by Donna Del Vecchio

Created on: March 23, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2009

Home is where the heart is. You only have to talk to your friends, neighbors and families to understand the true impact of the economic crisis. Small towns and big cities alike are feeling the impact that is hitting home.. The rich, the middle class and the poor are affected.

Mom and pop stores throughout the United States are closing their doors. Our neighbors and friends who own these wonderful, innovative enterprises can no longer compete with the Mega stores that outsource every aspect of labor. Quantity has replaced quality. You only have to drive down any Main Street in the United States and you see empty buildings that perhaps were the place of a business for many, many years. Are there any local lumberyards, pharmacies, banks or local movie theaters in your town anymore? Is there one doctor's office in your town that you can go into without health insurance?

Not too long ago I remember going to my bank that was a local bank. I knew the bank tellers names. The service was remarkable. Then about 10 years ago something changed. Every couple of years the bank was bought out by another bank. As this occurred, consolidating and layoffs began. As this small occurence happened other events began to unfold. If I had a simple question I was placed on hold and sent on an endless tour of "Press 1 for English", Press 2 for a Directory, and so on and so on. I was no longer afforded the luxury of customer service. I was sent into a maze of confusion and was speaking to someone in a foreign country.

Across America people were being told more was better. Do not worry about tomorrow and save for a rainy day. Live off your equity, travel, send your children to colleges by taking out loans you could not afford, build a McMansion, shop at Home Depot, Walmart, and other mega stores. Do not question that everything was Made in China.

Then, moms across America had to work. There was no longer the choice of staying home. Day care centers and after school activities had to be paid for. Of course that meant that we needed at least two cars and Mega cars to get our kids where they needed to go. The voices of children playing in the summertime are gone now forever. As we got more we received so very less. Quantity again replaced quality time with our children.

Parents were told that education of our children is key. Yet, at what expense? We had to keep up with the global economy, but yet how could we? When people throughout the world are willing to do the same work for so very less. Now young people throughout the country are highly educated with loans that will take years to pay back. Sadly, there are no jobs for them now.

The state of the economy has hit home like never before. Yes, Americans have been through tough times before. Yet, it is so very different now. Too many different outside entities will make it an uphill battle. Can a local beauty parlor compete against the mass nail salons that have employees who work for pennies on the dollar? How will a local pharmacy compete against a Mega Pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS who can buy products in bulk at a lower cost? Who will be willing nowadays to open a local lumberyard with high taxes and high health insurance policies when there is a Home Depot only miles away?

Perhaps we must do all we can to make sure the mom and pop stores that still survive get our patronage. They are your neighbors, friends, and family. Your children grew up with their children. We owe it to them to remember that Americans what quality and not quanity and the expense of true Americans trying to live the American Dream.

Learn more about this author, Donna Del Vecchio.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.