Thanksgiving (of which I participate in it's entirety) and the holidays in general, have led to some interesting thoughts this year. Of the folks I know, very few actually remove themselves from the holiday games. Most of us (myself included) throw ourselves head-long into the fray, eating like ravenous hyenas, purchasing beyond our means, and wondering why we continue the tradition year after gluttonous year. I am reminded, of late, of the premise in the book "Ishmael" (Daniel Quinn) that there are two groups of people-the "takers" and the "leavers" and into which group most Americans fall. It is during the holidays, when our penchant for excess really kicks into high gear, and we display our desires like the feathers of a peacock. Collectively. As a nation. We announce to the world that we will take all that we can until there is no more to take.
I began to think of the percentages. Could it be said that it's an 80/20 split between those of us who wallow in excess and those of us who exhibit control over our desires during this time of the year? I bet it's more like 90/10 or even 95/5... Does it really matter in an economy stabilized by constant growth? Until we enact a new model, this is it! It's a good thing to get out there an consume! You are putting people to work with each dollar you spend!
Okay. For the sake of argument, I am going to challenge this. In these dire economic times, couldn't we choose to take the hint and see the err of our ways? Utilize the slow-down as a way to jump the rails of this economic system and get onto something new... That's probably ignorant optimism speaking. We are too heavily invested in this way of being. It will require a total meltdown, a total disaster for us to change to existence on a sustainable level. I had temporarily forgotten the golden rule of change within a population: no change happens without pain and suffering. Right.
Onward then into the holidays. Eat into gluttony, drink until drunk, and please, dear god, spend unwisely.
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