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opinion:
our view
Limit spending
for just one day
While presidents, prime ministers, and other world leaders
encourage their countrymen to buy, buy, buy to help the economy,
at least one company is shouting otherwise from the Internet
laptops.
The day following the stuffing of the turkey(s), Nov. 23,
generally known as the biggest shopping day of the year, has
been named "Buy Nothing Day." Adbusters.com,
a well-known advocate of anti-consumerism, is urging nations
around the world to close their pocketbooks on this day.
The United States is the biggest advocate of consumerism.
Following Sept. 11, President Bush has asked Americans to
spend as a way to improve the fledgling economy. So we blindly
drive our foreign cars to big stores, stocked with everything
we don't need, in bulk no less. Brightly lit aisles and boldly-uniformed
workers inform us of the newest must-have appliance/computer/dvd.
Fast-food chains line the streets and huge markets drive the
tiny competitor out of business. No one seems to notice when
generic coffee gets switched to a big name, upping the price
of a morning staple. Concert venues and stadiums have undergone
changes, so now we can watch the Pepsi Britney Spears live
in concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, while drinking
a Pepsi One and text messaging on strictly Verizon cellular
phones.
We notice. And we are tired of the brand name bullying going
on in this nation. It doesn't seem like that difficult of
a task to refrain from consumerism for just one day. The post-Thanksgiving
sales will still be there two days after the fact. McDonald's
will still be there if you must have it.
In the mean time, go to the mom and pop shop down the street.
They are the ones who need our business. Ignore Bush's pleas.
Buy nothing. Spend some time with the family, talking. What
a novel idea. Turn off the television. Don't be swindled by
late-night infomercials. You can take a stand, if only for
one day. So gobble up that turkey on Thanksgiving. But whatever
you do, don't listen to that other turkey hiding in the Bush.
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