Boycott?

This post is in response to This Post written earlier today.  The post described an event where a group of individuals harangued a local business owner who contributed some small amount of money to the campaign to ban gay marriage.  As one would imagine, the mob and the media presence caused the business owner a great deal of distress.  The group of protesters wanted to try to force the business owner to apologize or be punished with a boycott.  

I have a couple of opinions on the matter.  One, publicly assailing a person for something they believe isn't necessary.  This kind of physical pressure is dangerous and counter productive.  It can also undermine the type of argument the protesters want to make.  If the protestors want to convey that they should be able to live their lives without interference then they are better off not interfering with other peoples lives.  At least by means of harassment or humiliation.

Yet, I would support the idea of boycotting people that publicly supported or financed the gay marriage ban.  And I support that for the sole purpose that as a society that is based on consumerism the most tangible right you possess is where you spend the money you make.  So if you disagree with someone you have no right to impose yourself on their rights but you also shouldn't be obligated to compensate them either.  In this capacity you aren't interfering with anyones life but rather expressing your right as a consumer.  

So, in conclusion, research your purchases.  If you don't want to support a particular establishment because you don't believe what they stand for then don't.  Don't light shit on their door step; just don't go there.  If you don't like black babies getting their arms cut off stop buying diamonds.  If you don't like Indonesian kids working 16 hours a day for a handful of rice stop buying 2 dollar flip-flops.  And if you don't like your local burger joint contributing to get gay marriage banned eat a waffle.  

Commentary welcome

-JT