In the December 28, 2011 issue of The Wall Street Journal, Miguel Bustillo and Ann Zimmerman collaborated on a front page article titled, "Holiday Sales Woes Cast Cloud Over Sears." The article discussed Sears Holdings Corp.'s decision to close as many as 120 stores and record up to $2.4 billion in quarterly charges after another lackluster holiday season.
While other challenges were mentioned, including how company chairman Edward S. Lambert has "struggled to retain qualified executives," for the average American, what the closure of select Sears and Kmart stores (see complete list as of 12/30/11 here) boils down to is more lost jobs in an already dismal economy. With the unemployment rate down slightly to 8.5% as of December, the closings are still another kick in the teeth to those looking for work.
Thankfully, Massachusetts was spared, but they've had woes of their own. In October of last year, Friendly Ice Cream Corp. shuttered 63 stores--several in Western Massachusetts. Friendly's, the largest employer in Wilbraham, MA, announced additional closures this week. One has to wonder when--or if--this trend will end anytime soon.
This is more than a political issue to be argued over. It's about more than assigning blame. Americans are struggling. Think about the good that could be done with all the money raised to finance the campaigns for those politicians running to secure their party's nomination for the 2012 presidential election. What if these organizations invested in America instead of their special interests? How much of a difference can we each make if we help a neighbor in need? How can we use our God-given talents to help each other?
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
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2 comments:
I like the idea of funneling some campaign contributions to larger, more socio-centric causes. If only just a percentage were legislatively mandated to go toward skills training or even veteran rehabilitation, think what good those two alone good achieve . . . and the list of other candidates is practically endless.
Sadly, special interests will always find a way to make their money bend the staff of power to their benefit.
The larger picture comes down to big box retailers squeezing out the small shops, like Friendly's. But that's a story for another day ;^)
Thanks for chiming in, Jeff. When I ran for public office it was a real eye-opener. Even for a small town race it cost a few thousand dollars to run a campaign. It's ridiculous. I've been asked to run since then, but I won't do it. I'm not spending that kind of cash and adding to a broken system.
You might be right that stores like Sears and Kmart are feeling the crunch from places like WalMart, but it seems so much more than that. Barnes and Noble is struggling too. They're looking to sell off Nook because it was such a costly investment.
Thanks again for stopping by.
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