Spend Nothing

This Friday, February 28, we have a chance to spend nothing and get back… well, everything. Everything that matters to Americans: our self-determination, our sense of taking care of our loved ones, our place in our community, our Constitutional rights, our security, our national pride.

What the heck am I saying in such grandiose terms? I am saying we are not cattle to be blindly herded to our demise. We are not humans who hate each other on principle without even knowing each other. We are not at the complete mercy of our government—whomever is at the helm.

By doing nothing illegal (like the Boston Tea Party), nothing vengeful or hateful, we can clearly demonstrate that the people of America are a force to be reckoned with. Our stances on issues matter.

Whether or not we think elections are stolen, Friday we can vote in a way that can’t be misinterpreted—with our wallets.

We can show that when necessary, we are united. Maybe everyone doesn’t think this is a dangerous point in our lifetimes. That’s ok. Think of this as a test of the “emergency broadcast system.” There could come a time when we will want to know that we, the people, can be galvanized. We can unite. We can be mobilized for the common good.

One week ago, I entered the fray as an activist. I attended my first (technically my second) public “protest” on President’s Day and carried a sign with the “Oath of Office for the Presidency.” I resolved to try to be part of a solution that could bring our entire country to a brighter day. I have been spending part of each day learning about Constitutional powers and world affairs. It is a steep learning curve for someone who has tried to stay out of this arena and let people smarter than me run the world. Now, I question elected officials’ leadership qualifications. I do not respect greed.

I have always considered myself a capitalist. I have an MBA (Masters of Business Administration) and have worked almost every day for the past 53 years to contribute to the US economy in one way or another.

But on Friday, February 28, I am going to spend NOTHING. Zero. I will use my 850 credit score for nothing.

And if we each do that—all 250 million of us (American adults)— we will send only one message. We, the people, are the United States of America.

Someone I have always respected from my hometown of Amherst, NH, wrote to me this week, an example of several people who did not seem to appreciate my new outspokenness. He listed a litany of sins committed by US presidents in recent decades and to him, those sins justified extreme action, including dictatorship. Here is how I responded:

“Your rants are EXACTLY why I am stepping up. I don’t care who you voted for. Presidents swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Do you think people JUST started disagreeing? Do you think there has never been cause to question election results? “Article I, Section 4 and Article II, Section 1, call for elections that enable the peaceful transition of power between factions.” Our Constitution has guided our country through hundreds of years of good and evil. We must respect it (or amend it) but not ignorantly disregard it. Presently, I believe it is being ignored by the people at the helm. And no matter how many partisan rants you write to me, I will persevere until you join me. You are an American. You are principled. You care. We belong united in the defense of our Constitution.”

Please consider marking your calendar and making Friday, February 28, 2025, the day we spend nothing. Thank you.