My mother used to say “don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” As I type that into this post, I realize how really weird that sounds. Mom said a lot of crazy things and my kids will attest to the fact that I have repeated most of them! Basically, she was warning me against acting out of revenge in a way that would damage me more than the source of my anger. Which leads me to my topic: Who really gets hurt in a boycott? Answer: The everyday guy who’s just trying to feed his family!

Let’s start this post with the cheesy writing ploy of including a definition of “boycott:”

Verb – to boycott
1. To abstain, either as an individual or group, from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some organization as an expression of protest.

Sure, BP is on everyone’s sh%# list and the oil pouring into the Gulf is a tragedy on many levels, but if we stop buying their gas, who will get hurt? The small local gas stations lose the most. These are the folks who support the local economy and are eking out a living like the rest of us. These stations are owned by local businesspeople whose primary connection to the oil company is the logo and a contract to buy gasoline. Station owners are locked into contracts that can last seven to 10 years in some cases. One station owner said that it would cost them $35,000 to break their contract with BP. So, switching to a competing brand may not be an option. Because of the way gas is refined and marketed, BP fuel gets supplied to stations other than those with BP brands!  Even if drivers opt to fill up at an Exxon or 7-Eleven, they may still be buying BP gasoline. The boycott’s impact on BP itself is limited. The company makes most of its money exploring and producing oil in places such as Angola, Egypt, the North Sea and, yes, the Gulf of Mexico. Ultimately, if BP doesn’t continue to make some money or stay in business, who will pay for their mess? Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a correct answer: you and I will!

Same holds true for the AZ boycotts for their new illegal immigrant law. Agree or disagree with the law, boycotting doesn’t hurt AZ politicians or government; it hurts tourism. Tourism employs the state’s most diverse and global workforce. Boycotting won’t change the minds of those who drafted the legislation, but will only hurt innocent people who played no role in writing or enacting the law. It hurts the folks who work at the hotels, restaurants, stores, etc. It’s the every-day guy who takes the punch in the gut.

Granted there have been successful boycotts in the past but I just don’t see them being effective for these two particular situations. I suggest there has to be another more effective and meaningful way to express concern or outrage — keep it legal and keep it fair.

Off my soapbox…for now!