the economic recovery is underway
neal shafferI'm drawing a line in the sand.
It started with a post I put up on Twitter back on March 6. "I'm declaring today 'bottom' for the economy," I said, "and tomorrow 'day one' of the recovery. Who's with me?"
I have no illusions about my reach or influence. Both are moderate on a good day. But I have had the good fortune of developing relationships with some very fine folks with whom I enjoy mutual respect. And so I'm reaching out to all of you, those I know personally and those I don't, with a simple idea: let's get shit rolling.
I think it's time we stop waiting to be saved. You and I are not getting bailouts no matter what happens with Citibank, GM, et al. If we wait on help we'll be waiting forever.
Instead, I propose we start the rebuilding effort now. Piece by piece, day by day, using the influence we have with friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and people in our network.
How? Simple: invest. In valuable things and valuable ideas. To the extent that you have any disposable income, spend it wisely. Buy a handmade item from a local craftsperson like Imogene or Sweet Pepita or the equivalents in your city. Go out to eat at a locally owned restaurant. When you do, skip the appetizer or drink and leave that extra cash as a tip for your server (believe me, he/she needs it). See a movie at a locally-owned theater, or a play by a local company. Buy some stock in an American business you believe in.
Do whatever you can, however small it might seem. Hell, do something as simple as clicking the google ads on your favorite independent websites. It helps. Most importantly, stop thinking that we're in a recession and start thinking that we're in the early stages of the recovery effort.
Do this right now, then tell other people you're doing it and invite them to join you. Does this sound silly? A little Pollyannish? So be it. Bottom line is that things won't get better until we start believing they're getting better and acting accordingly. No reason that can't start right now.
Reader Comments (8)
<p>Neal -- Well said. I'm with you! --Amanda</p>
<p>I totally agree. I think the media has done a better job at generating fear of the economy than of terrorism. Let's ignore it as best we can and move forward.</p>
<p>Hell yeah! Like I said on Twitter, this is the greatest moment of opportunity I've ever seen in my life. All the cultural inertia is cracking apart, and we're starting to notice that our actions matter, that we're each in control of our own lives and that we're all in it together. Stop waiting, stop blaming and start living! All aboard!</p>
<p>I'm right there with ya! Letting the mainstream media guide your life is foolish...make your own, informed, responsible decisions based on your values and what you want to have happen in the future.</p>
<p>I've been doing my best to do this since the price of gas went back below two dollars. Last Sunday we went out for breakfast (for the first time since before Thanksgiving, mind) to a tiny little dive local diner we adore.</p><p>I've never been one for buying lots of crap I don't need (fabric and books don't count, I need those to survive) but since the banks haven't been doing much with my money, I've been giving it to the girl scouts, the retail farmstand that's open year round and anywhere else I can get real local value for my greenbacks.</p><p>Last summer I said to people 'Say the 'R' word, you'll get over it faster,' but it hasn't worked. Perhaps I was saying the wrong 'r'ecession word and I should have been saying 'R'ecovery.</p><p>Let's dig each other out of this whole, one positive dollar at a time.</p><p>Huzzah!</p>
<p>Right on, folks. I agree with every one of you, and thanks for chiming in. The more we do the better things get.</p>
<p>The recovery started for us today. Suddenly we're swamped in clients.</p><p>Things are looking up for the first time in a while.</p>
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