Stop spending money that we don't have

Thanksgiving — a timely tradition where we celebrate family, friends and great food. It’s an opportunity to spend some serious quality time with loved ones, something sadly lacking in this day and age, where traditional family values are slipping away.

But hold on, Black Friday came even earlier this year and is fast becoming the biggest attraction for the holiday. While the gravy was still warm, many of us were standing in line out in front of a big box store to save a bit on that new techno-gadget or whatever.

Why must we buy? To demonstrate our love for others? to add a few inches to our televisions, or that new cellphone or tablet? To help America recover from a vicious recession that itself was born of the desire for more?

What draws us to stand in line and camp out and risk bodily harm for an item or two? Well-orchestrated advertising is the art of convincing folks to spend money they don’t have on something they really don’t need.

The Thanksgiving Day paper barely fit in my box, what with all the advertising. Savings you may realize on your purchase slip away when a credit card is used due to finance charges. Whatever you purchase gadget-wise this year will be obsolete the next.

We demand that our local, state and federal governments stop spending money they don’t have. Shouldn’t we be doing the same?

It’s a shame we’re so wrapped up in ownership of “things.” Maybe we should just do away with the turkey aspect altogether and shop until we drop.

LAURIE WADKINS

Priest River