Over the last week, we've seen several articles that have cropped up detailing the intertwining of the Washington Game. Henceforth, no longer will we consider anything in Washington political, but merely a game by which the Ruling Class plays to continually hold it's absconded power.
Prior to my article and the American Spectator's article last Friday detailing the Country Class's plight and struggle in dealing with one party rule, I considered how in reality it is not just Washington that is against "we the people." We must also consider that crony capitalism has become another tool with which the Ruling Class uses to assume more power and confiscate our dollars. This was further reinforced by blogger Laurel over at Politics Guns and Beer, who has been following a story (updated here) about HS Precession using advertisements with the glowing endorsement of FBI, Ruby Ridge trigger man, Lon Horiuchi.
Considering it is election season, there are a plethora of local businesses who have been proudly displaying signs for candidates of either or both parties. Often, local businesses are forced to support the political campaigns of either or both candidates in one form or another (advertisement signs or campaign contributions) as a "pay for play" to prevent the further denigration of their business opportunities. That said, today's political athlete might as well just be another member of the Mafia; at least then we can readily identify them as a criminal. Instead, small businesses are forced into making a harsh decision of galvanizing their customer base and potentially loosing sales or, drawing the eye of their political capo who strong arms them through regulatory or inexpeidant approval processes.
The question it raises to me is "How should I approach these businesses who proudly display candidate signs?" It is not only limited to the party with which I disagree, but more and more, I have become suspect of those within my own "party" (loosely based). As Laurel pointed out, she is refusing to do any business with companies who promote policies or pay people with whom she disagrees. Unfortunately, I have to ask is this even a reality considering the entire supply chain in modern commerce? Somewhere along the lines, we are going to support a company, even if by proxy, that disagrees with and/or outright attacks American tradition and principles.
Is it even feasible to research every single company or business we patronize? If you figure that in the normal course of your life, you probably shop at primarily the same grocery store, the same soft-goods box store (or a handful of them), the same online retailers, the same auto repair shop, ect, it's pretty easy to identify what businesses are for or against your ideals. Will I go out of my way to alter every aspect of my life to avoid doing business with a company that disagrees with my political philosophies?
As a capitalist, when it is economically convenient to do so, I will try to avoid doing business with those who undermine my positions. Unfortunately, I can't compile a complete list of "do business with and don't do business with" such and such companies. If Trucker Dan's Beer, Bait, and Guns gives me the best price on .45, even though Trucker Dan is a former union shill and votes for every Democrat that walks down the road, chances are, I will probably patronage his store. If Uncle Ted's Tackle & Ammo across the street advertises a Republican for Governor of Maryland sign, I might choose to spend an extra penny per round and keep some of my personal pride knowing that I have done the moral thing.
As capitalism goes though, the larger the company, the larger the tenticales in the market place. Trucker Dan and Uncle Teds reach is limited in their customer base, as well as the clout they have with the politcal atheletes. Being a member of a local bank might not be great for accessibility of your money, but at least you have the chance to shape the institution, where as Bank of Amigo [America] is nothing more than one of the stores being afforded Mob protection. With the stories linked previously, we can bicker back and forth all day as to whether one should do business with Remington and Savage (who use HS Precision products) as apposed to say Winchester. Sure, they potentially give to Demicans and Remocrats alike but in reality, all are firearms manufactures have to support the 2A in a majority position because their business models depends on it.
The point is, if you know someone is doing something against your ideals, then you should take all precautions to avoid doing business with them. Unfortunately, sometimes you are forced to contradict yourself for the sake of a better product or a good price or both. In the end, you have to sleep at night knowing you've made a good purchase. Realistically the primary focus of the conservative / libertarian's efforts should be on those who have made the rules of the game unfair for the Country Class. Attacking the policies that allow the Ruling Elites to advance to the position of political mafia boss is key. Sure, using commerce as a weapon can achieve some wanted changes, but in the end, we only really hurt fellow Country Class Americans, but shifting away the market share from their employers.
Only when the unwinding of arbitrary regulation is complete and crony capitalism's love affair with the political Mob killed, can the consumer actually vote with their dollars for the best product at the market price. Until then, everyone plays within the same rules of the game, no matter what the individual company's polices.
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