OntheWilderSide

Kw writes:

I could just sit down and cry after reading these words. Yesterday, I participated in Buy Nothing Day. It is an attempt to boycott hyper-consumerism, and support the idea that people and workers should have one day of relaxation, instead of shopping stress.

I thought “fear shopping” was bad enough, when people are told to believe that they must shop to save the economy, or to fight the terrorists.

Now, a new kind of government pressure to shop. From a Reuters article on Black Friday:

“I’m leaving for Afghanistan in March. I’m getting something for everyone, just in case I don’t come back.”

(excerpt from) Reuters
Black Friday draws crowds, but spending in doubt
11/26/2011

(Reuters) – Retailers were hoping for more shoppers like Shawn Elzia as the annual Black Friday bargain stampede marked the unofficial start of what is widely expected to be a middling holiday shopping season.

The Brooklyn, New York teacher, one of hundreds of thousands of shoppers jostling for deals around the country, said he ended up spending about 25 percent more than he planned, even while worrying about the state of the economy…

Leon Clare, 24, and Shawn Sykes, 27, both U.S. Navy Corpsmen, drove about 125 miles from 29 Palms Marine Base to Santa Monica so they each could spend close to $175 on a pair of Air Jordan Retro 3 shoes in “Black Cement,” popular new sneakers from Nike Inc.

“This is for me,” said Clare, who plans to spend more on holiday gifts later on in the season.

“I’m leaving for Afghanistan in March. I’m getting something for everyone, just in case I don’t come back.”…

While eager shoppers emerged from stores around the country lugging big-screen TVs and bags full of video games and toys, it was far from certain that people will pull out their wallets for much more than the best deals this year. Shoppers with limited budgets started using layaway at chains such as Walmart as early as October.

Retail shares fell more than the overall market on Friday.

“Americans are still worried about jobs, still worried about the economy,” said Mike Thielmann, group executive vice president at J.C. Penney, who noted that shoppers were buying gifts and for themselves, and said jewelry was selling well…

Photos from “Occupy Black Friday” on Long Island at Flickr: here