OCCUPYXMAS - Shop Local

99% of the time I buy gently used from Salvation Army, Goodwill, Craigs list, antique stores. Just got a nice used table and chairs for Thanksgiving at an antique store. I've prided myself on that and share those value with my family and friends. I hate paying 7% sales tax for the privilege of 'BUYING' new retail. WTF!
I recently bought a 1980's Whirlpool washer and dryer from the Salivation Army for $35. each. Changed a seal in the washer drum and it's as quite and runs like new. I paid $13 for a Pumpkin Roll' from a guy at work for his kids school fundraiser. Was it worth it?
I grow my own veggies and weed and share with anyone in need. I bust ass heating with a wood stove cause I hate the idea of using propane that comes from oil.
I think my values are progressive. But kids dont understand 'values' when there friends have high tech video games and smart phones and latest fashion.
I could have bought a new big house in a fashionable subdivision but chose a 100 yr old farm house with a few acres. It needs a lot of work and slowly I've been fixing it up. Just finally got the electrical system replaced from old black knob and wire. I'm sure one of the electricians took my oscillating multitool that is perfect for cutting into slat and plaster walls. Also missing my brand new in the box thermostat. I got that tool very cheap last black friday. Could never justify the cost before.
Determining what we 'need' and it's value and our value system is a huge struggle and I salute anyone that examines and tries to change their values. In today's society its a bitch changing! There's a ton of pressure and demands on the consumer.

 

I think its a better idea to go out and buy all your shit on black Friday, with everything marked down the corporations dont make quite as much as on every other day. So the better idea would be to boycott big corporate stores all the time and focus our energies on protesting in front of such stores for the shopping season.

 

I just try to shop smart every day that I need a purchase. I don't go hog-wild but simply ask myself: "Is this item fairly priced? Was it produced in such a way that everyone got a fair share? Is it wasteful? Am I being 'afluenzic'?"

That is my general mind-set about things.

 

Tomorrow is pay day, you can keep on dreaming.

 

Good post, and true.

But this is the sorry state of affairs, "shopping" as winner take all sport.

http://news.yahoo.com/woman-pepper-sprays-other-black-friday-shoppers-110009506.html

For an F-ing Xbox??? I can't hardly even get my head around that.
I rarely say things like this, or even think them. But some people just need to be drug out in the street and executed. Damned sick bastards.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlpCBek1_M"]Tom Lehrer- A Christmas Carol - YouTube

 

I did all my Christmas shopping this year early... The difference is I bought everything from struggling local businesses. Local businesses that struggle to break even because most people would rather buy something from big corporations than buy something handmade from a little family business. I went out on black Friday and sat in the mall with signs, and played music with a friend. I'm working on doing my part

 

I got this off the local news website. Yes support local struggling small buisnesses..

Studies show that for every $100 spent at a locally owned shop, $68 are returned to the community. That's compared to $43 getting back to the local community from $100 spent at a national store.

 

That sounds inflated to me, I would figure less than 20% gets back to the local community. Wonder how they figured that and what they consider "local"

 

Time to bump this thread, as the season is upon us...

 

Roger roger. Ill do my best.

 

Walmart Employees are organizing a strike for "Black Friday"

Here is their page: http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/2012/11/02/resources/

Here are their reasons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caV-m1wq6Vc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caV-m1wq6Vc

The workers are demanding the following from Walmart:

Improve Workers’ Lives-
Pay a minimum of $25,000/year and guarantee quality, affordable health coverage for all Walmart associates and workers in the company’s US distribution chain.

Rebuild Communities-
Sign on to a national community benefits agreement that ensures as Walmart expands into new markets, it strengthens communities, protects the environment and is responsible for the well-being of its employees in its retail stores and US supply and distribution chain.

Put Its Promises in Writing-
Agree to a global labor agreement guaranteeing the fundamental human right of freedom of association for all of its associates and instruct their suppliers to do the same, and recognize and negotiate with OUR Walmart.

Elevate Global Living Standards-
Establish a legally binding global responsible contractor policy requiring contractors and subcontractors to provide living wages, worker safety protections, and respect basic human and labor rights, including freedom of association and freedom from racial and gender discrimination.


Support the Walmart Black Friday Strikers!

It's time to take a stand and support the workers who are standing up to live better through an unfair labor practice strike.
Walmart workers decided to strike on Black Friday after they were targeted for retaliation for speaking out about substandard work conditions and treatment last month in the first ever walk out in the history of the company.
We ask you to help us feed the workers who will walk out on the company next week on the biggest shopping day of the year.
https://www.wepay.com/donations/walmart-strikers-food-fund

The workers are demanding the following from Walmart:

Improve Workers’ Lives
Pay a minimum of $25,000/year and guarantee quality, affordable health coverage for all Walmart associates and workers in the company’s US distribution chain.
Rebuild Communities
Sign on to a national community benefits agreement that ensures as Walmart expands into new markets, it strengthens communities, protects the environment and is responsible for the well-being of its employees in its retail stores and US supply and distribution chain.

Put Its Promises in Writing
Agree to a global labor agreement guaranteeing the fundamental human right of freedom of association for all of its associates and instruct their suppliers to do the same, and recognize and negotiate with OUR Walmart.
Elevate Global Living Standards
Establish a legally binding global responsible contractor policy requiring contractors and subcontractors to provide living wages, worker safety protections, and respect basic human and labor rights, including freedom of association and freedom from racial and gender discrimination.
How can I support in other ways?

You can join solidarity actions throughout the United States. Find out which solidarity actions are being organized and the store employees that are participating by going to the Corporate Action Network event page.
“The only thing workers have to bargain with is their skill or their labor. Denied the right to withhold it as a last resort, they become powerless. The strike is therefore not a breakdown of collective bargaining-it is the indispensable cornerstone of that process." -- Paul Clark

Find a Solidarity Action To Show Support: http://www.corporateactionnetwork.org/campaigns/black-friday/events

http://occupywallst.org/

 

Black Friday strikes are planned for 1,000 Walmart stores. Groups like MoveOn.org, the National Organization of Women, and various Latino, African American and interfaith groups have raised over $50,000 for striking Wal-Mart workers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/20/walmart-black-friday-strike-huffpost-live_n_2168257.html


Walmart has gone to the Nat'l. Labor Relations Board and filed a complaint asking that an injuntion be filed against striking employs. Walmart claims that the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union is organizing illegal picketing at its stores.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/nati...nction-walmart/story?id=17771947#.UKzyYuTAdOI

A former Walmart employee was handcuffed for being inside the store and talking to workers about the upcoming strike. Police detained him in handcuffs for 20 mins. while Walmart made claims that he'd signed a document prohibiting him from returning to the store after he was fired in September.

He was released and no charges filed. He is a member of OUR Walmart, a group of Walmart workers backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which Walmart refuses to recognize.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/alex-rivera-walmart-handcuffed_n_2139605.html

 

They have every reason to strike!!!!!! (maybe walmart will start treating them better)

 

I worked for Walmart twice in my lifetime. The first time, I was young and ignorant. The second time, I should have honestly known better.

It is truly a horrible company for which to work. Walmart is a prime example of exactly what is wrong with this country.

 

I really don't shop much but never go to a store on holidays or Black Friday.

 

According to the link sited below:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/17143...rt-workers-already-striking-least-six-states#

 

Walmart associates in Maryland had 400 people marching today.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/17143...-mic-check-and-sing-maryland-updated-1230-pm#

 

Millions of Americans still flocked to Wal-mart stores today.

 

Of course they did