[Vision2020] Conscientious Spending
Donovan Arnold
donovanarnold@hotmail.com
Sun, 09 Nov 2003 15:42:04 -0800
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<P>Very well said Laurie. I agree with you 100%.</P>
<P>To me it is about supporting the businesses that you would rather have succeed. No business is perfect in everything it does. But I choose to support the ones I like best. Those reasons might be personal values, treatment of customers, prices, company policy, convenience of location, and community involvement. </P></DIV>
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<P>I don't shop at some places for various reasons. Some are stupid reasons for most people, like a fast food restaurant chain that charges extra for ketchup and fry sauce, to the more important reasons as a company that has a history of supporting one form or another of bigotry.</P>
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<P>It is not only logical to spend your money on what promotes your interests, it is your right. When you buy something, profits from that purchase go elsewhere. Some go to things that promote your interests and others go to promote things that go against your interests. Therefore, you should spend your money on things that maximize your personal interests. You cannot blame someone for promoting their own interests. </P>
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<P>In terms of the coffee shop, I can say that I will not patron his business, but not because of his personal religious beliefs, everyone has a right to believe what they want regardless of how misinformed they may be, but because of his sheer arrogance. He stated he didn't know what sexism and homophobia was. Also he said he knew students knew who did it. This shows he doesn't care to educate himself of the majority of people in the community to ensure that he is not being unfair to them. He accuses students of knowing and covering up a crime, and thus being criminals themselves. </P>
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<P>If he is stupid enough to make such comments about his ignorance in public than he is not a great businessman. I also think anyone that lives in Moscow and cannot appreciate students, women, and gays and lesbians, ought to go someplace else. I think in one way or another he offended 3/4 of the people in the town. He did much more damage to his business than just one or a few people that plastered unsubstantiated flyers and stickers about his business could ever do. </P>
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<P>Donovan</P>
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<P> </P>
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<P>>From: "John Danahy" <JDANAHY@TURBONET.COM></P>
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<DIV></DIV>>To: "Vision2020" <VISION2020@MOSCOW.COM>
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<DIV></DIV>>Subject: [Vision2020] Concientious Spending
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<DIV></DIV>>Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:52:34 -0800
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<DIV></DIV>>First of all, this is Laurie Danahy writing, not John. John & I share the
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<DIV></DIV>>home e-mail.
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<DIV></DIV>>I agree with Melynda's definition of boycott, which is a useful tool for
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<DIV></DIV>>political change, especially at a community, statewide, national or
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<DIV></DIV>>international level. I also believe that individuals have a right to
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<DIV></DIV>>support or not support businesses for reasons based on their personal belief
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<DIV></DIV>>systems. In a free and open society is acceptable to share those reasons
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<DIV></DIV>>with others, who then have a choice whether to agree or disagree. In some
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<DIV></DIV>>cases this support/nonsupport will be aimed at effecting change in the
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<DIV></DIV>>institution involved, in other cases it is truly a matter of preference.
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<DIV></DIV>>Just as I have the write to vote for my preferred candidate, I can vote with
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<DIV></DIV>>my cash for the businesses I would most like to have succeed. These choices
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<DIV></DIV>>are usually based on an individual effort to live one's life according to
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<DIV></DIV>>the dictates of conscience, beliefs and interests.
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<DIV></DIV>>For example, some of the businesses, I like to patronize include.
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<DIV></DIV>>* A bakery that entered the market when there were no other "stand alone"
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<DIV></DIV>>bakeries, and that has provided excellent, reasonably priced goods for both
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<DIV></DIV>>individual and community group efforts
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<DIV></DIV>>* A locally owned wine and cheese store that has a history of providing
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<DIV></DIV>>helpful, knowledgeable service and good value products of quality, and has
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<DIV></DIV>>donated time, energy, and resources to community efforts
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<DIV></DIV>>* A locally owned book store that provides a warm welcome and a diversity of
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<DIV></DIV>>materials, and that offers ongoing support for arts and intellectual
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<DIV></DIV>>pursuits within the community
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<DIV></DIV>>* A local department store with long-term employees and owners that have
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<DIV></DIV>>been actively involved not only in contributing money to community programs
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<DIV></DIV>>but in serving on the boards of those programs.
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<DIV></DIV>>* A print shop franchise owned by people who are active volunteers in
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<DIV></DIV>>community youth projects
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<DIV></DIV>>* Other local, national and international businesses and non-profits whose
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<DIV></DIV>>efforts, practices, and affiliations are congruent, to the best of my
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<DIV></DIV>>knowledge, with my belief system.
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<DIV></DIV>>Some of the businesses I avoid or use on a more limited basis include.
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<DIV></DIV>>* Large chains with poor records of employee treatment
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<DIV></DIV>>* Hardware stores that ignore women standing at the counter
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<DIV></DIV>>* Businesses affiliated with organizations that are not congruent, to the
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<DIV></DIV>>best of my knowledge, with my personal belief system.
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<DIV></DIV>>I believe everyone has the right to make similar choices.
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<DIV></DIV>>Laurie Danahy
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