{"id":2082,"date":"2020-12-03T06:48:05","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T14:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scot.fun\/damentals\/?p=2082"},"modified":"2020-12-03T06:48:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T14:48:17","slug":"dont-support-local-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scot.fun\/damentals\/dont-support-local-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Support Local Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Since writing about “Supporting Live Entertainment” I have had some time to refine my ire. As Christmastime approaches, a lot of my friends are saying “Support Small (or Local) Businesses.” It’s more of the same thing! Stop it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole concept is backwards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People are worried about individuals losing their small corporations due to big corporations driving them out. According to the capitalist system, big corporations are serving individuals better than small corporations; and that’s why individuals are paying them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we agree that the system is working, the best way to help individuals is to support big corporations because they’re serving the most individuals the best — almost a corporate socialism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we don’t agree that the system is working, we can work to change the laws and support individuals directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small corporations are corporations too<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Big corporations became that way by being small corporations that found a way to motivate profits and scale. This is usually done by serving a need of individuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built in to this concept of “support small businesses” is often the idea that businesses are evil if they’re big. So we support the small ones, even though they might not be focused on serving a need. If we’re successful, we’ll turn a small business that sucks into a big business that sucks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s up to businesses to support us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Businesses are not charities. They are meant to deliver things that individuals or other businesses value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The killing local businesses way of thinking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Businesses get killed. As technology, society, and other stuff improves, the horse-cart business, the radio business, the music video production business all fall away. As retail becomes more automated, companies that don’t automate die. This is how it works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folks cry out “Amazon is killing the mom & pop bookstore.” And they’re right. If a mom & pop is operating on an old model that used to serve people and no longer serves them as well as Amazon, they will die. The same way movies killed Vaudeville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing is, Amazon is not killing every mom & pop bookstore. There are bookstores that still serve their communities something special. Heck, there are still companies that build horse carts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bookstores can offer…<\/p>\n\n\n\n