this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2024
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I don't want to fight here, we agree. In fact i bet we agree on a lot. But VWYW is, i can not stress this enough, not a thing. If it ever was in our lifetimes, it ain't now. Its time the phrase was dropped outta everyone's mouth.
You can purchase something that thru your effort does not do most of the awful things you are trying to avoid, that's being a smart customer. It's not like I'm dismissing the entire idea behind VWYW, just that it is simply that now, it's an idea that doesn't work with the facts on the ground.
The power of our "wallet ballots" gets lower when Monopoly power gets higher. Monopoly power is very high. VWYW power is in this world, in this moment, not a thing.
My point, is a simple but strident one. VWYW is not voting! It just isn't.
It has absolutely no effect on the world around us. Puts no pressure on companies. Is not a thing except in our heads. It is time to let go of the idea.
And yeah...working people like you and me have no power period. "Voting with your wallet" is now simply a power fantasy pushed by capitalists to keep regulations at bay and held by the powerless clinging to an illusion of agency.
I ... think i understand what you're saying. You don't agree with my definition of VWYW? I don't wanna assume, but i think maybe you define it as reckless vs thoughtful spending?
Mine has to do with the effectiveness of our purchases in driving market trends. They do not.
You don't have to buy a subscription to Netflix, but deciding not to isn't changing anything for anyone (besides saving you 15 bux).
I think maybe we voted with our wallets against $6 chips but you could probably convince me otherwise in a paragraph :)
Well sir I'm always down for a nice discussion, you had me at hello. But youre in trouble if you only wanted a paragraph 🤣
Your link is great evidence to your point. It absolutely does reinforce the idea, with evidence that voting with your wallet does indeed affect change. I should say also my point isnt VWYW doesn't ever work but that it has very little power.
I'd like to suggest that same article also helps mine, at least some.
Point being it shows VWYW (at the consumer level) didn't have the power to stop the inflation of chips in the first place. Leaving aside the illusion of choice, the current system has taken the power of VWYW out of our hands almost completely.
The fact that PepsiCo even has that kind of market power is beyond question at this point right?
I'm not saying anything controversial if i take it further, that supply chains between our bag of chips and Pepsico, (distributors, grocery stores etc) are also consolidated, yeah?
At each step of the process, market consolidation reduced the ability of the companies within that chain to VWTW, and they pass the costs on down to the next link who also has no ability to VWTW. At the end of this chain we sit with our wallets, but the power has been diminished before we got to open them. Just like the lesser evil, VWTW becomes a choice of voting between ALL chips that cost more across the board or no chips at all.
That's what i mean when i say VWYW in this system, at this time, is meaningless.