The Dark Side of Capitalism

Ever since Wal-Mart moved into town, a number of local stores have either shut down lost serious business. When Blockbuster entered our small town, three video stores bowed out. Who can compete with thousands of free stuff on the opening day?

McDonald's, Staples, Circuit City! The corporate invasion is in full gear, and the free world is under fire. It used to be that two geeks with an idea could get together and form Microsoft, but not anymore. Sure there is the odd entrepreneur that sticks it to the corporate 'man', but like Dell even their future is that of an empire.

"Mom & Pop's Video Store" just doesn't cut it anymore. They can't compete with 'no late fees', 'free rental coupons', and a bigger selection than the local library. There are some of us that try to fight back. Instead of saving money at Wal-Mart we grit our teeth and pay the difference at the local store. Instead of getting the Thursday McDeal, we stop off at "Restaurant", hoping desperately that the food won't ruin your constitution.

At least shoppers have the option of avoiding the Evil Empires. But what of us poor diploma-less grunt workers? Unless you're cutting grass or working a golf course, the odds are very high that you are a slave to an empire. In a small town like mine, it's not unusual to bounce from empire to empire, just hoping that the next job won't be quite as stressful, and the pay might be just a few cents more.

I told myself I would never work at McD's, it smelled funny, their mascot should be shot, and the pay was crap. Little did I know that i'd be working there for 9 months. I told myself that i'd never work at Wal-Mart. They do stupid cheers before every shift and have more double-standards than products. I was only a blue-jacket for 7 months, but I barely escaped with my sanity.

Where is democracy when you need it? Where is my free choice to boycott slave-working villians and thieves? This is the dark side of capitalism.

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Today's non-word is "nazicultarianism" (nat-zee-cult-tare-ee-an-ism). The overly strict, and controlling way of thought prominent in modern businesses. Also, the way of thought that allows corporations to knowingly work their employees so hard as to 'burn them out' or exaust them in a short and unlasting timeframe, causing higher rates of turnover.

Special note: according to BlogSpot's spell check, 'unlasting' is also a non-word. Oh well. :-P