FACING SIDE EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES

As a result of the US economy tanking so far, there are fewer dollars available to buy toys for our tots and teen-agers this Christmas. While it hurts the kids, it hurts the toy stores, in turn hurting the shippers, in turn hurting the manufacturers and so it goes. This means that China faces getting richer less quickly. "Most of the world's toys are made in China. But in the last seven months, half the country's toymakers have gone out of business.", the report goes on to say.

Some people just suffer and some people take individual action. Years ago when the trash collectors in New York City went on strike and garbage and trash continued to pile up, it began to smell bad and there was no way for people to get rid of the refuse. One quick-thinking woman took a large box, filled it with her trash, girt wrapped it and tied it with a pretty ribbon. Then she left it in full view on the passenger seat of her unlocked car and toodled off on an errand. She smiled when she returned to her car and found the 'gift' had been stolen.

Watch this video. You may have to watch a couple of sitcom trailers first.

Even Consumer Reports is prognosticating and have launched Tightwad Tod'.

"With the launch of Tightwad Tod, we’re kicking that mission into overdrive. Every day, I’ll be posting on the news that affects your pocketbook, sniffing around for great buys, challenging offers that sound too good to be true, and heaping shame on the scams and ripoff artists that abound out there. I’m also asking for your help. We’re looking for your best tip on how to save money, and also for help in identifying any really bad deals that should be exposed. If you’ve got an idea, please write to me at tightwad at cro.consumer.org. If we publish your tip, or develop a posting from your idea, we’ll send you a nifty “I’m a Tightwad” T-shirt – by the cheapest possible mail, of course – that you can wear to impress your friends or hide away forever, as you choose."

It shows that this is an act in which everyone of us will participate.

However, not all problems are easily solved. Our children have become very spoiled and expect to get what they ask for, usually a significant collection of gifts, in fact. If the parents are brave enough to share their budgetary priorities with their children, the children can decide whether they want to eat, have a roof over their heads and healthy parents, and they will stop whining for toys. However, many children do not have a frustration tolerance nor sufficiently reality perspective and acceptance to go there. Much will depend on how their parents handle the current hardships as to whether the children will be left feeling unloved or whether they will feel that they are helping to sacrifice with the entire family for the greater good of survival.

There was a time when one could always count on getting a job which requires only being to move quickly, be reasonably strong, and follow orders. It is not so any more. Those jobs are already taken by workers willing to work under the table, below minimum wage, part-time without benefits, and there are probably many more criteria I cannot think of at the top off my head.