After reading the post entitled Small Minded on the Nation Reformation blog, I totally agree with this sentiment. I think to myself, how hard would it be for everyone in the US to shop locally and avoid the big chains for some of their purchases. It will cost a little extra money and may take a little bit of time to build a relationship with your local, grocer, hardware store, etc.... In the end though it will be well worth it. I have started shopping at a local grocery store chain, they have 5 stores, it is not much, but a start. So far my best experience there is with being able to ask the butcher for certain types or kinds of meats and them cheerfully fulfilling my request.....for me definitely worth the extra dollars I had to spend.

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I would love to see this process become the norm for most folks. I believe that a couple of years back, before the gasoline & food prices started going crazy, this probably would have been much easier to accomplish. I think a lot folks would love to do this, but can't see where they will find the extra dollars. When you are trying to figure out how to provide for your family, it maybe very difficult to justify the extra expense.

Even though money is tight, I think that we will all be better off if can find a way to support our local, Mom & Pop, stores / businesses.