American Spectacles

In 2007/2008 the political rhetoric was about “Main Street”.  What I liked about this was that it put an emphasis on why America’s businesses were important and particularly why our small and medium sized businesses were critical to our economy. For the past three years we still talk about “Main Street” but even in the affluent part of the country that I live in, our Main Street has been hit with empty storefronts and lost jobs.  It dawned on me earlier this year, as I bragged about the HDTV that I had bought off of Amazon for a $1000 less than I could find it in a store, and I didn’t pay any sales tax or shipping (because I am an Amazon Prime customer), that I was part of the problem, not the solution.  I have always tried to be a person who “puts his money where his mouth is” (and humbly admit that I am fortunate to be able to do this), but here I was, espousing the need for America to return to a time when it made things and one could know their retailers and the people from whom they bought, and I was doing just the opposite.  So, in the quest to be honest and authentic, I am starting a journey, an experiment, a learning.  For one full year (Jan 1, 2012 - December 30, 2012) I am committed (I am still working on Patti, my wife to make the same commitment) to only buying our durables (anything that is not perishable or consumable) from a brick and mortar retailer within 50 miles of our home and items that are made in America. Will this be hard?  It shouldn’t be, but we will see.  What I learn, I will post here and we can learn together.  Thanks for going on this journey with me and your comments and thoughts are much appreciated.