FRUSTRATIONS AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
FRUSTRATIONS AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
AVITW
I SEE WHERE A NATIONAL SELLER OF "WHATNOTS AND WIDGETS" (CVS) HAS TAKEN OVER A LOCAL SELLER (ECKERD) OF THE SAME. BOTH HAD ADVERTISED THEMSELVES AS PHARMACIES, WHICH MAY BE TECHNICALLY TRUE.
HOWEVER, FOR SOME REASON, ALL OF THE PHARMACIES WITH WHICH I AM FAMILIAR ARRANGE THE BULK OF THEIR SPACE WITH THEIR NUMEROUS HIGH PROFIT EXTRANEOUS TEMPTATIONS IN CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TOWARD THE FRONT, WHILE THE "PHARMACY" RESIDES IN A DISTANT LOCAL IN THE RECESSES OF THE EXCESSES. OF COURSE, I DOUBT THE MARGINS ARE AS HIGH AS THOSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, IF OTHER INFORMATION I HAVE HEARD IS VALID, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.
AS A CONSUMER, I HAVE THE OPTION OF IGNORING TEMPTATION AS I PASS TO AND FRO BETWEEN THE ENTRANCE AND THE DESIRED LOCATION. STILL, ONE WONDERS WHETHER THE MOTIVES BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE STORE DON'T HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE BOTTOM LINE THAN WITH THE PROVISION OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AND INFIRM, BUT, I DIGRESS.
IT IS WIDELY TOUTED THAT THE CONSUMER AND "HER" :-) CHOICES ARE THE DRIVING FORCE IN NATIONAL PROSPERITY, WITH THE STOCK MARKET AND THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT BEING HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON HER FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL. I SUPPOSE THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ARGUE WITH SINCE MANY OF THE FORMERLY PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN "OUTSOURCED" TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN DEFERENCE TO THEIR POPULATION'S WILLINGNESS TO ACTUALLY WORK; BECAUSE OF THEIR LOWER WAGES AND CERTAINLY IN RESPONSE TO THE COSTS OF DOING ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE IN THIS COUNTRY DUE TO THE TWIN GORILLAS OF GOVERNMENT OBSTACLES AND "LABOR" E.G., UNIONS' DEMANDS. INTERESTINGLY, THE LATTER SEEMS TO HAVE NEARLY SUCCEEDED IN DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVE BY PUTTING MANY COMPANIES, AND EVEN INDUSTRIES, OUT OF BUSINESS, UNTIL NOW, I BELIEVE, THE BULK OF THEIR MEMBERS RESIDE IN GOVERNMENT CHAIRS WHERE PROFITS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR SURVIVAL. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY PUT THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF BUSINESS? ISN'T IT APPARENT HOW "NOTIONS" AND LIFE ARE INSEPARABLE? BUT, I DIGRESS.
RETURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF PHARMACIES, WHEN ONE ENTERS THE AREA, ONE EXPECTS TO BE GREETED AS EFFICACIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE WITH PROMPT AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME ETHOS IN LARGE ORGANIZATIONS (TO GIVE SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS EXAMPLES, LET NOT K-MART, WALMART, AT&T, THE PROVIDERS OF MEDICAL SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT, AMONG OTHERS, ESCAPE) E.G. THOSE WHO HAVE A LEGALLY PROTECTED MONOPOLY AND THOSE WHO HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED THE COMPETITION OR ELIMINATED IT COMPLETELY, THAT ENCOURAGES THEIR EMPLOYEES TO IGNORE THE LINCHPIN OF THEIR BUSINESS, E.G. THE CONSUMER/CITIZEN, UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO BE "CONVENIENT" FOR THEM TO ADDRESS THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF THIS LOWLY FORM OF LIFE.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT WAIT THEIR TURN. THAT IS ONLY FAIR. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WHO HAS PRESENTED HERSELF, WITH CASH (OR CREDIT) IN HAND, SO TO SPEAK, SHOULD NOT BE SUMMARILY IGNORED OR PUT OFF WHILE THE EMPLOYEES CONTINUE THEIR PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS, SHUFFLE AND/OR REARRANGE PAPERS AND MERCHANDISE, ATTEND TO THE ORDERS OF THE "CALL-INS" AND/OR "DRIVE-UPS", OR SIMPLY LOOK THE OTHER WAY (WERE THEY ALL TRAINED IN RESTAURANTS?) TO AVOID HAVING TO INTERACT WITH THE ONLY "JOB SECURITY" THEY HAVE, THE CONSUMER.
ONE SUSPECTS THAT THERE IS SOME COMPANY RULE THAT STATES, NO PRESCRIPTION IS TO BE FILLED IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF THE CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR A SIMPLE, OFF THE SHELF MEDICATION, THEREBY FORCING THE VICTIM TO "KILL TIME" IN THE AFOREMENTIONED "WHATNOT AND WIDGET" AREA WHERE THEY JUST "MAY" CHOOSE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE, DURING THE TYPICAL 20 TO 45 MINUTES OF CAPTIVITY.
ON A DAILY BASIS, I LISTEN TO, AND SOMETIMES EVEN WATCH, THE PROPAGANDA (ADVERTISEMENTS) ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE CONSUMER IS TO THE VARIOUS COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRUTH IN ADVERTISING?) AND I FOLLOW SOME OF THE LEARNED FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AS THEY DRONE ON ABOUT WHICH COMPANIES SHOULD PROSPER OR FALTER BASED ON SOME ESOTERIC STRATEGY WHICH, IN TURN, SHOULD ENTICE ONE TO INVEST IN THIS COMPANY RATHER THAN THE OTHER.
FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF FRUSTRATING OCCURRENCES WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE, WHICH I FEEL COMPELLED TO SPARE YOU, SINCE I AM REASONABLY SURE YOU HAVE HAD YOUR OWN, I HAVE DECIDED TO "VOTE WITH MY FEET" DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT PARKING LOT (NOT A BIG PROBLEM IN TODAY'S LUXURIOUS VEHICLES) AND IT WILL COST ME A LITTLE MORE MONEY. THE "FRUSTRATION FACTOR" (MARK THIS DOWN FOR POSTERITY AS I HAVE NEVER HEARD ONE ANALYST OR ECONOMIST WHO HAS FACTORED THIS ECONOMIC VARIABLE INTO THEIR MODELS) HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT ONE TO ME AS I MAKE MY ECONOMIC DECISIONS.
SINCE I HAVE GENERALLY FOUND MYSELF "AHEAD OF THE CURVE" IN THE VARIOUS STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH THE "OPPORTUNITIES" (PROBLEMS?) IN LIFE, I WILL VENTURE TO PREDICT THAT I WILL NOT BE ALONE IN THIS REACTION FOREVER. FOR NOW, MY PITTANCE IS INSIGNIFICANT. WHAT DOES ONE CONSUMER MEAN TO AT&T? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE LOSS OF 3 OR 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR MEAN TO WALMART? WILL CVS MISS THE PRESCRIPTIONS OF JUST ONE CITIZEN WITH ACCESS TO MEDICARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE? I THINK NOT.
HOWEVER, AS OTHERS, NOW MORE WILLING TO BE "SERVICE ABUSED" THAN I, (SORRY, I HAVE NO OTHER NAME FOR THIS PHENOMENON) DECIDE THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND BEGIN TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS WHEN THEIR CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED OR EXCUSED BY THE "HIGHER UPS", THE BOTTOM LINE WILL SURELY SUFFER. I DO BELIEVE THESE "HIGHER UP" INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE APPRISED OF SUCH SITUATIONS AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO CORRECT THE “PROBLEM” E.G. THE UNRESPONSIVE EMPLOYEE, IF THEY WISH. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE "HIGHER UPS", BE THEY IN GOVERNMENT OR COMMERCE, GENERALLY HIDE BEHIND DOORS IN PROHIBITED AREAS WHERE CONSUMERS/CITIZENS CANNOT READILY FIND THEM; OR BEHIND AUTOMATED ANSWERING SYSTEMS THAT FRUSTRATE EVEN THE MOST WELL MEANING CONSUMER; OR BEHIND ROBOTIC ANSWERS IN CYBERSPACE; OR BEHIND ENDLESS BUREAUCRATIC MAZES; OR, BEHIND RULES AND “EXCUSES” MORE CREATIVE THAN THOSE OF ANY GOLFER I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED. BASICALLY, WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU IS THAT THEY ARE PAID AND/OR PROMOTED, BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE STATUS QUO AND ARE TOLD NOT TO "MAKE WAVES". OF COURSE, THIS ATTITUDE IS ALSO WHAT THEY INFLICT ON THOSE UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION, SO DON'T EXPECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF SERVICE OR CHANGE.
A CONVERSATION I OVERHEARD BETWEEN TWO PEONS EMPLOYED BY ONE OF THE ABOVE SAYS IT ALL. AS SHE WALKED AWAY, (POSSIBLY FOR A BREAK?) DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF CUSTOMERS WAITING MEEKLY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE, SHE SAID, "WHEN THEY START PAYING ME A WORKING WAGE, MAYBE I'LL START WORKING". THERE MUST STILL BE SOME TRUTH TO THE RUMOR THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
AS ONE LOOKS AT THOSE EMPLOYED WHERE "THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD", ONE FEELS A SENSE OF IRONY THAT THESE, NORMALLY VERY YOUNG OR VERY OLD INDIVIDUALS, GIVEN THEIR MENIAL LABOR, THEIR MEDIOCRE SKILLS AND THEIR MEAGER PAY, ARE INVOLVED IN A COLLECTIVE CONDUCT THAT MEANS MORE TO THE "BOTTOM LINE" THAN ALL ALL OF THE OTHER SCHEMES, PROMOTIONS, ADVERTISEMENTS, AND CORPORATE ENTICEMENTS, INCLUDING LOWER PRICES. IN DEFENSE OF THESE CIPHERS, LET IT BE NOTED THAT PROBABLY THE QUICKEST WAY FOR THEM TO LOSE THEIR MENIAL POSITION IS TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE "POLICY BOX", DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUCH BEHAVIOR MIGHT BENEFIT THE CONSUMER/CITIZEN, WHICH, IN TURN, WOULD BENEFIT THE BOTTOM LINE OR THE EVEN PUBLIC, WHERE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED.
CONTRAST THIS ATTITUDE AND CONDUCT WITH THE TREATMENT ONE RECEIVES IN A LESS ADVANCED (?) COUNTRY, WHERE THE PROPRIETOR OF SOME SMALL SHOP OR RESTAURANT WILL ALL BUT ATTACK YOU AND KILL YOU WITH KINDNESS IN HELPING YOU DECIDE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY AT HIS OR HER ESTABLISHMENT RATHER THAN TAKE IT TO ANOTHER. THERE ARE EVEN A FEW PERSONS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE WELCOMED, ASSISTED AND TREATED WITH RESPECT BECAUSE WE CAME TO SPEND OUR MONEY FOR A PARTICULAR GOOD OR SERVICE. WHEN WE RETURNED BECAUSE OF THEIR GOOD SERVICE, WE RETURNED AS A CUSTOMER, NOT A MERE CONSUMER, A VAST DIFFERENCE INDEED, ECONOMICALLY. WE ALSO TENDED TO BE LOYAL TO THAT BUSINESS, AS WE ARE TODAY. OF COURSE, THAT ERROR CAN BE CORRECTED IF WE ARE PUSHED TOO FAR. VAMOS A VER!
REMEMBER, THIS MAY BE ONLY A “LOCAL NOTION” BUT, IN THE FUTURE, IT MAY HAVE WORLD CLASS IMPLICATIONS.
ENJOY, TOM.
AVITW
I SEE WHERE A NATIONAL SELLER OF "WHATNOTS AND WIDGETS" (CVS) HAS TAKEN OVER A LOCAL SELLER (ECKERD) OF THE SAME. BOTH HAD ADVERTISED THEMSELVES AS PHARMACIES, WHICH MAY BE TECHNICALLY TRUE.
HOWEVER, FOR SOME REASON, ALL OF THE PHARMACIES WITH WHICH I AM FAMILIAR ARRANGE THE BULK OF THEIR SPACE WITH THEIR NUMEROUS HIGH PROFIT EXTRANEOUS TEMPTATIONS IN CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TOWARD THE FRONT, WHILE THE "PHARMACY" RESIDES IN A DISTANT LOCAL IN THE RECESSES OF THE EXCESSES. OF COURSE, I DOUBT THE MARGINS ARE AS HIGH AS THOSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, IF OTHER INFORMATION I HAVE HEARD IS VALID, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.
AS A CONSUMER, I HAVE THE OPTION OF IGNORING TEMPTATION AS I PASS TO AND FRO BETWEEN THE ENTRANCE AND THE DESIRED LOCATION. STILL, ONE WONDERS WHETHER THE MOTIVES BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE STORE DON'T HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE BOTTOM LINE THAN WITH THE PROVISION OF PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY AND INFIRM, BUT, I DIGRESS.
IT IS WIDELY TOUTED THAT THE CONSUMER AND "HER" :-) CHOICES ARE THE DRIVING FORCE IN NATIONAL PROSPERITY, WITH THE STOCK MARKET AND THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT BEING HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON HER FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL. I SUPPOSE THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ARGUE WITH SINCE MANY OF THE FORMERLY PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE BEEN "OUTSOURCED" TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN DEFERENCE TO THEIR POPULATION'S WILLINGNESS TO ACTUALLY WORK; BECAUSE OF THEIR LOWER WAGES AND CERTAINLY IN RESPONSE TO THE COSTS OF DOING ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE IN THIS COUNTRY DUE TO THE TWIN GORILLAS OF GOVERNMENT OBSTACLES AND "LABOR" E.G., UNIONS' DEMANDS. INTERESTINGLY, THE LATTER SEEMS TO HAVE NEARLY SUCCEEDED IN DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVE BY PUTTING MANY COMPANIES, AND EVEN INDUSTRIES, OUT OF BUSINESS, UNTIL NOW, I BELIEVE, THE BULK OF THEIR MEMBERS RESIDE IN GOVERNMENT CHAIRS WHERE PROFITS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR SURVIVAL. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY PUT THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF BUSINESS? ISN'T IT APPARENT HOW "NOTIONS" AND LIFE ARE INSEPARABLE? BUT, I DIGRESS.
RETURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF PHARMACIES, WHEN ONE ENTERS THE AREA, ONE EXPECTS TO BE GREETED AS EFFICACIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE WITH PROMPT AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME ETHOS IN LARGE ORGANIZATIONS (TO GIVE SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS EXAMPLES, LET NOT K-MART, WALMART, AT&T, THE PROVIDERS OF MEDICAL SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT, AMONG OTHERS, ESCAPE) E.G. THOSE WHO HAVE A LEGALLY PROTECTED MONOPOLY AND THOSE WHO HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED THE COMPETITION OR ELIMINATED IT COMPLETELY, THAT ENCOURAGES THEIR EMPLOYEES TO IGNORE THE LINCHPIN OF THEIR BUSINESS, E.G. THE CONSUMER/CITIZEN, UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO BE "CONVENIENT" FOR THEM TO ADDRESS THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF THIS LOWLY FORM OF LIFE.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT WAIT THEIR TURN. THAT IS ONLY FAIR. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WHO HAS PRESENTED HERSELF, WITH CASH (OR CREDIT) IN HAND, SO TO SPEAK, SHOULD NOT BE SUMMARILY IGNORED OR PUT OFF WHILE THE EMPLOYEES CONTINUE THEIR PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS, SHUFFLE AND/OR REARRANGE PAPERS AND MERCHANDISE, ATTEND TO THE ORDERS OF THE "CALL-INS" AND/OR "DRIVE-UPS", OR SIMPLY LOOK THE OTHER WAY (WERE THEY ALL TRAINED IN RESTAURANTS?) TO AVOID HAVING TO INTERACT WITH THE ONLY "JOB SECURITY" THEY HAVE, THE CONSUMER.
ONE SUSPECTS THAT THERE IS SOME COMPANY RULE THAT STATES, NO PRESCRIPTION IS TO BE FILLED IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF THE CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR A SIMPLE, OFF THE SHELF MEDICATION, THEREBY FORCING THE VICTIM TO "KILL TIME" IN THE AFOREMENTIONED "WHATNOT AND WIDGET" AREA WHERE THEY JUST "MAY" CHOOSE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE, DURING THE TYPICAL 20 TO 45 MINUTES OF CAPTIVITY.
ON A DAILY BASIS, I LISTEN TO, AND SOMETIMES EVEN WATCH, THE PROPAGANDA (ADVERTISEMENTS) ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE CONSUMER IS TO THE VARIOUS COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (WHATEVER HAPPENED TO TRUTH IN ADVERTISING?) AND I FOLLOW SOME OF THE LEARNED FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AS THEY DRONE ON ABOUT WHICH COMPANIES SHOULD PROSPER OR FALTER BASED ON SOME ESOTERIC STRATEGY WHICH, IN TURN, SHOULD ENTICE ONE TO INVEST IN THIS COMPANY RATHER THAN THE OTHER.
FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF FRUSTRATING OCCURRENCES WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE, WHICH I FEEL COMPELLED TO SPARE YOU, SINCE I AM REASONABLY SURE YOU HAVE HAD YOUR OWN, I HAVE DECIDED TO "VOTE WITH MY FEET" DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT PARKING LOT (NOT A BIG PROBLEM IN TODAY'S LUXURIOUS VEHICLES) AND IT WILL COST ME A LITTLE MORE MONEY. THE "FRUSTRATION FACTOR" (MARK THIS DOWN FOR POSTERITY AS I HAVE NEVER HEARD ONE ANALYST OR ECONOMIST WHO HAS FACTORED THIS ECONOMIC VARIABLE INTO THEIR MODELS) HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT ONE TO ME AS I MAKE MY ECONOMIC DECISIONS.
SINCE I HAVE GENERALLY FOUND MYSELF "AHEAD OF THE CURVE" IN THE VARIOUS STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH THE "OPPORTUNITIES" (PROBLEMS?) IN LIFE, I WILL VENTURE TO PREDICT THAT I WILL NOT BE ALONE IN THIS REACTION FOREVER. FOR NOW, MY PITTANCE IS INSIGNIFICANT. WHAT DOES ONE CONSUMER MEAN TO AT&T? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE LOSS OF 3 OR 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR MEAN TO WALMART? WILL CVS MISS THE PRESCRIPTIONS OF JUST ONE CITIZEN WITH ACCESS TO MEDICARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE? I THINK NOT.
HOWEVER, AS OTHERS, NOW MORE WILLING TO BE "SERVICE ABUSED" THAN I, (SORRY, I HAVE NO OTHER NAME FOR THIS PHENOMENON) DECIDE THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND BEGIN TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS WHEN THEIR CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED OR EXCUSED BY THE "HIGHER UPS", THE BOTTOM LINE WILL SURELY SUFFER. I DO BELIEVE THESE "HIGHER UP" INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE APPRISED OF SUCH SITUATIONS AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO CORRECT THE “PROBLEM” E.G. THE UNRESPONSIVE EMPLOYEE, IF THEY WISH. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE "HIGHER UPS", BE THEY IN GOVERNMENT OR COMMERCE, GENERALLY HIDE BEHIND DOORS IN PROHIBITED AREAS WHERE CONSUMERS/CITIZENS CANNOT READILY FIND THEM; OR BEHIND AUTOMATED ANSWERING SYSTEMS THAT FRUSTRATE EVEN THE MOST WELL MEANING CONSUMER; OR BEHIND ROBOTIC ANSWERS IN CYBERSPACE; OR BEHIND ENDLESS BUREAUCRATIC MAZES; OR, BEHIND RULES AND “EXCUSES” MORE CREATIVE THAN THOSE OF ANY GOLFER I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED. BASICALLY, WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU IS THAT THEY ARE PAID AND/OR PROMOTED, BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THE STATUS QUO AND ARE TOLD NOT TO "MAKE WAVES". OF COURSE, THIS ATTITUDE IS ALSO WHAT THEY INFLICT ON THOSE UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION, SO DON'T EXPECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF SERVICE OR CHANGE.
A CONVERSATION I OVERHEARD BETWEEN TWO PEONS EMPLOYED BY ONE OF THE ABOVE SAYS IT ALL. AS SHE WALKED AWAY, (POSSIBLY FOR A BREAK?) DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF CUSTOMERS WAITING MEEKLY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE, SHE SAID, "WHEN THEY START PAYING ME A WORKING WAGE, MAYBE I'LL START WORKING". THERE MUST STILL BE SOME TRUTH TO THE RUMOR THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
AS ONE LOOKS AT THOSE EMPLOYED WHERE "THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD", ONE FEELS A SENSE OF IRONY THAT THESE, NORMALLY VERY YOUNG OR VERY OLD INDIVIDUALS, GIVEN THEIR MENIAL LABOR, THEIR MEDIOCRE SKILLS AND THEIR MEAGER PAY, ARE INVOLVED IN A COLLECTIVE CONDUCT THAT MEANS MORE TO THE "BOTTOM LINE" THAN ALL ALL OF THE OTHER SCHEMES, PROMOTIONS, ADVERTISEMENTS, AND CORPORATE ENTICEMENTS, INCLUDING LOWER PRICES. IN DEFENSE OF THESE CIPHERS, LET IT BE NOTED THAT PROBABLY THE QUICKEST WAY FOR THEM TO LOSE THEIR MENIAL POSITION IS TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE "POLICY BOX", DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUCH BEHAVIOR MIGHT BENEFIT THE CONSUMER/CITIZEN, WHICH, IN TURN, WOULD BENEFIT THE BOTTOM LINE OR THE EVEN PUBLIC, WHERE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED.
CONTRAST THIS ATTITUDE AND CONDUCT WITH THE TREATMENT ONE RECEIVES IN A LESS ADVANCED (?) COUNTRY, WHERE THE PROPRIETOR OF SOME SMALL SHOP OR RESTAURANT WILL ALL BUT ATTACK YOU AND KILL YOU WITH KINDNESS IN HELPING YOU DECIDE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY AT HIS OR HER ESTABLISHMENT RATHER THAN TAKE IT TO ANOTHER. THERE ARE EVEN A FEW PERSONS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE WELCOMED, ASSISTED AND TREATED WITH RESPECT BECAUSE WE CAME TO SPEND OUR MONEY FOR A PARTICULAR GOOD OR SERVICE. WHEN WE RETURNED BECAUSE OF THEIR GOOD SERVICE, WE RETURNED AS A CUSTOMER, NOT A MERE CONSUMER, A VAST DIFFERENCE INDEED, ECONOMICALLY. WE ALSO TENDED TO BE LOYAL TO THAT BUSINESS, AS WE ARE TODAY. OF COURSE, THAT ERROR CAN BE CORRECTED IF WE ARE PUSHED TOO FAR. VAMOS A VER!
REMEMBER, THIS MAY BE ONLY A “LOCAL NOTION” BUT, IN THE FUTURE, IT MAY HAVE WORLD CLASS IMPLICATIONS.
ENJOY, TOM.
posted by T.O.M. | 4:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home