05/18/2022
Lynn Murphy Mark
The Behemoth
It’s a quiet morning here at Casa McAllister/Mark. I’ve been slowly drifting through FaceBook, where I get a lot of my news, and paying a few bills online. It’s almost time to pay off the one credit card that I use for everything. It’s a Southwest Visa card and I get points towards flights, etc., on Southwest Airlines. I’ve had many a “free” trip over the years. However, as my daughter points out, one has to spend thousands of dollars to get enough points for a “free” trip. I wish she hadn’t told me that. Some of the magic disappeared when she did.
Because I had the time I thought I would explore what my monthly expenses were that I charged on the card. Groceries – check. Drug costs – check. Entertainment – check. So far I was impressed with my frugality. Then came the category that I least wanted to explore: Amazon.com. One third of my spending goes to that mammoth organization. This was like a cold glass of water in my face.
I know that I appreciate the ease with which items can be obtained. Each time I order something I am impressed by how fast I can get it. Monday I ordered ink cartridges for my printer in the morning and I had them by the afternoon. It didn’t occur to me to wonder who the person was that so diligently completed my order. I’ve seen film clips inside a “fulfillment center” and I am reminded of hamsters on wheels. That’s not right, but I do like the convenience. That’s how selfish and shallow I can be.
I have two good friends who will go to any length to avoid shopping on Amazon. One of my friends is determined to take Jeff Bezos down to bankruptcy if at all possible. Another friend is an attorney and she looks for reasons to go after him. These people have scruples.
I wonder if I am a shopaholic when it comes to doing business with Amazon. This morning I wonder if I am actually addicted to the ease of ordering what I want when I want it. Right here, right now I need a support group. Then I realize that I am in 12 Step programs and I think about Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over (in this case, Amazon) and that our lives had become unmanageable. I am in no way trivializing Step 1. If I am completely honest, I must say that my Amazon expenses eat up at least half of my Social Security check. In financial and budget terms that is unmanageable.
When I hear about employees of Amazon unionizing I am glad and fully support their efforts. I hope this results in financial equity for them, and that they are able to negotiate good benefits. I hope this makes Jeff Bezos squirm inside his billionaire self. When I read that in 2007 he did not pay a penny in income taxes I am angry about how upside down our financial world is.
Angry be damned. Every time I wander over to the computer and type in Amazon and proceed to order something, I am supporting one of the richest men in the world. This started out as a slightly amusing blog, but that’s not how it’s ending. I will seriously be more prudent when I indulge my thinking that I “must have” something from Amazon. Discipline is called for. It might do me good to call my sponsor when I feel pulled to buy something that I might be able to do without, or obtain it without lining Bezos’ pocket. The office supply store is less than a mile from my house – I could have gotten those ink cartridges myself. After all, I drive a Prius…