There is one very simple remedy to control the partnership between the reckless and greedy American business community and the out of control president, but it’s a remedy that the American people and the American Left don’t use nearly enough.

Perhaps during normal boom times it is near impossible to “boycott” and hurt certain companies. But this isn’t a normal period.

We are already limited in our choices, so perhaps even a small percentage drop is sufficient to get action. Perhaps even the threat might prevent corporate American from backing Trump.

Of course, no one on the left is buying a thing from My Pillow, ever. So we can probably check that box and see if the fundies make-up for it with their new alliance. But there are companies far more susceptible to pressure.

For example, any of these guys would be a great place to start, as highlighted by a fantastic blog post from UCommblog.com:

The group, which met with Trump on Monday includes Panera CEO Niren Chaudhary; Jose Cil, the CEO of Burger King and Popeyes’ parent company, Restaurant Brands International; Thomas Keller, a fine-dining restaurateur; and Muy Cos. CEO James Bodenstedt (Muy Cos operates hundreds of Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut franchises across the United States.) According to FEC records, Bodenstedt is a major donor to Trump, having donated $440,000, including $200,000 to the Trump Victory PAC on March 12, just days before states began shutting down in-person dining.

More options?

Bodenstedt isn’t the only chain restaurant CEO to donate to Trump. Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire CEO of Landry’s — which owns restaurant brands such as Bubba Gump, Del Frisco’s, and Joe’s Crab Shack — is also speaking on the roundtable. Fertitta donated $35,000 to the Trump Victory PAC in February.

Yes, there is danger in possibly driving up unemployment with a boycott that is “too effective.” The idea would be to boycott them enough to at least get them to stop supporting Trump so openly and aggressively. One presumes that if the company starts feeling the pain from a boycott they could quickly make some changes in their political support prior to falling completely apart.

It is also needed, much more so than the usual political fight. In some ways, we’re fighting for American democracy right now, along with our lives. And unlike most presidents, Trump is uniquely susceptible to being enticed by corporate money. He delivers goodies to these CEOs that would be inconceivable in any prior administration.

While it is not uncommon for CEO’s to give political donations to a sitting President, especially a Republican one, the concern comes as Trump has offered these CEO’s a prominent spot in his COVID-19 response. Friendly CEO’s have been brought into his briefings and used to develop a plan for economic recovery. They are also pushing Trump on reopening the economy before it is safe to do so and lobbying for liability protection in case employees get sick on the job.

Other donors that have appeared at Trump’s Press Conferences including the F Rated MyPillow CEO Michael Lindell, Ray Washburne, the CEO of M Crowd Restaurant Group, and the Vice Chairman of the Trump Victory Fund, and Jockey International CEO Debra Waller.

To review, these are people that are giving money, to get access, to get programs that will push people into dangerous environments, possibly getting liability protection out of it, all that along with free advertising on the White House lawn? Anyone willing to spend a dollar at companies led by these people should be shamed into …non-action.

Ask Gandhi or Martin Luther King, sometimes the most effective action is “no action,” especially when we’re talking about money versus no money. We must start getting organized and getting these boycotts going. Again, even a strong threat might be enough. But time is short.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom