National Strike

Harpers Magazine has put a suggestion out there for a National Strike, no working, no shopping, no traveling, nothing. The day they have chosen to do this is 6 Nov, election day. That's great but it's not good enough. We need a bigger day for an impact. I propose 23 Nov, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Also known as "Black Friday", the day most retailers go black in operating cost.

It will also be a better time to get more people involved. Using a regular workday is good, using a representative day like Election Day is better. But using the biggest shopping day all year makes a statement. And we can't just not shop on Friday, it has to be the whole weekend, no making up for Friday on Saturday or Sunday. Asking a majority of people to not go to work would be tough but using a day where they are already at home and all you are asking is that they not go out, not spend money would to me seem to be less of an insurmountable goal.

After 9/11 George W. Bush asked nothing of America. He asked no one to sacrifice, except our military and their families. Since 9/11 no one has suffered a hardship except the victims of 9/11 and their families and the military and their families. Instead of asking Americans to make sacrifices to overcome what had happened that day George W. Bush told us to go shopping, and America did.

Meanwhile, George put us at war with a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. That's like slapping your child because the dog crapped in the house. Attacking a country for being attacked is a reasonable response and we were doing that, but it wasn't enough for this administration. They wanted a bigger prize than Afghanistan offered them. Some in the administration had greater plans for the Middle East and also had scores to settle from the first Gulf War.

So Dear Friends lets stay home on Friday 23 Nov, save your money and your energy. Besides, did you really want to fight those crowds? Now you have a great reason to stay home. Support Peace and Stay Home.

And because we are looking for better days, a musical thought for you.