Your boycott doesn't matter

(before every post, fyi) I'm coming from a background in data and numbers, so my subjective opinion =/= endorsement, but my justifications are usually objective. It's really up for you to decide. It's your mind, after all.

I made the title just to piss you off. If it worked, congratulations—and I’m sorry. But stick with me here. This isn’t about invalidating your choices or saying your actions don’t matter. It’s about digging deeper into why so many of our efforts feel futile and why the system is built to make it that way. If you’re mad, good. That means you care. Now let’s talk about what we can actually do.

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Even when people vote with their dollars, the public corporate system is designed to absorb that impact. Take Starbucks, for example. There’s been significant opposition to them—whether it’s for their alleged funding of controversial political causes, their ties to certain lobby groups, or their stance on social issues. People boycott Starbucks with the intention of creating change. But if you look at their share price, it tells a different story. There’s little to no actual change.

Shareholders are insulated from public pushback. The corporate system prioritizes profit and market confidence over consumer dissent. Starbucks—and companies like it—have mechanisms in place to protect their stock value. Diversified revenue streams, investor strategies, and sheer market dominance shield them from financial consequences, even if millions of people stop buying their coffee. For most, this disconnect between individual action and real results is disheartening.

This is why people focus on smaller, more visible actions. Skipping a Starbucks coffee feels like taking a stand. It feels immediate, tangible, and symbolic. But choosing not to bank with Chase or J.P. Morgan? That’s a harder fight. The legacy of someone like J.P. Morgan persists every time you swipe a Chase card or use their services. Few people stop to think about his monopolistic practices or the coercion he built his empire on. It’s part of the background of daily life, too ingrained to challenge in a meaningful way without effort.

The system works because it allows you to feel like your choices matter while insulating itself from consequences. It makes it easier to target coffee chains than to confront banking giants or tech monopolies. This is by design.

That said, it’s obvious there is value in boycotts and consumer actions when they are paired with broader efforts. Boycotts can send a signal that gets attention. They can start conversations. But for real change, they need to be accompanied by advocacy at the corporate level. It’s about proving to companies that changing their stance or practices won’t harm their bottom line—in fact, it can improve it.

Corporations exist to make money, and the most effective way to push change is to show them they can benefit both morally and financially. Advocate for changes that improve their reputation, align with modern consumer values, and integrate seamlessly into their funding and operations. The goal isn’t just to make them feel the heat but to show them the light—a path where doing the right thing is also good business.

People often say we can’t control what happens to us, only how we react. That’s the point I’m trying to make here. When I say something is hard or impossible, I’m speaking from my own perspective. What feels insurmountable to me might take someone else five minutes. For someone with no experience, it might feel like an impossible task.

This is also why I choose to write in the simplest way possible. I use basic, straightforward language. Sure, I could hunt for the perfect word in a thesaurus. But plain writing doesn’t just help others understand me. It helps me understand myself better too. Writing this way lets me reflect on these systems, on the ways we resist them, and on what needs to change.

Your boycott doesn’t matter. Not by itself. But with the right tools, advocacy, and perspective, it could. And that’s a step worth working toward.