That's the best boycott. They can lie to themselves but they can't lie to the entire country no matter how hard they try. Those companies know it and will feel it more and more as this Christmas shopping gets into full swing.
That's the best idea I've heard yet! Tell them their best gift to you should be that they use that cash locally and keep boycotting those who bow down to trump.
Those rainy days do come around when least expected, so feel good about the present that you're giving them. It's worth more than it's monetary value on "rainy days."
Same. Plus I have cut out every major retailer practicable from my list of vendors. Feels more or less permanent at this point. It does slay me that there are a few things that have me still tethered to Walmart, but I do keep seeking alternatives.
THE COMMON GOOD MANIFESTO
A society built for people, not predators.
We are at our best when we invest in each other.
We are at our worst when we abandon the vulnerable.
This manifesto is how we return to the common good.
I. DIGNITY AND JUSTICE
1. Release the Epstein files — full transparency, no exceptions.
2. Impeach, convict, and imprison Donald Trump and every handler who enabled his corruption.
3. No federal office for any convicted felon.
4. End the weaponization of the justice system against the poor, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and marginalized communities.
II. DEMOCRACY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS
1. Abolish the Electoral College — one person, one vote.
2. Abolish ICE — replace it with humane immigration policy that honors human rights.
3. Ban gerrymandering with a standardized national apportionment method.
4. Two-term limits for every elected office.
5. Mandatory retirement at 70 for all elected officials.
6. Paper ballots only — end the era of hackable voting machines.
III. AN ECONOMY THAT SERVES PEOPLE
1. Restore 1950s-style progressive tax rates — when America was prosperous and fair.
2. Overturn Citizens United — corporations are not people.
3. Eliminate the Social Security payroll cap and tax capital gains for Social Security contributions.
4. $25 minimum wage indexed to inflation.
5. Medicare for All, one unified system — no A/B/C/D maze.
6. Congress receives Medicare, not boutique private insurance.
IV. WORKERS, CREATIVES, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS
1. Big pay raises for social workers, teachers, librarians, artists, and cultural workers — the people who actually hold society together.
2. Universal childcare — because families are the foundation of the nation.
3. Free public university education.
4. Full forgiveness of all student debt.
V. CLEAN GOVERNMENT
1. Root out corruption at every level, starting at the top.
2. Full financial transparency for every elected official, appointee, and senior bureaucrat.
3. Ban lobbying for former officeholders for life.
VI. THE FUTURE WE CHOOSE
We choose a country that values:
• Compassion over cruelty
• Community over greed
• Truth over propaganda
• Shared prosperity over billionaire hoarding
• Democracy over minority rule
• Human dignity over corporate profit
We choose a nation where the common good is not a slogan, but the organizing principle of public life.
One more. No candidate can take more than $5G donation from any entity or person and no foreign donors of any kind. That should keep the lobbyists out of the game because they can't buy influence for their clients. The rich should not control policy makers because the politicians will always be having to pay them back.
And representatives who do not perform their duties can be fired by their constituents by a lack of confidence clause vote and call a special election to replace them. We the people need a stronger and more tangible form of power in our government, especially when our reps are not doing their jobs!
FWIW, you have my full permission to share this and the Common Good Manifesto as far and wide as you like. And if you want to add your own bullet points, reshape the ideas, or build on them with your own vision — please, be my guest. This isn’t meant to be a personal project or a pedantic rulebook. It’s simply meant to plant seeds.
We spend so much time talking about the misdeeds of people who would derail democracy for their own gain that we forget the most powerful tool we have:
a shared vision of what the future could be.
This manifesto — and this note — are an invitation to shift the conversation. Instead of focusing on what’s broken, let’s talk about what’s possible. Let’s talk about what we want, what we dream of, what we owe each other, and how we lift the whole country up together.
If anything in the manifesto resonates with you, take it. Use it. Add to it. Share it with your family, your community, your faith group, your workplace, your school board, your circle of friends. And if you know someone younger, more energetic, better placed, or ready to lead — hand it to them. My real hope is that this becomes a spark in their hands. Maybe this can be a tiny piece of the starting point for a new New Deal — one built not on fear and scarcity, but on solidarity, fairness, and the stubborn belief that we really can do better.
Please do share. Speak up. Speak loudly. Speak together.
Because when enough people start imagining a better world in unison, that’s when the world actually changes.
Spent less money this year but the money I did spend I spent on small businesses. I’m seeing so many small business close in my area. I hope we can save the rest from going out of business. Let’s keep up the good fight!
I didn't buy a thing over black Friday and I am looking for small business alternatives in everyday shopping. I still shop at Costco because they have not changed their hiring policies and they are suing the administration over tariffs.
I did a 100% boycott and did not spend any money between Nov 26 through December 2 for holiday gifts. I deliberately only spent money on food, groceries during that period.
Here in Uruguay, I made my Christmas shopping in the winter, when sales are lower, in the local stores. Most of them not even issue a receipt, they write everything down on a piece of paper. The same with my everyday purchases. Also, as a veterinarian, I get a chicken or pastries or fresh produce besides money, as an extra.
I didn’t spend anything. If I do, it will be local. But I also just got a $4100 health insurance increase for 2026. So I’m cutting my spending into a “need” and “want” buckets. The rich get richer…
I shopped small stores and Costco on black Friday. i dropped amazon in April and I boycott target Walmart and home depot. I've had really good luck ordering online from the products site directly such as OXO Thriftbooks. Harbor Freight, etc.
Thank you for this article. I was totally disappointed when I read about the record sales. This analysis makes sense and reinforces my desire to redirect my spending.
I’ve done most of my shopping at holiday fairs where my neighbors are selling their crafty things. I don’t shop at Amazon ever. But, I do sometimes use their website to find a product. Then I order directly from the company after I find their website on line. Bezos is too rich for my money.
I did the same, shopped locally at small businesses. I’ve boycotted target, Home Depot, and Walmart for most of this year. I’ve only been in target once since January and don’t have any intention of going back.
Don’t forget to close store credit cards along with a boycott. When I did, customer service sighed, “not again.” Stores make $ by dishing out credit cards even if you don’t use them. They have a bonus for the # of cards issued. Home Depot persuades people to acquire a total of three HD credit cards. As if one per household wasn’t enough.
I simply don't use any, only two debit cards, one from my bank, the other from the state bank, which means if I don't put money in them, they aren't of any use. Else, I pay with cash.
I didn’t shop at all, anywhere, from the Tuesday before Turkey Day until the Tuesday after.
I’m redirecting all my Home Depot purchases to a local hardware chain.
That's the best boycott. They can lie to themselves but they can't lie to the entire country no matter how hard they try. Those companies know it and will feel it more and more as this Christmas shopping gets into full swing.
No Christmas shopping this year. We took a vote & cash won. Giving cash so everyone gets exactly what they want on their own time. 🥰
That's the best idea I've heard yet! Tell them their best gift to you should be that they use that cash locally and keep boycotting those who bow down to trump.
Exactly👍👍
Exactly! Same here. Everyone says they are putting it away for a rainy day. No little ones anymore in my family so they appreciate the cash.
Those rainy days do come around when least expected, so feel good about the present that you're giving them. It's worth more than it's monetary value on "rainy days."
Same. Plus I have cut out every major retailer practicable from my list of vendors. Feels more or less permanent at this point. It does slay me that there are a few things that have me still tethered to Walmart, but I do keep seeking alternatives.
THE COMMON GOOD MANIFESTO
A society built for people, not predators.
We are at our best when we invest in each other.
We are at our worst when we abandon the vulnerable.
This manifesto is how we return to the common good.
I. DIGNITY AND JUSTICE
1. Release the Epstein files — full transparency, no exceptions.
2. Impeach, convict, and imprison Donald Trump and every handler who enabled his corruption.
3. No federal office for any convicted felon.
4. End the weaponization of the justice system against the poor, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and marginalized communities.
II. DEMOCRACY THAT ACTUALLY WORKS
1. Abolish the Electoral College — one person, one vote.
2. Abolish ICE — replace it with humane immigration policy that honors human rights.
3. Ban gerrymandering with a standardized national apportionment method.
4. Two-term limits for every elected office.
5. Mandatory retirement at 70 for all elected officials.
6. Paper ballots only — end the era of hackable voting machines.
III. AN ECONOMY THAT SERVES PEOPLE
1. Restore 1950s-style progressive tax rates — when America was prosperous and fair.
2. Overturn Citizens United — corporations are not people.
3. Eliminate the Social Security payroll cap and tax capital gains for Social Security contributions.
4. $25 minimum wage indexed to inflation.
5. Medicare for All, one unified system — no A/B/C/D maze.
6. Congress receives Medicare, not boutique private insurance.
IV. WORKERS, CREATIVES, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS
1. Big pay raises for social workers, teachers, librarians, artists, and cultural workers — the people who actually hold society together.
2. Universal childcare — because families are the foundation of the nation.
3. Free public university education.
4. Full forgiveness of all student debt.
V. CLEAN GOVERNMENT
1. Root out corruption at every level, starting at the top.
2. Full financial transparency for every elected official, appointee, and senior bureaucrat.
3. Ban lobbying for former officeholders for life.
VI. THE FUTURE WE CHOOSE
We choose a country that values:
• Compassion over cruelty
• Community over greed
• Truth over propaganda
• Shared prosperity over billionaire hoarding
• Democracy over minority rule
• Human dignity over corporate profit
We choose a nation where the common good is not a slogan, but the organizing principle of public life.
And we refuse to apologize for demanding better.
One more. No candidate can take more than $5G donation from any entity or person and no foreign donors of any kind. That should keep the lobbyists out of the game because they can't buy influence for their clients. The rich should not control policy makers because the politicians will always be having to pay them back.
Excellent idea!
And representatives who do not perform their duties can be fired by their constituents by a lack of confidence clause vote and call a special election to replace them. We the people need a stronger and more tangible form of power in our government, especially when our reps are not doing their jobs!
That’s a pretty good idea! 👍🏻
👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
A Note to Accompany the Common Good Manifesto
(Please copy, paste, and share widely.)
FWIW, you have my full permission to share this and the Common Good Manifesto as far and wide as you like. And if you want to add your own bullet points, reshape the ideas, or build on them with your own vision — please, be my guest. This isn’t meant to be a personal project or a pedantic rulebook. It’s simply meant to plant seeds.
We spend so much time talking about the misdeeds of people who would derail democracy for their own gain that we forget the most powerful tool we have:
a shared vision of what the future could be.
This manifesto — and this note — are an invitation to shift the conversation. Instead of focusing on what’s broken, let’s talk about what’s possible. Let’s talk about what we want, what we dream of, what we owe each other, and how we lift the whole country up together.
If anything in the manifesto resonates with you, take it. Use it. Add to it. Share it with your family, your community, your faith group, your workplace, your school board, your circle of friends. And if you know someone younger, more energetic, better placed, or ready to lead — hand it to them. My real hope is that this becomes a spark in their hands. Maybe this can be a tiny piece of the starting point for a new New Deal — one built not on fear and scarcity, but on solidarity, fairness, and the stubborn belief that we really can do better.
Please do share. Speak up. Speak loudly. Speak together.
Because when enough people start imagining a better world in unison, that’s when the world actually changes.
Spent less money this year but the money I did spend I spent on small businesses. I’m seeing so many small business close in my area. I hope we can save the rest from going out of business. Let’s keep up the good fight!
We moved our spending from Amazon to Costco and spent much less.
That’s my plan going forward! 🥰💐
We are spending more and more at Costco - from gifts to groceries to cleaning supplies and paper products.
I didn't buy a thing over black Friday and I am looking for small business alternatives in everyday shopping. I still shop at Costco because they have not changed their hiring policies and they are suing the administration over tariffs.
I did a 100% boycott and did not spend any money between Nov 26 through December 2 for holiday gifts. I deliberately only spent money on food, groceries during that period.
Here in Uruguay, I made my Christmas shopping in the winter, when sales are lower, in the local stores. Most of them not even issue a receipt, they write everything down on a piece of paper. The same with my everyday purchases. Also, as a veterinarian, I get a chicken or pastries or fresh produce besides money, as an extra.
When I was in 7th grade your country was my assignment for what was called Pan-American day in Lakewood California.
Many years later I listened to a speech (translated) by your president.
He said the USA was a plutocracy. I had to look it up. A country run by and for the wealthy. I didn’t really know that, but zI do now.
He lives on a farm with his wife, gives 90% of his salary to charity, and knows something about my country that I did not.
Have a happy holiday season. Nice to meet you.
I didn’t spend anything. If I do, it will be local. But I also just got a $4100 health insurance increase for 2026. So I’m cutting my spending into a “need” and “want” buckets. The rich get richer…
Oh no, that’s horrible. That’s really sad. Insurance shouldn’t be that much.
Sorry to hear that. You are not alone. Stay strong-it’s not over yet.
Republicans rejoice when we die because we can’t afford healthcare
I shopped small stores and Costco on black Friday. i dropped amazon in April and I boycott target Walmart and home depot. I've had really good luck ordering online from the products site directly such as OXO Thriftbooks. Harbor Freight, etc.
Good to know about Little Blue Cart. 🛒 Will try it and share widely!
We shopped in our little town of Norway Maine. Boycotted the big three for the week of Black Friday to the following Tuesday.
The news is so twisted! Thanks for the explanation!
Thank you for this article. I was totally disappointed when I read about the record sales. This analysis makes sense and reinforces my desire to redirect my spending.
I’ve done most of my shopping at holiday fairs where my neighbors are selling their crafty things. I don’t shop at Amazon ever. But, I do sometimes use their website to find a product. Then I order directly from the company after I find their website on line. Bezos is too rich for my money.
I did the same, shopped locally at small businesses. I’ve boycotted target, Home Depot, and Walmart for most of this year. I’ve only been in target once since January and don’t have any intention of going back.
Keep doing that, Kimberley! And Amazon. Forever!
I meant Concerned!
Yes, exactly. They were prepared for you, They had it covered. The rich CAN outspend the rest of us, quite easily actually.
Now had you used my NO ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS approach, you would have shocked the shit out of them.
ASSUMMING THAT IS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
Please tell me about your No Electronics Payments approach. I want in.
Don’t forget to close store credit cards along with a boycott. When I did, customer service sighed, “not again.” Stores make $ by dishing out credit cards even if you don’t use them. They have a bonus for the # of cards issued. Home Depot persuades people to acquire a total of three HD credit cards. As if one per household wasn’t enough.
I simply don't use any, only two debit cards, one from my bank, the other from the state bank, which means if I don't put money in them, they aren't of any use. Else, I pay with cash.
I didn’t spend any money at all! I am keeping my money in my pocketbook, no holiday shopping for me!
I really didn’t go out and shop at all . Just little places and thrift store but not holiday stuff at all