The economy caused it to be bumped to Friday?

But that's how I do my Black "Whatever" shopping, let my fingers do the walking!

Black Monday was a contrived invention of some marketeers looking for a way to 'stand out from the rest' - oddly by trying to collectivize everyone into a single shopping entity.  They didn't stand out from the rest, and honestly most of the world hasn't heard of black monday - except for the Crash of 1987.

Black Friday wasn't nearly as contrived.  Much like "silver" is the single most popular color for cars, individuals chose the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping and made it the most popular shopping day of the year.

Retailers began competing for shoppers among a known "critical mass" to get them in the stores.  What better way to draw shoppers than advertising loss leaders - people don't just buy one CD, they'll buy 5.  People don't just buy TVs, they need a surround sound system.

After almost 20 years, the sales became spectacular and legendary drawing lines and crowds large enough to stampede innocent store clerks.  The event was dubbed "Black Friday" as a matter of colloquialism.

However, I'd hate to think that in your universe, I don't love my home and my country because I really have no interest in the consumer culture of America/Michigan.  

Buying the latest electronic gadget, clothes, magazines, books, diet plan, etc...just buys a lot of unhappiness in the end for a lot of people.

I have a different definition of what would be "patriotic."

Patriotic would be telling people to be responsible with the money you do have.  

Don't spend what you don't have.  

If you have money to spend, then spend it wisely- get the biggest bang for your buck.  

If you have money to spend on at the mall- consider giving it (or some of it) to a local charity or food bank to help people who have less than you do - there are a lot of Michiganders who are having a hard time putting food on their tables and keeping the lights/gas on.  

Fashion goes out of style and people grow out of it - electronic gadgets improve every couple of months and what's new and cool today is "ancient" tomorrow.  Books and magazines sit on a table or in the trash after they are read.  

Christmas isn't about how much you can buy and how much stuff you accumulate.

A one month spending blitz isn't going to change Michigan's economy.  We've been in a recession way too long for one month to really make a difference. To think otherwise is just naive.

As for Mr Galts critisizm of Black Monday...
I don't feel this is anytime to go "John Galt" on Internet Retailing as this may be the last bastion of free capitalists in the coming years.

BTW Another hit on the right to freely produce, market and sell products on the net.