June 24, 2010

• Three on Thursday

  (Episode 2)

  It's Thursday again, and it's time for Three on Thursday.  It's the second installment, just because I like the concept. 

  

  Reminder: don't be fooled because the Count is holding up one finger.  He's merely making a point while preparing to hold up his other hand, which, as you can see, is about to display (all) three digits.  

  Today's Three is about the top three companies that I'm boycotting.  It's a strange three, but I only put this up because recently, I've cut ties with one.  Or I'm struggling with it, anyway.

  For a number of years now, I've had a philosophy in regards to how I spend my money.  In many regards, I think of it in terms of voting.  Every time I pay for anything, it's as though I'm giving them the thumbs up.  It's not quite practical to do this all the time, but I try my best. 

  Mind you, I'm doing this not because I think I'm making a huge difference; Walmart, for example, one of the biggest tyrants out there, will certainly not miss the $20 bucks or so that they're not getting from me.  It's just a statement.  I will not endorse them. 

  1. Walmart: I can't even begin to say why I despise this place.  Sam Walton owns the world's largest public corporation by revenue this year (according to Forbes.)  Even so, their tactics of taking over small businesses, bullying towns, scamming the third world countries for cheap labor, and making American tax payers pay for their own employee's health care (they have to go on medicare! The richest company in the world won't give affordable health care!)  And all the while, they pretend to be American, charitable (their charity is laughable), and happy.  I hate Walmart. 

  2. BP/Exxon/Mobile: This is difficult.  I used to love BP.  I can't believe the fiasco behind this.  And the CEO went to a yacht show?  What?!  I don't really have to go deeply into the reasons, do I?  I cheat with Exxon/Mobile though.  Maybe it's because the memory isn't fresh enough?   

  3. Verizon Wireless: This is the one I'm struggling with.  Recently, they've introduced these "required data plans" that make you sign on for a data plan when you purchase specific phones.  Verizon is one of the most expensive plans out there to begin with.  Early termination fees, this fee, that fee...  they're racking it up.  Largely, they've been worth it; I've been with them for a while.  But the data plans might be the final straw.  I don't use data.  I don't want to buy it.  I don't want to be forced to do it.  My brother told me about PagePlus and I might change over to them.  They use the Verizon network, so it has the Verizon coverage, which I like.  I'm a little hesitant, though.  Anyone hear anything about this?  

  Do you "vote" with your money?  Boycotting any companies?  I tried boycotting Phillip Morris, and then I realized that dude was crazy.  The company owns just about everything.  Ignorance, in that case, has been bliss, unfortunate or not. 

  What companies would you/do you boycott?

   

  • 12:13 am
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