Update: As fun as it is being on the rec list, TexMex's ShelterBox diary is a lot more important. Please rec it.
Okay, we're all strapped for time, dough and enthusiasm right now. And consumerism is one of the roots of our national problems.
Still, if you have any need for anything around the house, office, church, car, whatever, tomorrow's a great day to head out to the grocery store, office supply house, gas station, etc.
Why? Because the teabaggers told you not to.
It's been blogged here by vinkeith and others, as well as given a bit of play by outlets such as The Hill, but, in case you missed it, the gist is that the Baggers (Bag enders?) are going to use the anniversary of Barack Obama's inauguration as a demonstration of their vast economic power.
"On January 20, 2010 we will demonstrate our power and reach to those companies who employ individuals backing the leftist agenda in every major city, every congressional district and every small rural town in America to spread one unified message," [Allen Hardage] wrote on the campaign's Web site.
"That message is simple: Stop funding socialism. When they refuse to stop backing the major opponents of Liberty, liberal media outlets and socialist leaning elected officials, then we proceed to financially cripple them," Hardage added.
We'll set aside for a moment the irony of attempting to harm businesses in the name of fighting socialism and do our best to stifle our natural impulse to guffaw at the general idea of a "general strike" by a small fraction of maybe 10% of the electorate crippling the economy and, for a second, posit that the Baggers may actually register a small blip on the Commerce Department's numbers for a day.
To counteract any impact these buffoons may have on the nation's businesses, I am proposing
NATIONAL BUY SOMETHING DAY
something inversely akin to Adbusters' better-known Buy Nothing Day, celebrated every Black Friday by anti-consumerism activists. While others race to the mall early on the Friday after Thanksgiving, still trailing clouds of turkey farts, Buy Nothingists (Nothing Buyers?) strive to have no economic footprint at all that day.
Tomorrow, I hope everyone who supports, however tepidly, our current president and his party can get out and buy something, however small. GF and I have been putting off our grocery run for two weeks, emptying the fridge and cupboard, in anticipation. I've been squeaking by on paper and ink for the printer just to give the old O Depot a little biz. Hell, I might even order a pizza.
Since employment of others also stimulates retail spending, tomorrow would be a perfect day to hire a little temp help around the house. Even giving that kid a go on his offer to shovel your walk will help, as lord knows cash don't last in the hands of the young.
However you can contribute, January 20 is a great day to spin the wheels of commerce here in the good, old land of the buy-one-get-one-free.
Because, apparently, it's up to us socialists to save capitalism. Again.