Doing Nothing is Not An Option
Posted on 09. Feb, 2009 by Deb in Just...an Observation
Visitors here know that the discussion of politics is not a typical thing for me. I talked about it briefly on Election Night. If isn’t that I don’t have opinions. I’m very opinionated and attempt to educate myself about what is going on in the world. As I educate myself, sometimes my opinions change. Sometimes, they don’t. The economy is on my mind just like many others of you. I’m self-employed and just because my business is good one day doesn’t mean that tomorrow my business will be the same. I am ever the optimist, but I am also a realist. I would be lying if I told you that I was not concerned. We are in a situation close to we were in the 1930′s…. The image below is from the FDR Memorial in DC and is just part of the Bronze Sculptures there representing the Depression there.
I just finished watching President Obama’s Town Hall Meeting in Indiana. A couple of things stood out to me in his comments prior to the asking of questions: “Doing nothing is not an option” and “If you have money, spend it.” and “people don’t want a hand-out, they want a job”.
I am watching the Senate just as I watched The House. I have jotted off emails to Both of my Senators, just as I do on a regular basis to my Representative. Something must be done.
Going about my regular business has made me even more concerned and very thoughtful about my own personal approach right now. When I traveled this past week, DFW Airport was light. As in eerily light with no one in line at the ticket counter when I checked my bag , less than a dozen people going through security and about four or five TSA agents just standing around. The hotel, though a boutique-ish hotel and small, was still sparse on the guest side. I stopped by Starbucks on Sunday to pick up a New York Times and the place was EMPTY.
I’ve made adjustments to my budget. The regular visit to Starbucks that used to be part of my routine isn’t so regular anymore. But that’s not just due to my personal pocketbook, part of that is due to the closing of my local Starbucks. The folks I saw for coffee for the last ten years have scattered and are going to other places – or else aren’t going much either. When I go out just to have coffee, I am going to a locally owned coffee house. I am not making frivolous travel plans, but when I traveled last week, I did use the car service I’ve used for the last three years to transport me to and from the airport. I’m not buying new suits at the rate I was six months ago, but I don’t need any new suits right this moment – especially with the loss of a few pounds. I did, however, buy a somewhat extravagant pair of shoes this past week as they are classics for my taste and will be worn by me for years with both jeans and skirts. And I bought them from a sales person that I know works on 100% commission.
Some of the changes I have not made include firing the lady who cleans my house. I can afford to keep her if I watch my own spending a little and she needs the job. I have not stopped eating out overall, but I am choosing to go to more locally owned establishments when I can. I haven’t stopped shopping , though I am careful with my purchases. I am exploring more locally owned shops, like a small independent grocer/deli nearby as an alternative to only shopping at a big-box store. I hated having to do major home repairs, but I was happy to find solid, independent skilled folks to do the work. And of course I’m getting my hair done and tipping my hairdresser just like I always have.
Who knows. Maybe my personal contributions are nothing but a teeny drop in the bucket to a few folks. But I am hopeful that it matters to those people I come in contact with and the businesses that I support. I just can’t in good conscious “do nothing”.
Jim
09. Feb, 2009
Politically, I think my Nan was conservative. She may have been an old school Republican. She might have even been a libertarian.
I don’t know because, even though I asked, she kept her politics to herself.
She did answer when I asked her who the best President of her lifetime was. She said, “FDR.”
“Why, Nan?”
“Because he put people back to work.”
…
I think a little bit of reset is good for the country. Many people were living way above their means, putting too much on credit, borrowing off the every growing equity of their homes.
Supporting each others shops is good; supporting them with money that you don’t have is bad. I just hope it doesn’t get too bad for people before this ship is righted.
Like our grandparents who made it through the Great Depression, I hope we’re learning something.
Deb
09. Feb, 2009
You have hit, as always, several things on the head.
I grew up with parents who lived through the depression (my parents are in their late 70′s) and though they were children during that time, they remember. My grandfather helped build a gym at the local school as one of those people who was “put to work” through one of the FDR programs.
I am a spender of what I have in my budget – and I prefer to pay cash. I am hoping that people are learning as well. And I pray that we get to a point that things turn around sooner than later. It’s scary.
Criss
09. Feb, 2009
In the past two weeks, I’ve bought two books. At a (first-run) bookstore. This is after years of going to the library if I wanted to read something.
I felt bad spending the money, but rationalized that as a writer I should help the publishing industry, so buying books was justified… but I still felt guilty. After reading this post, I feel a little better.
My husband and I are trying to get ourselves on a budget (we’re both pretty good about spending too much), which is why I feel bad buying stuff… but since we can afford it, maybe a little bit of spending is not that bad.
(In other words, yes, I *should* go get my hair cut tomorrow. Because the President needs me to!)