I read something very interesting in the news this morning. The G20 forum in London is getting it's usual crowd of protesters, but they are getting louder and dare I hope, harder to avoid and impossible to sweep under the rug.
The following quote is indicative of the atmosphere that almost everyone I know feels right now, from Seattle to Amsterdam, it makes no difference.
"Every job I apply for there's already 150 people who have also applied," said protester Nathan Dean, 35, who lost his information technology job three weeks ago. "I have had to sign on to the dole (welfare) for the first time in my life. You end up having to pay your mortgage on your credit card and you fall into debt twice over."
Driving home on the van pool yesterday, we were all joking about being on the 'lucky' van since all of us up til now still have our jobs. How lucky is that actually? When the question was put to one of my colleagues, "Are you okay?", his answer was, "I'm here but who can say if I am okay or not".
This got me thinking about when we first arrived from the Netherlands in September 2006. We arrived with 40 boxes of LEGO, an antique trunk I could not bring myself to part with and more than 2000 books that had been to and from America a few times over. We were forced to spend close to $20,000 that first year just on furnishings, a car and daily necessities, from towels to dishes. Many $500 trips to Target, needless to say.
I remember needing tools and things as well and right before we went to a Home Depot, I read an article that the CEO had received a $12M bonus. Nothing brought home quicker to me the fact that I had become more socialistic in my beliefs than my feeling at that moment that that seemed a bit over the top. That was nothing compared to my feeling the next day, yes the very next day, when that same CEO announced lay-offs of 3000. I was livid. I steadfastly from that moment on refused to go to Home Depot for anything. I was already sworn off Wal-Mart just for the fact that they include a clause in all of their contracts providing for 1-2 years of NO Competition in the county in which they build their store. Nothing to me could be more anti-American and yet people seem to not care; only looking at the short-term win, the cost and the convenience. It always seems to come back to convenience, doesn't it.
I do not mean to go all tangential on you here, but it seems important to me that people are finally taking action again. 2 years ago when I began telling people of my refusal to do business with Home Depot or Wal-Mart, people just shrugged and let their apathy show. The G20, people camping outside of the AIG CEO's house, hundreds of victims turning up at Madoff's trial, the Royal Bank of Scotland's CEO being vilified. Good, I say. Less people are shrugging now, some actually show true interest in change and I am glad. This world belongs to all of us and if we do not stand up for it, who will?
I will leave you with one more quote that I think is particularly opportune just now.
"The greed that is driving people is tearing us apart," said Steve Lamont, 45, flanked by his family and protesters who were banging on bells, playing drums and blowing whistles.
Steve, I agree, so let's make sure we all think about this and watch out for it so that you can speak out against it as soon as you see it happen. My 13 year old son said last night at dinner that greed was natural to man in general. He's quite the philosopher. I disagreed vehemently but told him that it is up to us to remind those who forget to share that they are succumbing to the dark side (It's easier for my kids to understand if I throw in Star Wars metaphors).
Remember, we all have a voice and if you do not believe yours is worth anything, go read Dr. Seuss's "Horton hears a Who" one more time. I think you'll get it in the end.
The following quote is indicative of the atmosphere that almost everyone I know feels right now, from Seattle to Amsterdam, it makes no difference.
"Every job I apply for there's already 150 people who have also applied," said protester Nathan Dean, 35, who lost his information technology job three weeks ago. "I have had to sign on to the dole (welfare) for the first time in my life. You end up having to pay your mortgage on your credit card and you fall into debt twice over."
Driving home on the van pool yesterday, we were all joking about being on the 'lucky' van since all of us up til now still have our jobs. How lucky is that actually? When the question was put to one of my colleagues, "Are you okay?", his answer was, "I'm here but who can say if I am okay or not".
This got me thinking about when we first arrived from the Netherlands in September 2006. We arrived with 40 boxes of LEGO, an antique trunk I could not bring myself to part with and more than 2000 books that had been to and from America a few times over. We were forced to spend close to $20,000 that first year just on furnishings, a car and daily necessities, from towels to dishes. Many $500 trips to Target, needless to say.
I remember needing tools and things as well and right before we went to a Home Depot, I read an article that the CEO had received a $12M bonus. Nothing brought home quicker to me the fact that I had become more socialistic in my beliefs than my feeling at that moment that that seemed a bit over the top. That was nothing compared to my feeling the next day, yes the very next day, when that same CEO announced lay-offs of 3000. I was livid. I steadfastly from that moment on refused to go to Home Depot for anything. I was already sworn off Wal-Mart just for the fact that they include a clause in all of their contracts providing for 1-2 years of NO Competition in the county in which they build their store. Nothing to me could be more anti-American and yet people seem to not care; only looking at the short-term win, the cost and the convenience. It always seems to come back to convenience, doesn't it.
I do not mean to go all tangential on you here, but it seems important to me that people are finally taking action again. 2 years ago when I began telling people of my refusal to do business with Home Depot or Wal-Mart, people just shrugged and let their apathy show. The G20, people camping outside of the AIG CEO's house, hundreds of victims turning up at Madoff's trial, the Royal Bank of Scotland's CEO being vilified. Good, I say. Less people are shrugging now, some actually show true interest in change and I am glad. This world belongs to all of us and if we do not stand up for it, who will?
I will leave you with one more quote that I think is particularly opportune just now.
"The greed that is driving people is tearing us apart," said Steve Lamont, 45, flanked by his family and protesters who were banging on bells, playing drums and blowing whistles.
Steve, I agree, so let's make sure we all think about this and watch out for it so that you can speak out against it as soon as you see it happen. My 13 year old son said last night at dinner that greed was natural to man in general. He's quite the philosopher. I disagreed vehemently but told him that it is up to us to remind those who forget to share that they are succumbing to the dark side (It's easier for my kids to understand if I throw in Star Wars metaphors).
Remember, we all have a voice and if you do not believe yours is worth anything, go read Dr. Seuss's "Horton hears a Who" one more time. I think you'll get it in the end.
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