You can make a difference in the fight against the oligarchs. Here's how:
The Power of Collective Action
Tim's article highlights a simple yet powerful strategy: the Resist and Unsubscribe campaign led by Scott Galloway. The idea is to boycott tech companies that have aligned with the Trump regime, like Google, Meta, Twitter, and others. By canceling subscriptions and using alternative services, we can collectively harm these companies economically.
The Impact of Small Actions
Galloway provides a compelling example. Unsubscribing from a paid version of ChatGPT, for instance, can dent the company's valuation by $10,000. While it might not seem like much, the cumulative effect of thousands of people doing the same can be significant. Imagine if 5% of the people who read this email clicked through and unsubscribed! That's a 3% increase in unsubscriptions for Scott's campaign, a substantial impact.
Overcoming the Abstinence Fallacy
Some might argue that canceling subscriptions is impractical, citing necessities like Netflix or Amazon Prime. But Galloway introduces the concept of the Abstinence Fallacy. Just because we can't boycott everything doesn't mean we shouldn't boycott anything. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the overall effort.
My Personal Commitment
I took action by canceling my paid ChatGPT account, AppleTV, Audible, and switching to Lyft for rides. I'm also considering alternatives for Amazon Prime and a new MacBook Air. The key is to start somewhere and build momentum.
Building for the Future
Beyond individual actions, Galloway emphasizes the importance of preparing for a general strike. This requires building cash reserves to ensure people can survive during a strike. While it might sound radical, it's a powerful tool to make the strike a credible threat and ultimately weaken the oligarchs' hold on power.
The Strange New World
It's fascinating how Walmart, of all companies, becomes the lesser evil in this context. We must continue to challenge these power structures and fight for a more equitable future.
