I was going to title this blog "Why are Democrats so thick headed about economics," but I wanted readers to get past the title without scaring them off quite so immediately. So here goes. . .
Economics. Ugh, right? Dull stuff, impossible to understand, and worse, used against us consistently by republicans. Their medicine, not ours, hmmm? Actually no.
I am not talking about economics as taught in school or discussed in most of the halls of academia. This clearly is a joke. If you want details about why this is so read Paul Krugman or Steve Keene, among others. I am referring to the simple fact that if you spend a dollar, someone else winds up with that dollar, and he can use it as a weapon against you. We are basically financing the 1% as they subjugate us.
Consider these questions: Why does Clear Channel continue to clog up the airwaves with Limbaugh's ranting? It is not merely because people listen to him; its the advertising revenues. How does Wallmart get away with predatory business practices and unfair labor relations? Certainly the Waltons are a wealthy family, but they are so because we buy products in their stores. Why are the Koch brothers able to throw so much money into swinging elections? Their revenues from coal extraction pay for their excesses since there is a good market for it.
This time around, I watched the Democratic fundraising, the adds, the GOTV efforts, and what did it get us? Nihil, nichts, zip. Perhaps we should think of putting a few new arrows in our quivers. Again, I am not talking about the top down view of economic strength, but from the bottom up.
I have already written a blog about our boy Rush, so I won't reiterate. It outlines how the attack on his sponsors has weakened his position, and it is worth a read since it highlights a winning strategy.
Wallmarts is already reeling. The ongoing recession is hurting them since most of their revenues came from ordinary folks spending their few dollars, and now these are even fewer. There are quite a few restaurant chains in the same pickle. I am certain that a serious boycott could get the attention of these firms. I personally refuse to set foot in their establishments until they have a more enlightened attitude about labor, among other things. I have to drive a little farther to buy the same stuff from a mom and pop store at a higher price, or dine in a less fancy place, but this is my commitment. What is yours?
On the big scale, this also is a winning strategy since the Waltons are just business people, and as such are some of the most predictable and thereby controllable people on earth. Certainly there are religious or right wing fanatics who would destroy their own business to prove a point, but I don't think this describes the Waltons. Like good (predictable) business people, they only care about the bottom line. If this is seriously endangered, it will be amazing how quickly they change their attitudes.
The Kochs are in the carbon business. Almost all of their wealth is based on burning the fuels which they sell, and they are already in a bit of trouble. Solar and wind power, now expanding almost exponentially, are the long term horror (for them) which lurks around the corner. However, the more immediate threat is, ironically, fracking. Presently, natural gas is so cheap that it is replacing coal as the preferred fuel to generate electricity. The power companies, run by business people, are predictably making this change to enhance their bottom line, dumping their coal contracts. Personally, I think fracking needs to be constrained, but I love how mere economic circumstances which we did not cause are causing these pressures. Clearly, we should be promoting solar and wind for all we are worth. Let our motto be: Put up solar panels, burn a Koch.
Remember: That dollar you are about to spend is political and economic power you are giving away. Put it into the right slot, and find others to do the same.
Stop financing your enemies.