Note: The following came from a Wyoming Voter. Maybe even a Democrat. We don’t ask their affiliation. While we attempt to share writing that reflects the WDP platform, you may come across some words that are not exactly what WDP would have written. Perhaps you will agree with and value what you read below, perhaps not. Your mileage may vary. -ed.
This piece originally was presented in The Sheridan Press on April 25, 2026. Support your local newspapers! -ed.
There is a National Movement, really not just a day, called May Day Strong. It encourages active participation in all types of events aimed at sending a message to billionaires that they should not be immune to taxes and that workers deserve better. Though I admire the energy and the time put into successfully organizing this national event, I’m not entirely on board.
The thing is, us crusty Wyomingites like to do things right. Go big or go home. While a day of “unrest” can be constructive, I have other thoughts. May Day Strong advocates no shopping, at all, for the day. I like this, for the most part, but it falls short. My thought: no shopping from large corporation for the day, no Amazon and definitely never Temu. Instead I suggest shopping local, every day, from here on out, whenever possible.
Do some things sold locally come from larger corporations? Of course. But if you shop local, MORE of the money STAYS in the community. That’s even more true if you don’t use credit cards. What about price and affordability? Yes, local businesses can be more expensive, but I challenge you: if you do not waste ANY of the food that comes into your home, if you wear EVERY single piece of clothing you own at least ten times a year, then yes, maybe you cannot financially avoid buying from large corporations entirely. If you do waste food, if you have more clothing than you can possibly wear, then you can probably afford to keep your shopping local. Local businesses run lots of sales, so try shopping all of their sale events. We can all be better about supporting our local economy.
When it comes to supporting the working man, or person, shopping local is again, a good start. I always thank the person helping me for being there. I also love to thank those who help without making me feel like I’m an inconvenience! We can all stand a little praise for a job well done. You can even take the time to run down a manager and let them know how GOOD the help was you received, or do you only do that when you are angry? Everyone has to carry their burdens from their personal life to work, and its not always easy to put on a happy customer service face. One kind word can make a persons whole day, one snotty remark can ruin a whole week.
If you go somewhere on May 1 and they are short-staffed due to this national event, don’t take it out on those who still chose to work, who still have to because they can’t afford to miss even one day. Many corporations have such a hard zero tolerance policy, that people are so afraid to take an unscheduled day off, they go to work sick and make others sick. They go because they would rather go in sick, than to have to trade that day for another, maybe one they took off to host a birthday party. I worked in retail for 18 years for a major corporation and I can tell you, scheduling and sick days allotted etc were not, are not, fair to families with children and are especially unfair to single parents.
My hope is that the message of May Day Strong is heard and that steps are taken to improve the lives of the average American. But we can take a step every day to improve the lives of those in our own community, and therefore our own lives and those of our children by shopping local, speaking out for those doing good work, and avoiding doing business with companies that treat people like commodities.
Andrea Knutson
Sheridan