In the spirit of the burning a candle for solidarity hoax, I recently received the following in my email. Thought I'd share it with everyone; though I have no idea how it would attract the government's attention.
turn your back on the economy!!! Please share this email with as many people as possible...we can protest with our spirit!!!
NOT ONE DAMN DIME DAY
Since our religious leaders will not speak out against the war in Iraq, since our political leaders don't have the moral courage to oppose it, Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20th, 2005 is "Not One Damn Dime Day" in America.
On "Not One Damn Dime Day" those who oppose what is happening in our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of all forms of consumer spending.
During "Not One Damn Dime Day" please don't spend money. Not one damn dime for gasoline. Not one damn dime for necessities or for impulse purchases.
Not one damn dime for anything for 24 hours.
On "Not One Damn Dime Day," please boycott Walmart, KMart and Target. Please don't go to the mall or the local convenience store. Please don't buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter).
For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy down.
The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting it and that it is their responsibility to stop it.
"Not One Damn Dime Day" is to remind them, too, that they work for the people of the United States of America, not for the international corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations and funnel cash into American politics.
"Not One Damn Dime Day" is about supporting the troops. The politicians put the troops in harm's way. Now 1,200 brave young Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis have died. The politicians owe our troops a plan -- a way to come home.
There's no rally to attend. No marching to do. No left or right wing agenda to rant about. On "Not One Damn Dime Day" you take action by doing nothing. You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed.
For 24 hours, nothing gets spent, not one damn dime, to remind our religious leaders and our politicians of their moral responsibility to end the war in Iraq and give America back to the people.
The Bigger The Burger The Better The Burger The Burgers Are Bigger At Burger King. It takes two hands, to handle a Whopper, the two-fisted burger at Burger King. SUV's, Wal-Mart SUPERCenters, 7-11s Pig Gulp sodas, BIG is Amurrica, Ammurrica is BIg. Cripes, our Pres. is from Texas, where, "everything's bigger". My brother lives in New Jersey. When he came to visit over the Holidays I made him walk downtown with me for a two-mile walk. He hated it. Even though we were on sidewalks the entire time, he said that the only people who walk in New Jersey are people with DUI convictions and bums. Our culture has been taught for generations to love Petroconsumption. It started in the 50's when they began to build the interstate highway system and dismantle the railroads. I blame IKE. (Not Ikea, Paul. Ike. Dwight David Eisenhower, who later had a fit of conscience and warned us about the military-industrial complex. Instead of I like IKE, howzabout I LIKE BIKES?
Rex D.
in Milwaukee, WI Member
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 | 03:16 PM
Here is some Pro-NODDD and Anti-NODDD stuff I came across.
"Not one damn dime day"
There's some email spam going around promoting some idea called "not one damn dime day."
Not only is it spam, but it's patently Marxist-Leninist and it makes me sick to my stomach.
If you're opposed to the war in Iraq, there are lots of things you can do to voice your displeasure. Everything from a bumper sticker to your vote.
Here's my take on "not one damn dime day" that I posted to the wnycoalition4progress Yahoo Group:
I‰Ûªd like someone to explain to me how a boycott of local, privately owned shops and services is going to tell the ‰ÛÏpeople in power‰Û that be that the war in Iraq is illegal or immoral.
Seems to me that such a boycott does a lot towards promoting a Marxist-Leninist agenda, and very little towards ‰ÛÏreminding our religious leaders and our politicians‰Û to end the war in Iraq
Correct me if I‰Ûªm wrong, but the owners of, e.g., Brodo or Spot coffee or even Wegmans are not the ‰ÛÏpeople in power.‰Û The only people this would hurt are the owners of your local shop/service and the people who work there.
By the way ‰ÛÒ this country doesn‰Ûªt have religious leaders. Only secular ones. If you have a religious leader, it‰Ûªs because you choose to.
By the way - Marxism-Leninism is far more offensive to me than the war in Iraq. This war was entered into imprudently, and is/was planned ineffectively if not downright incompetently. Fortunately, it will someday end. For us, anyway. Thousands have died as a result of the war in Iraq. (Let's not forget that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, also died under Saddam Hussein's fascist regime).
Tens of millions of people, however, have been victims of Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist-Maoist leftist fascism. Millions remain oppressed under the yokes of so-called "dictatorships of the proletariat." People throughout the world have labored and fought - at the risk of torture, imprisonment, and death - to overthrow the vicious communist regimes around the world. Some still do, in places like North Korea, PR China, and Cuba.
If you want to stop the war in Iraq, march, make phone calls, blog, vote, get involved.
Not shopping at Lord & Taylor isn't going to bring our troops home.
I'd suggest a "Buy American-Made Goods Only Day", but it would still be the same as "NODDD", because nothing is made in America. (Don't correct me- I know that's an over-generalization. I'm just trying to display my point, which is easy if I take my hat off.)
Hairy Houdini Member
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 | 07:20 PM
I think that NODDD may just be a case of asking a large group of Americans to use muscle to get a point across, the very overused and well-developed muscle of American Consumerism. That's a Big Stick. BUT, and it's a BIG but, I also agree with most of you who suggest that it may have little or no effect on the economy. The act is symbolic, and may even entail a little self-sacrifice. It needs a bit of fine-tuning, though, in light of the recent disaster needs in Asia, in my opinion. It would be nice to give a crap rather than take a crap, so to speak. I don't blame anyone for trying any symbolic (and legal) act to show displeasure with our Gov., but I'd hate to see any effort with real potential for change to be watered down by more inane efforts. That's why I still call for GWB EATS DEAD RATS DAY under the ASSES UNEQUALLED banner, but you all seem to have little or no opinion on those suggestions. Hey- more Dead Rats and Asses for me.
Rex D.
in Milwaukee, WI Member
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 | 08:55 PM
Well, what exactly do you suppose is going to be the outcome of this saying that it works and makes an impact on our government? Do you think it's going to be a big change or more of a minor differenceor do you think there won't be any change at all?
And Hairy, I'm with you on GWB Eats Dead Rats Day under the Asses Unequalled banner.
snopes.com has commented on this e-mail. They have said what I figured they would say.
My opinion is pretty much the same (see my first post in this thread). Basically I say, if you want to participate in this by all means do so, but do not expect much to happen because of it. There just hasn't been enough publicity generated to turn too many political power heads.
My personal opinion is that if you want your voice heard take the time and send letters to your various congressmen/women. Your time would be much better spent in this way.
Because of the illegal and immoral Iraq War which has cost thousands of lives and tens of billions of American taxpayer dollars,
Because of the illegal suppression of the right to vote of many Americans on November 2nd, 2004,
Because of the politicians who show they value corporations over American citizens,
Because of the environmental, fiscal, and civil liberty damages of this administration and the danger to the American system of Constitutional government and the rule of science, reason and law,
I am hereby giving notice I will not spend any money or make any monetary transactions on January 20, 2005.
If you are the employee or owner of any institution make the appropriate plans.
If you are part of an institution that I feel is not in any way responsible for this situation know that I am only delaying purchases.
If you are part of an institution that I know is part of the problem know that a contribution to what I feel is a responsible charitable, educational or political group has been made with the money I save and that I plan on reducing future purchases.
If you have received this message, please join in and pass this on.
Might be gathering steam...
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 | 08:34 AM
...sigh. As nice as this all seems, I've already taken my vacation days, I get paid the 20th...we'll need food, gas, & I have to get a potty-training seat for my daughter's birthday. (She's not getting toys, she's getting a potty-seat, shoes, & training pants.) Also, I'll be paying the sitter (my 16 yr old sister), who will be cashing her check & heading off to to buy MP3 players, cds, bombs, or whatever else it is kids buy now-a-days. In effect, I will actually be contributing to my sister's consumerism, b/c we also just gave her a raise. $20/day. (It actually only equals out to about $2/hour.) I don't like war, but we should support our troops. I think the disaster in Asia is terrible...but it stinks that I kept hearing translations on the news, just a day after the Tsunami about people wondering where their American help was. Screw them all! Every time we step in to 'help' someone gets pissy about fat, loud, obnoxious America showing their strength. So, when we DON'T help, everyone hates us because American's are fat, loud, & obnoxious. Well Pisser, I think I'll just go live in the damn mud. My husband and I break our backs to make sure we have a place to live, food to eat, & clothes on our backs...I'm gonna spend my money whenever I feel like it!
(Although, I might add, not HOWEVER I feel like it...b/c I'd LIKE to have some new clothes, but I think it's probably in my best interest to pay the rent & electric first.)
...and before I get a hundred flaming posts back, I'm really playing Devil's Advocate here. Don't read too much into it.
Smiling Mo
in Oregon
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 | 12:36 PM
Many folks out there actually own small parts of big businesses that owe their considerable success to policies of coercion, usury, eco-rapacity and outright terrorism. I imagine there are many small shareholders out there with little squeaking voices of conscience, gradually getting a little louder. January 20 might be a good day to make these squeaky voices heard. South Africa's racist government was overturned largely by the pressure of international investors. Of course, as somebody noted earlier in this thread, liberals already avoid walmart. But on the other hand, I got the NODDD email from a Texan suburbanite friend who has until recently been a loyal walmart shopper! The value of doing something in unison is that with a crowd, you can make a bigger crowd. Let's think carefully about doing what will work, but in the meantime, let's remember to do SOMETHING.
Smiling Mo
in Oregon
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 | 12:50 PM
PS.
the more that people do, the better of course.
Staying home and drinking would be fun, but going to work and sabotaging a corporate transaction might be even better.
Here is a good site about things to do on 1/20. http://www.black-thursday.com/home.html
zenbetty
in austin tx
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 | 05:17 PM
at LEAST please do NOT buy gas on jan 20, maegan & all. ride your bike, skip to work, carpool, stay at home...
Rex D.
in Milwaukee, WI Member
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 | 06:52 PM
Skip to work. I like that one. I'm going to try that.
MrTitanium
in StL, MO
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 | 09:18 AM
It seems to me that a scheduled and highly publicized week of buying no
gasoline would be a stronger message and quite a bit more to the point. If
you can't schedule a week without buying gas, then you're part of the
problem anyway.
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 | 09:53 AM
I found that skipping in the dark tends to give me bloody knees. I guess I'm just contributing to the problem then. I feel like I've worked really hard just to have the little bit that I have. I'm REALLY angry that I can't buy a home in the town where I grew up. I was thinking of writing a letter & expressing my outrage, but I couldn't find a pen. I don't like the way the things work right now, but I feel like if I stop doing what I'm doing for just a little bit, that I'll get so behind I'll never catch up. I'd really like to prove a point & stick it Big Brother...I don't have the time. It's really American of people to boycott things & use their free speech amendmant to their advantage..I'm just so weary of it all. There are thousands of 'alliances', 'groups', 'unions' for things that I just don't have the time to fight for. I'm busy trying to raise my little girl, trying to be a good mom & a good wife. If I have to do errands on Thursday so that I can play with my daughter on Friday...that's what I'm doing. Give my liberty or give me death as become...Give my liberty...if you want to, b/c I don't have the time to deal with this.
It's all a bit disheartening.
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 | 09:55 AM
...sorry about all the typos...I'm flipping back and forth between a few things & didn't notice.
Smiling Mo
in OR
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 | 10:59 AM
Maegan,
we can all understand where you are coming from. Conscience makes demands on us that seem unreasonable. Sacrifice is no fun. That's why in our society individuals that accede to the demands of conscience are considered heroes. You know, like the 33-year-old Jesus, or Martin Luther King II, or that kid who blew himself up last week in the name of his homeland's security. How much should you sacrifice of your life? It is entirely up to you. No need to try and justify your actions to us other human beings. Don't sweat it Maegan. By the way, to mark the inescapable necessity of sacrifice in life, the Muslims are getting ready to celebrate their holiday of Eid, the day that God told Abraham to kill his son. That crazy nut Abraham was about to do it, too. He was the guy that started the whole thing--Judaism, Christianity, Islam.
see http://www.shalomctr.org/index.cfm/action/weblog/mode/permalink/wb_entry/20.html
A possible response: since these three monotheistic religions have evidently caused so much trouble in history, it maybe that the real God wants us to NOT act like Abraham, rather wants us to tell him, "Fuck you God, you aren't going to take my son!" Problem is, the Gods take your son when They damn well please.
Rex D.
in Milwaukee, WI Member
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 | 02:28 PM
Maegan, you do not have to justify yourself. It's OK. Anybody who thinks everybody can and will do this thing is a dillusional fool. Tha just won't happen. People have resonsibilities that rise above a demonstration, like a family, mainly the children. Also, this is America, land of the super-sizers. We over do, and consume unnecessary amounts of everything because we want to. These very people are not going to give up that retarded priviledge. There will be billions of people going to work, gambling, going to the bar, buying groceries, putting gas in there car, whatever they want to do to have fun and whatever they need to do to survive. If any one person downs another because they either can't, or simply choose not to participate should stop breathing. Thought I'd throw that one in there for fun.
having a jazz funeral for democracy - well this is what we're doing in new orleans on that day - as someone commented, everyday is not a damn dime day for me, and especially i never go to walmart, target, etc. buy local if you can
come on down for the funeral, and stay for Mardi Gras!
We are getting organized with the protest. You can sign the petition at our web site.
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA Member
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 | 09:35 AM
=o) Well then, I have a giftcard for Disney store, I think I'm going to stop in on the 20th & see if there isn't an adorable new outfit for her. Clothes for babies, made by babies. (That was a joke folks!)
