BuyBlue.org
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BuyBlue.org is a website geared towards modifying the purchasing habits of progressives in the United States. The website's name refers to the political memes red state and blue state that summarize states' political orientations.
Website editors use public databases to compile an estimate of political campaign contributions by a company's three highest executive officers, those executives' spouses, the highest executive officer at any subsidiary company, and any PAC registered by that company. The allocation of donations between Democrats and Republicans determines a company's political contribution rating, with higher ratings awarded to companies that primarily donate to Democrats.
The website encourages users to submit articles that criticize or applaud a company's business practices. The submitting user assigns a binary categorical rating of positive or negative with regards to the company's adherence to progressive business practices as described in the article. The absolute number of articles submitted and each submitted article's rating are used to calculate a company's overall rating. A five-point scale ranks a company's degree of progressiveness or regressiveness according to users' submissions.
The website hosts blogs and message boards designed to steer consumers towards businesses favored by the website, to exert direct political pressure on targeted businesses, and to foster activism among the site's users.
Contents |
[edit] Rating categories
- The Labor & Human Rights category covers article submissions from sources such as Sweatshop Watch and the National Labor Relations Board that address topics including sweatshops, unions and union busting.
- The Environment category covers article submissions from sources such as the Environmental Working Group and Greenpeace that address topics including sustainability, ecosystems and resource recovery.
- The Employment Equality category covers article submissions from sources such as the Institute for Women's Policy Research and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that address topics including discrimination, domestic partner benefits, and diversity.
- The Corporate and Social Responsibility category covers article submissions from sources such as United for a Fair Economy and the Council on Economic Priorities that address topics including charitable contributions, community participation, and product safety and product liability.
- The Industry Practices category addresses industry-specific topics.
[edit] Officers and directors
- Chair and President Raven Brooks
- Secretary Treasurer Sally Westgate
- Creative Director John Haas
- Board member Julia Ramsey
- Board member Summer K. Rhodes
- Board member Leslie Fera
- Board member Kerry Lange
- Board member Alison Kutler
- Board member Daniel Adamson
[edit] Media Coverage
BuyBlue.org has been covered in the media numerous times, more information can be found via the links below. See BuyBlue's media page for all coverage including radio interviews and smaller publications.
- July 30, 2006 - Tuscaloosa News - Buying blue: Some shoppers research purchases to further political cause
- June 15, 2006 - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Consumers buy with their beliefs
- May 19, 2006 - United Press International (UPI) - Globe Talk: Money power vs. the NSA
- April 22, 2006 - New York Times - Wal-Mart Flirts With Being Green
- March 10, 2006 - Minneapolis Star-Tribune - Eco-friendly, fair-trade shopping choices getting easier to find
- February 17, 2006 - The Detroit News - Shopping with your conscience
- January 27, 2006 - The Detroit News - Bargains by the barrel
- December 21, 2005 - VOA News, American Life - Christmas Shoppers Guided by Politics
- November 8, 2005 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Information Age breeds boycotts by the score
- September / October 2005 - Ethical Consumer - Boycott Bush – Everybody’s doing it!
- August 24, 2005 - The Boston Phoenix - Shop at your own risk
- July 31, 2005 - The Boston Globe - Boycott mania: As business ethics fall, consumer activism rises
- June 14, 2005 - San Francisco Bay Guardian - The MBNA factor
- May 24, 2005 - MarketWatch.com - The color of money: Red states, blue states and credit-card affiliations
- April 28, 2005 - The Insurance Journal - Turning Politics into Green for Favored 'Blue' Insurers
- April, 24, 2005 - Fort Worth Star Telegram - Purchase with a Purpose
- April 16, 2005 - Tallahassee Democrat - Which way does your burger lean? Find Out.
- February 15, 2005 - San Francisco Chronicle - Corporations painted in red and blue, S.F. man politicizes purchasing power
- February 4, 2005 - East Bay Business Times - Web sites target companies for 'red' or 'blue' buyers
- February 3, 2005 - Reason Online - Shop the Vote: The Era of One-Click Democracy
- December 23, 2004 - CNN Inside Politics (TV) - Transcript
- December 23, 2004 - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle - Democrats willing to put their money where their politics are
- December 23, 2004 - The Detroit News - Web sites link politics and shopping
- December 22, 2004 - San Francisco Chronicle Mark Morford's Column - Amazon.com Is For Republicans Attention, liberal shoppers!
- December 20, 2004 - Le Monde - Les Americains partisans du "Merry Christmas" a l'offensive
- December 20, 2004 - The Washington Times - Go vote with your wallet this Christmas
- December 19, 2004 - The Dallas Morning News - Dems: Does that come in blue?
- December 18, 2004 - The Washington Post - Some Put Money Where Their Politics Are
- December 17, 2004 - FOXNews.com - Spending Some Green on Blue or Red
- December 16, 2004 - TwinCities.com Pioneer Press - Partisan shoppers dreaming of a Red and Blue Christmas
- December 14, 2004 - Chicago Tribune - Blue voters now urged to buy blue
- December 11, 2004 - Cleveland Plain Dealer - Web site sees red over retailers' donations
