My Letter to the Irish News about the 'Occupy' protests

[ExcellentDriver]

Having observed the progression of the 'Occupy Wall Street' Protests Worldwide, then there seems to be an Elephant in the Room that's missing. And that is to Shop Locally.

The rise of the Cost of Living in the Western World has forced many Working Mothers to Shop at Asda, Tesco, etc in order to satisfy their Children's every need and create a culture of dependancy on American-style consumerism. Not only does it benefit the Incorporated Companies, it also eats at the sense of community that used to be the bedrock of Small Towns in Ireland and the UK.

It seems a fitting irony that the future of our Economies in Europe is dependant on a Communist Nation (ie. China) providing us with funds. This truly is; to quote Ron Paul; "Socialism to save Capitalism!"

Also, I feel sorry for the Church of England. They have been placed in a no-win situation because they have interests both ends. Allowing the Church and State to be interlinked (as in Ireland) ended up corrupting both.

The way forward is to act locally as well as thinking globally.

[Pangurban]

A sensible enough argument, but it needs to be fleshed out and developed

[Tyrones own]

I think he means ...

Sounds great til you realize that people already have to much month
left at the end of the money to be running to the corner shop to pay
upwards on 50% extra for groceries they can buy cheaper in the evil
Corporate establishments in town
Some of you lads would do well to try to look beyond the end of your
noses an odd time!

[pintsofguinness]

The rise of the Cost of Living in the Western World has forced many Working Mothers to Shop at Asda, Tesco, etc in order to satisfy their Children's every need and create a culture of dependancy on American-style consumerism. Not only does it benefit the Incorporated Companies, it also eats at the sense of community that used to be the bedrock of Small Towns in Ireland and the UK.

Although the cost of living is rising very fast people (not just working mothers) are shopping in asda, tesco etc because it's cheaper and now widely available.  Nothing will change that.

[Arthur_Friend]

I think he means ...

Sounds great til you realize that people already have to much month
left at the end of the money to be running to the corner shop to pay
upwards on 50% extra for groceries they can buy cheaper in the evil
Corporate establishments in town
Some of you lads would do well to try to look beyond the end of your
noses an odd time!

Is it really upwards on 50% extra every time you shop at a local independent merchant?

[Tyrones own]

I think he means ...

Sounds great til you realize that people already have to much month
left at the end of the money to be running to the corner shop to pay
upwards on 50% extra for groceries they can buy cheaper in the evil
Corporate establishments in town
Some of you lads would do well to try to look beyond the end of your
noses an odd time!

Is it really upwards on 50% extra every time you shop at a local independent merchant?

#Pedantics
Certain items yes...carton/container/content sizes taken into account.
Point being Arthur...any noticable difference at all will have people
shopping in town, and as Pints mentioned above, nothing will change that!

[seafoid]

Having observed the progression of the 'Occupy Wall Street' Protests Worldwide, then there seems to be an Elephant in the Room that's missing. And that is to Shop Locally.

The rise of the Cost of Living in the Western World has forced many Working Mothers to Shop at Asda, Tesco, etc in order to satisfy their Children's every need and create a culture of dependancy on American-style consumerism. Not only does it benefit the Incorporated Companies, it also eats at the sense of community that used to be the bedrock of Small Towns in Ireland and the UK.

It seems a fitting irony that the future of our Economies in Europe is dependant on a Communist Nation (ie. China) providing us with funds. This truly is; to quote Ron Paul; "Socialism to save Capitalism!"

Also, I feel sorry for the Church of England. They have been placed in a no-win situation because they have interests both ends. Allowing the Church and State to be interlinked (as in Ireland) ended up corrupting both.

The way forward is to act locally as well as thinking globally.

good letter.

[Eamonnca1]

I think he means ...

Sounds great til you realize that people already have to much month
left at the end of the money to be running to the corner shop to pay
upwards on 50% extra for groceries they can buy cheaper in the evil
Corporate establishments in town
Some of you lads would do well to try to look beyond the end of your
noses an odd time!

Who said anything about corner shops? Independent supermarkets can be competitive too.

[Tyrones own]

I think he means ...

Sounds great til you realize that people already have to much month
left at the end of the money to be running to the corner shop to pay
upwards on 50% extra for groceries they can buy cheaper in the evil
Corporate establishments in town
Some of you lads would do well to try to look beyond the end of your
noses an odd time!

Who said anything about corner shops?

I did...as that's all there is where I hail from and can only speak for myself

Independent supermarkets can be competitive too.

And corner shops aren't independent?

[muppet]

What is an independent supermarket?

Ones that sell organic propaganda.

[Eamonnca1]

Who said anything about corner shops? Independent supermarkets can be competitive too.

What is an independent supermarket?

They're a bit of a dying breed. Curleys held out well on the Falls and even faced down a challenge from Wellworths when they opened that Westwood Centre next door.  But I hear even Curleys sold out to Sainsbury's or someone big like that in the end.

Emerson's in Armagh town, that was another independent.  Dunno if they're still about.

[Billys Boots]

Point of information: SuperValu and Centra are independent franchised stores - they're owned by local (traditionally the old grocer families in towns) business-people but supplied by a large distributor, Musgrave.  So the local store, in theory, still employs locally, and can do local deals in relation to foods/supplies etc.

[Declan]

Point of information: SuperValu and Centra are independent franchised stores - they're owned by local (traditionally the old grocer families in towns) business-people but supplied by a large distributor, Musgrave.  So the local store, in theory, still employs locally, and can do local deals in relation to foods/supplies etc.

Agreed. Our local Supervalu is a huge contributor to all voluntary organisations in the village.

[highorlow]

What do you call a Pakistani without a corner shop?

Doctor

[stew]

If these bleeding hearts that are out protesting would live within their means thye would not have to protest.

Why is it always someone else's fault and where is the accountability on a personal level?

I would love that $5,000 bar in the basement and that $6,000 pool table to complement it but I cant afford them so i will wait, save and buy them if and when I can and not before. I don't do credit cards and have a debit card and that's it.

I also got into serious credit card debt ten years ago, I ended up taking a second job to pay the fcuker off and it took three years, never again, what i did not do was blame someone else, blame Wall Street or anyone else, i blamed myself.

The morons that flock around the courthouse crying about Corporate America, begging for handouts they don't deserve make me sick!