A walk in my shoes

What might appear here as an advertisement for shoes isn't that at all. It's an advertisement for people. It's my backlash reaction to the athletic shoe market dominated by industry giants whose bloated profit margins come at the expense of overpriced shoes purchased by people paying for a particular corporate logo that's accepted and recognized within their peer groups as "cool."

I say overpriced because most of these shoes are manufactured in *free* markets that extract a high cost in human dignity. This is done through the exploitation of worker's via long hours and short pay. An unliving wage to support a life in unlivable living standards. Which translates into higher profits for manufacturers, of course. It's primo capitalism.

So several months ago, in need of some new shoes, I went searching on the internet and found Black Spots. For about the same price--or less--than a pair of those others, the people who make them are able to retain a modicum of dignity through living wages earned in a union shop begun in reaction to slave wage shops of the big boys.

Besides being "the world's first global anti-brand," Black Spot Shoes are Earth friendly, anti-sweatshop, cruelty free, and pro-grassroots. They also sport a "sweet spot", a red spot on the toe designated for "kicking corporate ass". That alone was enough to grab my attention.

Another thing I like about Black Spots is their hand painted "anti-corporate logo" on the side of each shoe. It's simply a blank white circle. It allows one, if so inclined, to personalize their shoes. Below is an illustration of one I sported for the first time in public during a trip to the supermarket this past weekend.

Overcome with the spirit of season, I was puzzled at first by what I discerned were a couple of people's frowning or disapproving looks at my smile. I finally concluded it must be my newly decorated Black Spots!

So another great advantage of these shoes is revealed. When properly decorated, they repel half the public who reads them. That half that advocates for bogus war and the systematic dismantling of the nation and the rights guaranteed its citizenry. A citizenry that learns almost daily their privacy and rights are a little more diminished than they thought they were the day before. And the bastards who endorse this course for the nation will not be inclined to associate with you while you're wearing them.

That's not bad for a shoe born out of some social conscience and that repels those who have little or none.