I just had an idea, which may or may not work out. I just wanted to get some feedback. There has been much discussion on this site about the plight of minimum wage workers. Many of us have donned the stereotypical liberal snob hat (guilty!) and have said that we would boycott any establishment, such as WalMart or McDonald's, who mistreats their workers.
Now it's the holiday season and many of us want to shop or eat at these questionable establishments (guilty!). How do we reconcile our principles with our baser wants or needs? Please read about my idea beneath the squiggly orange serpent!!
My lower self looked through the McDonald's coupon book mailed to my home and drooled over the egg nog milkshake! My higher self was really inspired about reports that Pope Francis (Pope Frank, to his fans) went in disguise and ministered to the homeless. I want to be bad (milkshakes) and do good this season!
An idea popped in my head. What if some of us were to subvert the system and give gift cards (Safeway, Giant, Target, even WalMart or some other general purpose store) to these minimum wage workers. I first thought of tipping my cashier at the local McDonald's, but I'm sure she would be prohibited from accepting it. I've got a load of Christmas cards that I could put gift cards in. My cashier would have plausible deniability. I'm fantasizing about walking through a WalMart and handing out cards to random WalMart workers.
This may not work AT ALL, but I wanted to run it up the flagpole. I just might try doing what I've described above and blog about it.
I'd really appreciate any feedback. I also selfishly want to inspire others to enact what I've suggested.
It would be fun, subversive and generous this holiday season!