As we gear up for No Kings 3, it is important to remember that while protests are both fun and important, it is going to take economic pressure to bring about real change. A national strike sounds like a great idea but will only be successful when there are enough people onboard. (Which is part of why it’s so important to organize protests and find other ways to recruit more people to our movement.) In the meantime, there is plenty that we can do as individuals—and enlist our family members, colleagues, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors to join in. In brief, let’s all make better use of the power of the purse.

Over the past couple of decades, a stunning $50 trillion has been shifted from working Americans to the wealthiest 1%. That’s $2.5 trillion a year. (Source: Wealthiest 1% Redistributed $50 Trillion From Working Americans - Business Insider) If you’re outraged about this, then why would you wish to continue supporting billionaires, otherwise known as the broligarchy?

Life is certainly easier when we shop from Amazon, and Whole Foods has some yummy products. But every time we give Bezos our money, we are supporting the above-mentioned grotesque income shifts. We are also supporting the current administration and its murderous madness. Not only that; Amazon avoids paying taxes, treats workers terribly, contributes greatly to the climate crisis, damages small independent businesses, has been accused of being racist and of union-busting, and…well, read more here: Ten reasons to avoid Amazon | Ethical Consumer.

As for what companies to avoid and their alternatives, try Defund Broligarchy Resources. Does it have an impact? Who else should we boycott? See more here: Resist and Unsubscribe.

It’s easy to get discouraged as the ugliness and insanity drag on. But we as consumers can have a huge impact on one of the key pillars of support of this authoritarian regime: business. We can use our money to support small, local businesses. We can do our best to avoid supporting the worst corporations. And when those around us complain that there is no way to fight what is happening, remind them: almost daily we can choose to resist through our spending patterns. And nothing hits these folks where it hurts like the pocketbook!