...was atop this ridge with this creosote bush enjoying the clear air and admiring the view.
At the same time according to internet news, 138 million were expected to be shopping at the malls and big box stores on Black Friday. Some were shopping at midnight. Sounds like insanity to me.
Have to wonder.... Where did they come up with that 138 million. That is 44% of the US population of 311 million people (according to the US census web site). Seems amazing when one thinks about 44% of the population shopping.
With 21% of the population under the age of 14, those probably weren't shopping. Another 10% are over 70 years of age -- probably not big time shoppers. Recent number of unemployed is at just over six million for another two percent and shouldn't be shopping. Then there are those who are employed and not out shopping. Based on more government data, there are about 140 million in the work force. Make the wild assumption that 70 million of those are working on that Friday for another 22%. About 1% of the population is institutionalized in some form or another.
That leaves a very small percentage who don't shop -- or at least weren't shopping. Good for them.
Considering I was in the over 70 category, I had better things to do.
Postscript: The shopping didn't end on Black Friday. The following Sunday I was driving past a shopping center and noticed there was not a parking space to be had on the far edges of the parking lot.
How surly of you to criticize the American shopper after two years of heroic sacrifices! Haven't they slowed down on granite countertops (in their RVs), Humvees, and $3 lattes?
ReplyDeleteYou should feel happy for them and join in singing "Happy Days are Here Again," as they attack the malls to buy the latest cheap plastic crap from China. It's the Patriotic thing to do.