MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL : BEAT UP AMERICAN FLAGS STILL FLYING OVER MADE IN THE USA CAR DEALERSHIPS

The Memorial Day weekend was glorious.


We decided to spend most of our time at home, but we were also hoping to visit a veteran we know who had recently been admitted to the closest VA hospital. Sadly, we were informed that he didn't want any visitors. Our friend is a senior citizen now and we had to respect his wishes that he only wanted his closest family near him. We knew he was depressed about his own condition as well as the condition of the United States and the younger veterans he was meeting there. We wished there were something we could say or do that could lift him out of the depression he's feeling.


So we decided to do something really old fashioned, something people used to do when gas prices were so low that fun meant cruising the boulevards, showing off your car, and meeting up with friends. We decided to drive around with nowhere in particular to go. We drove right up the boulevard where there are numerous car dealerships in our town, and what we saw were a lot of shiny, bright, new cars, each with two small new American flags attached to the front doors, and a big flag blowing in the wonderful breeze, faded and torn to shreds, not because it had made it through a historic battle, but because WHEN IT COMES TO USING THE AMERICAN FLAG TO MARKET CARS the flags are new, but when it comes to hoisting a flag that is the symbol of our country, of which we are proud, a flag we salute, there's apparently nothing wrong with shabby.

WE HAD TO WONDER IF THE DEALERSHIP EVEN TAKES IT DOWN EACH NIGHT the way public libraries do, for if anyone did that, surely they would notice it's faded and shredded. At our local public library an employee who is slow is assigned to raise and take down the flag each day, and he does so with reverence and proper folding technique so how difficult can it be?


Later we talked some young veterans who had noticed that same flag. One was of Mexican American background and the other of Armenian American background. They both said how sad that was and put down greed and materialism.


We would rather companies who do not respect our flag NOT FLY IT!
And we sincerely hope the next flag they raise will not be that of China!

NOWS THE TIME TO PLAN A PATRIOTIC PARTY! 4TH OF JULY? THE ELECTIONS?

It's not too soon to host a PATRIOTIC PARTY. Fouth of July is the obvious choice, but you might also want to think about election parties, President's Day, or, well YOU DON'T NEED AN EXCUSE TO THROW A PATRIOTIC PARTY, especially not for the kids.

HERE IS THE CHALLENGE!

Everything you serve, everything you use to serve, everything you use to decorate, everything from the TP and the GUEST TOWELS IN THE BATHROOM to the GRILL, OVEN, or MICROWAVE must be MADE IN THE USA - even if it's VINTAGE!

More, all guests should be advised that they need to wear clothes and shoes and hats MADE IN THE USA - even it it's VINTAGE!

We went shopping to a variety of dollar themed stores in our area from chains to independents and we know you can find CHEAP PARTY DECORATIONS that aren't made here...

Tempting to buy them, but then what do you do after? Usually throw away all that paper and plastic to fill our landfills where, covered with earth, it will take them years - even hundreds of years - to deteriorate. You're throwing away your time, energy, effort, and making more expense ultimately for yourself by doing so.

Look through what you already have, or go thrift shopping! We found mugs from the last Presidential Election at a thrift store for both Democrats and Republicans!

YOUR BUYING POWER : EVERY PURCHASE IS A DECISION TO PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR VALUES ARE!

We are watching the Presidential Candidates these days, trying to decide who to vote for.  For us it's not an easy decision, since we probably won't vote a straight ticket for either Democrats or Republicans or any other party.  We know what values matter to us and we're looking for the candidates that seem to reflect those values.  So far no one person is coming into focus for us as the person to vote for.  The economy is a major issue.  We don't think that anyone who is elected will bring us out of this shattered economy which took years to ruin.  Any promises to do so are going in one ear and out the other here.


We feel, as many of you do, a bit helpless.  We know that we cannot expect any elected government officials or leaders to do it for us.  We know that the ECONOMIC POWER WE HAVE IS BUYING POWER.  What little money we may have, how we spend it is all important, because when we spend, we stand behind not only products and services, but MADE IN THE USA - jobs in manufacturing and all else.  When we as citizens have employment,  we come closer to the ideal of independence.  No one really wants to depend on society - the government - for food, shelter, and clothing,  even health care, education should not have to be public, but that is our default, because these days few can afford that much independence.


How are you feeling about the Presidential Candidates?