This essay advocates for a radical form of “boycotting everything” as a means of combating pervasive propaganda and corruption in modern society. The author, Miles Mathis, begins by referencing the A&E boycott of “Duck Dynasty” actor Phil Robertson for his views on homosexuality, arguing this exemplifies how political correctness has superseded free speech. He then pivots to his own method of achieving understanding, which he believes stems more from what he hasn’t consumed or done than what he has.
Mathis proposes a general rule: assume most new media is propaganda and avoid it, especially anything published after WWII. He argues that the further back one goes, the less compromised the information. He shares personal anecdotes, such as his early avoidance of drugs and his decision to destroy his TV in 1985 due to a “sick feeling” from its programming. He criticizes mainstream bookstores like Barnes & Noble, calling them fronts for the CIA that promote propaganda masquerading as self-help, fake history, or current events. He recommends buying old books from online sources like abebooks or ebay or from used bookstores.
For science, Mathis suggests avoiding modern textbooks and instead reading original works by historical figures like Newton, Maxwell, Planck, Einstein, Schrodinger, Euclid, Archimedes, and Galileo. He also mentions Feynman, Born, and Hawking as examples of what to avoid. He praises Eric Lerner’s “The Big Bang Never Happened” for its physics and its insight into science politics, noting its suppression as a positive sign. Arthur Koestler’s “The Case of the Midwife Toad” is also recommended for understanding how science operates.
In art, Mathis suggests boycotting new works and most older ones, recommending a few exceptions. He highlights Whistler, Van Gogh, Tolstoi, Rodin, John Ruskin (particularly for his social criticism), Carlyle, Emerson, Michelet, Thoreau, Goethe, and Nietzsche. He also points to Wendell Berry’s “The Unsettling of America” and Deborah Davis’s “Katharine the Great” as important, suppressed works.
Mathis extends his boycott to consumerism, urging readers to avoid anything promoted or advertised, including Fortune 500 companies, multinationals, and conglomerates. He specifically mentions boycotting big brands of organic foods, naming Nestle, Coca Cola, Pepsico, Unilever, General Mills, Purina, and Johnson & Johnson. He also boycotts new clothing, shopping at ebay for vintage items, and avoiding brands like Nike.
He has boycotted new movies for years, citing their inherent advertising and CIA influence, and suggests boycotting actors involved in films like “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Argo,” and “Syriana.” He is also extending his movie boycott to older films due to perceived government influence. Music is also suspect, with a general avoidance of new music since 1990 and suspicion of radio music post-1950. He notes that while older music might be propagandistic, some artists like Sinatra still possessed talent. He concludes by stating that the mainstream promotes the idea of accepting change, but argues for the right to refuse non-beneficial novelties.
The essay concludes with a list of things Mathis does without, including: cars, insurance, cell phones, drugs (except high-quality vitamins/herbs), mobile devices, vaccines, CIA social media accounts (like Facebook, Twitter, youtube), magazine/newspaper subscriptions, cable/satellite TV, a doctor, pensions, savings, lawns, gym memberships, certain appliances (hair dryer, food processor, dishwasher, microwave, ice maker, freezer, electric toothbrush, electric can opener, coffee maker, toaster), specific foods (toast, wheat bread, corn, soy, cereal, milk, canola oil, beet sugar, new cotton, GMOs, soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, candy, fast food, ketchup), investments, checkbooks, licenses, memberships, and further academic degrees. He sees the need for less consumerism and more restraint to avoid permanent “sleep” by nature.