Matt Worden
Published: January 9, 2006
Well, another year has passed and we once again have weathered America’s most commercialized holiday. And again we’ve heard the same complaints as every other year, calling Christmas a “Hallmark holiday” and a “sellout celebration.”
I understand these objections. But I also understand the need for the commercialization of Christmas. As capitalists, we run our country on a system that needs money to be exchanged. December ends up being the time when our economy does the best because of increased sales.
Our economy eats, drinks and breathes sales. When people don’t spend their money, sales go down and unemployment goes up.
Every year, small businesses all around America bite their nails waiting for the holiday season, which will determine if many small businesses stay alive. Retailers typically do about one-fifth of their yearly business in the holiday season.
People complain about Santa taking the focus away from Jesus. However, that fat man, conveniently located in every shopping center, means at least 20 seasonal jobs per location. Stores are fully stocked and the number of employees is higher than at any other time of year.
In 2005, Action Economics forecasted that over 459,000 jobs would be created for the season. In other words, almost half a million families may have supplemental income to help them through harsher winter conditions.
As we all know, Jesus was an advocate for the betterment of the poor. Our economy happens to be set up in a way in which the betterment of the poor usually corresponds with a stronger economy.
The more people spend, the more jobs are created, and the more people are able to provide for themselves. The higher national sales are, the more is taxed and the more aid can go to government funded projects such as education and healthcare.
Everyone from factory workers to retail owners benefit from excess holiday spending. According to the Institute for Supply Management, factory payrolls were expected to grow by another $5,000 in December, after an increase of $11,000 in November.
So holiday sales benefit our capitalist system. They’re so important that next year’s stock market trends can be predicted by holiday sales.
Yes, the next 12 months of stock activity is guided by Christmas sales. This is called a Santa rally and for any of you interested, there was such a slump this year that we didn’t have a Santa rally. If a Santa rally doesn’t materialize, like it didn’t this time, then the stock exchange will probably see drops in the coming year.
For anyone who didn’t catch that, since there wasn’t enough consumerism this holiday season, anyone holding stocks may find it difficult to make any money this year.
If stocks go down, investments fall. If investments fall, less is produced by industry and consumed by the public. This can lead to an overall decline in gross domestic product and sales tax revenue, which could force the government to cut expenditures on “unnecessary expenses” such as schools, parks and healthcare.
I am sure Jesus would not be a fan of a decline in the overall health and well-being of the American public.
We live a very self-oriented society. This isn’t a good thing or a bad thing; it is simply the truth of our societal situation.
Our utilization of the season is necessary to perpetuate the American dream. Now more than ever, the Christmas season is a saving grace on which our economy depends.