Let's be Frank: Support Your Community

Support small business and your community

I can’t believe people have kept the Epstein files in the news cycle for this long. I guess Kudos to WSJ, and others, for dropping a few bombs a few days apart. Although we absolutely need to keep the pressure on the Epstein talk, it’s not the only angle.

Regardless of which Republican is in power, they are going to try every way to game the system. We the people need to be using every tool in our box to fight them any chance we get.

Not too long ago, I wrote a piece about boycotting Trump’s biggest donors. Boycotting can be a powerful form of protest, especially when you don’t have a local election to vote in. You can read that here: Vote with your Wallet

Think of every dollar you spend as casting a vote. When you shop local, you're not just supporting a person, but you're weakening the influence of corporate PACs and CEOs who spend millions to shape policy behind closed doors. You’re helping redirect political power from billionaires back to your own community.

Remember, the money these people are spending on politics is coming from your wallet, and that means you’re indirectly supporting it.

So what can we do?

If you want to get crazy, you can go off the grid, and grow/raise all your own food. Live off the land as they say. But who the hell has the energy and determination to do that? Kudos to you if you can do that, I suppose.

Short of being Bear Grylls, you will still need to buy goods to survive, and that’s a good time to turn to small, local businesses. Plus, supporting local and hurting billionaires at the same time is a win-win.

Things may be pricier at your neighborhood shop, but you’re supporting a real person trying to make a living. Someone who lives in your area and contributes to your community. And look, I get it, money’s tight. Not everyone can afford to shop local every time, but even shifting a small percentage of your purchases makes a difference.

You might assume that rural areas are the best places to build local relationships, but in many ways, big cities make this kind of engagement easier. Cities are full of walkable neighborhoods with clusters of independent shops and small businesses.

These businesses are usually run by people who live nearby. When you walk in, try having a conversation with a worker or the owner. Start with small talk; jumping straight into politics might be off-putting. Get to know them as people and then maybe it will lead to how they feel about certain topics in politics.

Over time, you’ll get a sense of who they are and what they value. If it aligns with your values, spread the word. Recommend them to friends, and support them regularly. And if you learn something you don’t like, it’s just as important to quietly shift your support elsewhere.

As much as I hate social media, it can also be a useful tool here. Many small businesses have pages where they share their views and support causes. Pay attention and see if they are the people you want to empower. You can also use your social media to help promote them.

There are also apps and websites that can help you identify companies based on ideals. Tools like Goods Unite Us and Buycott can help you shop with intention.

Living in a rural area can make it a little more challenging. There are fewer choices, and the large retailers in the area are probably some of the worst corporations. And some local businesses are most likely going to be owned by people you would rather not engage with either, but you may have no choice.

In that case I would still try to support the local business. Big corporations just have too much influence in politics. With a small business there’s always a chance for dialogue. There’s always a slim chance your support opens the door for conversations that slowly shift perspectives. But most importantly, that small business owner isn’t pumping millions of dollars into elections.

And frankly, Corporate America doesn’t care about your town, but that small business owner probably does.

Being a blue dot in a sea of red can feel isolating. But you need to remember that there are always like-minded people around you. Help support and encourage friends that show interest in local politics. Create small groups to discuss ideas and then work on having real conversations with your neighbors that may not see things the same. Find that common ground, and try to convince them that who you support will be better for your community. Start a book club or a community garden. Organizing doesn’t have to be political at first; it just has to bring people together. Build up trust and friendship to have those more difficult conversations.

This is something the Democratic party should be doing, but we can’t count on them so it’s up to us to save ourselves.

But try to remember that community isn’t built just through transactions. It also grows through shared experiences. Look for events like farmers markets, neighborhood clean-ups, or local art fairs. The more you go the more you will see familiar faces, which should lead to being more comfortable to engage.

I feel like somewhere our sense of community disappeared. I’m sure the internet and social media have something to do with it. Algorithms target us as individuals to anger and divide us. People want to live online and on their phones, rather than going out and engaging with others.

Humans are a social species and we need to get back to that. And we need to get back to supporting each other, and stop supporting the super wealthy.