What's Your Favorite Progressive Business?

by: Living Liberally

Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 17:30

Drinking Liberally Shot of Truth by Justin Krebs

With the election over, the discussion turns to how to keep progressive momentum going outside of the campaign. We need to do this to move a liberal agenda in DC; to keep newly-energized activists engaged; and to overall shift the debate in this country.

Pushing progressive values with your vote is one step; funding those values with your wallet is another. And with the holiday season coming up, it seems like this is a good opportunity to promote -- and support -- progressive businesses.

What's your favorite progressive business? Your fair-trade coffee provider, or your bar that hosts political events? Your local alternative performance venue, or an environmentally-conscious gift shop?

Let us know in the comments thread. At Living Liberally, we're working on a project called The Liberal Card that, as among other goals, aims to promote these businesses. We remember what a good resource Buy Blue was after the last election, directing us to businesses that leaned our way and warning us against those that didn't (and are happy that Advomatic will be reviving that program in the future). What was a good idea in '04 is an even better idea now. So suggest a few businesses to us (or offer yourself up if you are one) -- as we get ready to buy blue this holidays season.

Living Liberally :: What's Your Favorite Progressive Business?

Tags: the liberal card, buyblue, business, Drinking Liberally, Living Liberally, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

What's Your Favorite Progressive Business? | 5 comments

Blue State Coffee (0.00 / 0)

Their coffee is organic, fair trade, and kosher. They give a portion of their profits to progressive causes.

Blue State Coffee is firmly committed to improving our nation's most serious problems through the democratic process. Every quarter, we propose several worthwhile causes to which we'll donate 10% of sales. Our customers vote on how our funds should be allocated, and we donate a percentage of each quarter's funds according to the results of this vote.

http://www.bluestatecoffee.com/

We won the Battle. Now the Real Fight for Change Begins. Join MoveOn.org and fight for progressive change.

by: bluethunder @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 17:05:43 PM CST

Micro Breweries (0.00 / 0)

Often make great products and don't spend a lot on transportation. Plus, its beer!

by: shlenny @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 17:43:28 PM CST

CREDO wireless (0.00 / 0)

Yes, I know they are reselling someone else's wireless and that someone else surely sucks big time, but I like CREDO nonetheless. (Hey, you've got to get your wireless somewhere, right?) I love how they promote progressive causes through "round-ups" and all sorts of other calls for activism.

I was a customer of Working Assets Long Distance (their old name) for forever, now am a cell-phone only user so only use the cell phone service.

They call me Clem, Clem Guttata. Come visit wild, wonderful West Virginia Blue

by: WVaBlue @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 19:00:52 PM CST

Patagonia, Inc. (0.00 / 0)

As a former employee Patagonia, Inc., let me tell you about the benefits I experience.

Full time employees, after putting in a year on the job, qualify for a 2-month paid internship with an environmental organization of your choosing. While I worked for the environmental group for free, I still got paid as if I were working in the store.

Here's another perk. Employees are giving an opportunity to take part in non-violence civil disobedience training. If you go to an environmental rally and get arrested, Patagonia pays for your bail.

There's profit sharing. Good health care. Their products are made from recycled products, organic cotton, etc. Their catalogs are made of 100% post-consumer reycled content (check the catalogs for exact numbers). Their facilities save energy, money, and make use of solar to generate electricity.

They also give 10% of profits or 1% of sales to grassroots environmental groups, whichever's bigger at the end of the FY. They like the small environmental groups, the ones of the beaten path you never hear about that are doing hard core advocacy and activism.

Lastly, every year they take on a new environmental issue. I think 2008 was get out the environmental vote. Back in the early to mid 90s, Patagonia took on population control as an environmental issue. They promoted birth control and the pro-lifers heard about it. They were about to plan a protest outside their Ventura, CA headquarters, but their founderm Yvon Chouinard, beat the protest back by saying for every head that shows up, we'll donate something like $5 to $10 a head to the local chapter of Planned Parenthood. Nobody showed up. Very interesting story... and a very interesting company to boot.

Check them out.

by: ctrenta @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 10:45:47 AM CST

Coop America (0.00 / 0)

which is about to rename itself Green American, each year publishes a list of green companies. These are generally pretty hip companies that support progressive ideals. Some are cooperatively owned.

by: RandomNonviolence @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 20:50:50 PM CST