Notes From My Easel

I went to Limeridge Mall last evening to make a delivery and do a bit of pre-Christmas shopping.  When I pulled into a parking spot I noticed the bumper sticker on the vehicle in front of me.  It read:  ‘LOST YOUR JOB YET – KEEP BUYING FOREIGN’.  To me this pretty well summed up our sagging economy.

The ‘ME’ generation has grown up.  Everyone wants to live like the rich and famous and never-mind the consequences.  The huge vehicle (foreign usually) and all the stuff that has to be the biggest, best and have the newest bells and whistles on it.  Now get it for the cheapest price possible and never mind where it is made. 

Those people working in industry, especially the auto sector, are acutely aware of their own jobs being at stake when they purchase a new vehicle.  Why?  Because it is suddenly their own job on the line.  Unfortunately the average person doesn’t give much thought to the fact that we are shooting ourselves in the foot every time we buy anything foreign that could have been made in North America instead.  Sure the price is going to be higher; our wages and standard of living is higher!  We can’t hold the government responsible for this one, except maybe for implementing free trade in the first place.  The recession lies squarely in the lap of every North American person who continues to buy foreign products. 

I’m going to admit that I also occasionally run into a ‘dollar store’ for a card or something, and trying to find clothing that is Made in Canada is almost impossible – but largely I am a local-living-economy producer and consumer.  Firstly I try to buy locally from small, independent retailers in my area.  Next I try to buy Canadian and then North American.  And as all of my friends know:  you will never, ever see me in a Walmart!

Can’t we spend a little more on an item and live with a little less?  Or is everyone just so unhappy these days that shopping and buying themselves endless ’stuff’ is the only joy that we are getting out of life?

Kathryn

www.kathrynsmith.ca     www.hamiltonartist.com