A few weeks ago, Undercover Grandmutha told me that she went to one of those members only bulk discount giants and spent over $300 on her Oh Shit, We’re Gonna Die stash. She and my dad promptly drove it to a remote facility in the middle of nowhere. She didn’t tell me that she’s begun construction on an underground bunker, but I’m sure it’s only because if she told me, then she’d have to kill me.
I’d love to think that this economy downturn dark cloud is just a phase. Perhaps it’s just the election year that makes people cautious, or so SpyDad likes to tell me. I won’t deny that I just wish I could reach through the TV and strangle the national news anchor reporter that predicts that we’ll be dealing with $10/gallon gas this summer. As the dollar grows weaker, stuff gets more expensive. I get it.
When will it stop? How do we/I make it stop?
Maybe the question I need to ask is “When did it start?” I’ll admit that I am a child of the Gimme generation. My parents rarely obliged, but my friends were always getting the latest and greatest (insert something here). I think it’s grown progressively worse as my generation started having kids. They have more than they know what to do with. But at what price? China is becoming a powerhouse, and the United States is suffering. Our jobs are being handed out to the lowest bidder. The rich keep getting richer, and the poor keep getting poorer. Yet we keep buying crap we don’t need because the generation before us and the one before that had nothing. I think that our number is about up with that respect. Do you really think you can maintain spending and filling up at the pump at $180 a pop? SpyDad is already there at $100 a fill-up every three days. It hurts. It hurts really bad.
So, although I don’t have any answers as to when it will stop, I do have some theories as to how we can make it stop. When you shop, do you ever pick something up to look at its place of origin? It’s rather eye opening. I’ve know for awhile that a lot of cheap candy comes from Mexico. However, during the metal shaving scare this past Valentine’s day, I’ve been taking notice of where my money is really going. You’ve surely heard stories of China’s ever blossoming pollution epidemic. Remember when the Songhua River in Beijing was contaminated after a petrochemical explosion in 2005? I cannot honestly believe that food and candy made or packaged in China is not made from or washed using local water sources. It makes my dog drinking from the toilet not look so gross.
So what is the answer? Don’t buy it. Buy foreign only if the country is known for environmental responsibility or if a product of the country directly attributes to reducing pollution or consumption of non-renewable resources. We make decisions every day, and the decision to not purchase something is just as important as the decision to purchase something on sale. In fact, I think the decision to not purchase something is more important than ever.
Just repeat to yourself, “I do not need a Wii.” It will be okay.
May 6, 2008 at 6:38 am
“and the decision to not purchase something is just as important as the decision to purchase something ” I totally agree with this.
But now that it is truly a global economy it is difficult NOT to buy something just becasue it is made in China or where ever.. Some of those made-in-china-products have headquarters in the US. Where people like you and I go to work and support our families and economies. Sure we may not actually make the prodcut but we design them, sell them and distribute them and service them and are secretaries to the executives and not to forget the retail jobs in the US of the people we need to support them as well.
People get upset with how much profit Exxon Mobile makes…but they are an American company. With Stock Holders and Unions and teacher Unions who have their 401k and retirement plans invested into. But we complain about the price of gas and then the Govt. calls them in testify about why are they doing their jobs so well?
They are successful and we punish them by publicly calling them out.
We can’t have it both ways. Aw hell. Now I am all riled up.
May 6, 2008 at 11:11 am
I agree, William. When I worked in a certain manufacturing facility until 2006, I sat next to the purchasers. They were instructed by my boss to find the cheapest available sources, and all of those sources ended up being in China. In fact, one of the lower end consumer products was poised to have China do the assembly, thus eliminating 2 or 3 jobs in my plant. We also had a few recalls on products built from Chinese castings. The stuff looked like absolute junk in comparison to our US suppliers.
I support US jobs, even if they have ties to Chinese companies. I wouldn’t expect it to be any other way given the enormous amount of imports we get from China. However, I also support educated consumerism. If I had the choice, and I do to a point, I’d rather support our economy, our jobs, our products. When we do that, those same jobs on US soil are created with US companies. We have standard labor practices and environmental and safety policies in place to ensure that the products are manufactured in a humane in ethical manner. When I read about rural Chinese workers turning their homes into acid baths and furnaces to reclaim precious metals from ewaste, I cringe. It’s just not right.
I agree that a meltdown of US oil companies would hurt US stockholders and 401ks, but I am spending way more on fuel than I gain from my 401k. My 401k has flatlined while we spend $14,000 in fuel a year. Sure, SpyDad needs to find a better job or a car, but we just aren’t in a position to do that now. Although it sucks for us, we just find a way to cut back in other ways. I shop consignment or don’t buy clothes at all. For the single mom that works at McDonalds, I fear for what will become of her when her fuel bill causes her to cut back on food for her family.
You are right, each little thing creates a ripple effect. From my standpoint, there is too much waste in American lives. When we demand less of what is unnecessary to live our lives, then that creates less demand for the fuel to transport it and so on. Lack of demand drives down price…I do know that.
You should be riled up. We all should be. This is our livelihood. These are our jobs. We should be rioting in the streets.