I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburger Today…

(noon – promoted by pfiore8)

As Oil Peaks, supply chains stretch and the New Economy fails, there are going to be some major changes in the life of Average Americans.

The future is wide open as far as ‘how bad’ it’s going to get. There are many possible dystopic futures: Mad Max, 1984, A Brave New World, Harrison Bergeron, to name a few, but let’s not focus on the doom and gloom, let’s take a look at the opportunity for community, friendship and cooperation – there is no law that says the bad guys are going to win.

Let’s take a look at a possible future that I don’t think is on many people’s radar.

I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburger Today

I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburger Today.

J. Wellington Wimpy

Who’s going to do that for you in the future?

Are we going to walk in to Wal-Mart and say,”I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for some Mac & Cheese today.”

I’m really not trying to be funny.

I’ll tell you, though, I bet you I could walk into Zain’s Party Store in Courtland Township, MI and get that kind of treatment.

How about getting a meal in exchange for some kind of work for the restaurant?

“Hey, Mr. Applebees manager… I’ll Gladly put an oil change on your car for a couple decent meals.”

Again, not trying to be funny, but I bet you I could get that kind of treatment from the owner/manager of Rosie’s Diner, a local restaurant in Cedar Springs, MI.

Corporation as Endangered Species

As food and goods become unprofitable to ship from continent to continent, economies of scale cease to be viable, and markets fail, the corporation as staple of American community will cease to be.

We’ve already seen the contraction of that caffeinated juggernaut, Starbucks, and the failure of several large restaurant and retail operations, the implosion of mega malls, and the inklings of the wholesale collapse of the consumer economy.

Is it possible that the Corporation could become an endangered species?

There are many writers, often referred to as Doomers, by the Responsible Serious Adults, who believe that the coming collapse of the consumer economy will destroy the corporation as we know it. (JHK comes to mind.)

I’ve often wondered if that’s possible, probable, or likely?

Today I kind of came to the conclusion that it is probable, it might, in fact, be likely and that it won’t be that bad.

What does this mean?

I think that it means that those of us with good relationships with Mom and Pop are going to be sitting a lot better than those of us who consider ourselves tight with Wal-Mart and Applebees.

That’s good for me.

I’m currently doing some shows in Branson, MO, and have been a regular at some great local establishments here in town:

The Midnite Rose

Charlies Steak & Ribs

Danna’s BBQ

Tequila’s Bar & Grill

Habby’s Coffee

Not only do these places have good food and drink, but they have great personality.

I think it’s sad that people drive 500 miles to a crazy place like Branson, MO only to eat at the Olive Garden and Chili’s.

Local Business as Community

I’ve done my best to give my money to local businesses here in town, and have been rewarded handsomely for my efforts with friendship and understanding. I’ve also reaped the rewards of that friendship and understanding in far greater measure than the amount of dollars that I’ve given these fine establishments.

This has happened in a place a thousand miles from my home, where I am a traveling performer, a contract worker.

It made me think about my relationships at home and how valuable they are to me right now, and how priceless they will be in the future.

I think that the business people that I deal with on a daily basis will gladly wait ’til tuesday for me to pay for my hamburger today.

If the shit hits the fan, I think I’ll be OK, as I’m more than a customer in the places that I shop, I’m a member of a community.