Sometimes you do though. And when you do it allows for a more cordial, more effective and satisfying discussion.
Since we're talking about neighbors and rural kin, rednecks, farmers and salt of the earth folks who do rely on this kind of assistance let's get into it. It's the good, Christian thing to do to provide some temporary support, no?
Do you want local grocers to go under? Do you want those jobs and that economic activity lost? Folks moving to chase low-paying jobs? The tax bade for already small counties to shink even further?
Originally Posted by HDGristle
I wast through parts of Eastern PA, east of State College, long valleys, lots of farms, farm supply businesses basically taken over by the Amish.
Lots of caves, lots of small towns with a fully functioning local economy, shoe stores, grocery stores, hardware, etc, kind of like stepping back to the 50s.
What you didn't see?
Walmarts.
Dollar stores.
Too small, too self sufficient.
Are rural grocery stores dying because you have a dollar store of some type in every town between on every rural highway?
In my area, there are 10 within a 5 mile radius.
OR more, I've lost count.
Shop and Save is closing stores around the PGH area, honestly, the one nearest me is INSANE in pricing, like Giant Eagle on Steroids, but unable to match GE on sale items.
Part of this is the shift in the economy to mega stores, we got an ALDI recently, its the PLACE for low cost produce, and other stuff, bread, dairy, all excellently priced.
Sure I use the local store, they used to be lower than average on meat, but, they are losing that market to the bigger buyers who can afford to sell it for less.
When I go shopping, sometime hitting Aldi, GE, and then the locals, I'll see the same people at all three, as you can got to all three about 2 miles total apart.
Times change, and small businesses get fucked, its always been that way.
I have equipment in my shop, that my dad bought from a man whose business was from the 10s, and 20's, and was old, when my dad started his business in the early 60s.
His business started out as a carriage works.
Good, well made American machinery thats functional 100 years later, that's how deep our local roots go.
In 100 years, that will be impossible.
Times change.
