Quote:
Originally Posted by pl001
...the general public is usually too ignorant and stupid to know otherwise, and those that do are usually too self-centered to care.
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I think that's being a little too harsh on people. Yes, it would perhaps serve your own interest to do your shopping in ways that support the nearby economy as much as possible, whether that is the local neighbourhood or the country you live in.
But when you look at the reality, with prices sometimes varying by hundreds of percent between various stores, it's easy to see why people do what they do. It doesn't make someone ignorant, stupid or self-centered when they choose to buy in a way that makes a very real difference to their own bottom line, instead of in a way that not only will punish them immediately, but that may very well not make a lick of difference in the grand scheme of things.
Personally I'm following somewhat of a middle road. For minor purchases I often consciously seek out products and vendors that will support my local and national economies. But for a more major purchase, price is king. Does that make me stupid or self-centered? Perhaps. I think of it as being frugal and careful with my money, but maybe that's the same thing.