Exercise Your Power

George Santayana was quoted as saying, “Those who refuse to learn from history are destined to repeat it.”

Avarice and envy have been part of mankind’s desirous and devious behavior since the beginning. Armed revolution has historically been the ultimate act of restitution used by societies’ masses of down trodden and those taken advantage of by the uber-wealthy oligarchs in various nations. However, there is one action more powerful than armed retaliation. It is the power of economics, more specifically the purchasing power of consumers, particularly in capitalist societies.

The best way to combat rampant greed by corporations is by withholding the flow of revenue to those businesses that persist in mocking the fundamentals of the system and by taking advantage of customers and clients. Every business no matter its size depends upon profit to stay in business. Profits are generated by an income surplus over and above the costs of doing business. Even though today’s investment methodologies skews the system in favor of those with ‘insider interest and information’  the essential premise remains that the great mass of consumers must continue to support the products and services of business. Take away the foundational revenue stream and the reliance upon investment returns begins to diminish.

We now live in a time where those at the top of the economic structure continue to reap financial rewards at the expense of those below. With the reduction of the middle class worldwide, the burgeoning increase of people struggling to remain above subsistence levels throughout world’s economies spreads. Those in the top income strata no longer respect nor embrace the workers and consumers who have sustained the economies whereby the top one or two percent continue self-interests and indulgence. 

In his first presidential campaign Bill Clinton stated, “It’s the economy, stupid.” And he was right. It has always been about the economy. From the beginnings of tribal, group and agricultural societies, it has been about economics. On the backs of every economy are established all the cornerstones of civilizations. Political, religious, social, and psychological energies and efforts take root and grow from the economic foundations.

So, how do we as individuals regain our power and voice our concerns as to the current and future state of our economic affairs? Simple.  By being selective in who we do business with. If a company or corporation is manipulating the system for its own benefit at the expense of you the consumer, cease buying from them. One of the greatest aspects of today’s technologies is that competition among many purveyors and providers of goods and services allows the marketplace to be awash with choices. For any given product or service there are multiple vendors from whom you may choose to purchase and conduct business. As recent history has shown, even the largest of retailers or service industry companies can go out of business by neglecting their customer base who in turn discontinue buying from them.

The one or two percent at the top of the economy may hold the money, but the truth and reality is, it is the remaining ninety-eight percent who hold the power. The purchasing power to establish, build or destroy companies.

Take back your power. Do business and support by your purchases those companies and businesses who respect you and the system. Buy goods and products from those who treat you as a consumer, with the respect you and your purchasing power deserve. They are out there, waiting to serve you, in order to maximize their business income and goals. Those who strive to serve your needs first, instead of their own, deserve to have you as a customer and client. It’s as simple as that.

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