Political Post: A really cool idea - gacked word-for-word from <lj site="livejournal.com" user="chao

[zana16]

If women shut their purses and didn't shop for a day, would the economy
suffer? The idea gets tested on Oct. 19 by "85 Broads", a networking group
founded in 1999 by Janet Hanson, who worked for Goldman Sachs- headquartered
at 85 Broad St.

Business Week has learned that "85 Broads" is asking its 4,000-plus members
in 450 companies, colleges, and B-schools not to spend that day. Hanson says
the "buycottt" will show the gap between women's purchasing power and their
under representation in boardrooms and executive suites.

Members plan to spread the word to friends and to women on college campuses.
Women control $3.3 trillion in yearly consumer spending, 44% of national
spending- a sum that isn't just symbolic.

According to Business Week, the U.S. economy has become increasingly
female-driven...

Did you know that women in the U.S.:

1) Control $3.3 TRILLION in annual consumer spending?
2) Make 62% of all car purchases?
3) Take more than 50% of all business trips?
4) Control over 50% of the personal wealth in this country?

UNFORTUNATELY, WOMEN'S PURCHASING POWER STILL HASN'T TRANSLATED INTO
ECONOMIC POWER.

According to Catalyst, only 6 CEO's in the Fortune 500 are women,12.4% are
board directors, and 5.2% are among the top earners in the country.

On TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19th, we invite you to leave your checkbook and credit
cards at home as a symbolic gesture that we no longer "buy" the glacial pace
of change for working women in America. Instead of shopping, go for a walk
in the park, write a letter to a friend, enjoy a museum, or help someone in
need.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS



Any Smithies who want to post this on the Smithie lj comm for me?