It's the most guilt-ridden time of the year!

Terry and I went out to Wal-Mart again (I know, I know) and bought a vacuum sealer for the fruits and vegetables we are preparing in our new dryer. While we were looking around, a man approached us and asked if we knew where there was a meat tenderizing mallet. I said I didn't know. I said, "Why don't you ask someone who works here?" He said, "They never know anything." He had been sent out on this mission to find a meat tenderizer,  and he was determined not to find one and thus to thwart someone's desires.  While wandering back through the kitchen gadget aisle, I saw a tenderizer, and I grabbed it and looked around for him, but he had disappeared. Mission unaccomplished!

I was also on the lookout for a Christmas-themed cookie cutter. I asked an "associate" where I could find one, and she pointed me in the right direction. Another "associate" showed me exactly where the available items were. As has been my experience with all Wal-Mart employees, she was friendly and helpful and glad to be of service.

So what is this about? Where does this idea come from that just because workers are not in the best of jobs that somehow they are surly and dumb? When we came to the checkout counter, the clerk said, "Making cookies?" And I admitted as much. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And I did not feel any shame whatsover on that, in spite of the politicization of the holidays. Who cares? Whatever makes people feel good, in even a superficial and transient way, is fine with me.

Now you know me, Mz. Liberal, but look: These people were nice. The merchandise was what we wanted and fairly priced. And at holiday time, that is enough.

So then we went to Ken's House of Pancakes for breakfast. This is the kind of place that employees never leave. They have to work very hard, but they are fairly treated. It's always full.

As we were driving home, I said, "I don't feel guilty. Or maybe it's metaguilt. I feel guilty for not feeling guilty." Terry said, "It's survivors' guilt." No kidding. I'm so glad we decided to stay put and not to travel this season.

We're all athiests who enjoy Christmas anyway, the good stuff and the not so good stuff. For many it is the time to reflect on one's losses and all the ways in which others have disappointed them. For us it marks the end of the year and signals our hopes for new beginnings and better times. Christmas  is who we are. There is no escaping Christmas, so we don't try.

Comments

[Rain Trueax]

I've had a lot of very good Christmases but this one will be here in Tucson and just us. I finally decided to get a small turkey rolled type roast instead of a full turkey that would cause so much mess when we are trying to get this place cleaned up so we can leave. ... and I shop at Walmart when what I need they have and don't feel guilt. I have thought when there that the people who are so helpful would be out of a job if we stopped shopping there. The fact that those who own it are not fair for wages doesn't make it better to stop buying there. Maybe they will see their way someday to share more of their gain with those employees that are so nice-- I can hope and yes, naively probably

[Hattie]

Have a wonderful, warm and guilt-free holiday!

[Kay Dennison]

I tend to stay away from Wal-Mart but yes, I do still shop there now & then. The way things are going, I won't be shopping anywhere.

[Brandon]

What do you think of Paradise Restaurant Supply? I called a few days ago about toast tongs, but they were out. How does it compare to Wal-Mart in price and selection?

[Hattie]

Brandon: Well the owner is quite the curmudgeon. I have bought a few things from him. Remember those wooden bowls Uncle Billy's used to serve food in? I bought several of them for a dollar apiece and they are very handy for putting fruit in. I don't need much in the way of kitchen gear, though, and seldom buy any, so I can't make comparisons.
Kay: Our economy is picking up, but I don't know what it's like out your way. In any case, we have reason to be grateful to you for the hard work you did to make sure Ohio stayed in the Obama camp. Let's hope for a brighter New Year! And tell Miss Ruby to hang in there!

[Musings]

My son just sent me this youtube video that he says sums up his feelings about Christmas. I loved it. I felt like here was here with me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

[Musings]

Ooops! I see the mistake I made. The first "here" was supposed to be "he". Sheesh.

[Rain Trueax]

I was thinking about Walmart and how those kinds of stores vary for how well they do based on economy etc. which probably makes them reluctant to commit to higher wages but what if they were 'shamed' into giving year-end bonuses. Then they know how it went and it's how a lot of companies share the profits when they are actually there. If we quit admiring the wealthy as though they are somehow superior and instead make them feel the need to share their bounty, it might work... or not ;)

[Hattie]

Kay: This is the time to enjoy family and meditate on our lives.
Rain: I don't object to big box stores, per se. They are a boon to consumers in places like this. But we have to have in place a minimum wage of, I would say, $15.00 an hour, childcare facilities, and universal health care. And they should not be selling guns. And of course they shouldn't be getting tax breaks or be allowed to keep the sales taxes they collect! http://www.ilsr.org/retailers-legally-skimming-sales-taxes-paid-customers/

[Rain Trueax]

Why shouldn't a big box store sell guns specifically? If they were well-trained, it might be safer there than elsewhere. One Walmart in Tucson refused the sale to the shooter here but another did not-- training is key.

And if you want them to provide childcare, does that mean you want every business in America to provide it or just them? They do provide health care but only for full-time employees. It is possible they could be required to only have so long before an employee either proves themselves and goes full time (unless it was the employees' desire to be part-time).

Minimum wage is, of course decided by laws and states have different ones. Oregon's minimum wage is $8.80 but Hawaii's is $7.25. You can work on that on a local level to get it upped without going to the federal level. On our Oregon ranch, we pay $10 an hour for inexperienced workers, which usually are teens. We pay $20 an hour for the men who know what they are doing, with no full-time employees if we don't count ourselves, but ranch work is skilled or it's dangerous which means the $10 an hour employee must be supervised. Because we don't use anyone to a level of even part-time, we don't pay health care. It's a job that you get someone when you can-- like the man who is overlooking our stock while we are gone who is very skilled, tough, and knowledgeable.

[naomi]

Earlier this month there was a moving story about a 20-something young man who was homeless in Oregon because could not find steady employment. Oh, he'd tried but always was the last one hired, first one fired when staff reduced. This taxpayer (a word that locals try not to say) are obligated to support him.

That's me! As when he needs health care because business-supported state legislators have decided that only those who work a full day are earning "the right" to health care. How might the landscape change? Employers required to pay decent minimum wage & provide all employees with healthcare might have to think more deeply about social justice rather than their own bottom line.

Or wonder whether they were wrong not to support universal healthcare, a/k/a single-payer.

[Hattie]

Rain: We have dealt with workers on an informal basis, so I know what you are talking about. All we have to do to get good workers is pay them more than others are willing to pay them. It's false economy to underpay workers. It is surprising that there are so many people who will do a good job for low pay, but their lack of money destabilizes their lives and they become undependable when they can't manage. The car breaks down, they can't afford child care, etc. The turnover at WalMart is one of their big employee problems, which they could solve by making themselves a great place to work.
As to the gun situation: We're not going to stop talking about it. We need solutions. What's at the heart of it is that the sale of guns and other weapons is insanely profitable, and these profits are part of the economic fabric: in endowments, pension funds, etc. etc. There needs to be a change of attitude, because, thanks to a spurious frontier mentality or the ninja thing, and heavy advertising, guns are symbols of manhood and glamor. You said a while ago that guns are tools, and on a ranch that's true, but why do suburbanites need them?

[Hattie]

Underpaying workers and not providing benefits is false economy, quite aside from the social cost. WalMart is profitible because they fill a need in places such as the town where I live That's the real reason they are so successful. They could get rid of all their bad business practices and still make a good profit. They don't have to be evil. Costco, for instance, makes a good profit without being evil.

[Rain Trueax]

My point on Walmart and guns is that as long as it's legal, they have a right to sell them but should have an obligation to do as the one Tucson clerk did-- refuse if they feel uneasy about the purchaser. I would favor a one week waiting period in all stores with time for background checks.

I could see how Walmart could be shamed into doing profit sharing with their employees which would work better than their upping the wages and then getting a downturn in the economy. Profit sharing and bonuses are good ways to be fair and still cautious as a business person. As for upping the minimum wage to $15, that has seemed going too far to most economists but Oregon has been steadily raising theirs and it's above the federal limit. Other states could do likewise.

My daughter and her husband, the veterinarian, run a veterinary clinic. They have provided their techs and receptionist health insurance all along because they felt it was the right thing to do but it is costly. They will be happy if we go to single payer and Obamacare will help them economically. Small business gains from it if they are the type to want good for their employees.

The real issue with guns is that unless a lot changes with our courts and government, you will not get rid of all guns. We could get rid of the semi and assault rifles along with extended magazines. It might take voting in a Democratic House in '14, but it could happen. Go for the reality first. Incidentally some suburbanites, like my daughter and family, hunt; so there are reasons to have guns. The issue is for now it's legal but why are human hunting weapons? I think we could get that if we unite and push for it. (Getting rid of the NRA as a power would be a nice addition as hearing anything from them just drives me nuts.)

[Hattie]

Rain: You mention something I've thought of too: that Obamacare will help small businesses and their employees. And I think your ideas on gun control are sensible.