When I've been at my lowest financially, I've found the best medicine for feeling sorry for myself is to find those who have less than I, and to help them. Once that meant giving a family three fourths of the money I had. When I actually had only $369 income and $6,000 debt, I bought Christmas presents for three kids through my bank's Christmas tree program. I've never felt better. Even now, with only $10 a month for gas, I always give the person who pumps my gas a dollar. The look on their faces is priceless to me.

To JakeNewton---

You write: "You seem unaware that the administration has no estimation of their own, and simply defers to others."

Actually, Dubya was asked a few years ago during a tv interview how many people had been killed in the invasion and occupation of Iraq and he opined about 30,000. Also, former Sec. of State Mad Albright, upon being told that half a million children had been killed in Iraq (BEFORE the current invasion/occupation!), not only did not question that figure but said it was "worth it."

And of course "the administration" has an estimation of the amount of SLAUGHTER they have caused; it just chooses not to tell you what it is, and you seem comfortable with that.

-30-

"America is open for business"

~ Some people live their whole lives without ever waking up ~

I feel equally indignant about advertisers trying to manipulate me into buying and well meaning nay sayers trying to manipulate me into NOT buying. As I read the comments here, I wondered what became of homemade personal gifts as part of holiday tradition. Admittedly, when I gave some pottery to relatives one holiday,they advised me, "Stick with the fruitcake, will 'ya?". The idea might work for others, however. Cheers.

Here is an idea: http://www.thoughts.com/RedNeckPossie/blog/a-way-to-give-power-back-to-the-people-184665/

The Doctor

You're right of course about Vietnam and the carnage there too. Right now at this moment over a million souls are held to ransome, trapped in a ghetto named Gaza and this could stop overnight IF the American government told the Israelis to stop this evil blockade. But like the wimps in the EU they will do nothing. That holocaust is happening under the very eyes of millions of responsible people and NOTHING is being done to right these wrongs. If all that can be discussed is the latest dancing moves or the blitz selling stupid TVs then there is no hope. The US will provide as it has always done bombs and misery!

Alanski, don't forget Vietnam America killed 7 million, and they are still dying from Agent Orange. Do you ever wonder why we never hear about that holocaust?

As to a non-shopping day........

Just name the day!

John J. Coghlan

I Stopped Shopping years ago, when the Salvation Army started to raze their prices. Their are no more bargains for poor people in thrift stores, because to many rich people shop in them, and are willing to pay big prices, for what ever they want. The thrift store bargains went out with the advent of the credit card. I guess I will have to be happy with what I have.

For those who have a shopping addiction, help is on the way. It's called a Depression. When your credit cards don't work any more, and all your money is gone, your shopping impulses will be gone as well.

Stop or slow your impulse buying by doing one simple thing. REDUCE the max amount limit on your credit cards. I have one I carry and the MAX amount I can put on it is 500$. Now I have another that is in the zillions but that is emergency car repairs or emergency house repairs ( like hot water heater goes etc) When you get the bill on the 500$ max card and says you only have 200+$ left a funny happens you stop buying. Because you don't want to max out your card even if it 500$ well it works for me

Don't ya love the Scrooge movie? Merchants love it too. Oh the guilt! Many identify with the greedy Ebeneezer, rather than the family of Tiny Tim (which is probably closer to where they are). People like Scrooge who hold all $$$ just laugh at the rest of us as we march into the stores like cattle. Heck, we are so focused on getting the best deal(s), that we don't even know we're trampling our fallen brethren to death. Following mob rule makes you mob fool.

Apart from the million plus Iraqis siaughtered in Americas good name. Over five million have been displaced and lost their homes. Strangers in their own country and in other surrounding countries. As for a happy christmas, tell that to the tens of thousands of dead and persecuted christians who used to live openly and worship freely in that land under the so called bestial Saddam Hussein. To all those Americans who will still sit down and enjoy their 'thanks giving' I would remind them that millions on this earth will not enjoy such comfort and full bellys due to the hegemony of the USA. I doubt if they will be giving thanks. Only perhaps that the evil of America will overlook them for once and give them peace. I'm no christian but I wish those unfortunates that their own dreams of a quiet and war free family life will come true. If anyone who manages to read this stops to consider the plight of others in this world, rather than if they can afford to buy more endless rubbish at least it will acheive something. However I doubt it.

Buy nothing - and destroy the US economy.
Great, just what we need right now.

Pete's Inc:

In re: "...Spitzer was whacked..."

FYI: the term whacked aka wacked, refers to the act of assassinating a specified target (ex: JFK wacked by a hit team in Dallas). Since Elliot Spitzer is still among the living, he certainly wasn't "whacked" as you put it!

What are you guys talking about her?

You can't buy nothing. Just by participating in this discussion, you are buying access to the internet!

Does it count if you're unemployed and broke? If so, I did my part.

I just inadvertently supported the protest. I bought absolutely nothing today. I even put money in the bank.

I agree with Kalle and the concept (and action!) of Buy Nothing Day, and have been an Adbusters "consumer" (oh, the irony) for many years. I completely agree with boycotting corporate 'big-box stores' (on more than one day a year), but in my opinion, BND runs into practical problems when locally owned small businesses are taken into account (in our old economy). So, lets say next year BND goes viral (stealing some corporate lingo). Nobody spends a dime. I would hate for the small up-start coffee shop in my neighborhood to have no business that day, or the hardware store, or the dog-groomer, or the.... you get my drift. Anyone who has run a small business knows how tight a buget usually is, and even one day of no revenue makes a big difference in the 'bottom line' (more lingo) of the family running said business. So until the new economy takes shape to replace the old (trade and barter, anyone?), I bought my coffee and pastry then went on a 60-mile bike ride (triple-shot!!). And yes, I know I could have made them at home.

Even though it's a habit, hard to break, here's how to do it. Okay, you are thinking about that Mars bar and coffee. Don't get your purse and car keys out yet. Wait 15 minutes, wash a window or 2. Still thinking about it, set your timer another 15 minutes, clean out one cluttered drawer, and so on and so on. But don't go on the computer too soon. There is too much stuff for sale on the computer. Hide your credit cards from yourself or put them in your bank deposit box. That should take care of the online buying spree.

Jakenewton:
Of course we should be cynical of Iraqi casualty estimates from The Lancet.It's so much more logical to believe shrub's administration-just as it was valid to believe "Poppy's" regime re the number of homeless. Of course insructing the census takers to avoid locations where homeless were most likely to be was irrelevant,right?
Prefer to believe the congenital liars that dominate this country-until you're the next one considered superfluous.

we can change the world by changing our consumption patterns, on a daily basis.

I buy very little except food--oops, just remembered spending three thou on this imac so that I don't have to worry about window messages telling me what I can't do. Oh well----.

Buying a Mars bar is always some sort of breakdown.

What a great idea, a Protest Day which results in people buying nothing. People should protest when their masters get out of line. It is their democratic right. I hope it goes well.

But where is the Protest Day about the missiles that America is putting around Russia? Where is the Protest Day about the new arms race which such a move is generating, the planned upgrading of nuclear weaponry? Does being burned alive in a Nuclear Firestorm appeal to you?

DO HUMANS HAVE A DEATH WISH? It's my most recent post. It's for thinking people!

www.dangerouscreation.com

I'm off today, stayed home, and bought not a damn thing.

I have a very dear friend in Omaha who is doing just what the writer suggested,as am I. Wonder why none of the Zombies were on MSM?

Better yet, instead of buying gifts, give experiences. Take the family to a peaceful protest. Visit a homeless shelter, food bank or soup kitchen. Talk around the dinner table about politics and the economy and decide what to do about it as a family. Help someone or someones out who is/are less fortunate, because soon that will include more and more people.

Here's an idea: How about a "Buying nothing that we don't really, really need Year".

I've been seriously contemplating immigrating to my parents' ancestral land (Americans consider it that place where "illegals" come from). I have lost many of my roots, including the language. But the challenge alone, of learning to live within my needs, is becoming a dream, a goal, of mine. Anyone care to join me?

The economic situation will create lots of converts to the Church Of Not Shopping. For those of us who are still employed, let's limit Christmas this year to presents for children. And spend money we save on holiday gifts for children of others or on food banks or on progressive organizations that will help to achieve large scale re-distribution of wealth to those who need it.

Joe

Celebrate the "Holiday Shopping Season" with Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping" instead. (great interview at Democracy Now, or Google it)
Hallelujah!

'Buy Nothing Day' gets easier thanks to the Bush Legacy.

President George W. Bush said he hopes to be remembered as a liberator of the Iraqi people.
But with the Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered In US War And Occupation Of Iraq
exceeding 1,284,105 not even the M$M can sell that fable.

When I think of how many people have been maimed and murdered
for the profits of Big Business it is easy to 'Buy Nothing' at all.