The death of small businesses

POSTED BY: SignyM
UPDATED: Monday, August 10, 2026 21:52
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RIPWASH

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:33 PM

Quote:
Again, thank you for proving my point about capitalism being inherently evil.

Ah . . . now the sockpuppet thing comes out. *sigh* I suppose it was unavoidable.

There is inherent evil in everything, my friend. From both sides of politics to the bear basics of human nature. Wherever there are people, the possibility of evil exists. And yes, there are always exceptions to that, but on the WHOLE, I think that you'll agree that what I'm saying is true.

There is no other reason for someone to start their own business (non-profit organizations aside - they don't actually sell anything) other than to make money. To make a wage, sure, but without profit, how is one to expand?

ABC Co. opened up two years ago by Mr. X and business is booming. Customers out the door everyday. Business keeps growing and growing and his store is soon packed to the gills to the point of being uncomfortable for his customers. But because he only put enough margin on his product to pay himself, buy more product and keep the lights in the building on, he can not EXPAND his business to offer more product, or expand the building or hire employees to assist the customers, etc. If he doesn't do these things he may lose customers because they don't like shopping at his store anymore. It's crowded, dirty and no one is available to help them because Mr. X is always at the cash register. The town's baseball league asks him to sponsor a team, he says he can't, so the league has to field one less team and kids get left out. Someone else stops by to ask for a donation of the store's product to help families in need in the neiborhood, he can't or he'd loose too much money. He can't hire anyone else, so he runs himself ragged anyway and has to close the store. See what I'm saying? PROFIT is what runs a business or there's no point in starting a business.

Yes. This is an extreme example, but the point is that without profit, Mr. X is going nowhere. And, yes, Mr. X could make enough profit to turn into a greedy bloodsucker because he's inherently evil. Happy?

Wal-Mart, though it may be evil, is one of the largest (if not THE largest) corporate charitable donors in the country. $245 million in one year, if I remember right. So without them . . . that money would be gone to who knows where.

Who is to say what a "fair wage" is? I mean seriously. Paying someone over 7$ an hour to flip burgers and wipe tables is too much, if you ask me. And yes, the more a company has to pay their employees, the more they'll have to charge for their product and/or services if they want to make a profit. Sorry, but it's true. Why do you think Value Menus at McDonalds started out at $0.99 and then in a few years . . . they had to stop. Minimum wage increases were a factor in that. Youbetcha.

I think it all comes down to the basic mindset of Americans these days. The "I want the best and I want it NOW." There's no more waiting or saving up to buy stuff. People want to be able to afford to by a flat screen TV now, so they claim (yes me included), right or wrong, that they don't get paid enough. People want their cable/sattelite tv, the new car, Playstation 3.

Look at this. This is America's definition of "poor".

And yes, Citizen, I think you're a mite bit too serious for your own good. You picked apart that little joke about politics for goodness sake! I said latin instead of greek! *GASP*

Oh . . . and I thought your equation of Wal-Mart to Stalin was absurd . . . so there

Zoe: "Get it running again."
Mal: "Yeah"
Zoe: "So not running now"
Mal: "Not so much"
- Out of Gas

RIPWASH

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
Don't like Wal-mart or the corporate decisions they make, THEN DON'T SHOP THERE! It's as simple as that.

Don't like Earth or the corporate decisions they make, THEN DON'T LIVE THERE! It's as simple as that.

The laughing Chrisisall

My point exactly

I hear Mars if lovely this time of year...

Zoe: "Get it running again."
Mal: "Yeah"
Zoe: "So not running now"
Mal: "Not so much"
- Out of Gas

CHRISISALL

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
The "I want the best and I want it NOW." There's no more waiting or saving up to buy stuff. People want to be able to afford to by a flat screen TV now, so they claim (yes me included), right or wrong, that they don't get paid enough. People want their cable/sattelite tv, the new car, Playstation 3.

We bought a home smaller than we could "swing", My son has a lowly PS2, my car is from 1999 & still running well, I have a tube TV that looks very nice & is almost flat, and very basic cable because reception of broadcast TV is nearly impossible where we live. Going camping or climbing a mountain or going on a long bike ride is very cheap, healthy & fun.

Being happy has less to do with having the best, and more to do with getting the best out of what you can comfortably manage. Serenity on DVD, some popcorn & I'm having a better time than most peeps on a yacht, I conjure.

The laughing Chrisisall

CITIZEN

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
And yes, Citizen, I think you're a mite bit too serious for your own good. You picked apart that little joke about politics for goodness sake! I said latin instead of greek! *GASP*

Oh . . . and I thought your equation of Wal-Mart to Stalin was absurd . . . so there

I'm astounded by your ability to read my mind, almost as much as your ability to get it so astoundingly wrong.

I find your belief that I take everything seriously as silly and misguided as your belief that rich people are allowed to do what ever they want, and it's everyone else's fault. Game set and match.

I was reading in the paper today about this dwarf that got pickpocketed. How could anyone stoop so low?

RIPWASH

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
The "I want the best and I want it NOW." There's no more waiting or saving up to buy stuff. People want to be able to afford to by a flat screen TV now, so they claim (yes me included), right or wrong, that they don't get paid enough. People want their cable/sattelite tv, the new car, Playstation 3.

We bought a home smaller than we could "swing", My son has a lowly PS2, my car is from 1999 & still running well, I have a tube TV that looks very nice & is almost flat, and very basic cable because reception of broadcast TV is nearly impossible where we live. Going camping or climbing a mountain or going on a long bike ride is very cheap, healthy & fun.

Being happy has less to do with having the best, and more to do with getting the best out of what you can comfortably manage. Serenity on DVD, some popcorn & I'm having a better time than most peeps on a yacht, I conjure.

The laughing Chrisisall

Then you, my friend, are living a happy life!

Zoe: "Get it running again."
Mal: "Yeah"
Zoe: "So not running now"
Mal: "Not so much"
- Out of Gas

RIPWASH

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
And yes, Citizen, I think you're a mite bit too serious for your own good. You picked apart that little joke about politics for goodness sake! I said latin instead of greek! *GASP*

Oh . . . and I thought your equation of Wal-Mart to Stalin was absurd . . . so there

I'm astounded by you're ability to read my mind, almost as much as you're ability to get it so astoundingly wrong.

I was reading in the paper today about this dwarf that got pickpocketed. How could anyone stoop so low?

Again. . . you're proving my point . . . I win LOL. Hahaha. Joke. Kidding, Whatever else it will take to let you know I'm saying things in jest here. Holy cow . . .

Zoe: "Get it running again."
Mal: "Yeah"
Zoe: "So not running now"
Mal: "Not so much"
- Out of Gas

CITIZEN

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:

Again. . . you're proving my point . . . I win LOL. Hahaha. Joke. Kidding, Whatever else it will take to let you know I'm saying things in jest here. Holy cow . . .

*Sigh*

I'm going to have to say it aren't I?

I was reading in the paper today about this dwarf that got pickpocketed. How could anyone stoop so low?

STORYMARK

Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:
Quote:

Ah yes . . . the "Big, Evil Wal-Mart" routine. It's not their fault that Americans want to buy things for less.

But it is their fault that small businesses get driven out of town by unfair practices.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

CHRISISALL

Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RIPWash:

Then you, my friend, are living a happy life!

Somewhat less stressful than many.
I'd be way happier if they'd release a decent transfer of Outland to DVD, but whatca gonna do?

The laughing Chrisisall

CITIZEN

Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

I'd be way happier if they'd release a decent transfer of Outland to DVD, but whatca gonna do?

We've got one, it's region 2 so you can't watch it, ahh, ahhh, oohh, region twoo.
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/1877/Outland/Product.html

I was reading in the paper today about this dwarf that got pickpocketed. How could anyone stoop so low?

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