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Requiem for the independant businessman!!!
MGLICKER
Posts: 7,995 ✭✭✭
The hard working souls that awoke when the sun was still two states away.
Tirelessly they toiled, knowing that a downturn or unforeseen catastrophe could put them out on the street quickly.
Vacations were a luxury that they could dream about after retirement, for now though there was a butcher shop, pharmacy, music store or restaurant to run and nobody but the owner really knew how to keep the place humming.
Many of these proud folks worked for a lot less money than their cubicle captive cohorts. Hours were longer and the pension was the put away silver change found in the register. It was worth it all of course, just to have the name on the door and have to answer to no one. No one other than the customers that could make or break him.
These fellows have become dinosaurs. Guys that chomped on discounted cigars, barked out orders to employees and always had a five dollar bill for the neighborhood vagrant that needed a meal or a bottle of Mad Dog.
Sid's Drugstore and Louie's Pizza dotted every corner. Delicatessens and independent service stations defined the neighborhood.
Local shylock politicians will always build a new intersection for Wal-Mart and a new warehouse for Amazon. Elon Musk gets a billion dollar battery plant at a drop of a hat. Small businessman gets his share all right. He gets handed the bill for the new facilities, that will become at least indirectly, his competition.
Tirelessly they toiled, knowing that a downturn or unforeseen catastrophe could put them out on the street quickly.
Vacations were a luxury that they could dream about after retirement, for now though there was a butcher shop, pharmacy, music store or restaurant to run and nobody but the owner really knew how to keep the place humming.
Many of these proud folks worked for a lot less money than their cubicle captive cohorts. Hours were longer and the pension was the put away silver change found in the register. It was worth it all of course, just to have the name on the door and have to answer to no one. No one other than the customers that could make or break him.
These fellows have become dinosaurs. Guys that chomped on discounted cigars, barked out orders to employees and always had a five dollar bill for the neighborhood vagrant that needed a meal or a bottle of Mad Dog.
Sid's Drugstore and Louie's Pizza dotted every corner. Delicatessens and independent service stations defined the neighborhood.
Local shylock politicians will always build a new intersection for Wal-Mart and a new warehouse for Amazon. Elon Musk gets a billion dollar battery plant at a drop of a hat. Small businessman gets his share all right. He gets handed the bill for the new facilities, that will become at least indirectly, his competition.
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Comments
It has nothing to do with precious metals!
<< <i>Nice imagery but I feel the need to ask as many others have here previously….what has this to do with PM?
It has nothing to do with precious metals! >>
Hell it doesn't. I know that many liberal forum members worship the government nanny state, I do not. I grew up in a time that a man created a job, he didn't beg his governor or president to create one for him.
We have traded in our farms and small businesses for long unemployment lines and hopefully a livable job, assuming we have the proper educational credentials and an acceptably obsequious demeanor.
In the same regard most Americans eschew real savings in the form of precious metals (real money) for a pocketful of promises
If you cannot make the connection, perhaps someone else can better explain.
Interesting post by the way; a lot of truth in there.
<< <i> I grew up in a time that a man created a job, he didn't beg his governor or president to create one for him.
We have traded in our farms and small businesses for long unemployment lines and hopefully a livable job, assuming we have the proper educational credentials and an acceptably obsequious demeanor.
In the same regard most Americans eschew real savings in the form of precious metals (real money) for a pocketful of promises
If you cannot make the connection, perhaps someone else can better explain. >>
I don't see or appreciate it but who cares.
<< <i>Aahhh....Hell it doesn't, sorry.
I don't see or appreciate it but who cares. >>
Seriously? Who cares?.... The gestapo cares, that's who...
Same as it ever was.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
Keep an open mind, or get financially repressed -Zoltan Pozsar
My dad is one of those "independent service stations" guys. Been struggling against the big oil and tire guys for a while now. Through an unfortunate situation with a family member he has to keep on pluggin' along for a little longer. He's 72 years old. He's been a hard labor worker for over 54 years now.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
<< <i>I see lots of folk busting their a**. And I see lots of folk sitting on their a**.
Same as it ever was. >>
Yup
I looked at her husband and said man she must be a good cook. He says naw thats the only size we can get free on the card
Then I noticed a big stack of 25# bags of sugar. Then I noticed a bunch of them bags in carts
We use to have many local run business's until Wally built super center closed 90%. The ones left will close when owner hangs it up.
<< <i>I see lots of folk busting their a**. And I see lots of folk sitting on their a**.
Same as it ever was. >>
True...but now they are busting their behind in a corporate setting. One generously endowed by a friendly and well oiled politician.
Luck and pluck still count for something.
My motto in business is "keep it small, keep it all".
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
<< <i>big increase in recent years in the number of those sitting. Sitting has become a full time job, with benefits, for many. Unfortunately, somebody has to burden the costs. >>
I think they call it retirement. And yes, the boomers children will burden the costs.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>
<< <i>I see lots of folk busting their a**. And I see lots of folk sitting on their a**.
Same as it ever was. >>
True...but now they are busting their behind in a corporate setting. One generously endowed by a friendly and well oiled politician. >>
My wife started a corporation a few years ago. It now feeds 6 families and I havent seen a single politican.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>
<< <i>big increase in recent years in the number of those sitting. Sitting has become a full time job, with benefits, for many. Unfortunately, somebody has to burden the costs. >>
I think they call it retirement. And yes, the boomers children will burden the costs. >>
At 25 it is probably not called retirement.