Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Acting progressively: A guide to putting your dollars to work for a better America

While roaming around the second annual Seattle Green Festival back in March, I spotted a clever sign hanging above a booth that warned of the consequences of seeking more money without concern for people or planet.

Warning! Use of this product may cause...

The sign, which showed a picture of a United States dollar bill, read:
WARNING! Use of this product may cause:
  • Apathy
  • Laziness
  • Selfishness
  • Ignorance
  • Loss of identity
  • Absence of individuality
  • Greed and gluttony
  • A false sense of empowerment
  • Manipulative behavior
  • Superficial values
  • Lack of spirituality
  • Environmental destruction
  • Racial tension
  • Self-centeredness
  • Murder & war
  • Impoverishment for others
Continuous and excessive use could render a permanent state of indifference to the welfare of those around you.

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
That sign reminded me that how we spend our money is important. We only get to vote in elections a few times a year, but we constantly vote with our dollars. By changing our habits and supporting businesses that are caring and responsible, we can get a much greater value out of every dollar we save or spend.

The following is a checklist of ten ways that each and every one of us can act progressively and put our dollars to work for a better America.
  1. Stop doing business with big banks like JPMorgan Chase. Switch to a credit union for all of your banking. Credit unions are local and owned by their members. They offer lower fees, better rates, and superior customer service. Credit unions can offer you all of the same services as banks: checking and savings accounts, a credit card, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts, and much more. Credit unions also match the convenience of banks through the Shared Branching Network.
  2. Shop for food and beauty products at local, organic cooperatives like PCC Natural Markets. Your dollars will stay local, benefiting many Pacific Northwest farmers. You'll eat healthier, too. (You can also shop at co-ops when you travel - check out the NCGA's site for a list.)
  3. Get out of your current wireless contract and switch to CREDO Mobile. They'll cover the cost of your early termination fee, all the way up to $200. A portion of all charges is donated to progressive causes. CREDO uses Sprint's network, so you'll still enjoy great coverage across the United States.
  4. Avoid using PayPal to accept donations online or collect payments for products. PayPal is not subject to federal banking laws and has a history of inexplicably locking out small merchants. Instead, try Click and Pledge, or get a a merchant services account from Dharma.
  5. If you currently belong to the American Automobile Association, cancel your membership and sign up with Better World Club for roadside assistance. Better World Club covers bicyclists as well as motorists. You'll get better service and your dollars won't be supporting a group that is hostile to mass transit and environmental protection.
  6. Next time you need to travel long distance, consider taking Amtrak instead of flying. You'll avoid long airport security lines and enjoy the freedom to move around. Plus, taking the train leaves a lighter impact on the earth.
  7. Buy books online from Powell's instead of Amazon. Powell's, based in Portland, Oregon is one of the largest and best independent bookstores in the United States, with an impressively large selection of titles. You can also become a member of the Progressive Book Club to get great discounts on the latest books by progressive authors.
  8. Help sustain progressive media by subscribing to magazines like The Nation and The American Prospect. Need some inspiration? Just search for the latest David Broder column for a reminder of the importance of alternatives to the drivel printed on much of America's op-ed pages.
  9. Buy handcrafted toys made in the United States, such as Old Fashioned Blocks. Sturdy American wood building blocks are extremely durable, safe, encourage creativity, and don't make a playroom look like a plastics factory. Find a longer list of toys made in the States at StillMadeinUSA.com.
  10. Rethink where you shop for all your bulk, garden and home improvement needs. Choose Costco over Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, McLendon's over Home Depot, patronize your local nursery for compost and starter plants, and skip over conventional mattress retailers like Sleep Country in favor of environmentally friendly vendors like Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company. (Their beds are more comfortable, too!)
We owe it to ourselves to not just talk about public policy based on our progressive values, but to practice those values every day in our lives.

We are Americans: we have the freedom to choose who we want to do business with. The more wisely we spend our dollars, the better our country will be.

Comments:

Blogger Chuck said...

Re: Powell's vs. Amazon. I hope you realize that Amazon is also local (Seattle).

May 10, 2009 6:02 PM  
Blogger Peter Tornell said...

Shopping for a new bed can be a grueling experience.
It is a jungle out there with so many gimmicks and misrepresentations.

I have sold Hastens Beds for the past six years in California; in fact I was the Managing Director of California’s first Hastens store. Selling these fantastic beds has been nothing but a passion since day one.
Why? Because I have been privileged for so many years now to witness what a profound difference a real good night’s sleep makes in our client’s lives. We do offer crib mattresses to. It is crucial to keep babies away from chemical flame retardants such as PBDE’s and Formaldehyde.

For those of you who do not know, Hastens is the ONLY bed sold in America that contains nothing but 100% natural filling materials. Cotton, Wool, Flax, and Horse-Hair.
A bed that uses foam as a filling material can NEVER be hypo-allergenic.
The reason is that foam traps moisture, and with moisture comes mildew, mold, bacteria, ..A real Disneyland for bed bugs, bed and dust mites.

I have seen everything from allergies that have gone away, to clients with severe to moderate pain issues that have found relief overnight in a Hastens. Obviously there are no guarantees for this. There have also been so many clients who never realized how much their bad sleep affected their daily activities. One thing that I CAN guarantee though is that when it comes to selecting a new bed for your health, a Hastens is your best shot.

Don’t make the mistake believing that a more expensive Hastens bed is healthier for you. When it comes to the materials used it is all the same in all of them, so the health benefits are the same. You will spend 10 days per month (one third of your life) in natures own materials.
When it comes to comfort, well you have to be the judge of that.

Never buy a Hastens bed without trying it first. It is probably the last bed you buy in your life.
I am happy to answer any questions you may have regarding beds in general or Hastens in specific.
If I can help you find a bed that is the right one for you, I have done my job.

I have a sleep blog right here - www.best-rest.blogspot.com

Feel free to email me anytime.
Peter@hastensonbeverly.com
Or visit us on the web.
www.hastensonbeverly.com

We ship beds all across United States as long as there is no dealer in your territory.

Good Hunting!
Sincerely,
Peter Tornell

May 11, 2009 5:49 PM  

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