Boycotts

There has been a general awakening and anti-corporate sentiment on the rise in America. People are beginning to understand that corporations are not their friends. People are starting to realize that corporations will destroy community, culture, and even kill people for profit. People are tired of the rising cost of living, wage stagnation, private equity firms cannibalizing reputable firms and brands, and other similar reasons.

But what methods are the working people of America using to combat large corporations, and for what aims? Unfortunately, nothing truly progressive or leftist. The somewhat recent boycott on August 9th was the epitome of liberal ideology, the peak of liberal activism. Other boycotts have played out recently, to similar effect.

The general idea of the blackout was to show the corporations where the real power lies, in the hands of the consumers. This would be achieved by not buying fast food, not using streaming services, not using Amazon, and other restrictions. If they must purchase something, then they should do it from small, local businesses, instead of large companies. This would last for a single day. The group behind the strike, The People's Union USA, said this was to show that the people can resist nonviolently, through economic action.

For one, a boycott with a designated end-date is pointless. A boycott is meant to pressure a company, and continue pressure until demands are met. But if the company is given an end date for the boycott, they know they can just wait it out and the boycott will end.

And really think. Are Walmart or Amazon, companies valued in the hundreds of billions, going to be totally shaken up over a single day of lost profits? What, will these companies bend the knee, when a single day's worth of consumers abstain? Even if so, it was hardly a mass movement. Most people didn't know and didn't care.

Either way, the boycott didn't impact quarterly earnings. Let's assume everyone in America boycotted Walmart and Target and Amazon for a day. They did not buy anything from these companies. Would they not simply buy their products the preceding or following day? The company's earnings remain unaffected.

Boycotts are pointless against juggernauts like Walmart and Amazon that can simply ride out any boycott, especially boycotts with designated end dates. This doesn't demonstrate the power of the people, it demonstrates the power of the companies. The people can't stay away for more than a day, and will still spend just as much in the surrounding days. They can't resist, hypnotized by consumerism. Besides, many of these companies often have diversified streams of income. Amazon, for example, sells wholesale to many businesses who generally don't participate in boycotts, as well as offering web hosting as a highly profitable venture.

And why is there such an emphasis on using peaceful methods to fight capitalism? Why must we remain peaceful? When the government shoots prominent figures dead in the street or uses tear gas on crowds, or overthrows governments to prevent "communism", is this not violence? When corporations hire mercenaries to torture, assassinate, and execute labor organizers, is this not violence? The working class has been a victim of violence for centuries, but any form of self-defense is decried as terrorism! Who is the terrorist, those in power who daily threaten a man's life, or the man who stands up for himself against the oppressor? John Brown was no terrorist. Every worker knows how you must act around your owner. Smile, don't complain, play nice. This isn't out of reverence or respect. This is out of terror. The working class should not immediately resort to violence, no, but violence is by no means an unthinkable option.

And there is the emphasis to shop local from these boycotters. If you must buy, buy local. Why? Why is there this worship of small business? Keeping the money inside the community? Give me a break! A small business owner is just as cruel and exploitative as a large corporation towards its employees, possibly even moreso. A large corporation has legal departments, bureaucracy, and so on. A small business owner is much more likely to violate safety guidelines, withhold wages, and other such violations, simply because the owner is either unaware or uncaring of the laws, thinking it's something that nobody really cares about.

A small business owner is by no means any more caring or protective of his community than a corporation. Every small business owner aspires to have a successful enough business to not have to work. In other words, all petty bourgeois aspire to be bourgeois. Do not forget, they are still capitalists. This is why they get into running a business to begin with, to get filthy rich. Inside every small business owner is an Elon Musk or a Jeff Bezos just waiting to come out, but lacking the material basis. We can point to the occasional Owenites, but by and large, a small business owner is just as bad as a large business owner. The small business owners possibly moreso, since they often feel as if they have to be more cutthroat and punch above their weight to compete against large firms. Buying from small business often results in money going to large corporations anyways. It is an unfortunate truth that many local restaurants are all using the same Sysco chicken.

Instead, the small business owners must be eliminated. Larger companies like Walmart and Amazon are simply cheaper, faster, and more efficient. A member of the petty bourgeoisie who loses his business to a better-run business is going to become angry, spiteful, disillusioned, and, most importantly, proletarian. Another member of the working class, an oppressor turned oppressed, whose anger can be directed towards revolutionary goals

Take into account that a small business is far more vulnerable to boycotts. A small business cannot ride out a months-long boycott. A small business is far more vulnerable to market trends. A small business relies on individual consumers. To accelerate proletarianization and revolutionary aims, all communists should boycott small business and instead only buy from large companies. All power to Sam Walton.