Spending our money on worker-friendly businesses
I’m about to buy a lawn mower, but I don’t want my money used to attack Wisconsin workers and families.
There are several lists of companies to avoid when making purchasing decisions, such as companies led by people who gave big donations directly to the Walker campaign. Buying local is usually a wise decision, but even that is problematic when most Wisconsin businesses support the Chamber of Commerce (national or local), or other organizations hostile to Wisconsin’s workers and families.
For example, Wisconsin-based Ariens is out because they belong to WMC. Illinois-based John Deere is even worse, because they not only belong to WMC, they also belong to ALEC.
It can be difficult to find a non-evil company to reward with my consumer spending, but it’s worth the effort. At the moment, I’m considering buying a Husqvarna mower. Husqvarna is apparently a Swiss company, although I’m not sure the where the mowers are actually manufactured.
Boycott lists are a good start, but aren’t enough. We need better ways to help each other identify and support companies that believe strong and prosperous families are good for the economy.
For starters, I need your suggestions on what mower to buy, and where to buy it.
We make 1,000 decisions a day, and if we all thought about our decisions – as you are – corporations would behave better and our economy would be stronger. This is why I created the http://www.votewithyourwalletproject.com campaign which gives ACTIONABLE things we can do to support positive economic growth. Check it out. And as for lawn mowers, buy a used / refurbished one?. Maybe a lawn service for cheap? Good luck !
Let’s get this straight. You’re willing to boycott union made and Wisconsin products (Ariens, John Deere, Briggs & Stratton) in order to help “working people.”
if ALEC is being funded by corporations to undermine union jobs it makes sense.
I’m not sure who actually owns Husqvarna these days but the company was originally Swedish. Swedish or Swiss, it’s still better than the US alternatives.
You can go low maintenance/maintenance free and enviro friendly with Prairie Nurseries (Westfield, Wisconsin) “No Mow” lawn. We love it!
Last time I checked Husqvarna and Black and Decker were not listed as belonging to ALEC so maybe they’re safe.
First of all, I prefer to buy American made products. Union-made at that.
http://www.madeinusa.org/
After that I look to see who supports what. Not buying goods from a company that belongs to ALEC is a good idea. (but, be sure to let the company know that they just lost a sale because of their connection)
As a result of commitment to buying American products, it has taken less time to research. Yes, it’s a little bit of extra work in the beginning, but, in the long term, it’s promoting ourselves. WE are the “Job Creators”.
I have had a Black and Decker electric mower that has been maintenance free for about 10 years. Not as stinky and loud as a regular mower and always starts. Not sure about where Black and Decker is manufacturing though
Husqvarna makes a good mower, and doesn’t use a B&S engine.
You can’t escape the fact that mowing is an inherently evil activity, and requires a support system which is unfriendly to life.
Mowing is a way for humans to dominate nature from the comfort of home – a culturally-imprinted tradition requiring group think to deny the reality that it burns fuel in the dirtiest ways, spews pollution and noise, and is a gateway addiction to using herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers to prevent nature from re-claiming it’s balance from the harm inflicted.
A few sad facts:
The average U.S. homeowner spends 150 hours/year on lawn care. (35 on sex)
10 times more herbicides are used on lawns than on agribusiness.
It costs more to maintain a lawn than to grow corn, rice or sugarcane. Over 40 billion dollars/year are spent on lawns in North American – more than all foreign aid in 2005.
In the U.S. an estimated 7 million birds are killed yearly by lawn-care pesticides. Honey Bee Colony collapse disorder is being linked to pesticides.
Phosphorus run-off from lawns causes algae blooms, depleting oxygen from lakes, asphyxiating fish.
30% of the water used on the East Coast of the U.S. waters lawns.
How about buying used from an estate sale /yard sale/local dealer? or retro like a push type?
Is Toro out? They are Wisconsin-based (HQ and manufacture, I believe) and I didn’t see them listed on the sites you provide–but, I admit, I’ve only had a chance to do a pretty cursory glance.