The Checkbook And Calendar Never Lie

Jan. 1, 2016

With the New Year upon us, I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on the notion of “voting with our dollars.” This was again brought to light when Traverse City’s Bill Marsh Automotive Group pulled its United Way employee giving program because it learned that Planned Parenthood was a grant recipient. Local online comment sections blew up with opinions as to whether or not the move was justified, and Planned Parenthood supporters threatened to boycott the car dealership.

Michael Moore addressed the controversy in a recent interview with The Ticker, noting, “I like the Marsh family; I think they’re good people. I don’t think people should say they’ll never give them any of their business. You can let them know how you feel… but I think you can disagree and still (do business together).”

This remark suggests that Moore puts a higher value on doing business with good people and open communication than boycotting companies that work against his personal beliefs. I found this a little ironic, considering the Marsh family was publicly promoting their boycott of the United Way. Even though their employees’ contributions to the United Way weren’t being used for birth control or abortion – just the association with Planned Parenthood affected the owners’ decision to pull their support.

But I do understand their actions. And as a business owner, I make similar decisions every day. It really has to do with personal value systems and conscious consuming. “The checkbook and the calendar never lie.” How we spend our lives – money, time, or influence – says something about us.

“Voting with our dollars” is a concept that underscores the importance of choices. There are a lot of issues that people are concerned about today, and everyone’s priorities are different. In the case of Bill Marsh Jr., his values reflect his faith, which in turn influences his decisions and spending – right-to-life included among them.

My personal values encompass arts and education, human rights, social justice and equality, and a woman’s right to choose. I also put a high value on family, community, American-made goods and our local economy.

How often do you find yourself making a conscious choice of where and how to spend your dollars based upon your beliefs and values? Or, do you (like most of us) spend on things that have no correlation to what is truly important to you?

What we buy matters. Every time we bypass a local boutique to shop at a big box store, it makes a small but significant mark on the economy. It’s a vote with your dollar, and when you buy local, the ripple effect spreads from cash registers right to your front door. According to the American Independent Business Association, 48 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14 percent of purchases at chain stores. Online shopping contributes a fraction of that, and also has serious environmental impacts.

“Voting with our dollars” can work on the micro- or the macro-economic level. It requires a certain amount of personal sacrifice, research, and discipline, but it can be very effective in helping to express your worldview in a way that will cause others to sit up and take notice.

A recent case in point is the fact that retail giant Walmart, the bane of most small communities, has started to carry organic, locavorian and fair trade products. They are also looking to bring more “Made in America” labels into their stores. Why? Because consumers are demanding this, and they are willing to pay a premium for these items.

When people refuse to buy something, or buy product B instead of product A for what they believe to be principled purposes, they can affect the bottom line of a company. They might even cause that company to make changes to their products or practices.

Our bank statements reveal a lot about what we care about. They reflect our personal manifesto. In stark detail, these statements lay out how we spend our money and our time. As a result, we end up with a clear picture of what we value versus what we say we value.

It’s not easy to put your money where your mouth is – but it is possible. People who value the environment have a commitment to our local community and might use the following methodology: 1) Produce it ourselves; 2) If we can’t produce it, try to get it within 100 miles of our home; 3) If we can’t get it within 100 miles of our home, try to get it from our state 4) If we can’t get it from our state, try to get it “made in America”; 5) If we can’t get it from the United States, then try to get it “fair trade.”

These folks try to take a hard look at each item in light of the above, and at each step in the process ask themselves: “Is it still worth it? How badly do we need this?” Because every time they lay down a dollar, they are casting a vote for something.

Let’s put our values first and make spending decisions that better align with our true selves. Spending doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and with a little knowledge and planning, we can end up with bank statements that reflect our personal manifestos, and that we’re proud to call our own.

Christie Minervini owns Gallery Fifty at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and is active in causes of education and homelessness in the Grand Traverse region.