The positive social benefits of, "Shame! Shame! Shame!"

Today I’d like to share a video by John Stossel, an OG liberty-minded communicator that has been in the game a long long time. Stossel used to be a traditional lefty on ABC’s investigative news show 20/20. His “beat” was how consumers got ripped off by greedy businesses.

Over time, he came to see that the biggest and most odious entity ripping people off was the government itself. Instant red-pill! Hello, new libertarian!

Of course, the more libertarian he became, the more difficult his relationship was with ABC. They didn’t like the new direction his video pieces started taking. Eventually, Stossel moved over to Fox News and Fox Business for several productive years and is now working independently.

At age 78, he’s still going strong. Very impressive!

In this video, Stossel interviews conservative activist Robby Starbuck. I honestly have no clue how Starbuck became famous or influential, but these days he’s known for having a massive influence getting huge American companies to reverse course on their destructive racist and sexist DEI policies.

Starbuck has had glorious success getting company after company to “see the error of their ways”, simply by using the power of social media influence, shaming, and targeted boycotting.

This is the perfect libertarian approach when others are doing things which displease you. Don’t go agitate for a new law or regulation to use government force against them. That way lies ruin. You can’t fight evil with evil.

If your cause is just, the good old fashioned social remedy for bad behavior of shaming and disassociating ought to do the trick. Bud Lite and Target had to learn the hard way what Michael Jordan (and Nike) knew way back when:

“Republicans buy sneakers, too.”

It turns out, purposefully alienating half of the consumer population in outlandish and condescending ways is bad for business. Seems like something they should teach in business school.

Of course, like any other thing in this world, public shaming and shunning and making an “outcast” of businesses (and people) can rise to a pathological level. Like any tool, or weapon, you must use it wisely and morally in order to be effective.

I think Robbie Starbuck is being very effective, and I’d like to publicly thank him for his good work. I’d also like to thank John Stossel for a great interview and still promoting liberty in his golden years.

You guys rock!

Naturally,

Adam

PS: The photo accompanying this article (if you read it on Substack) is a shirt for sale by the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. When a member of the opposing team goes into the penalty box, the entire crowd chants, “Shame! Shame! Shame”, complete with wagging finger.

It’s pretty awesome.