Some people steal from my wife’s yarn store. Given the small nature of her business, a small store in a very rural area of New England, it’s always a realistic impact at the end of the year. A couple of needles here, a couple of skeins there – it all adds up. We’re a humble bunch here in southern Vermont, where incomes are low, but respect for community is paramount. We don’t want to become a multinational banking cartel. My wife sells organic yarn, much of which is local. I know our vendors because I deliver their mail on Saturdays.
That’s right. Even though I hold an amazing position in a nearby college that I am ever-grateful for holding and experiencing, I work on Saturdays as a rural carrier for the United States Postal Service to try to keep our finances afloat as a small business in trying economic times. I use my own Toyota Corolla. I drive on the left and reach over to mailboxes on my right. It pays $13.05 an hour. There are times when my wife and I argue over money. We’re late on bills sometimes, even being in our 30’s now.
It is understandable when one needs to steal for everyday life essentials. Life is hard. I understand petty theft in this regard. When you boil it down far enough, all businesses exploit the resources of the Earth to perpetuate the Western business model of profit-driven social patterns, so all business is corrupted from the start.
But that’s the world we live in. We all steal from one another in some way. The point is to eliminate violence and theft whenever possible. This week marks a decade of veganism for me (please refrain from applause until the end of the blog entry). I could eat meat or dairy. However, I choose to limit my impact on Life and the Planet. Veganism is the best way that the Western world can respond to its ruinous meat-based diet while eliminating senseless barbarism. It’s not perfect.
The world is not perfect. But stealing from a local yarn shop is politically indefensible. We support local vendors, and barely scratch by ourselves. It’s an awesome life, and we chose it, but don’t steal from us. We are your Friend and Neighbor. Thank you and Have a Nice Day.
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