Celebrate Buy Nothing Day! Reverend Billy Talen
By CSPANJunkie Friday Nov 27, 2009 6:30am
November 26, 2009 CNN
REV. BILLY TALEN, "THE CHURCH OF LIFE AFTER SHOPPING": Well, we celebrate buying nothing day. Black Friday changes. It's a miracle to buy nothing day. We urge people to slow down their shopping.
JOHNS: A lot of people are going to buy nothing this year, given the economy and all.
TALEN: Well, sadly, there's a lot of pain and suffering out there. But some of those people that are jobless and broke and so many of us are finding new ways to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza this year.
JOHNS: And, you know, there are people out there who would say the responsible thing to do would be to tell people to go shopping, go ahead, spend your money. I think the president sort of has suggested that before. Why not tell people in a bad economy, spend your money, get the economy revved up and going again.
TALEN: I agree with what you just said. It is a bad economy. It can't be a shopping economy. Not 70 percent. And that's what it's been for the last several years. And that's just not working. We're trying to shop our way out of this economy to a new level of shopping. That's not working. We can't just be a debtor nation anymore. We can't just be full of cheap stuff everywhere made in sweat shops thousands of miles away with fossil fuel everywhere, plastics everywhere, and credit cards and everybody in debt. We can't continue that. So we're looking for an alternative.
JOHNS: So what's the relevance, though, really? If you're telling people stop shopping, and they've already stopped, what's your point, I guess?
TALEN: You stop shopping, but start giving. That's what the holidays are for. The good way to do that is to find your gift locally. Walk to your gift this year and buy it there. Buy it from an independent shop on your main street, in your neighborhood, in your community.
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And these good samaritans live a life of self enforced poverty, sharing all with the poor. Right!
(wink)
Hey, but on special today is a plastic Jesus for your dashboard.
Only $29.95 and we give you a free copy of sister Sarah's book Moosehead!
just sayin'
...but I know Billy, and he isn't capitalizing on his crusade.
If you're talking about people being more frugal generally, and being generous to the poor-- GEE! WHAT A NOVEL IDEA! I think it sounds like CHRISTMAS!!!!
Missed the parody boat there, didn't you?
Consumerism=Corporatism
Belief in Consumerism by the working class = Slavery to the Corporations
Acting on that belief = debt slavery to the Banksters
A slightly different approach.
n/t
"We can't just be a deader nation anymore."...Unfortunately he may be right about us. Another micro vs macro "moranic" idealogue though. Debt management is important in a household and an economy but it's not the same animal.
Talk about accidental genius.
That's the last time I comment on anything without actually watching it and relying on the transcript. I mean "Mox News" is a pretty clear indicator, Billy "Performance Artist" Talen might have been another clue. I was busy, OK?
He actually does a pretty good job telling us what we can do to help ourselves for the crazy future that's coming. Hey everyone, watch the video before commenting we're supposed to be the smart half.
Sorry Billy...nice hairdo also, too.
We are buyin' stuff. Housing and food.
That's what impoverished masses buy. You want us to buy "stuff", ok...give us a raise or perhaps accept lower profits (it's not like labor is expensive where you're havin' the shit made).
Obama quietly pulls a fast one on corporate America.
That is good news. About time somebody started slapping those little weasels down.
By not shopping, you are only hurting yourself.
We are a capitalist society. No escaping that. The only problem we have is corporate fascist politicians. Making sure businesses that are barely hanging on go under doesn't help them or you.
The lost tax revenue (especially to states), will have a devastating impact on schools and other vital services.
It may sound good to poke your finger into "the man's" eye; but if you end up going blind yourself, it doesn't seem like a smart move.
Sorry. I disagree. Let's RAISE the pain. The American people only respond to pain. Wanna know why gas prices are still averaging below $3/gallon, despite the rise in fuel prices. PAIN. The pain threshold used to be $2.50...now it's $3. Americans felt pain, they stopped consuming as much gas...the oil companies got the message...and the country didn't collapse.
PAIN...it's the new activism.
Let's try.
n/t
So people should buy a bunch of crap they don't need for the tax revenue?
smoking, I'd be up to 3 packs a day now. Just to help with the diminishing tax base smokers have become.
Dropping money into Walmart's bottomless maw will not help the economy. Furthermore, we are not a capitalist society. At least we weren't meant to be at the outset.
"I hope we shall crush in its infancy the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." – Thomas Jefferson
This capitalism-equals-democracy fallacy is a hoax, like so many others, perpetrated by Wall Street on an unsuspecting populace.
There still are mom and pops -- like the independent Mexican restaurant we went to a while back who were _painfully_ happy to see us.
It's keeping _service_ people working and alive more than it's buying _things_.
Here's some more ideas.
How about ending ALL tax shelters, particularly off shore. Or perhaps cutting taxes for the MIDDLE class. Perhaps raising rates on the those making over $250,000/year.
I hope this Christmas shopping season is a complete trainwreck for retailers.
But I know I won't be spending any money at amazon this year. Not since I found out the republican govenors association is in their affiliate program. I don't want my money going to them. I din't guess I will spend any money on my parents this year since they both died in the spring. Maybe a little something for our two grandchildren, my daughter, and son in law. I normally bake about 100 loaves of bread two days before christmas and give it to friends and family, but I don't know if I have the strength to do two 12 hour days of bread baking.
you speak of, had only money in mind as in ours becoming theirs. I think the way it stasrted out had nothing to do with the economy...
Home-baked bread sounds like an awesome gift to me.
We have to make changes inside ourselves. I don't want, or expect gifts. If someone must give me a gift, I like something I can use. Food baskets and household items are great.
When I moved to my new apartment, in Korea, Korean friends brought cleaning prodcts and useful household things, not some piece of junk to sit on a shelf. I used everything they brought, and it saved me buying it. Very practical,
"I don't see how Christmas can be good given current economy."
Visit an old friend, spend time with your family, cook a nice meal for someone, help an elder neighbour with some chores they can't do (boy will they be grateful), have a tobogganing party, help out at a food bank, the list is endless.
Give of youself, from the heart. It'll make your eyes sparkle, and theirs too. Lovely.
TALEN: We can't just be a deader nation anymore.
I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be debtor.
[That's what we get when we use CNN's transcript. It's being fixed-Sitemonitor]
...thats what I heard!
imho...
...but he obviously meant "debtor."
I was once misquoted as saying "virgin" for "verdant" and while the meaning was close, it wasn't what I said, or what I meant.
Only if she doesn't shave her pubes.
Flash your plastic at the Gallerias today. Why not? Our new Democratic administration is working hard to assure a bright future,
one where we can resume paving over the wide open spaces, with half-million-dollar houses, to be bought with no money down loans by the sheet-rockers working inside them!
Rejoice!
Dirty red. Sounds like he want's the terr'rists to win.
Why do we need an economy that actually makes things when we can just mow each other's lawns or do each other's taxes? That's gotta work out for us...
I wish I could sell my opinions. I always have too many and it works with the service economy so . . .
Well, then, just call yourself a moderate while consistently spouting conservative viewpoints. Seems to work pretty well in the world of corporate media...
We won't be shopping because we really don't need anything - not even much in the way of necessities.
If the local glass shop is open I'll spend under $40 on a piece of glass for the coffee table.
The idea of black Friday is just sales hype.
Retailers have been in trouble but a few have been showing some better numbers over the last few months.
I hope the retailers do well enough to keep the employees working - maybe even a little overtime.
Imagine . . the everlasting joy and permanence of a very large screen plasma Television gracing your living quarters . . No interest payments for one full year! Why settle for less when more can be yours?
"plasma?"
I'm thinking LED - 240Hz
... we caught one gentleman on our news as he wheeled out the door with his $500 plasma big-screen.
And I'm thinking, Dude, what a rip! Plasma is going bye-bye, it's LCD and OLED in the future, for less $$$. But they told you it was on sale, and like one of Pavlov's Dogs, you reached for your wallet.
(Also, since California is mulling over a green law that bans the sale of certain high power-draw televisions, that probably wasn't a smart buy at all.)
So, sooo sad...
I keep reminding myself that we're "in process" as a species--that we're maturing measurably, albeit slowly, and that we, as a species, have a tendency not to see the forest for the trees. As Firesign Theater said, "We're all bozos on this bus!" Since we cannot exit this planet at the next galaxy, we must learn to live together and work together to the benefit of us all.
Some of us are questioning the validity of 'capitalism' as our preeminent economic behavior. We questioners are frequently vilified or belittled, but we are growing in number. We questioners know that our species 'created' economic behaviors. We questioners know that our economic behavior has evolved over centuries, and is continuing to evolve as our species overpopulates our planet, using and abusing our natural resources and each other.
Since change now occurs exponentially, we are bombarded daily with countless media messages warning us about all the 'bad things' that are happening, or that will happen if we don't believe certain things or embrace specific ideologies (capitalism and major religions chief among them). I say, turn off the tv...
All kidding aside, I would encourage you to pull back and strive for a macro-level awareness of our species' current position in our evolutionary journey. We are still in our adolescence as a species, hedonistically focused on sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll. We tend toward concrete thinking (as in, 'black or white'...'either/or'), and we have trust issues about relationships and, sadly, our own self-esteem. But, this point in our journey is not an endpoint--more specifically, it does not have to be an endpoint, despite what the fearmongers and hatemongers tell you.
But, getting back to our own economic behavior: we are seeing some changes that suggest a growing number of questioners among us. We have freecycle now, throughout the United States and in some other countries. And, we are finding other ways to behave economically that do not enrich an infinitesimally small number of humans at the expense of so many millions of others. I say this is a good thing, since questioning is an important part of exploration and growthful change. I say this is a good thing, since it's more and more evident as we progress that capitalism is becoming obsolete.
it will be interesting to see what this planet is going to look like in 50 years.
My guess is the convulsions will be severe as it becomes more and more apparent 7 Billion human beings won't be able to enjoy the Western Model of "Elite Living" so popularized by the Rich and Famous.
absent some cleansing crisis.
Me? I got no more than another 10-15 years...
If I make another 10 years I'll be amazed. Of course I'm shocked I made it this far. LOL . . I've come to terms with it. This mortal experience sucks . . LOL
I don't plan to be around that long.
But wait until we see McDonald signs reading over 50 billion Soylent Green Burgers sold.
Maybe if the fundamentalists - so-called because of the proximity of their heads to their fundaments - stopped using lies and fear on their congregation to get them to back right-wing candidates whose only mission is to rob them blind, we wouldn't have this problem. So instead of putting your money in the collection plate, buy something you need, and help provide a needed job.
...struggling to survive this last year, I'd like to say:
"THANKS, ASSHOLE!"
We need more people like you around while the little guy gets his ass kicked. Oh wait, I can just hold my breath while the entire economy restructures. Shouldn't take more than a few years.
Don't worry, kids. Christmas is coming, sometime around 2017!
the Big Corporation is your enemy. The only silver lining is they could buy you and your market share.
or even read the partial transcript...You might want to remember, when you point a finger at someone, you point three fingers at yourself (unless for some reason, you don't have 5 fingers on your pointing hand)
So you think he's an asshole for suggesting people shop at little, independently owned stores? I thought you were claiming to be one of those...
I'm one of those millions of small businesses that are internet retailers. I live and sell on the Web. We are where America went to shop these last couple of holidays seasons. My store may not be downtown, but I struggle to survive as a member of my community, just like those "independent shop on your main street, in your neighborhood, in your community.."
It's 2009, miss kitty. And I'm trying to survive in THIS economy, not the one we all hope to build someday, after we figure out what comes after this one.
restructure reality so that doing the best thing in the aggregate is also what benefits you individually. Should only take a few minutes :) You remind me of coal miners who want us to cook ourselves in CO2 so that they can continue along in the job they know how to do and pays them decently.
American people have no other purpose except to buy things anyway?
We don't celebrate Xmas...never have. All I can do is look with amazement at the incredible display of greed, selfishness, and commercialism going on in America with this "holiday" We don't buy gifts. We don't send cards. And guess what! Nobody minds. Sure, occasionally some halfwit calls me a "scrooge", but for the most part our friends and family have remained with us.
Moral:IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BLOW THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR TO BUY A BUNCH OF JUNK NOBODY REALLY WANTS OR NEEDS JUST SO YOU CAN FEEL ACCEPTED.
I lived and worked in Communist block countries (USSR, Poland, GDR) for several years during the mid 70's.....most of their days were buy nothing days. They would line up just for a chance there was going to be something to buy.
I tend to frequent either my local artisan markets (from art to food) or for the most part, shop at thrift stores. You can buy all your name brand clothing (Hilfigure, Ralph Lauren, even my Tiger Woods golf shirts etc) and almost everything else you really need for very little. Not only do you give to charities in this wayt but also recycle; it would add tons more to the landfills if these items were just thrown out.
Kind of like whats happening in the U.S.A. now . .
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091127/capt.506431...
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091127/capt.e597ee...
Not even:
http://ccfit.nsu.ru/~shutov/hookers/hookers.jpg
And for republicans politicians from farming country:
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/LVBiggs/...
?
This morning on GMA the CE (I think) of Macy's said he doesn't care if people spend more money. He only cares if they spend more money at Macy's. That's how much corporate America cares about our economy.
Well they need at the money, at least a small amount of it, to maintain employment, and the workers are definitely part of the economy.
Billy Talent?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypyv04tKAIw
of talent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZYS3lvnNP0
I suggest y'all celebrate Black Friday with a double-feature on telly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMyInUPQ2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv0eHBt6BZ8&fe...
An maybe if you got time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4UjGfWkuJM
He looks like someone whose grown to old to be hair stylist
So it was either become a minister or a barber.
Hey, should the US be "buying" the BS, and its' expenditure on this...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LMBDEaNhhE&NR=1
Please share this all around if you can.
How can all these fake religious wing-nuts be so damn ignorant and hateful about everything?? Oh because they never worked an honest day in their lives, daily sucking money from their gullible, poor sheep and then laughing all the way to the bank.
Surely you don't think "Reverend" Billy is a religious wingut? He's a refreshing breath of fresh satire.
Is this his choir director?
http://robertbonnett.files.wordpress.com/2009...
...is his choir director. And she's much more authentic-looking than that bloke in the winged glasses.
More my kind of religious satire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AKvRvL5r3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FigprdcBGA
http://www.voterevbilly.org/
The whole point of that just went zooming over your head, didn't it, Sparky?
Is the Reverend telling them to shoplift, but don't buy??
No, face-lift
The shop doesn't have any trusses.
I'm gonna buy a ticket to Fantastic Mr. Fox. And possibly some popcorn.
I agree with their overall philosophy, but wonder if their message is such a good idea right now given the rampant unemployment. If people don't buy, companies involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of goods--and all the suppliers who support them--suffer and lay more people off. It seems like a noble long-term goal, but it won't hurt the greedy corporate heads whose jobs (and bonuses) appear to be very secure. It will only hurt the little guys. The last thing we need is for more jobs to disappear.
I know it's very unchristian of me, but at this point I don't feel sorry for the Chinese serfs who will be laid off if nobody buys their plastic crap.
for quite a while, and had the same message during the go-out-and-spend- til-you-are-buried-in-debt hey-days of Bu$h-Hoggery.
The reason thoughts like yours have any currency is because we are involved in an economy based upon unsustainable growth rates. Any slowing of growth causes spasms. It is a stupid model and massaging it this one last time to get our equilibrium may not be a good idea.
I know I won't be setting foot outside the house, nor will I open any tabs for shopping sites.
Buy Nothing Day every year. And when I have kids, they'll celebrate it too. Or they can drag their own little asses out at 3 or 4 am for a damn dvd player.
Buy Nothig Day is about self-awareness of one's shopping mindset. No one thinks it will bring the corporations, or small businesses, crashing down.
It's like, if you are a chronic curser, try not cursing for a day: be aware of it by abstaining.
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