My sincere regrets, Macy's, Barnes&Noble, Nordstrom, JCPenney, RadioShack......

[grasswire]

I browsed your stores today, and you really wooed me in my first trip to a shopping mall in several months.

The housewares clearance in Macy's was choice. Mmmmm. The shoe sale at Nordstrom, also. Books galore called to me from the shelves of Barnes & Noble. Buy me! Buy me!

I was there to look for a cozy blanket for the family member heading off for his freshman year at university. And I saw many, many perfect choices, affordable and un.

It was heady. In that place, I WANTED to be a consumer. I love to provide for people in my circle. I really, really wanted to buy books and sweaters for the little ones. I wanted cheery new towels for the niece, and a french press for the auntie. The apple green Le Creuset casserole begged me to take it home.

Retailers note: I probably would have spent $500-$1000 without the bat of an eye. For things that fill real needs and elevate the quality of life for many. Money that would have employed others and circled through the economy.

So........what exactly is the problem with providing another stimulus to citizens?

[Mimosa]

1. That's poetic, Grasswire. n/t

[county worker]

2. The problem is that it just might work.

[TBF]

3. You are so selfish,

you should be thinking about giving bonuses to bankers. Re-education camp for you pronto ...

:sarcasm:

[maryf]

17. Oh, oh, oh, I thought you were going to say

s/he was selfish for not buying all those things helping the corporations....another reason to reeducate! ;)

edited to add winkie, just in case...

[xchrom]

4. Recommend

[MichiganVote]

5. *sniff* those poor millionaire billionaire children. How can you be so unjust?

America the Giant K-Mart.

:sarcasm:

[madrchsod]

6. i bet nothing you mentioned was made in the usa.

some books are printed in the usa but most if not all heavy white paper stock books are printed in china. wisconsin has lost paper mills do to the chinese under cutting the price of heavy white stock paper.

[grasswire]

10. yes, and I thought about that while I was in the store

Everything in the Martha Stewart housewares line at Macy's is made in China. Her linens are largely made in India.

But at the same time, money spent at a mall also pays the salaries of clerks, administrative personnel, foodservice, truckers, etc.

I haven't bought anything in a department store in a long, long time. But if I had a fat stimulus check right now, I'd spend it for the sake of local economy. It's a genetic thing -- provisioning for the family for the winter.

[madrchsod]

12. we have`t been in a mall in 5 yrs...

can`t really afford to buy new stuff.

[grasswire]

13. I think that kind of dazzled me today.

I haven't been in a department store in a while. The shiny things, the music, the perfume counter -- all of it was boggling.

Of course I only spent $39 for some necessary merchandise, and $2 for coffee.

[Merlot]

7. I know how you feel

I love to buy stuff for people, and I love to give stuff to charity.

Right now I do some giving and no buying. That's just how it is.

My favorite local sewing and vacuum shop went out of business. Last time I was there I wanted a vacuum and they said they were only selling used (refurbished) vacuums because they had no money to purchase new inventory. That was a couple months ago. I went by yesterday and the store was empty with mail on the floor.

They did a great job repairing and maintaining my old sewing machine.

Maybe we should start a thread to memorialize all the businesses we liked that went out of business? because that's not the only one I've lost recently. LIttle stores that you go to for years are like friends in a way...you miss them when they're gone.

[AsahinaKimi]

8. A lot of people go to the mall

in downtown San Francisco, on Market Street, across from Powell street, where the Cable Cars turn around. I don't know how much people are actually buying. I haven't been out to the mall in Stonestown in years, so who knows how they are doing. I have been out by Pier 39 and Fisherman's wharf. Most of the tourists are from out of the country.

I don't know how this city manages to keep going.. I really don't.


Edit and Note** Thats the first time I remember seeing a cable car with Rice A Roni on it,
I don't know ANYONE who eats that stuff..So much for "The San Francisco treat".

[truedelphi]

9. As far as Rice a Roni - I was invited to an upscale pot luck in Marin County

One Time.

Being overworked and underpaid, I threw some oil in a pan and sauteed some onions and garlic, opened a box of Rice a Roni and added the water.

Several hours later, many at the affair asked me how much saffron was called for in the recipe. And where did I get such a scrumptious recipe? Was it a family heirloom?

I told them "the recipe" and they were amazed.

[Hissyspit]

11. The megawealthy need more tax cut money to invest overseas.

Why do you hate America?

[Orsino]

14. You're proposing that CEOs depend on *you*?

Can America afford that kind of risk in uncertain economic times?

( :sarcasm: )

[grasswire]

16. not just me

but the millions of other Americans whose little ones need sweaters and books, and whose off-to-college boys need dorm stuff, and whose aunties need new eyeglasses and a lunch at IHOP.

There's always something needed when jobs are tight and wages have stagnated to the point that a clerk makes less after thirty years than at the first job out of school.

[burrowowl]

15. Go here for

USA made items

http://madeinusaforever.com/