AN ECONOMIC ANTIDOTE? BUY LOCAL, SPREAD THE WORD
I’m not telling you anything new if I say the economy has hit an extremely rough patch. There’s basically 24-hour economic meltdown coverage on cable news stations and in other media every day. It seems in the case of most “economic downturns,” places like Eau Claire and surrounding communities are never hit quite as hard. But by the same token we never see the major booms that larger metropolitan cities experience in good times either. But if all the politicians, journalists, and “Main Street” folks are to be believed, this go around might be a little more universal than others.
    So what are we in for? Hard to say. But it’s not to say we, as Chippewa Vallians, are powerless in the matter. Most of us will still have the money we need to buy the goods and services we always would, but perhaps we’ll eye the budgets just a little more closely. For some, the gut reaction will be to run to Wal-Mart and discount “supercenters” of all kinds to try and buy crap as cheap as they can. But think carefully. What could help further insulate the local economy (and thus YOU) from this crisis? It’s by buying local – now more than ever. You can wield amazing power if you just examine all the products and services you consume, match as many local providers to those services as you can, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Local businesses are the core of our economic being – they dump money right back into the area in several ways including giving you your job, or giving you your next job.
    But it’s not all on the consumer. It’s also the responsibility of local restaurants, retailers, and service providers to make sure area citizens know you’re there, whether it’s a simple reminder or a first-time introduction. Local businesses need to get the word out and ask for support. None of us can afford to be complacent now.
    So I suggest it’s about time to cut down on your consumption of negative national media and start doing something. If we as locals can pull together and support each other’s endeavors by meeting our own needs, we’ll be all the better for it now and far into the future.
– L. Munson, Eau Clair