Transactions vs. Relationships
Our collective thinking has to shift from valuing "things" to valuing "people".
Relationships instead of transactions. I'll give some examples. I go into Home Depot and it's very hard to find help. Last time I was there, I was looking for a gas starter pipe for my fireplace, and when I finally found someone, they walked me to the "fireplace section", where I had already been for 30 minutes, looking for my item. When I told them that what I was looking for wasn't there, they wanted to call someone else, who I waiting for about 4 minutes, then decided I was done looking.
Contrast that with our local ACE hardware store in Greenville. I go in a few weeks ago to buy some bolts that we'll be using to secure a server rack to the floor, and the guy not only advises me on the right bolts, but makes sure I have the right anchors for the concrete, too. All told, I spend less than $5 on the transaction, but I got to know the person. I've been back several times, and the same person always is there to help me. The last 2-3 times were really easy, because he already knew who I was, and what I was trying to do.
Everything in this country has become about "transactions". Buying, selling, and gambling. Maximizing the return on investment far outweighs the value of people. Bigger stores, more dollar volumes, more inventory.
At the risk of getting this posting moved to the religious forum, I think the core problem is that we don't care about people anymore, just stuff, and it shows in our country. Jesus taught us to "love our neighbors as ourselves", and then told the story of the Good Samaritan when someone asked who a "neighbor" is.
So, as an add-on to my rant, we really need to start caring about each other, and not so much about the next dollar.
