The campaign against capitalism and greed isn’t over.
While police and activists were dismantling tents across Canada, the activists behind Occupy Wall Street launched a new campaign: Occupy Christmas.
The goal of Occupy Christmas is to encourage consumers to crack down on their spending and to cut up their credit cards.
The campaign started on Nov. 25 which incidentally was also Black Friday, and it’s expected to last until early January.
It may seem like a noble idea, but this campaign is going to be more difficult for people to accept.
Most people love Christmas and if there’s a time where they’re going to splurge, it’s going to be during the Christmas season.
Even though activists are encouraging people to buy their gifts from local businesses, this will hurt the people who work in large corporations.
Large corporations hire seasonal workers at Christmas to meet the demand of consumers.
Encouraging people not to shop will affect profits.
But if businesses aren’t making money, they won’t feel the effects.
They would simply just let employees go.
So in reality, the Occupy Christmas movement could result in job losses for these part-timers.
And we don’t need that in this fragile economy.
If consumers need to be spending money – it’s during this period.
And Christmas, despite all the materialism, is still considered sacred by many people.
And they will not find it amusing to see such a holiday become a rallying call for a contentious political cause.
It’s certainly not respectful to dress up as Jesus to protest as they plan to do so in the mall.
If consumers are going to use a credit card, then that’s their prerogative.
Personal finance is a private matter and occupiers don’t have a right to come into a mall, a quasi-private location, to encourage people to cut up their credit cards.
Instead of going to malls, cutting up credit cards, and dressing up as Jesus, the protestors should be finding more constructive ways to change the system.
For example, the Adbuster’s website, which triggered the Occupy Christmas campaign, says its message is to educate people about the rising costs of credit debts.
If that’s the case, then give classes, provide financial counselling, and conduct one-on-one finance sessions.
Teach those who seek assistance.
Furthermore, it should be recognized that concerns over corporate greed are legitimate, but the way the activists are approaching this problem is wrong.
They shouldn’t focus on consumers, they should focus their attention on changing the way corporations run through political advocacy.
If we don’t like how corporations work, tell people how to contact their politicians. Circulate petitions, attend city council meetings, and vote.
While polls show that Canadian consumers are expected to spend more this year, another poll shows that Ottawans are expected to cut down on their holiday spending.
It’s a sensitive time and many businesses, large and small are relying on the Christmas season to bring in revenues.
Let people enjoy their Christmas shopping, and the joys of the season.
Let the economy reap the benefits from the shopping season and don’t politicize a holiday that people value.
Whether they show their Christmas spirit through gifts, family gatherings, or church, let them be.
Let Canadians have their Christmas – they just want to shop in peace.