Moyers' name signed at the end of it. WTF?
posted by junkbox at 6:50 AM on January 12, 2005


Ashbury, all you do is Haight.

I thought people were already going to protest by turning their backs on the motorcade. Is this just the protestus for the rest of us?
posted by Arch Stanton at 6:56 AM on January 12, 2005


What they need propose is to have a general strike like they do in other countries to protest government asshattedness. But I'm sure the administration would spin it into a positive -- "people are so happy of our leader's second term they marched in the streets across the country in support". The media would lap it up.
posted by birdherder at 6:56 AM on January 12, 2005


You people are funny.

I've received this ridiculous idea as a "forward to everyone you know" email three times now, each time from increasingly disappointing sources (co-worker, mother in law, mom). So far, my favorite reaction is "You people are funny".
posted by jonson at 7:06 AM on January 12, 2005


"To show my seething anger at the president, I will nott purchase anything from a store for a whole day!"

Except you'll be back, you know? When you need smokes. Protesting like this is kind of like your employer protesting by not giving you your paycheck on Thursday, but instead giving it to you on Friday. An inconvenience? Sure. Potentially costly? Sure, if your rent was due on that very day and you had checks in the mail and your checks bounced, you might pay some cash you wouldn't expect to. Maybe. But it's not gonna drive you into bankruptcy - and chances are actually pretty good that it won't affect you in the least come the week's end, because you're gonna get the money eventually anyway.

The lesson? If you're going to boycott, don't do it in some pansy-assed way that has you making the "ultimate" sacrifice of OMG NOT SHOPPING FOR TWELVE HOURS. Don't buy from the people who support your causes in the first place - try Buy Blue (their site's doing more research to trace sources right now, but I hope they'll be back). In other words, stop buying from the evil corporations forever, and write them to tell them why you're not buying any more.
posted by ShawnStruck at 7:33 AM on January 12, 2005


I just want to go on record as saying that I hate 'slactivism' and I'm doing something about it.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:40 AM on January 12, 2005


I really hate the Bush administration. I won't be participating in this "boycott".

[this is pointless]
posted by mosch at 7:44 AM on January 12, 2005


Anybody besides me remember this somewhat, ahem, similar protest? I think it was just surprisingly ineffective, which wasn't my fault: I had the bumpersticker on my army surplus backpack and my guitar case. And I probably even cut class to show my support. Yet the Reagan administration did not topple. /cynicism

Still, I probably will try to not spend money, I mean, why not? Sure it's a little silly and will do nothing, but then having the largest protest marches in history all over the world was completely ignored as well. If it's just a stupid sop to my liberal conscience, which, okay, it is, then at least my liberal conscience feels a little better the next day.
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:47 AM on January 12, 2005


Yup, chooseblue and buyblue are the way to go. Reward those companies that donate to causes/parties/candidates you believe in, and don't give money to those that don't.

It is absolutely obscene what an enormous payola thing the whole inauguration is, especially when the soldiers still don't have the equipment/protection they need.
posted by amberglow at 7:55 AM on January 12, 2005


Action without action. Protesting without putting your neck out. If people really wanted to protest, they'd boycott their jobs for a week.
posted by iamck at 8:00 AM on January 12, 2005


So you're saying that my liberal conscience would be served if I didn't spend $5 for a bowl of pho at lunch on inauguration day?

And after Inauguration Day, I'm supposed to vet the owner of the pho shop with some retarded blue web site before I spend my $5?

That is stupid beyond belief.
posted by casu marzu at 8:06 AM on January 12, 2005


they'd boycott their jobs for a week.

or at least just one day. or just dress in black for the day. or maybe send the prez a snack.
posted by danOstuporStar at 8:07 AM on January 12, 2005


psmealey, i think you might be surprised by turnyourbackonbush. i really believe it has a chance of being effective. even if only 1 out of 100 parade-goers turns around, it will be something that's demonstrable and reportable. there will be 100,000 people protesting Bush Jan20 in DC, but the rove propaganda machine will easily ignore them. the people who have turned their backs in every photo will not be so easy to dismiss.
posted by danOstuporStar at 8:19 AM on January 12, 2005


I'm gonna protest by putting my flag out ... upside down.
posted by nofundy at 8:45 AM on January 12, 2005


Are the "Buy Nothing Day" people getting desperate for attention?
posted by CellarFloor at 8:49 AM on January 12, 2005


danOstuporStar - Those few people in the few published photos will be dismissed quite handily. And frankly, these people can't afford to lose a days pay for this protest, they have an inauguration to pay for after all.
posted by j.p. Hung at 8:58 AM on January 12, 2005


I figured I'd hold a silent protest where I pick pocket the fat cats that attend the ceremony.
posted by drezdn at 9:37 AM on January 12, 2005


As far as the dressing in black idea goes... how, on the streets of, say, Seattle or New York, will they know we're dressed in black against Bush, instead of, y'know, every other day?
posted by salad spork at 10:02 AM on January 12, 2005


I don't give a damn that its a pointless protest, I don't give a damn that it won't mean anything to Bush or his cronies.

I do give a damn that it'll make me feel a little better. So I'm going to not spend on the 20th, not to join a national protest against the corrupt stupidity that is the Bush administration but to protest it personally.

I like nofundy's idea as well. Perhaps, no, no, I couldn't, but maybe I will, maybe I'll do both. Oooh, that'll show that smarmy jerk!

January 20th is Inverted Flag Day!
posted by fenriq at 10:08 AM on January 12, 2005


No, spend the money on porn. Bush hates that.
posted by nyxxxx at 10:11 AM on January 12, 2005


I thought this was lame when I got it in a forwarded e-mail. But to see it show up here?
posted by pmurray63 at 10:13 AM on January 12, 2005


This is hilarious. While I was reporting on the annual WTO protest in DC two years ago I ran into some kid from a group called Bureaucrash, that are paid by some right-wing foundation to do counter-protests or some such thing. Anyway, at the march he was handing out flyers that read:

CAPITALISM SUCKS! It has been brought to our attention that some anti-capitalist protesters are engaging capitalism. This not only reflects poorly on you but on the entire anti-capitalist movement. We haven’t come up with a solution to provide the most basic needs without engaging in capitalism so please hold off until you get home. Consider this a warning. Our secret police are watching.

People were snatching them up, completely oblivious it was a joke...
posted by Heminator at 10:20 AM on January 12, 2005


"I don't give a damn that its a pointless [gesture]....I do give a damn that it'll make me feel a little better."

Well, that about sums up a good portion of the left.
posted by soulhuntre at 11:15 AM on January 12, 2005


No, spend the money on porn. Bush hates that.

no bittorent? Bush hates that too
posted by matteo at 11:42 AM on January 12, 2005


Bittorrent is free. How does that help?

You're part of the problem.
posted by nyxxxx at 12:22 PM on January 12, 2005


soulhuntre, that I'm willing to do a little protest to make myself feel a little better? What? Does the GOP just go out and stomp on kittens or something instead?

Show me something that would have a greater impact, that might actually get the fuckers to notice that they do not, in fact, have the support of the nation, that they can't just behave like a bunch of drunk frat boys out causing mischief (if empire building can be called mischief).

Offer something better.

And making wide sweeping generalizations of a political party based on one single statement by a single person is pretty shortsighted and weak. I'm not speaking for anyone but myself.
posted by fenriq at 2:06 PM on January 12, 2005


Well, my view is: anything but a bare bones inauguration is offensive, particularly in time of war.

Also, I heard that a Christian prayer will be said (only) at the inauguration. That is at least as offensive.

Mr. President: BOO.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:09 PM on January 12, 2005


Well, my view is: anything but a bare bones inauguration is offensive, particularly in time of war.

Amen.
posted by psmealey at 10:52 PM on January 12, 2005


I love how you people pretend that the president isn't aware of you anti-Bushies. "He's just going to ignore us" WHAA WHAA WHAA! What is it you want him to do... address you personally? As if you'd even be interested.

Your time would be better spent getting ready for 2008. Try finding a fucking candidate worth someone's vote. "I'm gonna protest the inauguration, yea". You sound like a bunch of pussies and dorks. You people come up with the dumbest shit.
posted by Witty at 2:05 AM on January 13, 2005


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