MTB: Sustainable Shopping---Going Nuts For The Holidays? What Should We Be Doing Instead?

[ihavenobias]

The last Meet The Bloggers topic of was pretty popular here at DU. This week the topic is sustainable shopping and consumerism.

Rev. Billy Talen and Savitri D of the as well as Latoya Peterson of http://www.newdream.org/ join Cenk to discuss holiday spending, consumerism and sustainable shopping.

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[sandnsea]

1. If someone doesn't buy something

from me, pretty soon, I'm going to be homeless.

I note the "Stop Shopping" tickets cost $12.00.

And how does NewDream.org fund itself?

Oooh, by corporate memberships.
http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/store/index.php

People really need to think a bit about what the hell they're really doing.

[ihavenobias]

2. All the more reason to support Meet The Bloggers which has no corporate sponsors

I'm not saying anyting, I'm just sayin'.

And does some really great work. I for one really enjoyed Outfoxed, Iraq for Sale the Walmart movie.

[Johonny]

9. every Christmas the DU gets these don't shop threads

Even though it's of course the best time of year to be a consumer. Things are on sale, stores are giving some stuff away just to clear inventory. I always wonder why people don't wait all year to spend at Christmas time and the lovely post Christmas time sales?

[ihavenobias]

11. This isn't my attempt to say "don't shop"

It's just happens that the guests on this week's MTB are against certain types of holiday shopping and they explain why. Cenk is pretty moderate as the host (as you'll see if you watch the episode).

But I will say that I like Navarth's idea (see below in this thread), it seems like a nice compromise. Personally I'm broke so I can buy very little this year even if I wanted to.

:(

[CherylK]

3. Aren't people spending a lot less this year because of the economy?

I know I am!

:thumbsdown:

[OhioChick]

4. Same here. n/t

[Azlady]

6. yep

[FiveGoodMen]

5. The holidays are just one big guilt trip

Spend or you're letting America down...

Spend huge amounts or you're Scrooge...

Smile, isn't the snow wonderful???

Blah, blah, blah (and Humbug!)

When people overextend themselves for Xmas presents, they need to have their heads examined.

Most of the time, adults spend money they don't really have buying other adults things they don't really want in exchange for which they'll get something they can't really use. Surely the DSM IV has a name for that.

It's different buying things for kids; they don't have their own money so it's a big deal for them.

But grown-ups should grow up.

As far as hurting the retailers, there are two possibilities:

1) People will still buy stuff but it just won't be all at once -- surely that's a good thing, or

2) People will buy less because there was never any reason for half their purchases. And if the US economy really depends on buying what no one needs, then the US economy must be changed.

[navarth]

7. there are alternatives to buying crap for people

my wife and I are doing most of our xmas shopping with The Humane Society and The Sierra Club, some others.

It puts your money to work doing good for the universe and still gets people a present.

[ihavenobias]

12. Those are good ideas.

:)

[navarth]

16. might be nice to give a TYT subscription for a present!!

whattaya think, Tom?

[ihavenobias]

17. Perfect. You promote alternative media and progressive ideas and they have no corporate sponsors.

It's a win-win-win.

[1Hippiechick]

14. BINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGO! Win-Win! I LOVE it! K&R this thread! n/t

[ihavenobias]

19. Glad you enjoyed it.

:)

[matthewf]

8. k&r

[pleah]

10. We cut back on spending across the board five years or so ago.

For Christmas we only buy things that we need.

[1Hippiechick]

15. Hubby has retired and now works part-time for a large chain. People have come in in droves

this year to take advantage of the appliance sales and to GIFT family members with appliances. Now THAT makes sense! It kills two birds w/one stone. One mom gifted BOTH her daughters with appliances that won't even arrive until February b/c of backorders, so she came back to the store, took photos of what she had bought, and was going to put the photos in a Christmas card to give her daughters.

THAT kind of common sense resonates with me! :)

[pleah]

18. So far, the large appliances in our area are not that great a deal.

Still the same sale prices that they always are, but small appliances are a great deal. I can get a new crock pot and a food processor for less that the original price of the crock pot alone. My crock pot is 25 years old. If hubby gets me a new one, I can donate my old one. It still going strong.:)

[ihavenobias]

20. That makes sense.

Of course sometimes it's tricky to define "need".

:)

[AZBlue]

13. I have a feeling with unemployment so high, this will be less of a problem this year.

Which just means more people will be depressed over the holidays. Our society is criminally materialistic - and that's how we got into this mess in the first place.