Shop local and save our community
In response to the hype and purported “success” of Black Friday shopping on our local economy and society: What if everyone standing in line to save $20 at big box stores spent a few extra dollars buying gifts from small, locally owned businesses, farmers and crafts people? While it’s true that island residents can’t find many of the goods they need made locally, they can still make a positive impact by helping put a greater percentage of dollars into the pockets and lives of residents and their communities rather than add more money to the increasingly and disproportionately bulging wallets of corporate CEOs.
Supporting small businesses is a key component of Smart Growth land use planning, which Kona region residents have been diligently working toward since the inception of the Kona Community Development Plan almost a decade ago. As people look closer to home for gift buying, the commitment to Smart Growth is put into action. Core small businesses strengthen and grow, sprawl and traffic lessens, neighbors get to know each other better, and the complexion and financial stability of small towns such as Kailua-Kona, Kainaliu, Kealakekua and Captain Cook can vastly improve.
An example of corporate disparity is New York City’s fast-food workers who are estimated to earn an average $11,000 per year while the average take of their corporate CEOs is $25,000 per day. Besides killing and moving businesses out of small towns, big box and fast-food purchases prop up corporations that often squeeze workers’ benefits while paying the lowest wages possible. That means that taxpayers — including those who get up at 3 a.m. to shop for “bargains” — end up paying higher taxes for food subsidies, health care, education and other necessities of life for their low-paid neighbors. Meanwhile, mega-profit corporations provide nominal (and tax-deductible) “feel good” donations to local causes for PR purposes even as they spend millions of dollars fighting to avoid paying the costs of life-sustaining, so-called “benefits” to their workers.
Options for buying local are endless. Instead of buying a gift certificate from a big box concern, how about giving the gift of food or drink from one of the many coffee shops, restaurants or food markets in West Hawaii that are owned and run by people who live, hire workers and send their children to school here? Farmers markets and craft shows have luscious and lovely wares — handy and with plenty of parking.
‘Tis the season to get to better acquainted with local products, shop owners and neighbors while making gift-giving choices that create healthy communities and a vibrant, sustainable economy. Shop local.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kona