| I saw that notice and was wondering only one thing. If that is
allowed *for* the manager, does s/he also allow it for the employees
and perhaps even for the customers?
I object *only* on the basis that I am sure it is a one-way street
and that if any employee or customer tried to put up a notice, either
in line with the manager's politics or in opposition, they would
be rebuffed.
Going to the manager and stating how one feels, or sending a letter
might be the only way one can protest with any effectiveness.
However, there are numerous businesses in this city--Nashua--as
in all others, where the customers politics and the owners are in
opposition. I personally just don't give enough concern to this
to want to trace them down.
Off-line I could tell you of several, but so what? How do you know
that the silent employees aren't dishing out 1/2 their paychecks to
support those causes that give you hives just to *think* about?
My husband worked for 17 years for Sanders Assoc. I gave my word
of honor that I would not bite the hand that fed me and my family,
and I never picketed or got near S/A. And after his death, I continued
to honor my word---but I was bail $$ for those who got arrested
for doing so, and I used the dividends from their stock to do it!
Frankly, I think that boycotts of this type are a losing battle.
When I am knowledgeable enough about the owner's politics that I
am not inclined to shop there, I just go elsewhere.
There was once a fast seafood take-out place in Nashua, and the
owner's wife was a vocal, vituperative, unpleasant, and totally
tunnel-visioned conservative who was on the then Governor's panel for
the Women' Commission. Well, her public remarks and behavior was
such, that over time that business was going belly-up before it
got sold. That was an easy boycott; one *knew* who the opposition
really was. That isn't always so in most cases.
M
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| <<< Note 723.0 by HYDRA::SCHMIDT "Bush: Triumph of rites over rights" >>>
-< About economic action... >-
Much as [people who are advocates of a certain political position]
have advocated economic pressure against us, I'm in support of eco-
nomic pressure against [people who are advocates of a certain polit-
ical position]. I believe that would play a big part in bringing
people around to see the real numbers of folks involved in each
side of the debate. It also helps to deprive the enemy of funds.
Towards this end, I'd like to not spend my money anyplace where
it's likely to go into my enemy's coffers to be used against me.
But even putting aside the traditional problems of "who does a boycott
hurt", there are a few other problems as well. I'd like to hear sug-
gestions on overcoming these problems. First, an anecdote...
Saturday, my wife, son, and I walked into a local fast food
restaurant. On the door were two notices *posted by the
store's owner* promoting vacation bible school at the church
attended by the store's owner. Now, this denomination is
known for its vocal opposition to choice, so it's safe to
assume that at least some portion of the proceeds from this
store are going to that cause. But is that really the intent
of the owner? Does the intent of the owner matter if the
ultimate outcome is negative? And what if the chain to which
that store belongs is known for being on "our side"?
(The owner wasn't around to ask or persuade and I have no idea
where to find them.)
Clearly, one person does not have the time to investigate
every place they spend their money, and the outcome isn't
binary anyway. So:
o How do you identify just who's giving money to the opponents?
A few nationally famous cases come up, but what about at the
more local level? Is this information being spread around?
o What level of "wrongfulness" deserves what kind of action?
o When there's no one that you can contact that is empowered
to actually do anything, is it worthwhile? (In this partic-
ular case, I suppose I could write a note and hand it to the
on-duty manager, requesting that she pass it on to the owner.
In this case, the store owner is obviously a local human being,
not Galactic MegaCorp of the Netherlands Antilles.)
Atlant
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