Thanksgiving and Capitalism

Ahhhh, Thanksgiving is finally here! The centerpiece of our feast this year, as it is every year, is a nice 22 pound turkey. This fine creature assumed room temperature no doubt a few weeks ago when its life was taken by a turkey farmer. It was then frozen solid for transport and sale at my local grocery store where fate brought us together. I slowly brought it back to about 35 degrees over the span of a few days in my refrigerator. It is now sitting in a salty/sugary/icy brine in a cooler on my kitchen floor. At some point tomorrow, it will reach approximately 165 degrees. My family and I will then act on our carnivorous instincts and devour the bird, not putting any of it to waste (except for the head and feet and other entrails it didn't come with but are no doubt being enjoyed in the form of a "turkey frank" somewhere). Football, sleeping and packing for a weekend trip to Gattlinburg, TN will follow.

Now that I've given you a nice visual on how my family will celebrate the holiday, let's take a look at everyone who will benefit in some way, no matter how miniscule, by our family's feast:

Turkey:
Turkey Farmer
Employees of Turkey Farmer
Turkey Farmer's vendors (feed suppliers, fuel suppliers, machinery suppliers, etc.)

Brine Ingredients:
Makers of Morton Salt, their employees and vendors
Makers of Domino Sugar, their employees and venors
City of Southaven, MS, their employees and vendors (water)

Producers of the sweet potatoes, their employees and vendors
Producers of the green beans, their employees and vendors
Makers of the french fried onions, their employees and vendors
Makers of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, their employees and vendors
Makers of Ore Ida Hash Browns, their employees and vendors
Makers of Daisy Sour Cream, their employees and vendors
Makers of the generic corn flakes we bought, their employees and vendors
Producers of my stalk of celery, their employees and vendors
Producers of the cranberries for cranberry sauce, their employees and vendors
Makers of the Brown and Serve rolls, their employees and vendors
Makers of the onions that went in various dishes, their employees and vendors
Producers of the corn meal and eggs that go into the cornbread dressing, their employees and vendors

All employees and vendors of the grocery stores where I bought these items
All employees of the gas station where I bought gas to power my vehicle in which I rode to the stores.

... and many, many more people (antacid manufacturers, for example).

All of this thanks to what is left of the FREE MARKET! Enjoy it while it lasts!