No, Seriously, Buy Local

A lovely visual, care of SRA, which illustrates the difference between spending $100 at a locally owned business vs a non-locally owned business.  This is good to consider when thinking about the cerazy deals at Best Buy this weekend. 

Click to enlarge!

source: LocalFirst.com

This image is from localfirst.com, an initiative to buy local in West Michigan.  Their campaign includes a local business directory and a buy local coupon book.  Bellingham (where I live) has a similar organization, called Sustainable Connections.  Local businesses produce more jobs, and more stable jobs, than non-local business.  Also, when I go to the local indie theater here in Bellingham and look at their sponsors board, it's all local businesses.  A robust local economy creates a resilient, inter-reliant community.  Best Buy doesn't.