Course Corrections

The world economy may well be headed for the "Mother of all course corrections." Economists use the term "course correction" to talk about things like the overall direction of the economy, changes in economic policy, changes in the specific plans of a major corporation, or a group of businesses forming a segment of the economy. Think of a corporation deciding to focus its marketing on the aging 'baby boomers' as a course correction. A nation trying to create a more favorable balance of trade by reducing or increasing tariffs would be a policy course correction. These are conscious decisions aimed at affecting some part of the economy or market.

The term, "course correction" is rarely used regarding consumers. You will hear reports of consumer spending, consumer confidence or consumer preferences, but not "consumer course correction." The implication is that while consumers might respond to economic conditions by either spending or saving more, consumers are not thought of in terms have having any kind of unified consciousness like a corporation. Their decisions are seen as a reaction to something, rather than a planned and coordinated response to direct a change in the economy. According to standard economics, if credit is tight, the consumer spends less and if credit is loose, the consumer racks up their credit card balances. The consumer is seen as sheep who are led by their collective noses by mass advertising and they will buy just about anything if the marketing is done right.

Historically, this has been true. Consumers have jumped at the latest fads, fashions and gadgets in a system designed for perpetual consumption. Credit has flowed freely and the consumer has almost enjoyed its courtship with corporations. Awards for best commercials attest to this marriage and ads for new products and 'sales' are read religiously. The shopping frenzy around holidays is an embarrassment. The consumer is the follower that has been led by the nose by big corporations.

We are all familiar with the status of the current economy. The sub-prime mortgage crisis is playing havoc with businesses and consumers. Oil prices have and will continue to climb robbing precious dollars from the already precarious economy. Food prices are rising and banks and lending institutions are scrambling for survival. The Dow, which is really based on only 30 companies, is trying desperately to stabilize. All in all, not a pretty picture as consumer confidence wanes and retail sales decline. Keep one thing in mind, all of this economic uproar is because you, the consumer, are not buying as much as 'they' want you to. Our economy is based upon buy, break and throw away and buy again. It is here that a "consumer course correction" may occur.

Could this be the end of the Age of Consumption? Is it possible that the light at the end of this economic tunnel is that the consumer will finally 'decide' what it wants rather than being 'told' what it wants? As prices for the basic, food, clothing and shelter continue to skyrocket, reckless consumption will have to come to an end. This is a positive event. The planet is hurting. We are raping it of its resources, destroying the natural balance and web of life and altering its climate. In the wake of growing natural disasters, the time of reckless use of resources to feed an insatiable business appetite must come to an end. Remember, the bottom line of business is to get you to consume for the sake of consumption. It has nothing to do with socially conscious or 'green' buying. However, the consumer will soon find itself in a position to dictate what it wants for products. Consumers will have to make choices between disposable garbage and products of true and lasting value. The consumer can demand quality and chemical free food. The consumer can demand high mpg, non-polluting vehicles. The consumer can demand the elimination of poisonous plastic food containers. The consumer can demand products that last and that are made according to high safety standards. The consumer can demand a rapid change to alternative, clean and renewable energy resources.

How does the consumer cause a course correction? It merely spends it money on those items that meet socially responsible goals. The consumer can only buy those products packaged in glass. They can buy the higher, albeit foreign, mileage cars. They can stop wasting money on poor quality fast foods. It can stop taking their children to worthy events and activities and save gas. After a while, pressure will build for change.

They can stop attending social functions and meeting and hearings. By using their spending and their time in a socially conscious way, the consumer can take control of the economy.

All of this may sound like wishful thinking. But as the dollar is reduced in value and as travel becomes too costly, decisions will have to be made. The economy will never again be 'business as usual.' The consumer cannot afford it and the planet cannot afford it. Does this mean suffering and sacrifice? No, it means that the consumer will soon be in a position to do what politicians and businesses have been unwilling to do, to create a sane and rational world where humanity and nature live in harmony and balance.

Mr. Harris was born in Massachusetts. He attended The American University in Washington, D.C. and received his degree in Political Science. His graduate work was done at the University of Northern Colorado and Howard University. He spent several years working for local and regional and state government agencies. He worked on a White House Task Force and served as Rural Policy Coordinator at the FRCouncil of New England.

Preparing for the Hurricane Season

Why Start Now?
Hurricane season doesn't begin until June 1st. Why? Because if you don't begin soon, you won't be ready for an approaching storm. We're all somewhat guilty of procrastination. Get over it! Your family's safety is important. Do something now.

Wind Borne Debris
What you need to do now, while the temperature isn't too high, is prepare your property (landscaping and yard). Your main concern is wind borne debris. What is that? Well it's basically everything that can be blown around by strong winds of a tropical storm or hurricane. It starts out as things like garbage cans, lawn furniture, etc. If the winds begin to pick up, then you will find palm fronds and other smaller tree limbs, along with the other items mixed in. These items could cause minor damage to your home.

During hurricane force winds, backyard sheds and wood or vinyl fencing begin to tear apart, Shingles along the upper edge begin to fly off rooftops. Things begin to get nasty. Major damage will be the result of these things striking your home. Winds from a hurricane making a direct hit on an area can cause these projectiles to become deadly. What you want to do is to eliminate, or at least reduce the chances of things in your yard becoming this potentially destructive debris.

Yard Work
Start by addressing any trees, especially those located near your house. Begin by pruning, thinning out the canopy. This will allow the wind to blow through the tree easier instead of the tree acting as a sail. Strong winds along with saturated ground around the tree could cause it to topple over. This could cause significant damage to your home or any vehicles parked near the tree. Also, remove any dead or diseased limbs. You may consider completely removing older, weaker trees. Many of these older specimens appear fine, but many are rotting from the inside out. If you're not sure contact a local arborist to determine if removing them is your best option.

An excellent guide to landscaping in hurricane prone areas is a book titled Stormscaping, by Pamela Crawford. It is packed with information on how to select and care for landscaping in Florida as well as other southern states which are subject to dealing with the threat of hurricanes.

Next, is to inspect any fences surrounding your property: fence sections and fence posts. Check all attachments, adding any nails or screws (I prefer screws) to secure things better. Fence post should be set in concrete, otherwise the entire post could be sucked right our of the ground by a strong gust of wind.

Get Everyone Involved
No one wants to be working outside alone. Get the rest of the family involved, and make it a group effort. Your children need to know that being prepared for hurricane season is important to the entire family. It is also a lesson of responsibility we all need to learn. The younger ones can help pick up small branches and leaves, while the older ones can lend their muscles to the cause. It's not necessary to remove everything that could become blown away from the yard at this time. Leave the kid's toys out for now. Just remind them that if a storm approaches it will be their job to gather and bring them in before the weather turns bad.

Next Time . . . Windows and Doors
Take a breather for now. The next challenge is preparing your home for that wind borne debris.

Remember, "Just Say No to Hurricanes"