Americans should use their personal economic power to advance worthy goals and punish those that deserve it. by Joel S. Hirschhorn
(libertarian)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Money is power. Each of us has it to varying degrees. Our challenge is to use our spending to advance worthy goals. Right now we see economic power being used against the state of Arizona because of the awful legislation recently passed that makes it all too easy for police there to seek proof of citizenship from virtually anyone they choose. Many groups and government entities have already cancelled conferences and other activities in Arizona, sending state and business leaders into a frizzy. They deserve to suffer as do the vast majority of Arizona citizens that supported the legislation. Every American that professes love and respect for the Constitution should avoid spending their tourism and other kinds of spending in Arizona.
Economic boycotts can be very powerful and change the world for the better. Sadly, too few Americans use their personal spending power to advance worthy goals. An immediate opportunity is for people to stop buying BP gasoline. After all, it is clear that BP acted irresponsibly and likely criminally in using offshore oil drilling technology that posed enormous risks to public and worker safety as well as our natural environment in the Gulf of Mexico and possibly far beyond.
Make BP suffer where it hurts, where it can truly harm them. Send a clear signal that we will get revenge as consumers with an environmental conscience. An immediate boycott of BP could do much to make the company compensate the incredible number of people that will suffer very much because of the humongous oil spill that should have been prevented. We cannot depend on BP acting responsibly; nor can we count on the government or the courts for delivering timely justice.
So simple. While you may not have opportunities to stop spending in Arizona you are more likely to stop spending at BP outlets. If you can influence decisions by others to stop spending in these two ways, then do it with strength and passion.
There is a Boycott BP page on Facebook. Show your support. Over at the Public Citizen website you can sign a petition: "Take the Beyond BP Pledge! Drive a car? Like the occasional fountain drink? Send a clear message to BP by boycotting its gas and retail store products. Don't spend a cent of your hard-earned money to feed the bottom line of a corporation that has a sordid history of negligence, willfully violates environmental regulations, and is spewing thousands and thousands of barrels of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico. I pledge to boycott BP for at least three months." Public Citizen has also created a Facebook group "1,000,000 Strong to Boycott BP."
"Boycott BP into bankruptcy" said Cindy Sheehan. Amen.
A short while back John Antczak on Huffington Post complained that there is "no apparent sign of a consumer backlash at the pump like the boycott triggered by the Exxon Valdez spill 21 years ago." He also noted that "owners interviewed by The Associated Press across the country say it's been business as usual since the April 20 explosion on a rig off Louisiana began unleashing 200,000 gallons of crude a day." However, this too must be noted: It took 40 days for outrage to coalesce into a one-day national boycott of Exxon stations.
Note that n the West, BP sells gas under the long-established Arco brand.
According to BP's website, there are more than 10,000 BP-branded gas stations in the U.S. and 1,500 under the Arco name. BP says it sells more than 15 billion gallons of gasoline in the U.S. every year, second only to Shell.
Americans seem to find far too easy to justify buying at BP or Arco because of convenience or low price. But everyone should see this choice as a moral one. If you continue to pump money into the BP coffers you are acting immorally, stupidly and anti-environmentally. Either you have a conscience or not. Make the marketplace work to punish those that deserve to be punished.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of Joel S. Hirschhorn only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
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Posted By: Jahfre Fire Eater
Date: May 17, 2010 09:21:43 AM
Hi Joel,
A boycott against BP is nothing more than an attack on local business owners. Fuel is fungible. If you don't buy it at a BP pump BP will sell it to the owners of a pump you feel good about using. Your boycott suggestion is simply a rationalization for something you feel good about doing. By all means, do it; boycott to you heart's content. Just accept your behavior for what it is, an ego-centric tantrum with no likely constructive outcomes.
As for Arizona, hooray for State's rights. Over the next few years I believe most states will realize the federal government is not able to stand behind its responsibilities to protect our borders. If Arizona had done this back in 1912 when it became a state it may not be in such a no-win situation today. Reliance on the Feds for ANYTHING, leads to crisis, given time.
Posted By: Joel S. Hirschhorn
Date: May 17, 2010 03:11:58 PM
For years I have written articles advocating more vigorous and effective government action to control illegal immigration. Clearly the federal government has done a miserable job of it despite its responsibility to protect our borders. A major reason as been (once again, no surprise) the powerful influence of corporate and business interests that want to hire illegal immigrants to reduce their labor costs; take away job opportunities for illegals and they would stop coming here. But the Arizona approach resulting from anger and desperation is not the right one, namely because it can adversely impact legal citizens and (contrary to libertarian values) produces an intrusive police state.
As to a BP boycott, the view that it would be ineffective is sheer nonsense; just try it and you will see how BP will react; such companies are in the retail business because they can make more money than just being in the wholesale business.
Dear Homeowner,
We are planning to relocate from Arizona, before we arrive I would appreciate pictures of the house both interior and exterior. We'll decide on which rooms we will occupy after we arrive. Egress is very important, but once there we shouldn't have to leave. Exposure also is important but not like it used to be. The Mrs. is expecting, our eighth little gift from God, so we will require O.B.G.Y.N services for her and our new little citizen. Nursery? Glad you asked, add a room or we can annex, it's up to you. We do provide a carry in service when your wife brings the groceries home. Also we will be on wic and food stamps so we will provide our own snacks.
One of the realities of all those children is that little Johnny, or Parmajeet or maybe Jose or then again it could happen to Mohammad, will have the occasional scratch and dent, this will of course necessitate comprehensive medical coverage which of course you are required to provide.
We will require an energy allowance over and above the previous allowance we received in Arizona to offset addition energy cost we will be incurring, Cap & Tax you know. You just couldn't bring yourself to have a comprehensive reality based energy policy for your home could you? You crack me up, let me give you a little advice, events like oil spills pass, they become a footnote in history. Now buying into Anthropogenic global warming, well that mistake is going to be with you for a long, long, long time. Well enough of politics.
Now Grandma and Grandpa are only staying long enough to qualify for minimum social security benee's then it's back to the old Country for them. That's right we will be twelve. Could be worse we have 300,000,000 in our extended family.
My plans? Well, lets see, initially I plan to hire laborers to assist in oil spills, you know clean birds and beaches. I will be able to save up some of those paycheck deductions, then I think I will take a long vacation some where, change my name and come back after I am rested. The family? Oh! While I'm gone extra care for the rest of the family will be required. When I return we will move down the road, Obama is going to give us a beautiful home of our own. You know the American dream.
Why are you looking at me that way? I never said I was stupid. Address? We don't need an address, we know where you live.
I agree with Joel. As a resident of Arizona, I know that the current immigration law is about denying individual freedoms through racial profiling and I am surprised at some of the comments from supposed Libertarians who seem to forget that individuals rights are paramount. An innocent hispanic citizen can be arrested and detained for not having proper papers. If you are a citizen, what papers are you supposed to be carrying? You don't have immigration papers because you are a citizen so must you carry a birth certificate around? And why don't any others have to carry those papers? If I am a blonde, blue eyed female, the chances of me being stopped are about zero but if they're not racially profiling, those odds may go up. Am I supposed to carry "papers" with me too? Shades of South Africa and Apartheid. Shades of Big Brother. Illegal immigration needs to be addressed but this is the wrong bill and those who support it may not have thought it through..... especially those who favor individual freedom.
As as far as BP and the oil spill? Thank you for letting me know that ARCO is part of the parent company. And for those who think the spill is just about the environment, they forget about the economic impact and devastation it poses for small businesses on the coast; restaurant owners, fishermen, boat charters, oyster and shrimpers, the tourist industry and real estate to name just a few. There are complex issues involved and if boycotting BP and its affiliates will help them to see they need to address reparation to those they have harmed then I'll boycott with all my friends and families and shout the message loud and clear.
