Black Friday and Election 2012
Posted on November 28, 2011
Though nearly 11 months out, the Black Friday which precedes the Presidential election is a sign of the strength or weakness of the incumbent. Sales figures are a measure of consumer confidence, closely tracked and reported by financial, consumer and political media. What’s the verdict for Obama?
Early reports in the wee morning hours were dim, but as the morning sun began to rise, news reports looked a bit more hopeful. While the typical stories of shoppers gone mad dominated the online headlines, the 16% increase in sales over 2010 are a good sign for the White House.
The measure of consumer spending as a sign of an improved economy is, however, an unfortunate indicator. At a time when our nation is deep in debt, as are our citizens, do we really need to scramble on top of one another to grab the latest game console like savages? Spending has become synonymous with “good economy.” But a sustainable economy should emphasize rational spending and even some serious savings.
One can argue that Black Friday is indeed about savings, and I’ll buy that to a point. But just once, I’d love to see a presidential candidate come out on Thanksgiving and encourage everyone to “sleep in” the next day, as opposed to racing to the big box stores fighting for parking spots and a place in line. Get some real exercise (not the kind where you run down the aisles) to shake off the extra calories heaped on during the holidays; spend time with family discussing how we can do more with less as a society – because that is the reality we live in.
Instead of waiting on a presidential candidate to emerge with all the solutions, we must take personal responsibility for our health, our pocket books, our neighborhoods and our future. My husband says, gleefully, I sound like a Republican. But I call this Sound Citizenship – something neither of the parties has yet grasped.
Tags: Elections 2012, sustainability
