the.idea: voting with your wallet

all sourced from betterworldshopper.com

the.problem

Money is power. And wherever large amounts of money collect, so also new centers of power form. The latest historical manifestation of this is the modern corporation.

Make no mistake, these new power centers are not democracies. We don't vote for the CEO's or their policies (unless we are: rich enough to be significant shareholders, informed enough to know what's going on, and compassionate enough to care about more than just personal profit), yet our destinies are increasingly in their hands.

the.solution

As these power centers shift, we must shift our own voices if we wish to be heard. As citizens, on average, we might vote once every 4 years, if at all. As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power...money.

The average American family spends around $18,000 each year on goods and services. Think of it as casting 18,000 votes every year for the kind of world you want to live in.

how.some.stack.up 
New Belgium (A+) v. Guniess (D)

Toyota (A) v. Nissan (D)

Target (C+) v. Wal-Mart (F)

Clif Bar (A) v. Powerbar (D-)

Levi's (B+) v. Lee's (D-)

L.L Bean (B) v. Land's End (D+)

Cadbury (B-) v. Toblerone (F)

Starbucks (B) v. Maxwell House (F)

Chipotle (A) v. Baja Fresh (D)

In-N-Out (B) v. McDonald's (D-)

Micah's thoughts: If you have the choice between multiple products, all else being equal, why not choose the more responsible company's product?

To learn more, click here.