There are hypocritical adults who wear fur coats to go to The Body Shop for cruelty-free products. And adults with screwed-up health priorities who eat Rainforest Crisp cereal and smoke. And even adults who wear Esprit clothes because, given a choice, they'd rather shop at a company whose values they share. But let's accept the stereotype of conservative age and liberal youth. Let's say parents are the hardworking but morally lazy bums in this shopping drama and kids are the idealistic, socially responsible but fiscally naive ones.
Parents can point out the economic realities of the world.
That the United States is competing with companies in countries that don't share our values, countries where the progress of women and minorities is not even on the agenda. That we're competing with countries so poor that they welcome a polluted sky as a sign of work. That rating companies strictly on social policy ignores companies whose shrewd economic policies create the wealth that makes it possible for us to choose between The Gap and Liz Claiborne. And that if groups with these values can create pressure on companies, then so can groups with other values, such as right-wing Christian groups. But the teenager as social agent also has more than buying power to bring to the table.