All We Need is Love

What to do about the doom and gloom economy. On the macro level there's not much more we can do other than watch the men in suits who got us into this mess struggle to get us out of it. With Brother Barack at the helm I feel like we have a better than fighting chance to come out of the psychic and economic tailspin that has held us in its grip. We elected him on the platform of “keeping hope alive.” At least for me it’s worked. The alternative is too daunting to contemplate. America remains the country of optimism. The severe dose of reality known as 9-11 brought us a modicum of maturity but compared to ancients like Iran and China we’re new arrivals on the world stage, puppies still finding our way around.

On the micro level, where we connect with people and businesses on a daily basis, it is important to know your friends and to help them in these difficult times. When it comes to spending our money we should be especially vigilant, not only because there is less of it to go around, but also because we want to be selective about who we're giving it to. Whether it's a department store, designer boutique or local mom and pop operation, we're going to want to support the people and brands that share our values. The sense of community that used to exist in the physical space of a neighborhood has gone global. Today, we have as good a chance to find cultural commonality with a Korean in Seoul as we are with our next door neighbor. Which means that local businesses as well as global brands need our support at this time. Are we going to buy our affordable items at Kmart or Target, H&M or Old Navy? By now, we should know who speaks to us and who doesn't.

Here at PAPER magazine and PAPERMAG.com, where we have been priveleged to work with some of the most creative and progressive businesses out there, we will be directing our dollars to those who can run with Obama, see the dangers of our environmental policies and stand up for their brethern on issues like gay marriage.

We all have something to give. If it's not your dollars, it's your eyeballs. Send them our way and we'll keep giving you the kooky, style-bending, cultural grab bag you've learned to love known as PAPERMAG.com. Keep the love coming.

And let us not forget to give thanks on this most universal of all holidays. Even as we hunker down for the coming dark months, we have to give thanks for something!

I propose starting a list of what we can be thankful for both in our personal lives as well as in the world at at large.

Personal: family and friends and a puppy named Sage!
World: Obama!