This year has higher gas prices, a rising national debt, a divided congress, record unemployment and lower job opportunities.
I push my cart down the yellow brick road (a.
k.
a.
isle 7) in search of the great and powerful OZ; I'm searching for far more than a discount on courage, a heart or a brain.
We need what Dorothy never had to think of asking for: Small Business Cyber Tuesday.
An official American shopping holiday dedicated to Internet based small businesses owned and operated by the home based workers of the middle class.
Black Friday is known for its unbelievable sales especially from the mega stores.
Don't get me wrong I love to shop as much as the next body blocking, elbowing, save a buck shopper.
I've always believed on Black Friday shopping survival could be a requirement to get in the Navy Seals or possibly an Olympic sport.
Small Business Saturday is when we pivot our focus to the neighborhood mom and pop stores.
The small community based shops that provide job security to the entrepreneurs that have made our country great.
These small business shops are a cornerstone in our economy we need to support all year long.
Cyber Monday is all about the online deal of the century from business like Amazon, Walmart or anyone dangling the free shipping or price matching carrot to the savvy buyer.
We need the money saving deals the giants of the industry make available and yes, we need to support businesses who employ our neighbors friends and family.
This Cyber Tuesday could be a day that combines the best qualities that Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday have to offer.
But this would be a shopping day that uniquely focuses on the Internet Small Businesses.
Most of the startup companies in this arena are working with extremely limited inventories and are staying afloat on shoe string advertising budgets, but have no limit on their desire to live the new American dream.
This could be a day where we all make a special effort to support the newest recession born Internet businesses who truly believe in hard work combined with a hope of success and change that makes a brighter future for us all.
Many and possibly most of these new online shops aren't what we would call perfect.
They don't have the inventory, advertising or technical budgets to be in a toe-to-toe competition with Wal-Mart or Amazon websites.
But they are great places to get the items you may be looking for at prices far better than expected.