There was a time when I was just a consumer. Not anymore. For the last decade, my husband and I have made a concerted effort to give our business only to companies that share our progressive values. Sometimes that may not be possible, but I can assure you most of the time it is completely do-able.
If more of us shopped this way, I believe we could make a hell of an impact. Some of our prerequisites:
- Pays living wages and includes generous benefits for employees?
- Strives to improve the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally?
- Is a good neighbor to the community in which it is located?
- Finds a balance between progressive values and bottom line?
- Is environmentally friendly?
- Is GLBT friendly?
- Has a diversified work force?
- Treats and pays women the same as men?
- Etc., Etc.
That is why you will not catch me ever spending one bloody dime in Chick-fil-A restaurant (very anti-gay), but I'd think nothing of spending freely at a Costco (generous to their employees) or using anything Google (very gay friendly, lots of diversity in the workforce) or enjoying anything made by Ben & Jerry's (their mission statement is a progressive's dream).
It takes very little time to do a google search and the pay-off is more than worth it.
Thanks Groupon.
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