http://www.buyblue.org

This site has been around for a while but I think its important to bring it up expecially in this election year. Buyblue lists corporations in all sectors that are socially, environmentally and politically conscience. They also list what companies donate to the political parties of this country. You can see that places like Costco, Starbucks, REI, Caribu Coffee, Apple Computers and eBay donate to the Democratic party. Walmart, Amazon.com, Anheuser Busch, Dell & Microsoft are just a few who donate heavily to Republicans. Ratings on issues like environmental responsibility, employment equality, labor and industry practices are also included.

I had an interesting discussion with a co-worker today who is a staunch republican, he is a small business owner and is more or less an old school repub by definition. We went round and round about buying american cars and that I am a hypocrite for wanting to buy an import since US automakers refuse to make a fuel efficient car comparable to the Prius. He said that since I am a democrat and that union workers are democratic I should be supporting them. I should just settle for what the US produces and not worry about fuel economy. He said thats what America is about, driving big SUVs, not to is unamerican.

I had a few laughs about this then went on the offensive. I said that I put my values above loyality and compromising to be an "American" is probably the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. At that point he realized what he was saying and said that I was right. This is the mindset that the Bush administration has pushed for the last 6 years, if you don't agree with them then u are somehow a terrorist or unamerican. This has trickled down to how and where you shop, if you don't frequent certain stores then something is wrong with you.

When Republicans say that Dems don't have any values its a flat out lie. Social justice, environmental, social & fiscal responsibility, equal rights for all, fair trade, human rights, religious freedom are just a few of the values we hold. The right would like you to think that religious tolerance means that you don't support Christianity, how they were able to spin this I do not know. We cannot let the right continue on spreading lies that we stand for nothing and are morally bankrupt people.

Think about the latest "hip" companies out there, Whole Foods, Apple Computers, Starbucks, Costco, Google, all are innovative & socially responsible corporations. Whats hot on wall street are companies that can think "outside the box". Hip = Democratic values, a coincidence, I think not. Think entertainment, indie rock, independent films and renegade publishing all have roots in the democratic cause. What's hip these days are speciality stores, good music and thought provoking entertainment. The tide is turning, the culture is coming back to us, now we just need to bring it back politically.

Check out buyblue and see if the stores you shop at are listed. Remember, shopping locally, eating at family own restaurants and avoiding big box stores except for a select few is good for the country. Supersized lifestyles are no longer cool, they are like the republicans in office and its time to move on.