Businesses that I am Boycotting

[Mojo2]

Last edited Thu Jan 17, 2013, 01:24 PM - Edit history (5)

I refuse to spend any of my money with any of the following companies due to their support of the radical right agenda. I have recently added Whole Foods, but perhaps there are others that I am unaware of and someone could point them out for me. Although, I am just one consume (actually 4 if you count my family), these companies will not receive a penny from me in order to fund their hate machines:

Chik-Fil-A

Carl Jr's

White Castle-the Ohio-based burger chain, gave $25,000 to the Boehner-linked Congressional Leadership Fund Super PAC.

Cracker Barrel
Waffle House-he 24-hour breakfast food restaurant, gave Karl Rove’s group American Crossroads $100,000 from its corporate fund

Papa Johns-Papa has been a basher of Obama and the Affordable Care Act

Domino's-Owner is one of the head nuts for the extreme right wing

Whole Foods

Blue Bell Ice Cream-the ice cream manufacturer, gave $40,000 to the Boehner-linked Congressional Leadership Fund Super PAC

Regal Cinema- is an affiliate of AEG, whose parent company Anschutz Corporation is run by Philip Anschutz. He has made many political donations, including a $50,000 to the Boehner-linked Congressional Leadership Fund Super PAC

Marriot Hotels-is a subsidiary of Marriott International, whose chairman J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. has contributed $1,000,000 to Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future.

Ritz Carlton-is a subsidiary of Marriott International, whose chairman J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. has contributed $1,000,000 to Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future.

New Balance-the shoe company, is headed by Jim Davis who has donated $1,000,000 to Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future

Golds Gym-s a subsidiary of TRT Hodlings, a private corporation whose co-founder Robert Rowling has given more than $1,000,000 in total to American Crossroads and Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future

Curves (a gym that is mainly women, supports the defunding of Planned Parenthood and is against abortion rights)
Dixie Cup-s a subsidiary of Koch Industries, headed by Charles and David Koch who are planning to funnel approximately $400 million to groups like the National Rifle Association, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, the National Right to Life Committee, Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, the 60 Plus Association and the American Future Fund. [Source]

Brawny Paper Towels-s a subsidiary of Koch Industries, headed by Charles and David Koch who are planning to funnel approximately $400 million to groups like the National Rifle Association, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, the National Right to Life Committee, Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, the 60 Plus Association and the American Future Fund. [Source]

Angel Soft Toilet Paper-is a subsidiary of Koch Industries, headed by Charles and David Koch who are planning to funnel approximately $400 million to groups like the National Rifle Association, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, the National Right to Life Committee, Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, the 60 Plus Association and the American Future

Georgia Pacific (Funny story, this company called me last week and said they had been referred to me through a headhunter and wanted to talk to me about either a full-time job or a consulting job. At this point, I interrupted the guy and said "not interested" and he said "I didnt even tell you about the position, salary or location", so I restated "not interested, I would never work for the enemy", a long pause then ensued. When the gent finally replied he stated "what do you mean enemy", so I said "I would never work for the Koch Brothers and the world would be a better place if they were dead" and I hung up.

Olive Garden

Dunkin Doughnuts

Home Depot-When Al Franken was running for Senate their CEO said that any business person who voted for Franken should be shot. He refused to apologize or even say that he was joking

Red Lobster

Applebee's-Cutting employee hours to do the end run around around Obamacare

Jimmy Johns-Anti union and against Affordable Care Act

WalMart-Anti union, poor employee benefits

Outback Steakhouse-Forced employees to make donations to GOP candidates, and let Rick Sanitarium use their corporate jet, like it was his personal car. Plus, they're pushing to lower the "tipped" minimum wage to servers.

Wyndham-NRA backer

Macy's-For continuing to utilize the master of hate Donald Trump

Charles Schwab-Large level of funding supporting the extreme right wing nut agenda.

[CanonRay]

1. My list is similar, but can I ask

why: New Balance and Blue Bell Ice Cream. I must have missed these.

[catbyte]

2. I'd add Papa Johns, Red Lobster & Olive Garden to the list

for their attack on employees concerning health care.

[winterpark]

31. Just list all the Darden restaurants, see below:

Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's and Yard House.

Not only for the Obamacare thing but also for their collaboration with Orange County (Fl) mayor and commissioners to keep a citizens petition off the ballot last november mandating paid sick pay within Orange County. After the citizens followed proper procedure and law. That in itself is deplorable because food workers are the ones directly passing on germs and viruses if they are sick.

I have boycotted them and Sams. Walmart when I can. Dixie when I can. Don't eat Bluebell anyway, don't use Brawny - don't like it.

Many more, but great list you've got

[Marblehead]

3. don't forget

dunkin doughnuts

[Mojo2]

4. Response

New Balance is headed by Jim Davis who was one of the top contributors to the attack PAC "Restore our Future" which was perhaps the most vicious PAC for the 2012 election.

Blue Bell is one of the major sources of funds for the GOP PAC Congressional Leadership which is the attack dog for House races.



I will add Olive Garden, but Papa Johns is already on the list

[Dustlawyer]

9. I loved Blue Bell, made right here in Texas. But what the heck, I need to lose weight anyhow!

[broiles]

56. Oh noes not Blue Bell!

[ReallyIAmAnOptimist]

57. that's a bummer since some of New Balance shoes are still American made

(at least last time I checked)

[LiberalElite]

75. They do still manufacture some styles here -

I just bought a couple pairs. Sheesh. I had no idea.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. If we're going to start a thread like this can we please include rationales for individual co's ?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

33. Thanks for the edits to the OP.

[MyOwnPeace]

6. What about

Home Depot? Shouldn't they be on that list?

[Mojo2]

14. Why

what did they do?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Dunkin Doughnuts? Whaaa? My favorite. What did they do?

[Autumn Colors]

39. I'm wondering that, too.

Can someone please let us know what the deal with Dunkin Donuts is????

[4Q2u2]

50. No DD

That is like boycotting your crack dealer, just plain hard. Would like to know what they did also.

[Marblehead]

58. they are

owned by the Carlye Group, the people that brought you the Iraq war.

http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html

[Autumn Colors]

64. Oh wow

... that sucks.

[In_The_Wind]

79. I did not know that.

[asjr]

8. I am so sorry about Blue Bell ice cream. They have

the best vanilla and strawberry I have eaten.

[freshwest]

65. Maybe you can get Tillamook or Breyers's. They're great.

[rhett o rick]

10. I like the idea of periodically reposting this list. I would include Applebee's for cutting

employees hours because of Obamacare.

[cascadiance]

12. I don't want to have lizards in my salad either!

that has happened on more than one occasion, including in my college town at a restaurant I probably ate at many years back.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/No-Salmonella-In-Applebee-s-Lizard-Head-Salad-2617181.php

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/lizard-reportedly-found-in-salad-at-applebee-s/article_d79e2bf5-9c7f-544a-bbe8-a12af0f8ecc4.html

[cascadiance]

11. Add Jimmy John's to the list...

Both from a perspective that they work against union organizing, and also to protect your health as a customer, since they in effect force their employees to work sick.

http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2012/04/jimmy_johns_union_illegally_fired_workers.php

Also, though it may seem too obvious, where is Wal-Mart and Sam's Club on this list?

[titanicdave]

13. Don't forget

to add Cheesecake Factory to this list of outfits we boycott.........in all honesty, I don't even like cheesecake.........YUK!!!

[Mojo2]

15. Okay

I missed this one, but what did they do?

[southern_belle]

35. What did they do?

Cheesecake Factory? I had not heard anything bad about them.

[abelenkpe]

16. I like cheesecake

But not the cheesecake factory. Their menu is full of the most insanely high calorie mediocre food imaginable. Bleech :p

[Lifelong Protester]

17. This could have it's own forum!

I already boycott most of those, and thank you for the list and the rationales.

I'm from WI. I love your comments about the Koch brothers! For months I brought my own hand towels to school (work) because I refused to use the GP paper towels in the rest room. Our custodian was right on it, and she found some non-Georgia Pacific towels. It's a shame, as I believe I have heard the GP workers belonged to a union. (Don't quote me, I will have to look that up again.)

(In the staff restrooms, we've covered the GPon the towel dispensor with stickers that say "Corporations are not people" and "Support Our Teachers".)

[mikeysnot]

18. Wal-mart

the biggest offender of all things bad.

[riverbendviewgal]

19. some of these are in canada

But they must provide and contribute to our health care. I will still boycott them here. I have no future plans on visiting the states. My son lives in England now so I will be going to visit him and tour Europe. I used to spend two months in Florida but now going to the the Caribbean. The guns in the USA are making me very Leary going there.

[snort]

20. Dennys?

I'm pretty sure that was just a number of franchise stores in Florida and Dennys corporate quickly put a boot up the owners ass. The Dennys I frequent is part of a 2 store franchise and I've met the owner, he's regular people and the employees need their jobs. You know, kids and rent and shit.

We need to make sure that our list of businesses to boycott doesn't end up hurting those we are trying to help.

[Mojo2]

25. Correct

I deleted them from the list, thanks for refreshing my mind.

[SCantiGOP]

21. Add Home Depot

They are based in Minnesota. When Al Franken was running for Senate their CEO said that any business person who voted for Franken should be shot. He refused to apologize or even say that he was joking. Fortunately for me, their is a Lowe's across the street from Home Depot near my home.

[geardaddy]

36. I hate Home Despot

but they're not based here in MN. They're in Georgia.

[SCantiGOP]

73. maybe it was their Chairman of the Board that was in MN

[RC]

22. Keep this up and we all are supposed to

starve to death, filthy and naked in the streets?
Are you going to stop paying your mortgage because it was sold to whatever big bad bank? Where are you going to keep your money when you don't have a home to store your mattress in?

Those places also provides the jobs for people just like us. What about them? Jobs still are not that plentiful, that they can just find another.
There are better ways to handle this than boycotting. You know like getting Citizens United overturned, for starts. Stopping Republican Gerrymandering. Getting the teabaggers out of Congress and the state legislators and governorships. Cut their political funding. Chop it off at their source.
They are so big, they will never even notice the few not patronizing their businesses, anyway.

People need to get real about more than just their bathroom paper.

[Mojo2]

26. Disagree

I respect your opinion, but I disagree with you. There are tons of other national chains that are neutral politically that you can dine at, or even support your local Mom and Pop diners. Someof the best pizza that I have ever had has come from local shops instead of national chains. Many of the businesses that I have listed support the radical right which will use your funds to help their cause. In addition, most of the businesses listed above have an agenda to lower the power of the working man.

[RC]

32. So you think a few people from DU will have an effect?

I don't. Most people won't know nor care about any boycotts. And it they do, the caring won't last for more than a few weeks at best, till it disappears down the memory hole.

In any case, you are just diddling with the symptoms. We need to deal with the root of the problem, as listed in my post above.

Edited to add: These companies also package and sell their products under private labels also. How are we suppose to know?

[Mojo2]

40. Agree

That the issues you listed are A One priorities and I am more than willing to help the cause. I do agree that they may not notice one or two people boycotting, but it is more for my own personal satisfaction. If you read the title of my thread, I state these are the businesses that I am boycotting for my own moral purposes.

[mountain grammy]

29. Solidarity is attacked because it works!

Solidarity is what working people have lost, along with it any rights they ever had. We are beginning to realize what the loss of solidarity and "divide and conquer" has done to working people in America.
The only thing the corporations fear is the solidarity of the people. They may have the money, but there's a lot more of us.
I believe in solidarity, whether it be by boycott or unionizing. It's the power OF the people. Sacrifice is a necessary side effect, but worth the effort. Solidarity will bring real and progressive change for the better.

[hopemountain]

59. could not have said it better, thanx.

i was active in the farmworkers movement. and solidarity made a difference.

[Fuddnik]

23. Outback.

Forced employees to make donations to GOP candidates, and let Rick Sanitarium use their corporate jet, like it was his personal car. Plus, they're pushing to lower the "tipped" minimum wage to servers.

[spinbaby]

38. Why is someone not in jail for that?

Oh, I forgot, rules don't apply to the GOP.

[potatoslayer]

24. Please add Wyndham hotels

NRA supporters and they are very anti/consumer. I am fighting a bitter battle with them right now.

[Janecita]

27. I already

Boycott most of them. I also boycott the closest drycleaner to my house (teabagger) the jewerly store in town (crazy conspiracy theory lady) and the Jiffy lube (they always have Faux News on) I rather drive the extra miles than give my money to these crazy fuckers!

[mountain grammy]

30. Agree. I support our local businesses, but refuse to spend my money

in places where I know the owner to be a racist teabagger!

[calimary]

34. Welcome to DU, Janecita!

Glad you're here! Good information here, and I appreciate the explanations included with the list items.

I like to support local businesses, mainly. Keeps the locals employed.

[appacom]

28. Thanks to you all. Am printing out

a compilation list of these no-nos to past out to my family and friends. This is so useful.

[geardaddy]

37. Good list.

I'm curious why Whole Foods is on there.

[Mojo2]

42. Time Saver

Go to the thread in Politics 2013 for a discussion about Whole Foods......It is way too lengthy to post here.

[geardaddy]

44. Thanks.

[EC]

43. The owner said that

Obamacare was fascism.

[geardaddy]

45. Thanks.

[EC]

41. I have never spent money with any of those

so I guess their product didn't pass the test of quality in the first place. Since they are all owned by money grabbers it makes sense there would be a lack of quality.

[beac]

46. Macy's

for their continued relationship with Donald Trump despite his racist, treasonous rants and their defense of it as allowing "our customers to choose what they prefer". So I choose to vote with my wallet and prefer to boycott Macy's.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/macys-ceo-defends-trump-partnership

[otohara]

54. Definitely Macy's

for coddling a lunatic douchebag.

[sad-cafe]

47. I love Waffle House but there are none around me

The rest is do-able but were there a Waffle House, I don't think I could be strong.

[austinlw]

48. We all have to make our own decisions.

I personally boycotted Exxon after the way they handled the Alaskan oil spill, and then over their disinfomation campaign regarding climate change. But then which of the oil campanies should I buy gas from? I read of some outrage committed by each one of them fairly regularly.

I don't eat at most of the food businesses on this list mainly for health reasons. But as far as I'm concerned it follows that companies who don't care about the wellbeing of their employees also don't care about the health of their customers.

However, all that being said, I have to weigh pros and cons. The fact that a company has a CEO that spouts nonsense or contributes to candidates I find repugnant doesn't necessarily put them on my own personal blacklist. I'll use Whole Foods as an example. I think John Mackay regularly says ridiculous things and I did boycott them for a couple of years. However, Whole Foods is widely regarded as one of the best companies to work for. The one that recently opened near my home stocks lots of locally sourced organic foods, which is a cause I support. Should I buy my eggs across the street at the giant grocery store where the eggs come from far away factory farms or from Whole Foods where they stock eggs from a local farm that treats their birds well? Then there's the fresh fish from sustainable sources, etc. I support those causes. I may even go work part time at that store after I retire from my full time job. Their employees always seem happy and relaxed.

Point is, it doesn't have to be all or nothing just because some CEO says something stupid. I suggest weighing the pros and cons overall.

[SoCalNative]

77. I've also boycotted Exxon since the Valdez incident

but now also boycott Mobil since after Exxon's takeover they did away with offering domestic partner benefits to their employees.

[beac]

49. Charles Schwab

See here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021584473

[Purplehazed]

51. Really?

Boycott a company because the CEO supported the other candidate? That is divisive. Who would be suffer most, if the boycott was actually effective? The lowest paid, lowest skilled is my guess.

[Agschmid]

52. Yes boycotting a company does make sense based on their political affiliation.

Many websites are devoted to it...

http://votewithurwallet.wordpress.com/buy-blue/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BuyBlue.org

Welcome to DU, please review the terms of service. This is a partisan site so if your not on the same side it might seem divisive.

[Mojo2]

55. To each his own

This is my own personal decision....NO WHERE DO I IMPLY THAT ANYONE ELSE SHOULD BOYCOTT......I am boycotting to stop any of my funds from being used by the GOP Hate Machine causes....PERIOD

[CheapShotArtist]

74. You made a good point there.

And it's not like every Wal-Mart employee for example, is some jackass wingnut just because the CEO is. I never really saw the appeal of boycotting businesses, anyway. First of all, the business CEOs are still going to be making huge profits even with a few people boycotting. Plus, I just think it's more work involved than is necessary to go around finding the political affiliations of all the business CEOs. Most businesses are probably owned by RWNJs, so that means if we started boycotting everything owned by them, that wouldn't leave many options available to shop.

[RKP5637]

53. I wish a list like this was on the home DU page - where it could be added to, edited, etc. as time

went on. Same for union companies/products, where to shop etc. I get really tired of supporting those I detest, as should others.

[MadBadger]

70. If this list were the standard, I should boycott my grandmother

she's a Republican who has given money to Republicans.

But I do really love my grandmother...

[RKP5637]

71. LOL, yep, love comes 1st! If mine were still living it would be the same.

[liberal N proud]

60. I don't shop at most of them any way.

Most of them are not worth shopping at for various reasons.

[Omaha Steve]

61. Thank you for the list!

Kick.

[2naSalit]

62. I almost have to laugh

only because I live so far out in the sticks that the only ones I might have to consider would be the paper products, that I don't use anyway since I've been actively boycotting the Kocheads for years now. I have to go about 100+ miles just to try and find any of the others and by that time, I have already figured out that I was going to go there anyway. And I make a point of NOT going to Walmart.

Thanks for reminder though, I will remind anyone I ride with about these so that they don't try to get me to go to lunch at one of these. I always tell them I have food allergies... I'm allergic to corporate nonfoodstuffs and all the added chemicals.

[Politicub]

63. Thanks for the list

[freshwest]

66. OMG, you sure told the Georgia Pacific guy off. May have opened some eyes. Fast on the mark there.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

67. Jimmy Johns

also kills elephants and big exotic cats

[CTyankee]

68. I am lucky in that we have a real wealth of local restaurants serving great foods of many

ethnic groups in my area, so I just ignore the chains. Because of DU I now know about Georgia Pacific products in my supermarket (unionized workers, yay!) and that helps!

Thanks for your list! This helps broaden my knowledge base of "what not to buy." I appreciate it!

[MadBadger]

69. Simply Being Republican shouldnt be enough for a boycott

[Beacool]

81. I agree.

This is not a dictatorship and people should have a right to their political beliefs. Do conservatives boycott businesses owned by Democrats? I don't know, but that too would be silly.

[union_maid]

72. A couple of these are tough

Most of the list is not a big problem. Not sure about Dunkin Donuts. We don't go there often, but there are times when you just have to bring a box of their coffee somewhere. The biggest problem to me is New Balance. So far they're the only sneakers that really work for my husband's diabetic feet.

[kimbutgar]

76. I don't go to corporate restaurants, go to local ones

I'll skip going to regal theaters from now on. Great list.

[Kalidurga]

78. Thanks for the list...

I think personal boycotts are great. I would like to see more public support for these kinds of boycotts, but it probably won't happen. However, if everyone can get just one person or one family to boycott and these businesses see a less money coming in because of their insane rantings and employment practices they might become more inclined to change. Businesses are looking to see no less than 3% increases in sales every year, so if they fail to get that or worse see drops in revenues over the years it will make an impact.

I would also like to see sort of a reverse boycott thread. I have no where to begin as far as that goes. I see these lists and it's like there is no win. For example I live in Minnesota and in my neighborhood there is Home Depot and Menards. Both are owned by corporate asshats. Home Depot gave money to Michelle Bachman's campaign and I believe Emmer's (I hope I got the name right the guy that ran against Dayton for Governor) campaign. But, Menards is owned by a guy that won't even pay for employee uniforms. The neighborhood Menards here was torn down and rebuilt. But, before that the employee break room was in the middle of the freaking store. I don't know about anyone else, but I found that to be a horrible place for a break room Really who wants to take their break in the middle of a public place? Also the employees don't seem to be trained very well and have little knowledge of most the products. Home Depot on the other hand treats their employees better it seems higher wages, a hidden from public break room, better training (or at least employees that know what they are talking about). I don't even know where a Lowe's is, but they are around probably several miles out of my way, I don't drive and I don't want to ask for a ride way out of anyone's way.

So, in many cases personal boycotts lead to some personal dilemmas and it would be nice to know where to shop rather than where not to shop. I do believe it makes a difference at least eventually.

Just to start off on such a list I have two tentative offerings for the reverse boycott list.

Farmers Markets and Trader Joes. I can't get to Trader Joes, but for those that can, I have heard they are a good company. Oh I have three, I heard Costco is good to their employees, I can't get there either but for those that can.

And to wind up this long winded response, I have to say. Eat a lot less fake food and buy as good quality items, to reduce environmental impact and to make it more likely you are shopping from people that are more likely liberals, because we know that liberals are more likely to care about environmental impact of what they produce and use.

[Beacool]

80. Life's too short.

I can't boycott every business who is owned or run by a conservative, unless the company has done something truly egregious.