Members kjun12 Posted March 16, 2011 Members Posted March 16, 2011 Please avoid shopping at Target. In the past they have said they would avoid supporting anti-Gay persons or institutions but they have not done this. Most political contributions they make are to anti-Gay politicians or causes. See this latest report: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/08/l...t_n_833209.html Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 17, 2011 Posted March 17, 2011 As we don't have Target (YET) in Canada there is little I can do to aid a boycott. But I am surprised that no other member has commented on this issue. The same topic at the "other" site would have resulted in a barrage of opinions. In fact, participation in general on this board has been so sparse of late that I'm beginning to feel we are flogging a dead horse Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 19, 2011 Posted March 19, 2011 I have never liked Target so it is easy for me to avoid. Now, if you told me to avoid Amazon.com, I'd have to rethink things fast! Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 19, 2011 Members Posted March 19, 2011 Target as a store has some good points as well as negative ones. That is an economic comment, not a political one. I wish they would do better but I also wish many other companies would do better. How do we accomplish this? Best regards, RA1 Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 20, 2011 Posted March 20, 2011 I have never liked Target so it is easy for me to avoid. Now, if you told me to avoid Amazon.com, I'd have to rethink things fast! I know what you mean. Amazon is a very dangerous place for a bibliophile. Slightly off subject but what the hell....... In Canada we have a mega bookstore called CHAPTERS - I don't think they are in the U.S., but I may be wrong - our equivalent to Barnes & Noble. I don't often shop there because they only give a 10% discount (and only if you pay a $25 annual membership fee). But sometimes I need a "fix" and require instant gratification as was the case last week. The book I chose was $95.00 (less my 10%) and when I went to pay for it I was asked if I wanted it in a bag. As it was pouring rain outside, I thought a bag would be a great idea! I was told they would have to charge me 5 cents for the bag. PARDON? It's raining, a book is made of paper and I'm just about to shell out about a hundred bucks - there is a 12% tax on books in Canada - to have the thing ruined unless I cough up another 5 cents. I told them to put it back on the shelf, my politeness stunned even me - and vowed never to shop there again. What a racket. They tried to tell me it was an "environmental" thing. BULLSHIT - it was invented by some despicable bean counter at head office who found a way to reduce their overheads by eliminating the cost of bags. They probably even make a profit on them as there is no way a plastic bag costs anywhere near 5 cents. Re Amazon - they give every customer a 37% discount, deliver it to your door, in a box, not a bag, and for FREE. So the next time someone bemoans the decline of independent bookstores, I may just choke them :hyper: Sorry for the rant - but it did feel good. Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 20, 2011 Members Posted March 20, 2011 Sometimes the lack of customer service just knows no territorial boundries, does it? In other words, "service" is either deteriorating or nonexistent in all too many places these days. Best regards, RA1 Where is "Are you being served" when you need it? Quote
Members JKane Posted March 21, 2011 Members Posted March 21, 2011 I've often heard talk of some cities imposing a 5 cent charge per disposable bag, as much to keep litter down as for any environmental reason. Not sure which ones (if any) have implemented the fee. Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 21, 2011 Members Posted March 21, 2011 jKane- I am all for everyone doing all they can to keep litter to a minimum and advance the environment. Best regards, RA1 Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 jKane- I am all for everyone doing all they can to keep litter to a minimum and advance the environment. Best regards, RA1 A very noble sentiment, I sure, but it doesn't excuse the corporate honchos who have found a way to increase their bottom line by jumping on the "cause de jour"..... Quote
Members KYTOP Posted March 22, 2011 Members Posted March 22, 2011 I have never liked Target so it is easy for me to avoid. Now, if you told me to avoid Amazon.com, I'd have to rethink things fast! Oz, I didn't know they had Target in Thailand and Brazil. Question I've got is does boycotting such large stores really have any effect at all? I know there was a comment about boycotting "Chick Fil A" here not long ago and they just had a record year in a down economy. A boycott of a smaller store might work but I'm not so sure about a large chain. Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 22, 2011 Posted March 22, 2011 Oz, I didn't know they had Target in Thailand and Brazil. Question I've got is does boycotting such large stores really have any effect at all? I know there was a comment about boycotting "Chick Fil A" here not long ago and they just had a record year in a down economy. A boycott of a smaller store might work but I'm not so sure about a large chain. I really don't think a boycott means diddly. I will not cross the door of a Walmart for all the reasons you probably all know. The only thing my "boycott" does is to satisfy myself that I won't be part of whatever it is I disagree with. I'm not stupid enough to think it affects their bottom line one whit. Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 The problem is that if you start trying to boycott companies that give money to anti-gay politicians you pretty much have to stop shopping everywhere. This doesn't mean that the companies are anti-gay. It just means they dump money on politicians who are in favor of less business regulation and lower corporate taxes. It's just a coincidence that these same politicians also happen to generally be anti-gay. Quote
Members kjun12 Posted March 25, 2011 Author Members Posted March 25, 2011 Be careful BiBottom. You're on the verge of sounding like a repiglican. Quote
Members KYTOP Posted March 25, 2011 Members Posted March 25, 2011 The problem is that if you start trying to boycott companies that give money to anti-gay politicians you pretty much have to stop shopping everywhere. This doesn't mean that the companies are anti-gay. It just means they dump money on politicians who are in favor of less business regulation and lower corporate taxes. It's just a coincidence that these same politicians also happen to generally be anti-gay. Or in most cases dump money on politicians or PACS that will impact their specific business. In the business world, business interests will trump social interests any day of the week. I spent several years dealing with politicans on a local, state, and national level due to the business I was in depended greatly on State and Federal Funds to survive. I made several trips to DC each spring and summer roaming the halls of Congress for "meet and greets". The NUMBER ONE thing I learned very very quickly in these political circles was that there is not a $1000 check difference between a Democrat or a Republican. And regardless of what my social issue opinions were they were never a part of my discussions with these Politicans and their people. My Business interests were. I guarantee you I gave money to the Political campaigns of people I truly did not like but they held the power to advance my business interest. I remember one time I gave a $1000 check to the Democrat running and then when realizing he was going to lose I quickly gave $1000 to the campaign of the Republican (who did end up winning). Like it or not, that is how politics works. Anyone who knows my real name could google it and what you will find is links to my political donation records for both Democrats and Republicans and also to my local Fairness Campaign Fund. What I found scary was a link on a Liberal sponsored site listing the amount I gave to a Republican with a google map that showed the location of MY HOUSE. Quote
Members lookin Posted March 25, 2011 Members Posted March 25, 2011 What I found scary was a link on a Liberal sponsored site listing the amount I gave to a Republican with a google map that showed the location of MY HOUSE. That is scary. What's also scary is how much money politicians need to spend to get elected. I read that the 2008 Presedential/Congressional election cost $5.3 billion. Gone are the days when all you needed to get elected was a snazzy button. Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Anyone who knows my real name could google it and what you will find is links to my political donation records for both Democrats and Republicans and also to my local Fairness Campaign Fund. What I found scary was a link on a Liberal sponsored site listing the amount I gave to a Republican with a google map that showed the location of MY HOUSE. I'm shattered - you mean KYTOP is NOT your real name? You could have it changed legally, know Quote
Members KYTOP Posted March 26, 2011 Members Posted March 26, 2011 I'm shattered - you mean KYTOP is NOT your real name? You could have it changed legally, know Yeah I thought about it but when you google KYTOP you don't get political donations more like donations to Escorts. Bit I guarantee I enjoyed my donations to most escorts much more than my donations to Polticians. Quote
Guest BeachBoy Posted March 26, 2011 Posted March 26, 2011 KYTOP is Rahm Emmanuel. From your lips to God's ears. I would bend him over in a hot minute. Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Given that democrats keep getting fucked, I doubt he's a top. Quote
