Economy Takes Businesses Back to Basics

… AT LEAST FOR NOW

By Mande Wilkes

FITSNews – June 19, 2008 - Since the media is determined to be total killjoys about America’s worsening economy, we’ve decided to shine some light on the silver lining of recession.

Specifically, it’s beginning to look like Americans are getting a long-overdue swift kick in the pants – in the form of a pinch in their pockets. For too long, Americans – even the middle and lower class Americans – have lived like kings compared to their counterparts in other nations, flouting the principles of hard work and deferred gratification on which this country once prospered. We got used to “big, cheap, fast, and easy … ” and we’re not just talking about Sic’s taste in women.

We worked sort of hard, played really hard, and forgot to check the price tag attached to the high life, which now looms all the larger against the glaring fluorescence of a poor economy.

So far, the recession appears to be the belated wake-up call America needed to get back in touch with reality. Businesses are zealously trimming the fat, eliminating some of the unfettered excess that got us in this mess to begin with.

Big airlines, although not technically in trouble because the government is their sugar daddy, have begun to aggressively cut overhead in the face of burgeoning fuel costs. They’ve implemented stricter luggage fees, with at least two companies going so far as to charge for even a single checked bag. Perhaps people will think twice before lugging those hefty Manolos? And then perhaps they’ll think twice about buying them in the first place? Nice domino effect …

Some air carriers have stopped serving complimentary snacks. Again, this kills two birds with one stone. The airlines save money and America deals with its collective weight problem. Seriously, who among us really needs that free bag of chips? If we want to eat in-flight, we’re going to have to pay for it. Hey, hydrogenated oil ain’t free, you know.

Additionally, one airline is “trying to eliminate unnecessary quantities of extra water” to reduce the planes’ weight. Well yeah, it’s unnecessary! Only in roaring economic times can a business get away with doing totally unnecessary stuff just because.

And again with the domino effect: eliminating water waste is good for the environment, people.

Looks like this recession might actually be good for business. Or maybe, in true American fashion, we’ll return to our glorious excess as soon as we can free up some credit to burn through again. Never can tell …

Of course, these cost-cutting changes could be permanent if the government would actually allow the market to adjust itself instead of riding in like knights in shining armor to save businesses – and people – from themselves.

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