The Impact of Way We Vote
It’s not just at the ballot boxes where we cast our vote for the future we want. If you’re like most people, you vote every single day, multiple times a day, for many different candidates. If you’re like me, most of the time, you’re unaware of it. Nowadays, we cast our ballots with our wallets. We either knowingly or unconsciously support the future we live in, whether it’s one we want or not. Whether you like it or not, capitalism and the free market has turned our everyday existence into an ever-present, always active election where advertisements represent campaign promises and all too often money becomes the goal not the medium.
Before I became aware, I voted for the cheapest product or service with the best reviews. I’d make trips to the grocery store intent on spending as little money and getting as much food as possible, regardless of the brands I chose. I didn’t have much money to spend then, nor did I have much awareness. I was an unknowing advocate for companies like Monsanto, big oil, and advertising agencies that invest subliminal marketing. Without knowing it, I voted for many companies that care more about profits and continuing business as usual than they do about the integrity of their product, the well-being of their employees, and the health of our planet. I later discovered the proof for this in the ingredients, the ads, the long distances they ship their products, and the conditions of animals and mono-cultures. Furthermore, I discovered other companies that invest their returns on improving their product, and their employees instead of spending it on advertising; the integrity of their products and their underlying beliefs became the advertising. I realized that although their products cost more, I knew where the money went.
As small and unimportant we may feel in this complex capitalist system, I don’t expect to change large corporations. I’m sure they haven’t noticed that I don’t buy their goods anymore. No matter how big or small these companies are, if they don’t get my money, they rely on yours to stay in business. As an individual, you may not make a dent on the profits of the Monsantos of the world by spending your money elsewhere, however you can make an impact on farmers and businesses around you. You don’t have to donate money to a non-profit to get a sense of doing good; you can gain the peace of mind and joy of supporting businesses that share the same values as you.
I know this article won’t dissolve the profit hungry moguls who employ the smartest minds to erode your willpower to buy their products and services. I hope to bring a spark of awareness the next time you choose to spend your hard earned money. In our world today, money is a seed which we cast onto the field. Will you cast it on a field that exploits the people and the planet around you, or will you spend a little more to cultivate the world you want to live in?
Take some time to look beyond the advertisements and learn about the values and people behind the businesses you support. Are you aware of where your where money’s going? If not, take time to consider what is the future you want to live in. From the packaging, to the contents, to the means of shipping the product, by buying it, you support the companies and people that make it all possible.
