You know what I'm doing on November 5?

[InternalDialogue]

If the numbers hold and the voters turn out like we expect, we'll all be celebrating an Obama victory.

And inspired by Rove's verbal vomit the other day that the erratic market is "predicting" what things would be like under an Obama administration, I plan to do what I can as one of 300 million Americans to give things a minuscule nudge in the right direction.

I don't shop much to begin with. In fact, I'm about as frugal a person as I know.

But on Wednesday, I plan to stop at a locally owned used bookstore to pick up a couple of titles and give them a few dollars they wouldn't otherwise have. I'll drop off a few of my old books to contribute to their inventory as well.

I plan to have lunch at an independent restaurant to help fill their dining room and make payroll this week. I should probably take a friend or two as well, to increase the bill a bit.

I haven't bought new clothes in a long time, but maybe I'll grab a pair of pants or a shirt. And if I've got the time and enough cash on hand, I might grab a DVD or some new music at the record store.

And I'll make a stop for dinner at my favorite restaurant, one that I dearly love but rarely visit because I'm more concerned about keeping the dollars in my checking account for unexpected financial problems.

It's not a big gesture at all, but it's part of my celebration plan. And with the dreary holiday retail news, I'm not going to make a big difference by myself. But maybe there are a couple million other people with the same inkling in their minds that things under an Obama administration are actually going to get better in time, and we'll have the confidence and optimism to spend a little bit of money. Maybe a few retailers are going to be slightly happily surprised, and maybe there will be a few less companies up against the ropes.

[monmouth]

1. You've inspired me, I may do the same. Thanks!...n/t

[eleny]

2. K&R for a good idea

No matter where we shop, it helps a payroll. But indies need help the most.

[InternalDialogue]

3. Thanks for the rec.

I agree that indies need it the most. In my vision of a perfect world, we are surrounded by small, independent retailers who give us everything we need for day-to-day life. I know this country relies on large-scale corporations to supply the amazing amount of goods and to cover the huge distances required by such a physically large country, but as long as my local businesses sell the same goods as a multinational, I know where my money is going.

[eleny]

14. I grew up in the time of mom and pop stores

We'd walk down to the avenue a couple of blocks from our house and shop one small store after the other. Including the small shop that sold and repaired small appliances. We even had various butcher shops that specialized in different products - the pork store, the poultry guy. Then there was the German bakery or the Italian one. Deli's that specialized, too, and hardware stores where you could buy a couple of nails if that's all you needed.

All within walking distance. We didn't get a car until I was 17 years old. Those were the good old days for shopping at least. :hi:

[Wednesdays]

13. Exactly. Let's avoid corporations like the plague they are.

I dream of the day we have a renaissance of the mom-and-pop places, and a decline of the McWal-Marts.

[BrokenSocialScene]

4. I'll still be drunk on the 5th...

Probably the 6th too.

But this does sound like a good idea once I sober up.

[HughBeaumont]

5. ARK Day.

Act of Random Kindess Day.

That's how we should celebrate our newly "SOSHULIST" world.

Make them understand why we think the way we do.

[Kaleko]

6. Love it. I'll also make some purchases and take a friend or two to lunch

on the 5th or 6th after we've recovered from being overjoyed. ;)

[InternalDialogue]

7. I guess I should consider my election day libations

as the first part of my Capital Injection plan.

:hi:

[PermanentRevolution]

8. I'll be lying very still, in a quiet, dark room, trying to make the hangover go away

Just a prediction, but probably accurate.

[codjh9]

10. Hah! Thanks... I'll be berry berry happy, but just gotta hold the drinking to a moderate level

[demokatgurrl]

9. I like it. Thanks for the inspiration. I will

hold off on some purchases I've been planning, until after the election.

[demigoddess]

11. Very good idea!! On the other hand if McCain steals the election I intend to never

buy another thing from a corporation for as long as I can. But if Obama wins I shall have small splurges at independent businesses myself.

[Coexist]

12. great idea.

[Liberal Gramma]

15. I'm hoping to be nursing a hangover.

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Too bad you don't live close to DC ... you could stop by the airport

and wave good riddance to DDDDDick Cheney.