Truth be told, I am a habitual eavesdropper. If someone is talking loud enough for me to hear what they’re saying, I’ll listen. Class, library, bus—no one is safe from my wandering ears. Lately, there has been a lot of complaining. Graduating seniors talk about their on-going, fruitless job searches. Others joke about being broke and their need to either get a job or stop partying hard. The upcoming presidential election even has people getting downright political. Even the talk of another tuition hike has people talking, but how many people cared enough to talk to Chancellor Randy Woodson about it in the Brickyard last Wednesday? It’s time people stop complaining and do something to fix their problems.
I’m not the biggest fan of the Occupy movement, but I respect what they are trying to do. They realize social and economic inequality is an ongoing problem and they are trying to fix it. Yes, the middle class is disappearing but a lot of that blame falls on us. As consumers, we feed the giant corporate machines. Every time someone goes to Walmart, McDonalds or any other major corporation they are helping to fund that which they fight against. Bottom line: Stop buying their product and they’ll notice.
An alternative to the corporate giants are the small, local businesses. For example, instead of going to Food Lion, go food shopping at the local farmers market. They are open every day and often sell superior produce and other goods for less than the chain grocery stores do.
I grew up experiencing a unique economic structure. We operated on a bartering system. We only have a handful of major corporate chains in our area; thus, small businesses thrived. People find their niche and often trade their goods and services for other goods and services. I used to prepare meals for the commercial fishermen to take out to sea with them, and in return I would get a pick of their fresh catch when they came back. I once used my mediocre hair and makeup skills to prepare two girls for prom and in return I was rewarded with a few free dinners from their family’s restaurant. Not only does an economy based around small businesses form a tight-knit community, but it also keeps the money in the community rather than in the pockets of Fortune 500 CEOs or other countries.
In response to all the job complaints, people need to start making their own jobs. I am truly disappointed in the number of young people that seem to settle for a mediocre, semi-tolerable job. What happened to dreams, people? Now is the time to follow your dreams, while you’re young and have minimal responsibilities. If you have an idea for a product, make a prototype. If you have a special skill, get others who don’t have that skill pay you for yours. Get creative.
Lastly, in response to your political woes and all other woes for that matter, I urge everyone to get educated. Learn about the issues, form your own beliefs and find your best fit for a candidate. But don’t just vote for presidents, vote on the local level too. If there is no one candidate that meets your needs, try running for office yourself. Many states have their own age of candidacy requirements. Most have a minimum age of either 18 or 21—which is why that poor little 11-year-old from Crabb , Texas was never legally recognized even though he won the election.
This country was founded on the principle that the power would be in the people’s hands. Far too often, there are many complaints that go without any corrective action. There is power behind one vote. There is power behind one protest. There is power behind one call to your local representatives. There is power behind following your dreams.
