April 25, 2005

Buy Blue

I talked about this a while ago (Siqi told me about it, word of mouth), but I started looking at the details today. www.buyblue.org rates companies by the political party donations made by their corporate leaders, and urges those of blue-bent to avoid red and ... buy blue! I suppose it will be more extensive when there are more details (I see that it tries also to consider workers' issues, environmental ethics, etc but it doesn't have all the information for every company).

Some of the ratings don't seem too surprising. A lot of chains and franchises that cater to a lower income demographic are very red-leaning (fast-food chains like Taco Bell and McDonald's, snack food corporations like Hershey's, Target, hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe's). Some of them are so red, but are simply unavoidable for some consumers (most of the listed grocery store chains like Safeway, Raley's, Kroger, Winn-Dixie). There are some red companies that you can definitely avoid: Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie (which you should always stay away from anyway just because of the cheesiness), Dell computers, and California Pizza Kitchen, among others!

Even if a company is 'blue,' doesn't mean I'd advocate it, but the list gives an interesting, though limited glance at the political leanings of corporations that take up a lot of space and money in our American lives. Check it out and see what you can de-sponsor.

1 comment:

♥ shopmycloset ♥ said...

hey jean, thanks for the heads up on buyblue.org.

would you like to become a GUESTBLOGGER for shopmycloset.com? You can write about anything related to fashion (very broad!!)

if you are interested... let me know!

also, can you email me your phone number. thanks!!
:)kathy