Can We Possibly Be Any More Embarrassed?

I am mortified for our country, and so angry. That debacle of a "meeting" between Trump and Zelenskyy! Trump and Vance taking turns bullying and shouting, Zelenskyy unable to finish a sentence or even a thought, the demands that Zellenskyy grovel and say thank you...it was sickening.

I try not to be too overtly political here, but this just takes the cake. Aren't we all taught that we don't do good without expectation of thanks and praise? That we don't kick someone when they're down, or try to extort more from those in need? Maybe such lessons are not taught to the rich. Maybe it's just us ordinary people who are taught these rules of civil behavior.

I am furious, and feeling that helpless rage that I am sure is shared by millions of US citizens. I won't say Americans, because there are other countries on this continent who do not share in our shame.

At least I did my little bit by NOT buying anything from any big retailer today. It's not much, but it made me feel better. We bought lunch, with cash, in the small cafe at one of the antique malls where we have a booth, and picked up milk from Maddie the milk girl, but that was the extent of our shopping today. Normally on a Friday we make several stops at various stores, but not today.

One other thing I did that makes me feel good is that I canceled our Amazon Prime. It was not easy. After trying to cancel online, I found I could only do so by not getting a refund. Now, my membership renewed in November, so I wanted a refund.

I ended up first on chat, then finally was sent to a real person, in god-knows-where, who explained in halting English that I could not get a refund. I insisted, she reiterated. She asked why i wanted to cancel, and I told her I was dismayed by Jeff Besos' support of Trump and wanted to remove my support of his business. I insisted again, several times, until she bumped me up to someone else. He, also somewhere far offshore, repeated that I could not have a refund. I told him that I know of no subscription service that did not offer refunds upon cancelation,  and asked if Mr. Besos was too poor to refund the $110 I was owed? 

And guess what. I got my refund. 

In future I will be buying as little as possible from Amazon. I have found that I can get the same items on Ebay usually, sometimes cheaper and often with faster free shipping. And as far as I can see, ebay did not support Trump in the last election.

One small step, by one insignificant person. But it makes me feel good. We are very limited in shopping choices in my rural area, so online buying has been the easiest, cheapest and most-time and gas-saving option. Walmart, sadly, has run off most other local options,, and we still have to go there for some things, but now I am actively seeking other avenues.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.