On the one hand, I really can’t imagine ditching my Dixie Chicks CDs just because I disagree with their position on the Persian Gulf War. In fact some people seem to be forgetting that this is one of the advantages of a free market — I generally don’t know nor care about the politics of the people who produce the things I buy. I suppose the Dixie Chick were a bunch of neo-Nazis or uber-Stalinists that might change my mind, but whether or not their embarassed that Bush is from Texas is really not important to me.
But it apparently is to some people which brings me to the topic at hand — the rank hypocrisy of some left-liberals when it comes to consumer boycotts. I think consumer boycotts are just fine. You want to all the radio station and ask them to not play the Dixie Chicks? Fine. Join a boycott against Michael Savage’s new show? Great — more power to you.
Unfortunately a lot of folks seem to think that when people they agree with initiate consumer boycotts, this is the First Amendment at work. But when people they disagree with initiate consumer boycotts, all of a sudden the very same activity is transformed into a terrifying effort to silence dissent.
I am really sick and tired of seeing people who cheered the boycott of Dr. Laura’s short-lived TV show or the current one against Michael Savage turn around and complain that the boycott of the Dixie Chicks is beyond the bounds of reasoned discourse.