Who will take the pledge? My wife has begun her yearly pledge. She will not shop retail

[diabeticman]

Thanksgiving Day and she will not shop those retail stores that opened on Thanksgiving throughout the Christmas shoppings days.


She says we are seeing America dividing into two Americas. Those who have the privilege of Thanksgiving and those who no longer have THanksgiving as a holiday because they have to work.


Who will join my wife?

[JaneyVee]

1. I'll gladly and easily take that pledge.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

29. The local mall is opening at 6:00 p.m. Thanksgiving evening

I won't be shopping anytime right before or after Thanksiving.

Too crowded and I am opposed to making holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas just another day of the year for profit.

[snacker]

2. I'm in! nt

[Wella]

3. I agree with your wife.

I also am not shopping this whole week at any department store. (I still have to get groceries.)

[Logical]

4. Taxis? Buses? Airports? Newspapers? Gas stations? Grocery Stores? Should all of them close? nt

[yeoman6987]

5. Movie theaters???? Many places have been open

For years that were non emergency. I won't shop Thanskgiving due to other activities. Friday I will be there in some buying capacity.

[diabeticman]

10. Why have holidays at all going by your thoughts. Yes, some gorcery stores are open, yes some

gas stations are open and taxis and buses help people get to love ones. So are emergency rooms firefighters and EMTs but we have a chance to use money to tell greedy retailers that NO!!! we want our fellow citizens to have a holiday and I am going to stay home instead of going to your store to get a $800 TV for $150.

[Logical]

19. Leave it up to the store. I am fine with your boycott, your right. Nt

[Warpy]

14. A lot of the gas stations here don't open until 4 PM or so unless they also sell food.

The mini marts open to sell people things they might be missing for dinner.

There is generally no paper put out on either Thanksgiving or Xmas here.

Buses run on a Sunday schedule. I haven't tried getting a cab.

Hospitals, fire houses and police stations are always fully staffed, especially the latter since it's a busy season for scraping people full of holiday cheer out of the cars they've wrapped around telephone poles.

[Logical]

18. TV? Off the air? Local news, movies! Nt

[Warpy]

35. It's a skeleton crew, no news until 5 PM

and just keeping the network feed going. The news is mostly rehashed unless there is a big fire or traffic accident. The weather guy and sports guy have to pay attention, though.

This isn't a huge market like LA or NYC.

[LanternWaste]

65. Intentionally or not, you appear to have a penchant for the logical fallacy, "reducto absurd..."

Whether intentionally or not, you appear to have a penchant for the logical fallacy, "reducto absurdum"... which may seen as somewhat ironic given how you attempt to advertise yourself.

[Logical]

68. It always amusing reading your posts. Always trying to sound really clever. nt

[Thinkingabout]

6. Please take a few moments to remember other essential employees who have to work holidays.

[diabeticman]

13. For years my wife worked in the health care field as well as group homes. Yes, some work is require

but do we really need to shop on Thursday.

[adigal]

59. Police, firemen, health care workers, they know it comes with the turf

Thankfully, the single, childless and empty nesters often volunteer to work Christmas so those with young children can enjoy them.

[Travis_0004]

7. I buy everything from Amazon

I dont know if they open thanksgiving or not, although I could see them being a 24/7 operation.

[Logical]

20. Really? Of course Amazons open 24 seven 365. Nt

[gordianot]

8. So is black Friday at Walmart OK?

[diabeticman]

15. Friday is NOT Thanksgiving. Retailers want to have the "Capitalist Christmas" that day fine.

My wife is saying that Cooperate Overlords should ALLOW there serfs to have one before the buying season begins

[rudolph the red]

16. "Cooperate Overlords", good grief!

[NightWatcher]

9. I'm broke, so count me in. I'm not buying anything for Christmas

Damn, this boycott stuff is easy.

[tammywammy]

11. No, I won't make that pledge.

I don't plan on shopping Thursday or Friday, but I'm not giving up stores that do open those days. The grocery store, Target, CVS, Ulta, etc all stores open Thanksgiving, all stores I'll keep shopping at.

[rudolph the red]

12. When I was in college, I worked retail and I loved working

holidays because I made double-time. If I had a problem with working on Sundays and holidays, I probably would have found a different job. These people aren't indentured servants being forced to work, they are doing their jobs and being compensated for it.

[diabeticman]

17. Can I ask how long ago you worked retail? We have family and friends who work retail and fast food

NOW. Forget double time or even time and a half. They are paid straight wage AND have the possibility of losing their job IF they do not show up. Our one friend normally has Thursday off. She was told she either works or lose her job.

[rudolph the red]

22. Does this come as a suprise to your friends and family?

Did they not know the holiday work policy when they accepted the job? I specifically asked those questions when I was hired in 2000 at an electronics store, I didn't have a problem working holidays, so I took the job.

[prairierose]

21. I have never shopped on Thanksgiving...that is a family day and in my world..Black Friday is...

Buy Nothing Day. My family has celebrated Buy Nothing Day for more than 15 years now. It is another day to spend with family and not to contribute to capitalist greed. We stay home, eat leftovers and watch movies. We don't eve talk about shopping.

[malokvale77]

23. It is easy for me

We don't do Christmas shopping, or any other shopping (except groceries) for that matter.

I appreciate your wife's sentiment though. My daughter works at Walmart, in Electronics. She doesn't get holiday pay. Believe me, they didn't ask if she was "willing" to work. They already had a Pre-Black Friday sale this last Friday. I won't go into that horror story.

I too, work all holidays. I'm in Home Healthcare. We don't receive extra pay either. My job is essential, where as retail is not.

[lynne]

24. Boycotts only hurt the employees

so I don't participate. If people want to work Thanksgiving, who am I to stop them? It very well may be that they need the money. My husband worked Thanksgiving for years, I got up early to have dinner ready for him and the kids before he went to work in the early afternoon. Working in shifts will allow people to visit with their family at some point during the day.

Medical personnel, fire, rescue, police, gas station, etc., there are many who work on holidays. I'm not planning on shopping on Thanksgiving but I sure won't stand in the way or boycott someone who needs to work.

[diabeticman]

25. A LOT of these stores no longer give time and a half. A lot of these stores are forcing employees

to work. There are no choices for retail workers anymore. As for Rescue fire and doctors they are providing life saving services.


Will someone die if a retail store isn't open Thanksgiving day?

[lynne]

55. Probably MOST don't give time and a half -

- as many stores have never given time and a half to part time or seasonal employees. That's usually reserved for the full time people and getting a full time job is next to impossible, especially this time of year in the retail industry.

Many who are working seasonal jobs are doing so because they NEED the money. I've no doubt that many welcome working the extra hours. If work shifts are split, people will then have a chance to have Thanksgiving with their family even if they arrive a little late.

Those who travel on Thanksgiving are hopeful that the gas station and quick-stop employees are on the job. Certainly not life saving. And will someone die if a retail store opens on Thanksgiving and those who need the money work a few hours? Let them have the choice to work. You have the choice not to shop.

[diabeticman]

56. THEY ARE NO LONGER GIVING TIME AND A HALF TO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES! Many shifts are not split.

Don't kid yourself these retail stores are not showing kindness to there employees.

One store told a friend of ours that from Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) to Jan 2nd they are to live breath and eat for the store. THEY have no other priorities but the store.

[lynne]

57. Luckily for them -

- they still have free choice. They have the option of finding a 9-5 job that isn't in retail. Anyone who is working full time in retail knew that the holidays were coming and they know that holiday hours are to be expected, even on Thanksgiving. Many stores have always been open on Thanksgiving, including grocery stores. Especially grocery stores. Hopefully they'll give the hours to those that want them.

No boycott from me. I won't be shopping but might have to run to the grocery store for more ice. I'll be thankful they're there.

[tammywammy]

61. That's been SOP for years if you work in retail from Thanksgiving through New Year's.

Not getting extra time off, working extra hours, etc is SOP in retail from Thanksgiving through New Year's. That's the busiest time of the year. It would be like working at H&R Block during tax season.

[LanternWaste]

67. Not entirely accurate.

"Boycotts only hurt the employees..."

Not entirely accurate. In 2003, Good Energy stopped using G4S as a supplier of meter reading services following a boycott from consumers. In 2012, Mini Babybel offered an apology and withdrew a number of products after disability campaigners called for a boycott of their cheese after the company ran a marketing campaign that used the phrase ‘Mentally ill holidays’. Nestle gave in to pressure from a Greenpeace-sponsored boycott and promised a zero deforestation policy in its palm oil supply chain. De Beers, Royal Caribbean Cruises, PricewaterhouseCoopers were all forced to change unethical business practices from pressure due to boycott.

The list is long.

[Logical]

69. LOL, really, comparing those boycotts to boycotting shopping on a holiday? Nice try! nt

[oldandhappy]

26. I'm in.

Hands up. No Turkey Day shopping! Tell your wife we are with her.

[onecaliberal]

27. Thanksgiving is a day my family

Spends together and siblings travel from out of town to be here. We do not shop, we enjoy the privilege of spending precious time together.

[TexasTowelie]

28. I'll have to make an exception for the Dollar General in my neighborhood

which I'm not planning to buy anything on Thanksgiving Day, but I'm all for it otherwise.

[ReRe]

30. I'll take it.

The Dept store I shop at will not be open on Thanksgiving (Dillard's). And I never leave the house on Black Friday. I spend that day looking up my Turkey A-la-King recipe that I always somehow misplace.

The rate this country is going, it wouldn't surprise me if they eventually just do away with Thanksgiving Day, claiming it's too "socialist."

[leftieNanner]

31. I'm in!

I'm pretty much focused on only shopping local - no matter what. Absolutely NO shopping at these stores that open on Thanksgiving!

[BlueStreak]

32. Hope about a real pledge? Don't buy any worthless crap at all during this season.

For the last 10 years. just about the only thing I have done is donations to charities.

How about you take THAT pledge?

[C Moon]

38. I've been trying to get my family to do this, but they always disagree with me.

Every year, we come home with more stuff that we'll never use.
It's fun and appreciated, but it often just sits.
I have many DVDs, CDs, etc that haven't even been opened.

[BlueStreak]

43. The "Spend, spend, spend" propaganda is everywhere. It takes a strong response.

I would not necessarily recommend this pledge if children are involved. But adults surely ought to be reasoned with.

The first step is to separate the orgy of consumption from any religious traditions your family might believe in. While the sacred texts for some religions might indicates some token gift-giving, I don't know of any religion that gives support for the commercial orgy that we now have. And surely every religion DOES have instructions to help the least among us.

If you can get past the religious bits, then it is mainly a matter of personal will. I would suggest making a statement like "My family and friends are the real gift. I do not wist for any material goods this year and I will not be buying any of those myself. Material goods are not a measure of the value I place on relations with those close to me. This is a time of year to think about those that are in need. I have made a list of organizations I believe represent our values and I would be honored if anybody wanted to make a donation in my name. And I would also be honored to make donations to other organizations the rest of you might identify."

It seems really easy and obvious, but this propaganda has been beaten into people's heads for so many decades that this really is a traumatic thing. However, you might find that others have grown weary of the pressures of seasonal gluttony, and they might actually be happy to have somebody stand up and suggest a good alternative.

[indivisibleman]

33. We started this years ago.

and fully support such a pledge.

[C Moon]

34. I'm in as well. No frigging WAY will these stores get my online or instore money.

[greatlaurel]

36. I'm in, your wife's idea is superb. Please tell her I am a big fan of this idea.

Must be hitting a nerve with some of the trollish responses you got. Keep up the good work!

These corporations are treating their employees and costumers with utter disregard. The stores that are opening on Thanksgiving do not deserve anyone's business. If they do this, what other shoddy practices do they use to increase profits? I can remember when just about everything was closed on Thanksgiving and the businesses were in much better shape financially. The problems started when the frat boy business executives with no idea how to run a business became the rage in business circles with the only goal being very short term profit.

[missmo1951]

37. I'm in

When I was a kid, nothing was open in retail on Thanksgiving... And the day after was not Shopageddon. We survived quite well. (No, T-Rex was not roaming the earth at the time.)

[SheilaT]

39. I have not shopped the day after Thanksgiving

in at least ten years. And I didn't shop that day regularly before then.

For ten years I was an airline ticket agent at National Airport in Washington, DC, so I've worked my share of holidays. More recently, I worked the information desk at a local hospital. Which included holidays.

So I have no problem with truly essential services operating on holidays. And even if I choose not to shop the day after Thanksgiving (which I've worked the year I worked retail), stores do not need to be open Thanksgiving Day. Even grocery stores should close that day, and people need to learn to buy what they need no later than the day before.

I am totally appalled at this recent opening on Thanksgiving Day that some retail stores are doing, and even if I'm only one person, I will never shop that day.

Just my two cents.

[tavalon]

40. I'm working that day (not retail - NICU nurse)

At least I think I am. I need to check the schedule when I get back to work on Monday. What I do know is that I have participated in Buy Nothing Day for over 20 years. I am a pro at staying away on that day and every day until mid January at least. I buy food only during those times.

https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

They have changed the name but not the intent, this year. This year it is called Occupy Xmas as a hat tip to the greatest movement we have seen since the sixties, a movement many believe to be over. It isn't over by a long shot.

[MADem]

41. I usually give money for holiday gifts, but I intend to shop at the stores I always shop at.

If I need groceries, I'll buy them at a retail grocery store. If I need socks or underwear, I'll buy them at a retail department store. I'm not going to engage in boycotts or check to see who was open and who wasn't (because they'll all be open, count on it)--they don't work.

There's nothing terribly sacred about Thanksgiving. There hasn't been for a long time. Same with Christmas, New Year's, or any Monday holiday. When I was a child and lived in USA, I lived in a state where there were "blue laws" and everything was closed on Sunday. If you didn't get it (whatever IT might be) on Saturday, you were screwed unless you had a neighbor, friend or relative you could borrow from.

[WillowTree]

42. Why blame the stores? If people didn't shop on holidays, the stores wouldn't be open.

Funny how that works.

[Dreamer Tatum]

44. Fuck no. I will shop when I want. nt

[BrotherIvan]

45. I'm with you and your wife

I had to work on holidays in retail and loathed it. I mean 12am on Thanksgiving? 5am on New Year's? Only the severe weirdos come out. It's all so pointless. They don't sell enough to keep the lights on. No wonder retail is dying. Nordstrom never does that and it's doing fine.

[Rhiannon12866]

46. Same with me!

Not only is it bad for anyone forced to work on the holiday, but anyone who's desperate enough to shop on Thanksgiving is probably nutz...

[PatrickforO]

47. I'm not going anywhere on Thanksgiving, and will gladly not shop at stores that make their people

work, unless it's a union setting and they are doing it voluntarily for at least time-and-a-half.

[cwydro]

48. I don't work in retail

but I'm working on Thanksgiving.

As are airline employees, nurses, doctors, restaurant employees, movie theaters, gas stations, hotel employees, police, fire fighters, the secret service, electric utility folks. Ha, even the 24 hour "butterball" turkey hotline.

Get over yourself.

[shallwechat]

49. me

Ill join her, i will not shop stores that are open on turkey day, or even black friday. They can keep their 50 dollar tv. A savings of a few hundred will not break or save my budget.

[ileus]

50. I will...unless my DW sends me out to get last minute something.

Hopefully before and after the meal me and my son will be out in the field hunting turkey/deer.

[merrily]

51. Another DUer beat you to this particular loyalty oath a couple of days ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025843680

I took the oath, but then found out that the convenience store my post referenced is cooking Thanksgiving dinner for customers who order it at a very reasonable price. And a couple of senior citizens' housing buildings are near that store. So, I bet they are among the customers ordering. So, then, I felt bad about the oath.

I won't shop for Christmas presents that day, but if I run out of milk, I'm going to that convenience store!

[Bluenorthwest]

52. Shopocalypse Song - Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir

[HockeyMom]

53. I am shopping online and having it shipped

My kids live 1,000 miles away. My older daughter just got married and needs a set of pots and pans. Think I am going to carry that on a plane when I fly for Christmas? No way.

My older daughter works in retail. Some stores where she used to work were open on Thanksgiving, but Bloomindale's isn't. Her wife, who works for an auto insurance company, has to work on Thanksgiving. People get in auto accidents on Thanksgiving so she has to work answering phones. Daughter's MIL also works Thanksgiving (LIRR), so my daughter (RETAIL lol) is the only one off from work and she is cooking a late dinner for everyone else at MIL's house.

[fredamae]

54. I Stopped Shopping

Corporate Years ago-not just for one day-but all year long. My only regret is that my tiny, teeny little impact only counts once

[adigal]

58. I take the pledge, but that's easy for me. I make most presents and buy on etsy for the rest

Send her over to my shop on etsy!!

[raven mad]

60. I'm in.

I hate shopping anyway; this is an easy one for me!

[Bonx]

62. Nope.

Some people want to work Thanksgiving. For a variety of reasons.

[Runningdawg]

63. No shopping for me until after the first of the year

I make it a point to have Christmas DONE by Halloween. We made our last shopping trip Saturday. The only thing we will need to shop for before the new year is fresh veggies. We do that at the local mom and pop market.

[woo me with science]

64. Definitely in here,

and my great respect to your wife!

[HappyMe]

66. Sorry, no.

I will shop where I want.

What is it with the 'pledges' themed stuff lately.