Some are wondering why not many Xmas decorations. Try electric bills

[cantstandbush]

for starters. Choosing between staying warm this winter or footing a Christmas light bill might be the reason there are not many lights going up in the north east. Or maybe people are just not in the mood for Christmas, with or without Christ.

[NanceGreggs]

1. Expensive heat, expensive electricity ...

... worries about whether your job will be outsourced or 'cut back', concerns about whether your pension will still be there when you retire, watching all of the 'good news' coming out of Iraq ... geez, and they wonder why there's no 'holiday spirit' around these days!

[HockeyMom]

3. I lowered the thermostat

I sleep under a down comforter, with flannel sheets, wearing flannel pj's. I woke up in the the middle of the night freezing with my cat sleeping on TOP OF ME. She has a fur COAT and obviously was too cold and needed MY body heat. I got up and turned up the thermostat.

Screw the lights. Bah, Humbug!!!!

[rzemanfl]

2. Just another sign that our "War on Christmas" is working. Way

to go liberal atheists! Thanks for your help Jews. Stay the course. :sarcasm:

[NanceGreggs]

4. You're right - we should all be chastized.

A lot of us here at DU ARE attacking Christmas these days, when we should be protecting everything that Christmas has come to mean in America.

How will the CEOs of companies like Hallmark pay for their new 2006 SUVs if we stop buying cards, gift wrap, etc.?

How will Wal-Mart survive if we don't spend our last dime buying their made-in-China crapola?

How will Big Oil be able to afford decent eight-figure year-end bonuses for themselves, if we don't get in our cars and drive from mall to mall, buying stuff that nobody wants or needs?

Do we REALLY want to put an end to all of this? What next? Donating food to food banks and shelters, so that people who are homeless on Christmas have food and warmth? Is that what Christmas is going to come to mean in future?

I realize that Mary, Joseph and the kid were homeless on Christmas -- does that mean they have to RUIN IT FOR THE REST OF US?

[bumblebee1]

5. I discussed this topic with mu husband today.

I told him that I've always wanted to go all out when decorating our front yard for Christmas. I've always had a change of heart. My husband said it was because of him. I told him that he was part of the answer. The other part was that I don't want to see that astronomical electric bill come January.