Rethinking Consumption: Every Day Resistance 

I've always been upfront both as an individual and as a business owner, that I support a world where everyone is free to be their authentic selves, to love who they love, express themselves how they want, to make their own choices, where actual history is taught, where people of all backgrounds, races, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, genders, countries of origin, can thrive in a safe and equitable environment. Currently, that is not happening. 

"How do we stop this?" 

I have read countless posts, heard from dozens of people who are scared, frustrated, angry. They've watched the Buy Now documentary, they've read Consumed by Aja Barber (whose work was uncredited in the aforementioned documentary), they're upset by the torrent of policy coming down from on high and want to slow the corporate donations to people whose favorite policies will actively make our lives worse/harder/shorter/more expensive.

The good news! is that according to "the 3.5 solution," civil resistance movements that consistently engage 3.5% of the population (approximately 11.5 million Americans), can topple dictatorships. That's a lot of people, but it's not impossible.

We live in the capitalist world...

...and we have seen, since the Citizens United ruling that allows endless, untraceable money to flow into political campaigns, that the extremely wealthy can bend government to their wills. How do we, average people, stand up to Big Oil, Amazon, Big Banks, etc. etc? 

Of course, there is always room for protests, marches, rallies, direct action! That said, not everyone can attend rallies due to work, disability, child care, job security, etc. etc. And that's OK. There is always something that needs done.  

But we can't do everything all at once. 

And it requires time and patience. We can't attend one rally and call it day, or do a single day boycott and pat ourselves on the back. While each action adds up, it's going to take a lot of actions and a lot of patience. 

The Montgomery Bus Boycotts that led to the de-segregation of the busses took over a year of organized boycotts. 

As a brilliant woman, Brittany Baker of CCAN said this weekend, "The powers that be want you to think that change requires hardship and sacrifice forever....it doesn't have to."

Not every action will work for everyone- and that is OK. For many of us, our choices are limited by our location, our financial situation, etc. Pick and choose what works for you and know that you cannot do everything all at once. 

Legal, Every Day Things You Can Do: Part 1, Money

One of the best things we can do, as eco-warriors especially, is to cut back on our mindless consumption. When we do shop, shopping small keeps money in our communities, where it gets recirculated at other small business, creates jobs, etc. Money in our community is money that is NOT sitting in a CEO's bank account, nor money going to fund a potentially harmful policy.

• Cancel Amazon Prime, Audible. Even IF you can't cut them out completely, you do not have to give them money every month just because. Many, many retailers ship items (for free, even), it may just require waiting an extra day or two. And dash off a note to let Amazon know WHY you have cancelled. 
• Think about WHY you shop, not just where you shop. If the debate is "Target vs Costco vs Amazon," no one is better off, really, except Target, Costco, and Amazon. Think about what you consume and why. Ask yourself if you really NEED the new item, if you can't get it somewhere else, use something you already have, trade/borrow/swap with someone else, or go without. 
• Invest in a small business on a platform like Honeycomb or WeFunder, or a VC fund that supports historically marginalized creators. Very briefly, historically speaking, women (especially) do volunteer work, and men invest. Let's change that by investing in businesses we want to see thrive. Who says tech start-ups have to get all the funds? No one. 
• Donate to someone's GoFundMe. 
• Create your own mutual aid fund for your block/family/friends. Start small. If your neighbor loses her job, your community can fund a week or groceries, a month of heat, etc. 
• Set up recurring donations to local or national organizations that align with your values. 
• Subscribe to a local news outlet, like The 51st or Source of the Spring. Want national pieces? Try ProPublica.
• Support creators that you like, especially those that are most likely to be directly affected by harmful policy, such as LGBTQ+ creators, Indigenous creators, Black creators, disabled creators, creators of color, etc). 
• Choose a credit union or local bank.
• Add to your savings account. 
• Pay with cash when you shop at small businesses! This saves them the fees that businesses are charged per transaction/credit card fees. 
  

Legal, Every Day Things You Can Do: Part 2, Shopping

While I do think it is VERY important to reduce our consumption- not just as a political statement, but also as an earth-friendly one- the fact is that we will need things and it is highly unlikely we can all grow our own food, make our own clothes, and barter for anything we don't have. But that's OK! 

Shopping mindfully and consciously can go a long way in building a world we want to live in. 

• Shop secondhand. We have enough clothing to clothe the next six generations- and adding more by the day. Before you buy new, look at thrift stores or on apps like Poshmark and ThredUp to see if you can find what you need- and save money! There are also so many gems- dishes, decor, blankets, etc. that you can find secondhand. 
• Join your Buy Nothing group on Facebook or your local listserv. It is the BEST way to give away and get free items! 
• Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and/or shop at farmer's markets to eat seasonally. Not only will you be eating fresher, higher quality produce that won't rot as quickly, you'll be supporting our local farmers. 
• Try a refill store, or bulk section (Mom's, TP Co-Op etc), local or ethnic grocery store to grab pantry staples. 
• Yeah, refill! Refilling puts money into small businesses AND removes plastic from the waste stream AND tells Big Oil "we don't want you here." 
•  Every time you want to impulse buy, put that money into your savings account or a mutual aid fund instead (locally: DC Mutual Aid, Takoma Park Silver Spring Mutual Aid).
• Set up a local clothing swap or mending party to swap clothes with neighbors and/or repair things that may only have minor damage. 
• Switch from premium Spotify to Bandcamp, or buy directly from artists you like. Spotify pays artists next to nothing for each stream AND when media exists on streaming, it can disappear at anytime. If you like art, buy art. 
• Buy your favorite physical media- books, DVDs, TV shows (secondhand is great). There are already shows and movies lost to time, because they only existed on streaming services or are long out of print. If you rely on streaming your media, you don't own it, and it can vanish at any time. 
• When shopping, try to invest in pieces that will be used often and last a long time. A new doodad or holiday throw pillow might give you a dopamine rush, but how much are you really going to use it? 
• Shop SMALL and LOCAL. Shopping small and local supports people that live WHERE YOU LIVE. It keeps money in the community, not in someone's bank account. Support historically marginalized business owners when possible. 

Legal, Every Day Things You Can Do: Part 3: Political Action

I've already mentioned marches, rallies, protests, etc., so I won't spend a lot of time on that here. These types of events can be a great place to build community and feel more connected. 

• Contact your representatives, even if you think they're already on board with your values OR you think they're in complete disagreement. 
• Run for office. Look at Run For Something! There are a lot of elected positions in every state, county, etc. Why can't you be one of them? 
• Donate to or volunteer for a political campaign.
• Serve as an election judge. (I've done this a bunch, it's actually pretty fun.) 
• Attend local government meetings, PTA meetings, etc. and find out what is going on in your community. What is needed? How can you help? 
• Hang up wheat paste fliers or distribute stickers with useful information, such as ACLU's Know Your Rights palm cards, Plan C stickers, or other fliers that might be useful in your community. 
• Don't comply in advance. If you hear of a rule that's coming down...you don't have to do it ahead of time. Stand strong and proud. 
• Do not answer the door for ICE or police who are doing "wellness checks." There is a good chance they are looking for information to deport or harass a neighbor. You do NOT have to answer questions without a JUDICIAL warrant, signed by a judge. 
• Get news and information from outside of the US. With crackdowns on FDA, CDC, and other communications, it is important to stay on top of things like disease outbreaks, food recalls, etc. 

Legal, Every Day Things You Can Do: Part 4: Community

Nothing- and I do mean NOTHING has made me feel better than spending a day at a conference focused on women's legislative issues. Hearing from other people, who are also frustrated, scared, and FIRED UP made me feel inspired, comforted, and like all is truly not lost. 

• Call, text, even write a letter to someone. Snail mail is better than a bill or junk mail and supports USPS! 
• Host a dinner, clothing swap, book swap, book club, cocktail hour, tea party, or anything else that brings people together.  People need people. We are so isolated by our busy schedules, and social media does not replace human connection. Period. 
• Call people out. When someone says something or makes a crude joke, a simple "that's not cool or funny" can go a long way in making others around you feel seen and supported. 
• Again: Join your Buy Nothing group! 
• Use the library! The Montgomery County library has books, yes, but also classes, tools, audiobooks, seriously, so many amazing resources to take advantage of. You can even get some magazines completely free! FREE! 
• Request books from marginalized authors at your local library. Read those books. 
• Listen to those in your community who have been historically marginalized. 
• Volunteer with a cause that matters to you, whether its at the animal shelter, your local school, church, picking up trash, whatever- get involved and meet other people who care too. 
  
• Put banned books in Little Free Libraries. 
• Be genuinely kind to other people. Yes, someone will always rankle your nerves. We have no idea what anyone else is going through. Try to give people (and yourself) grace- or at least, kindness. 
• Help your neighbors. Shovel their snow, lend a hand, bring in their packages, give them a jump if their car dies. Bring soup if someone is sick. Offer to care for their pets or plants. We are each other's keeper! You don't know who has a local support system- neighbors might be all someone has. 
• If you see white supremacist, neo-Nazi, or other hateful posters/fliers in your neighborhood, carefully remove (sometimes razor blades are hidden behind them) them or cover them up. 
• Pick up trash in your neighborhood when you see it. Make your community a nicer place to live and walk in. 
• Learn actual history, not the whitewashed version we learned in school. Start a book club, listen on audiobook, just...learn.  Here's a book list you can start with. 

Legal, Every Day Things You Can Do: Part 4: Self-Care

This isn't the bubble bath and LED masks section, although if that's your self-care, don't let me stop you. By self-care, I mean sustaining yourself for the long-haul, in ways that don't deplete your bank account or your sanity. 

• Make art, music, zines, movies. Make something. It doesn't have to be good. No one has to see it. You can put it in a box in the closet afterwards. Creativity is good for you.
• Pet your pets. Play with your kids. Let yourself slip into childlike glee and pretend. Feel the unconditional love of your pet.
• If you are in a position to do so, get your annual check ups and preventative care at the doctors. I don't know what our healthcare system is going to look like in one year, five years, ten years. Staying on top of your health can make a difference. So many diseases can be treatable if caught early. This is a cause near to my heart- please, get your check ups. Your family needs you, your community needs you, this country needs you.
• Try non-consumption (or low-consumption) based hobbies, like reading (books from the library), walking, bird watching, knitting/crochet, hiking, baking, painting, drawing, etc. 
• If you have the space to garden, try gardening! Or plant native wildflowers! 
• Exercise and eat nourishing food. Good for your body, mind, and soul! Outlast the fash, I tell my trainer, LOL. Seriously, exercise keeps your body healthier, longer. You don't have to join a gym- dance, walk, jog, skip, do yoga videos. Move and take care of your joints, muscles, heart. 
• Read this lovely post on The Boring Apocalypse and anxiety. 
• Put the phone down. Doomscrolling will not make you feel better. I promise. 
• Spend time with others and build up your networks. When something happens, know who in your community you can turn to. There are a million ways someone can fall through the gaps in our systems. Help someone else when you can. 
• Rest. 
• Find joy. 

A final note...

At the end of the day, we need to have either other's backs. It is clear that no corporation or government entity is coming to save the day. It's also clear that we can't do everything all at once, but we can all do SOME things, at least SOME of the time. 

Personally, I am quick to fall into the doomscrolling hole, feeling worse than when I started, and more hopeless, feeling like nothing I do matters and the worst is inevitable. 

But as a historian, let me tell you (and myself): that is not true. The worst is NOT inevitable. The things we do matter, and the people around us matter. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We can pick and choose what we want to do, how, and when. We can find joy, sleep, stretch, tell our loved ones we love them. Because all of that matters too. 

I try to remind myself that instead of JUST fighting back against the world we don't want, to find things that contribute to the world we DO want to live in. Find your thing. Do it. You're so needed. 

You can do something. And in the words of Comptroller Brooke Liermann, "Persist. The country needs you."