Shop local this Christmas season

Our View

By St. Tammany News
Published on Monday, December 1, 2008 9:21 AM CST

Print this story | Email this story | Post A Comment |

With Thanksgiving over with, ‘tis the season to get out to the malls and stores and start shopping like mad. Judging by the crowds on Black Friday (so named by retailers because the day after Thanksgiving is supposed to put merchants in the black for the rest of the year), and despite the economic crunch we are currently facing, Christmas sales should be good locally this year.

While we are battling crowds, trying to find parking places and hurrying around between now and Dec. 25, let us remember one thing — giving gifts is part of the season, but it isn’t the only thing to celebrate. It is also the time of brotherhood, peace and goodwill. Those qualities are even more important while this country is at war.

But, since most people are going to give gifts this season, may we also remind you of something else — keep your spending local. Try and find gifts made by artists and craftsmen who live in St. Tammany Parish. Shop at local stores. It isn’t hard. We have malls in Covington and Slidell that have branches of national stores, plus there are hundreds of local merchants just waiting to sell you that perfect gift that has a local flavor. There is no real reason to spend one’s dollars elsewhere.

Why? Because your shopping dollar will go to paying payrolls and will go into the parish and city coffers in the form of sales taxes. These taxes in turn pay for much-needed new roads, drainage projects and other infrastructure projects.

The payroll taxes will also do the same thing. Plus you keep people in jobs here in the parish. Who knows? You might be helping a neighbor to buy gifts for his or her children.

Print this story | Email this story | Post A Comment |

Comments

No comments posted.

WRITE A COMMENT

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. They review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The St. Tammany News is not liable for messages from third parties.

DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
* Personal Information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in thesttammanynews.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the St. Tammany News. The St. Tammany News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized St. Tammany News spokespersons.

Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.