Comments for Taking a Stand

Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by Lorraine Schrameck

Lorraine Schrameck — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:43:49 +0000

Great topic, one that I’m very passionate about. Walk-ability is definitely a factor for small town shopping. We’re fortunate in Bethel to have a downtown area with shops and restaurants, as well as free concerts and festivals and two farmer’s markets. Encouraging people to support local businesses is the key to the success of maintaining a vibrant local economy. Some people do get caught up with the big box stores and online shopping, but when they start shopping locally they do appreciate the difference. As a small business owner in Bethel, I make sure that I always thank my customers and tell them that I appreciate their business. I also refer them to other local businesses whenever I can. Additionally, there are some newer organizations that try to encourage people to support their local businesses like The 3/50 Project, Proud to Be Local and Shop Local. Even some of the online news companies post info about local businesses on their Facebook page. Last but not least, word-of-mouth advertising will never die. I’ve gotten more business from referrals than from any other source of advertising. Too many of us have the entreprenurial spirit to allow the brick-and mortar stores to be a thing of the past.

Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by John MacDougall

John MacDougall — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:15:08 +0000

Nice observations. I do think people value the relationships. I disagree that it is rare in the city – most likely it corresponds to a walk-ability index. I live in the middle of San Francisco, do not own a car, and know, and am known by all my favorite merchants and restaurants, with the exception of Trader Joe.

Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by Carol W.

Carol W. — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:12:20 +0000

Come to Darien and stroll the Post Road—many unique small shops and restaurants with outdoor dining. We’ve had free outdoor concerts every Friday this summer—right downtown in Grove Street Plaza. It all has a wonderful “community” feel.

Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by Gregory Lodato

Gregory Lodato — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:08:54 +0000

Jim,

Unfortunately, I think it’s over.

This future that you envision of clicks on the screen replacing conversation is becoming our present. How many times have we all eaten out to see the “family” or the “couple” (I use the quotes to make a point) at the next table tapping away at their I-phones, speaking or making eye contact only to show the other person what is on the I-phone’s screen?

As for the small merchants’ comeback, are Americans going to once again value customer service? Highly unlikely. This is the same country that threw away (nearly) our entire manufacturing sector in order to obtain cheap products, disposable technology, veneered furniture, and homogenized “fast fashion”. Quality and durability do not matter to the masses, nor does customer service. These characteristics instead are becoming the purview of the wealthy and the niche buyer.

Our country is such deep trouble, and it’s not simply limited to our economy or government’s solvency. We are precipitously losing our common culture and bonds, and becoming Balkanized, both in terms of culture and class. We have a diminishing sense of personal accountability, preferring to see ourselves as “victims” in one form or another. We cannot create wealth in the long term, because we produce nothing. The vast majority of Americans cannot buy a home, furnish that home, buy a car, or go to college without taking massive amounts of debt. Our healthcare decisions are being made by a faceless, and ever-consolidating insurance industry, which in reality is no better than our bloated government taking control. And, most of us are forced to send our children to daycare because the decision whether to be a one-income or two-income family is no longer ours to make.

We’re on the fast lane to serfdom.

Salvaging, unshackling, re-igniting and fostering individual entrepreneurship is America’s only chance of reversing this course.

Thank you for bringing up the topic.

Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by The Case For Neighborhood Shops – Taking a … – Connecticut News « Feeds « Local News Feeds

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:08:33 +0000

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Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by The Case For Neighborhood Shops – Taking a Stand – Connecticut News « Feeds « Local News Feeds

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:46:11 +0000

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Comment on The Case For Neighborhood Shops by Bob

Bob — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:44:06 +0000

Great story Jim. Here in Trumbull, we still have a local, independent pharmacy. MacKenzie’s Pharmacy in Trumbull Center has been serving me and my neighbors for longer than the 25 years I’ve been in Trumbull. They greet me when I walk in, and they fill a need that a chain mega-drug store could never fill. I feel it is my responsibility to shop at these local independent shops, I wish more people felt the same way. If we don’t support them, then all we’ll be left with will be faceless chains.

Comment on Can We Afford To Rebuild Afghanistan and Iraq Now? by BrokeandGoingBrokerInBethell

BrokeandGoingBrokerInBethell — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:53:01 +0000

What is wrong!

Someone please tell me what the HELL’s wrong with all the people that
run this country!!!!!!

We’re “broke” & can’t help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless
etc.,??????????

In the last months we have provided aid to Haiti, Chile, and Turkey..
And now Pakistan ….. Home of bin Laden. Literally, BILLIONS of
DOLLARS!!!

Our retired seniors living on a ‘fixed income’ receive no aid nor do
they get any breaks while our government and religious organizations
pour Hundreds of Billions of $$$$$$’s and Tons of Food to Foreign
Countries!

We have hundreds of adoptable children who are shoved aside to make
room for the adoption of foreign orphans.

AMERICA: a country where we have homeless without shelter, children
going to bed hungry, elderly going without ‘needed’ meds, and mentally
ill without treatment -etc,etc.

YET…………………
They have a ‘Benefit’ for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations, ships
and planes lining up with food, water, tents, clothes, bedding, doctors
and medical supplies.

Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave ‘US’ the same support they give to
other countries.

Sad isn’t it?

Comment on The Guy Everybody Wants To Lose by Paul G. Littlefield

Paul G. Littlefield — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:54:59 +0000

Thank you for portraying a dilemma facing the public with an even and sensitive hand. You have provided us with a view of an attorney doing a thankless job, representing a depraved individual in an horrific and senseless crime. Our justice system calls for qualified defenders at public expense when the accused has no funds. We may dislike the idea of spending taxpayer money on people who do despicable crimes, but we cannot afford the alternative. Being human, we do tend to associate the attorney for the defense as being just as “guilty” as the defendant. Particularly, we don’t like it when they get them off.
However, like the Hangman, the PD, provides a public service. I offer my respect to Mr. Thomas Ullman.

Comment on Connecticut Courts Require Candidates to Follow The Law by Paul G. Littlefield

Paul G. Littlefield — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:48:57 +0000

Thank you Mr. Diamond for upholding regulations governing elections. It seems to me that, in the past, we got sloppy, lettng irregularities pass. I make the analogy of playing competitive sports. You learn what are the established rules and they apply equally to all competitors. The U.S. Constitution is the rule book for the country. But, there are those in our government who don’t want to go by the rules as they are written. The Bible is God’s law book, but many people, the Bible says, “do what is right in their own eyes.” Maybe they get away with violating the Constitution, but not God’s law.

Comment on Can We Afford To Rebuild Afghanistan and Iraq Now? by Jim Diamond

Jim Diamond — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:28:04 +0000

Thanks!

Comment on Can We Afford To Rebuild Afghanistan and Iraq Now? by Mary

Mary — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:57:16 +0000

this is a meaningful article.

Comment on Fix it or Toss It? Of Freegans and Hoarders by Susan

Susan — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:29:52 +0000

I live in a town where we haul our own garbage and there’s a shed to leave things we no longer need that others can take. It’s a great system and promotes recycling and reuse

Comment on Fix it or Toss It? Of Freegans and Hoarders by Mary Pugh

Mary Pugh — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:20:44 +0000

FREECYCLE is great for finding and asking about things you need.

FInd it on YAHOO GROUPS…

Also Craigslist lets people post things they want to give away in a FREE section.

REUSE is an important part of ecologically living (recyle, reuse, repurpose….)

Comment on Terrorist Trial Should Be Conducted in Federal Court In New York by joe doe

joe doe — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:37:30 +0000

until we indict dick cheney and george bush for the 9/11 event, there will never be peace about this matter – it was an inside job -

Comment on Terrorist Trial Should Be Conducted in Federal Court In New York by Chase Smith

Chase Smith — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:23:48 +0000

All good points Jim,

however one must also weight the fact that bringing these men back to the city in which they attempted and partially succeeded in destroying, puts a huge target on NYC once again. This now becomes a threat for another terrorist attack in the great city of New York and its surrounding areas.