Big Corporate Fast

Inspired by EC’s comment and some of the ongoing boycotts, today I am inaugurating the Big Corporate Fast. For one month I and whoever will join me will fast from Big Corporate.

The contours of this fast will be up to you. It should be some combination within reason of:

Buy local. Buy direct. Don’t buy at all.

For this month, as much as reasonably possible, I will be fasting from Amazon and Walmart and Target and big chains and big media.

As much as I can, I will be getting my groceries at a local place.

I will not eat at a national chain.

If I have products or services I need, I will go local or go direct instead of going through a national chain or a big retailer.

If I can get a similar products in generic or from a smaller corporation or used, I will.

If my only source is Big Corporate, I will do without or make it from scratch as much as I can.

As much as possible, I will stay off Big Social Media.

As much as possible, I will not use the big paid streaming sites. I will read books from the library, pop in a DVD, jam with friends and family, listen to music I already have.

As much as possible, I will stay away from live sports, paid Hollywood, and other aspects of Big Corporate Entertainment.

Example: I want to order a new pen for my journal. Instead of getting it from Amazon like normal, I ordered direct from the manufacturer. It cost a little more, but not much.

The goal here is not something grandiose like bringing corporate America to its knees. Sure, we can eventually get enough people to do it that there may be a noticeable dip in corporate sales for a month. That would be great, but that’s not the point. The point is to be free. Are you a helpless consumer or are you the kind of person who makes choices? It’s going to be wonderful to discover what you don’t have to be hooked on. It’s freeing to say, hey, you can’t force me to engage.

I am excited about doing this. Please let me know if you can join with me.

FAQ

What if I do want to bring corporate America to its knees?

Sure. Good luck to you. Don’t expect immediate results. Read this.

Do I have to do all the things on your list?

Shoot, no. Do half of them. Do one of them. Add to the list. What you should do is make intelligent decisions about what makes sense to you. Be conscious. Pray a little. Do things because you have decided to, not because you are drifting with the current. That’s the point of the Big Corporate Fast.

What if I need an auto part today and the only auto stores in my town are chain stores?

Then buy it at a chain store. The Big Corporate Fast is not a hairshirt. The point is not to feel virtuous because you feel miserable. No virtue signaling allowed. The point is for you to make conscious choices as the owner of your own life. The Big Corporate Fast should feel fun and exciting.  A chance to be creative.

What if some people do the Big Corporate Fast with me for the wrong reasons? What if they hate something different about corporate control of their lives than I do?

Oh, well. This is not a boycott with a specific political objective. It is not a boycott nor the General Strike. The goal is to let yourself be free.

To the extent there is a political message, the message is the ongoing big centralization and big monopolization and big systemization and big corporatization of American life is not good. Free people able to make free choices is good. Spiritual distance from corrupt and corrupting systems is good.

What if I work for Big Corporate?

Don’t quit your job.

Can I keep going after the month ends?

Keep doing a few things if it makes sense for you, but this is really supposed to last just a month.

I didn’t see this, its already partway through the month of June.

Doesn’t matter, just join us for the rest of the month. One day if that is all that’s left.