boycott
A boycott is a high-minded ritual in which consumers politely withhold their coins as though their wallets were moral harps, strumming a silent protest louder than any banner parade. It requires far less energy than an actual march, yet can bring commerce to a halt more effectively than pitched battles. Proclaimers of virtue test the sanctity of their convictions by refusing to buy their neighbor’s morning latte. The crescendo arrives when the marketplace empties out entirely—a final act in the economic apocalypse.