True gauge of the economy

We all know the economy's been in a bit of a downswing. And, knowing this, you probably figure we’d all tighten our belts and bone up on supply side economics etc., but no. We’ll do the only sensible thing one can do at a time like this.

Buy stuff. Lots of stuff.

I was witness last weekend to the piranha-like purchasing habits of that very interesting species: humanus spendicus. In the common tongue, that means “people who shop prolifically at festivals, garage sales and flea markets.”

It’s nuts, I tell you. People will buy anything.

And do they even like this stuff? It’s not even possible. Face it – you got CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT. But it’s okay. It happens to the best of us. Let him who is without sin cast the first wreath made out of Pepsi cans.

There’s just something about the cloying aroma of hot dogs, caramel corn and wood smoke – it makes us want to buy. The bright colors of the patchwork quilted purses dazzle your senses. Being faced with a genuine sterling silver jewelry display that’s over three tables wide is positively hypnotic. And one can only stare stupidly when confronted with the myriad whirling mobiles and yard flags that beckon you like a seductive siren, “Come to my corner! Buy this tractor flag with the cleverly moving wheels!”

It’s worse than an opium den – and nearly as expensive.

You think we’d learn. But we don’t. As we greedily stuff our plastic bags with Indian corn and yard gewgaws, we don’t even realize that we’re subconsciously stocking our selves for next year’s garage sale. It’s the ultimate recycling project.

I have a sister who lives in the general vicinity of an annual phenomenon known as the Covered Bridge Festival. This girl is no economics slow coach, and smelling a ripe opportunity for what it is she sweeps out her garage at this time every year, stuffs it with her junk, my junk, my mother’s junk, my other sister’s junk (you get the idea) and offers it up to the teeming masses.

And I’m telling you, I never cease to be amazed at people’s appetite for a “bargain.”

Now, technically, a bargain is getting a good deal on something you actually need. But in reality, a bargain must be more loosely defined as something that is AMAZINGLY CHEAP.

I ask you, who needs an opened box of perfumed body powder? Well, no one. But for a quarter, it was a great BARGAIN.

Now, I’m not discounting (pardon the pun) the value of getting clothes for kids who will actually outgrow them before you even get home, and I’m all for getting a near-complete set of plastic dishes to put in the camper. It’s all that other crazy stuff I just don’t get – the gaudy glassware, the plastic drawer unit missing a wheel, the used snow cone machine.

But then there’s that old proverb: what is one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. And hey, festivals, flea markets, garage sales – all Americana at its autumnal best. It’s our little way to feel like the economy is under our control. It’s a reason to buy gas at four bucks a gallon so we can visit places like Yeddo, Steam Corner and Timbuktu.

But most of all, it’s that tremendous buzz we get when we successfully utter those immortal words: “You have $2 on this. Will you take $1?”

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Casey Anthony verdict reveals one truth

People are upset about the Casey Anthony verdict. They’re upset on Facebook, Twitter, and the news. There are petitions to leave on porch lights in a grief vigil. TV’s Jay Leno tried to joke about it on his show and totally bombed.

They all think this woman got by with murder.

And likely, she did. She’s been caught lying. She’s exhibited less-than-admirable behavior. She clearly did not make anyone’s “Mother of the Year” list. It really looks like this woman simply got rid of her inconvenient child.

And that makes me feel upset, too.

But the really interesting thing is…why? Why am I upset? Why is everyone upset?

Actually, that’s not a rhetorical question. I very firmly believe there is an answer. It’s because – like it or not – we all have an inherent sense of right and wrong. People may want to get rid of an inconvenient concept like Moral Law, but alas, we can’t escape it.

Human beings have a sense of how things ought to be. We can all identify when things are “not fair” or hurtful. We all dislike selfish behavior (mostly in others). And we cannot seem to escape the sense of outrage over things like betrayal or cowardice. Or murder.

As a matter of fact, how else could we have tort or criminal law if it weren’t for an undergirding moral law? How would we decide something was wrong or illegal or criminal?

For example, stealing is wrong. How do we know that? How do we know rape is wrong? What about fraud or defamation? Or murder?

There is a moral code in all of us that recognizes offence against another as wrong. The problem, you see, is another universal piece of inherent coding: our desire to excuse ourselves from the first one.

There’s always a reason when we are less than “good.” But let’s face it, the world’s a better place when we at least try to heed that Moral Law. Without it, there’s only chaos. (You’ve read “Lord of the Flies” – right?)

We know when someone takes our seat or cuts in line or cheats at cards that they’re doing wrong! We know it from the way our breath quickens and our faces flush and our hearts pound.

And we know when someone has gotten away with the cruel disposal of a precious little two-year-old girl.

We know it from the way our hearts ache.

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