223. Pretty soon it'll be Black Wednesday

It seems that all good things must come to an end. If you enjoyed the day-after-Thanksgiving holiday rush that was known as “Black Friday,” you are probably disappointed that the event has evolved into one that now starts on Thanksgiving itself—if not earlier.

The event used to start bright and early-- briskly and with a sense of excitement in the air-- on Friday morning. Now the event has become a free-for-all, with businesses opening earlier and earlier to get first crack at the consumer dollars. In addition to some stores opening early on Thanksgiving, there are pre-Black Friday deals and early Black Friday sales. At any given time in November, a store may proudly proclaim, “Black Friday starts now!”

Most of the outrage about this evolution, and rightly so, surrounds the employees who have to leave their families to work on Thanksgiving. Polls last year revealed that 62% of Americans feel that businesses should be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. Sadly, despite the outcry and criticism, there will be lines of bargain-greedy shoppers at the door on Thanksgiving.

The unwritten rule of Black Friday was that it started at 6:00 am, then it was 5:00 am and 4:00 am. Granted 4:00 am was pushing it—employees probably only got 4-5 hours of sleep the night before. But then it was midnight, 10:00 pm on Thanksgiving and then 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving. The campaign is obvious, in addition to offering the best deals, get people to your store first. Customers only have so much money to spend. The stakes are high, Black Friday revenue approaches $64 billion.

For those who do not quite understand the evil side of capitalism, this progression provides a perfect microcosm. Competition in the marketplace is a good thing; it’s perhaps the most attractive side of capitalism. It’s what drives prices, through supply and demand, into equilibrium. And it works best when there is fair competition—that is companies playing by the same rules (whether written or unwritten). Companies that succeed should do so because of their processes—whether it is engineering, marketing or supply chain management.

The dirty side of capitalism is greed-inspired bending of the rules: lack of cultural consideration, mistreatment of employees, destruction of the environment and abuse of political influence. Businesses look for every advantage to decrease costs and increase profits. Of course, Black Friday is successful because lower prices create a great demand—a sales frenzy on the out-of-balance economic equilibrium--which in turn gets people out at all hours of the day and night.

It’s what capitalism does in the name of profits—the competition is so intense that it pushes ethical, moral and cultural limits. While employees are giving up time with their families on the holiday, you can probably bet that the corporate CEOs are spending the holiday with their families in Aspen (or wherever rich people go).

And, to the dismay of many, when companies will not do the right thing, government needs to step in to level the field and protect employees. Mother Jones reported that two Ohio lawmakers, Rep. Mike Foley and Rep. Robert Hagan, have sponsored a bill that would prohibit retaliation against employees who do not want to work on Thanksgiving—and paying overtime wages if they do. The bill is designed to discourage retailors from opening on Thanksgiving and to require them to care for their employees if they do. Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled State House, despite their commitment to family values (Governor John R. Kasich even designated Thanksgiving Week as “Family Week”), is not likely to advance the bill.

What people see in regards to the greed surrounding businesses that open on Thanksgiving is what I see on a global scale with corporations. When companies play fairly, share profits and care about their employees, everyone wins; when companies put competition, manipulation and profit above social responsibilities, only the rich win. Get caught cheating too much and regulation steps in.

Of course, each one of us can do our part to force companies to close on Thanksgiving—just don’t shop.  Stay home, eat a lot, play games and watch football. You can still shop on the real Black Friday.

222. The nation's lazy unrest continues

Seriously, why did we bother?

I am referring of course to the 2014 mid-term elections, in which Democrats and a disinterested public barely showed up.  Voter turnout was a mere 36 percent.

For a country that prides, even obsesses, about its freedoms and democratic system, it was an embarrassing performance.  We’re so quick to fight or criticize those who have been portrayed as threatening our freedoms, but then we’re too lazy or apathetic to take ten minutes to exercise our most precious right.  

From voter apathy and education to the voting process itself— our elections are obviously broken.

We heard a lot about voter laws, and the fight to make it easier or more difficult to vote.  While I am disgusted by any effort to make voting more difficult, knowing that it purposely affects particular strategic demographics, it’s also a matter of personal responsibility. People need to make an effort and simply “try harder” to vote. Those that don’t vote are not coincidentally those who need their voices heard the most. It’s in their best interest to vote.

Voters also need to be educated about those running for office and the issues on the ballot. Several have noted that an uneducated population is the greatest threat to our democracy.

The nation’s lazy unrest continues to elect a high percentage of incumbents. We saw the re-election of such candidates as Josh Mandel, Sam Brownback and Michael Grimm. Brownback is the Governor of Kansas whose economic policies have been disastrous for the state. Republican Grimm won despite a federal indictment.  Newly elected Joni Ernst of Iowa is a Sarah Palin wanna-be, won voters over by the proclamation that she used to castrate pigs when she was young as a metaphor to cut “pork” out of the system.

Even the so-called referendum on President Obama was mystifying. By the most important measures—unemployment, killing terrorists, stock market, gas prices, the wealthy getting wealthier—the country is significantly in a better position than it was six years ago. It seems the referendum was really only a result of the small percentage of voters who have despised the president from the beginning. If there really was a rebuke of Obama, voter turnout would have been much higher. It’s the confusing mantra, if gas prices are high, blame Obama; if gas prices are low, vote for Republicans.

Many have seen now the editorial from Canada in which Richard Brunt writes, “So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason. When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?”

However, the voters don’t get all the blame. As a country, we’ve allowed political money and self-interest to hijack our election process. Through a combination of legislative procedures and court rulings we’ve opened up the door for wealthy corporations and individuals to control the election process.

Voter apathy, while not excused, certainly is understood. They are tired of the two parties fighting with each other—each using over-the-top sound bites used to insult the electorate. Many voters are also tired of having only significant two political parties in this country—they want real choice. Political advertisements are paid for by invisible and wealthy donors, corporations and special interest groups and continue to be negative and misleading. Election campaigns are built on stretching the truth to promote the best thing you have ever done and the worst thing your opponent has ever done.  Every candidate claims to fight for the middle class, but few ever do. They fight for those who financially support them.

We have had ridiculous gerrymandering, such as that in Ohio, it’s almost guaranteed that the Republicans will have a significant advantage in the House of Representatives. Marcy Kaptur’s district is conceded and loops from Toledo to downtown Cleveland to ensure that Democratic votes are spent in one place. Republican Jim Jordan’s district goes from Lorain County to Columbus and then heads east to Lima. Representation is clearly not the objective (surely the interest of Lorain County is different from those near Columbus or in Lima) and it’s not surprising that most races are not well contested. It’s a statistically calculated process to keep the ruling party in place.

Do we really have a democracy if we cannot control the process—if money and influence leaves very little to chance? Who among those who have won election under the current process is going to suggest meaningful campaign reform? We need more political parties, less money (publically financed campaigns), and independently created districts.  Most of all, we need people to care again. We need our best and brightest to run for office as a measure of public service, not as a prologue to power and wealth. And we need a participatory and educated electorate, who will invest in the democracy they so proudly defend.

221. My Gosh, what' s going on?

My gosh, what is going on?

It seems like this summer has been one disturbing story after another. On the international scale, it began with Israel engaging in battle with the militant group Hamas. Then there was the passenger plane that was shot down by Russian separatists. Then, in graphic detail, we were introduced to ISIS and their horrific behavior in the Middle East and toward captured prisoners.

Domestically, the big story for several weeks was the controversial shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Then unbelievably, a gun range shooting instructor was killed when a nine year old was being taught how to shoot an Uzi. Finally, there was the nauseating story of the ice bucket challenge that seemingly was used to humiliate a student with Autism in Bay Village.

However, getting as much attention as those issues has been what been what is going on in the sports world. A second NBA owner will now be selling his team due to racist comments made to others in management. In the NFL, the conversation has surrounded the shocking video of domestic abuse by Baltimore Raven running back, Ray Rice. Unfortunately for the NFL, it did not stop there as several other players are facing domestic abuse charges and star running back Adrian Peterson is facing child abuse charges. Finally, on the local level, many were appalled when the Steubenville football player convicted of rape returned to the football team.  

It’s been one thing after another, each one with a different sense of emotion—anger, shock, disappointment and sadness. The commonality among headlines has been violence and cruelty directed at other human beings—often based on religion, race, gender and disability.

These issues have stirred debate after debate between newscasters, journalists, bloggers and experts. Rightly so, these are important issues and in some circumstances the issues are complex. There has been the normal share of grandstanding—exaggeration and hyperbole. There has also been rush to judgment and commentary by those with agendas, which likewise limit productive debate.

Time, space and redundancy prohibit a meaningful analysis of any of these in considerable detail. For many issues, I share the common concern and opinion, such as: Why does a nine year need to learn how to shoot an Uzi? How could Ray Rice hit his future wife like that? Is the Gaza strip ever going to be free of conflict?

On a social level, which is always interesting to me, there are parts of the conflicts that are difficult to understand. What are we going to do with terrorist groups and what possesses people to inflict such fear and anger toward others based on arbitrary religious beliefs?  Why do fans show such support to athletes; for it seems that a star player can do just about anything and still enjoy the love and forgiveness of fans?  When it comes to racial matters, why does it seem that political affiliation determines the one’s perspective of the issue?

Finally, there is the frustration of trying to get to the truth. From the Ferguson shooting to the NFL’s investigation of Ray Rice, there is an ever-changing circulation of fact, myth and denial. Obviously, before forming an opinion on the issue, it’s important to have all the facts. Too often, we’ve seen, and for obvious reason, there is lying, deceit and cover-up. With all of the news outlets and availability of social media, there is a lot of information and misinformation. And, just as appalling, there is the influence of financial considerations. Many times, companies and intuitions like the NFL, don’t make decisions based on principle, but rather financial impact.

 

It’s been a depressing few months. It has had a real effect on me—and it has been suggested that I stop watching the news. However, these are serious issues: sexual assault/domestic violence, terrorism, racism, war, shootings, bullying and child abuse. These issues should be regarded as avoidable and unacceptable, and we need a societal evolution that is less understanding and forgiving of acts of violence and cruelty. We need to stop accepting the excuses—whether they are political, religious/cultural or financial.

Enough is enough.

220. How to shop by political leaning

Quite obviously, and for a couple of reasons, you will never see me inside of a Chick-fil-A. Nor will you see me inside of a Hobby Lobby store.

I just cannot support the political views of those corporations. I also do not like to support companies that engage in animal testing, use sweatshops, or damage the environment. The list of companies and issues goes on and on.

The problem is that it can be a daunting task to keep up with which companies have similar political values and engage in social responsibility. Fortunately, there is an app for that!

First seen on “The Colbert Report,” I’ve learned of a couple of apps that can be used to allow the customer to know where their money will eventually end up. Colbert introduced me and his viewers to “BuyPartisian.” Another somewhat similar app that I found for android is called Buycott.

They are comparable in that they alert customers where their money is going, although BuyPartisian is more politically-driven while Buycott is more issue-driven.

BuyPartisian will tell you what percentage of political donations by the company, its executives, even workers, goes to Republican or Democratic political candidates.

For example, it will let you know whether Apple or Starbucks donates more money, and how much more money, to each political party. Although it is common for companies to donate to both sides of the aisle, there is still a strategy of donating more to candidates and political parties that best represents the company’s issue. Simply scan the barcode of a product and the app will provide this information.

In Buycott, you can pick issues important to you (called campaigns) and after scanning the product, it will alert if it conflicts with any of those campaigns. There many campaigns along the political and social spectrum and you choose as many as you like.

The app will also tell you company information and provide a “family tree” since of course so many companies are actually part of much larger companies. One commentary notes that it was depressing to realize that the same eight parent companies make almost everything.

Some examples are campaigns avoiding companies that engage in sweatshops, animal testing and factory farming — or those companies that participate as a Washington Redskins or Michael Vick sponsor.

Other campaigns include supporting companies that value marijuana legalization and the Second Amendment.

There are even detailed campaigns for things such as “Boycott Absurd Arbitration Clauses,” “Executive Pay is Greater than 300 Times the U.S. Mean or Full-Time Employee,” and even “Stopping Common Core.”

For example, a quick scan of the Gatorade sitting next to me revealed one conflicting campaign: “Demanding GMO Labeling.” It further lets me know that Gatorade (actually its parent company, PepsiCo) donated an amazing $2.145 million to defeat Proposition 37 in California, which wanted to require GMO labeling. Companies such as Pepsi and Monsanto dedicated more than $46 million to defeat the ballot initiative. I guess this is my last Gatorade.

This is quite powerful information for the consumer, especially if choosing between two similar products. It truly allows consumers to vote with your wallet. After all, that is the direction of American democracy. Money wins elections.

Granted, if you are against almost everything, like my wife and me, it can be time-consuming and quite inconvenient searching purchases. But it can also lead to greater sense of social consciousness in knowing what my money is actually supporting. In that sense, I can feel a little better about my purchases.