The REAL war on Christmas: Enough with the "Stuff". It's going to be a 99% Christmas here.

[loudsue]

I've had it with all this "Black Friday" crap. It's just another aspect of the 1% trying to bilk American "consumers" (formerly citizens) of the last penny we have left since they sent our jobs overseas, and stole more taxpayer money than most people can even BEGIN to imagine in order to pay off their bad gambling debts.

This Christmas, I'm not spending ONE DIME for any type of gift, gadget or trinket that is even partially made outside of our borders. And that leaves me a huge list to choose from, for the few gifts I plan to buy.

1) TICKETS: Plays, movies, shows, sports events, concerts...to watch good ole 99%ers play, act, sing & dance, toss balls, make jokes or entertain their asses off. Some of the entertainers and sports folks are moving close to the 1%-ers, but most of them are still in the 99%.

2) WINE: California wine, North Carolina wine....seems like most states have their own vineyards nowadays. I'll support 'em.

3) GIFT CERTIFICATES for locally grown organic foods. With the price of groceries these days, everyone I know could use some grocery money...especially for a local gift shop that carries local honey, eggs, etc.

4) ART GALLERIES: Best place to buy MADE IN THE USA things, and support your local artists. Art galleries have hand-made pottery, earrings, night-lights, hand-woven coats and blankets, even back-scratchers. Lots of stuff for under $25.00, some for under $10.00, and it's all BEAUTIFUL and helps support the 99%ers.

I'm asking for handkerchiefs this Christmas. I started to get a cold recently, and had the worst experience with store-bought tissues: Not only do you have to fold it in half to keep from getting your hands wet when you blow your nose, the ones that say they have lotion on them to keep your nose from getting chapped, FEEL LIKE SANDPAPER. I'm sick of everything that they are pushing on us anymore. I've had it.

I'm doing the 99%ers Christmas. I'll bet some other DUers have great suggestions to add to the possible list of 99% gifts.

[pnwmom]

1. I'm giving my mother a digital subscription to the NYTimes for Christmas.

She used to have a paper subscription, and has missed it ever since she moved to red country.

We need the newspaper, even though it has let us down in the past.

[loudsue]

2. That's a good idea! Subscriptions .... and books.

Quite often I gift books for special occasions. Those can all be made in the USA by 99%ers.

:hi:

[lunatica]

3. I haven't done Christmas in 15 years

But I don't expect anyone to do what I've done. I don't have children to shop for, and I would give them gifts, but otherwise the choice not to do holidays has been one of the most liberating things I've ever done.

But if I were to do it I think your ideas are good ones.

Though I would say that the difference between the 99% and the 1% is not money. It's attitude and a state of mind. There are lots of millionaires who give back all the time.

[loudsue]

5. "Attitude" sure has a lot to do with it.

The attitude that they have to do everything they can to try to get more, just in case someone else might get "something". There are some fine millionaires who give a lot back, but apparently there are a lot of more powerful millionaires who are absolutely selfish and self-serving, who own our government.

Koch brothers come to mind. The bush mafia.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Good. Tickets, Wine, Gift Certificates, locally made goods, better than buying foreign shit.

For me, these still constitute stuff, largely, and a spirit of consumerism.

What you suggest is far better, don't get me wrong, than what most others are doing.

I buy locally every day, gifts and other goods, but I do not want to perpetuate the phony gift culture of thanksgiving day shopping and xmas, so just avoid the shopping thing altogether.

We give of our time, or crafts, or just share love and good spirits.

Food and wine, too!

:hi:

[loudsue]

7. That's really better: not getting sucked into it in the first place.

Many of my friends and I have made agreements that we WON'T exchange gifts at Christmas. But there are some that I still shop for, for various reasons. But this year it's going to be totally art, literature, music,theater, or groceries...or some such that can benefit a real American 99% person.

[NYC_SKP]

14. Hear, Hear! Supporting local craftspeople and artisans all year long...

We've lost that, largely, that respect for local cultural things.

:toast:

[Hamlette]

6. and shop small

I wanna buy toys for the kids but I've not been inside a big toy store for 20 years. There are cute little locally owned toy stores nearly everywhere and they really appreciate your business. I take my list to my favorite local store with the names, ages, sex of the kids and the owner takes me all over picking out fun stuff.

15 years ago we all made a pack to shop in small, locally owned stores for Christmas. I try to do it all year (our local grocery chain has terrible politics so I use Costco).

Remember to pay by cash or check if you can. The credit card fees can really eat into the profit of a small business.

The owners of these small businesses are not in the 1% nor are the people who work there. Seems every year I set out to do my Christmas shopping another small local store has closed.

Keep them alive, especially book stores. The chains are killing them and they can be so helpful in finding books you'll like.

[loudsue]

10. Toys made by local artisans will last, and will be handed down, too!

Great idea!

[Desertrose]

8. Well said, Loudsue!!! Enough with stuff people don't really want

or care about.

Haven't done "stuff" Christmases for decades. We make our own few & special gifts for family & friends.

And absolutely...support your local artists!! We appreciate it!!

Living in a tourist town, so many people say they want something NOT made in China...but then totally balk at paying the price the artist asks for.A beautiful unique item and they want it for the price of Chinese crap. Very frustrating...so again I say....buy American...support your local artists! Support the 99%ers!! Thank you.


Happy turkeyday,Loudsue. :hug::hi:

[loudsue]

9. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Desertrose!!

:hug: And YOU are one of the blessings I'm giving THANKS for today!! :hi:

Artists are the best!! Good luck to you over the holidays!

[Desertrose]

11. Awww, thanks Sue...the feather fans are still flying....

...just sold some that are going over to Japan! Like to think maybe they can help there in some tiny way.
:hug:

[kestrel91316]

12. I need to get back into crocheting shawls. Gotta get some nice wool yarn and beads and make

some chic fancies.

[msongs]

13. ya, support local artists, we appreciate it nt

[FirstLight]

15. great ideas!

LOCAL shops, definitely...i happen to know a few folks here who own places, i will go there. If i have enough to actually SHOP.

however, i plan on giving more of myself and what we can make as well....

[Remember Me]

16. Buy American Store

Still Made in America http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/

Several others:


http://www.ibuyusmade.com/

http://www.buyamerican.com/

http://www.ionlybuyamerican.com/

[loudsue]

17. Those, too! Good ones. I'm really going to be looking for local plays, theater, artists & crafts

hoping to find something that will really enrich someone as close to the recipient's home as possible.