My friend Christo sent me this today, and I felt it was worth reposting (one of these days I'll get off my ass and actually design him a blog or something):
Whenever you hire anyone to work for you, go to the local store, book shop, whatever... you might start to ask about their feelings about policy issues. If they are more or less in line with you, go ahead and give them the $$ patronage. Otherwise, find someone else to provide the same service in the future.
I have observed for years that Fundies hire other Fundies (psych dept at UMD, accounting firms and so on).George and I want to keep SF and the Bay Are strong on gay rights so whenever we can we get our home repairs done by gay workmen. We can't always do it but we make the attempt whenever possible. That helps insure directly that we are supporting the living efforts of people who will vote and spend as we do. It makes San. Fran. a local gay power house. The mayor NEEDS our votes and will listen to us. So will the whole city assembly. And we as a group have the clout to make zoning decisions, put up a giant gay flag in the Castro, and so on. There is the clout to put gay and gay friendly allies in power.
Example: the tax assesor decided to use her power so that when one same sex partner dies, the other doesn't have their house re-assesed for tax purposes. This is a HUGE deal in California (we don't regularly re-asses here, only when a house is sold or inherited by a 'non-spouse').
So what can you all do? (I'll assume you'll forward this to a few people)
Get some local left leaning newspapers -- look in the back and see what people are advertising their services. Going to hire someone for lawn care -- then why get a Republican Right Winger's son to do it when you can support the college savings effort of a potential future liberal lawyer? Need a tree taken out? That is really expensive -- throw the bone to someone who thinks more like you do.
We use a local gay paper first -- when I needed hauling done this month, I called a guy from the back of that paper and had him do it. That will go towards helping him and his partner stay in the Bay Area. I had to get the hauling done anyway, why not support him.
I continue to believe that voting with your dollars is the only vote that gets heard. The things you buy and who you pay money to tell the world what you think is right. Every time you send money away from your community you tell the world you don't think your own community deserves that money. And they believe you.
I am honored you thought it was worth posting here.
~C