Retail Resistance

Civic vs. Corporate

I've actually stolen this post's title from Ralph Nader, back when he was cool, or as cool as Nader can be, in the Nader sense of the word. Regardless, I think this notion goes some way towards distilling what is at stake as this country's small businesses fight for their lives.

Of course we at Box Office Video have a vested interest in this struggle, and yes, we are a corporation of sorts. But this issue is perhaps best understood in terms of scale, not semantics and purity. Let me give you an example, it's a little like the 90 million dollar "The Departed" being nominated for an IFP Gotham Award. Somehow, someone, can make a case for it being an independent film, but proportionally speaking it's destroying the integrity of independent American film.

But I digress, enter Stacy Mitchell's new book "Big-Box Swindle". (Full disclosure, Stacy is a friend and inspiration for this blog) In it she takes on the issue of what the real costs of big-box retailers and ethereal webtailers are, as they tirelessly work to bring America's small businesses to their knees, in the process doing heretofore untold damage to the life of our democracy.

Obviously I think this is a vital issue to our country. Having read it I would shill for this book whether I had a personal connection to it or not. I've heard it's being compared to "Nickle and Dimed". I should say, however, Ehrenreich's book doesn't have the opinions of yours truly - Herskovitz, Tod, pages 149-50 - in it.

The Newest in Affrontery For Fall

I'm not sure why this is, but for some reason there is a type of person who feels obligated to justify why they don't rent at Box Office Video by telling me they do Netflix instead. I can't figure out why they think that this is information I need to know.

Two nights ago a very well heeled heel of a well meaning liberal type did this very thing. Unfortunately for him, intelligent though he may be, and know doubt thinks he is, I was hammered and instead of politically demurring, I chose to tell him what was wrong with him and his ilk.

It went a little something like this. Two years ago...A friend of mine...Told me to say some MC rhymes..So I said this rhyme I'm about to say...The rhyme was butter and it went this way. (Sorry, that reminscence was unavoidable):

Me: Well, where do you live? (I realize not everyone has a viable non-corporate alternative)
He: A block from the store.
Me: So despite all of your professed progressive politics, you can't even walk around the corner to support your neighborhood, your city, and a local business that helps to support both of those things.
He: It's not me, really, it's my wife who does it.
Me: I find it slightly misogynistic for you to scapegoat your wife who isn't here.
He: Well, she watches like 6 movies a month. I probably only watch 1. I haven't watched much of anything since my wife bought me "Six Moral Tales" my birthday.
Me: (This motherfucker thinks he can trump me by asserting some kind of cultural superiority with an Eric Rohmer reference. Fuck him.) Congratulations. You have six Rohmer films. How many films do you think he's made? Like 30? Do you ever think you might want to watch any of his other films? You can find them at the video store a block from your house.
He: He's probably made more like twenty films. (In point of fact, I count 34 if you don't include his TV productions.)
Me: Your the kind of person who is screwing this country. You vote for a Democrat once every two years, but your actions every other day do nothing to mirror your parlor politics.

Okay. I think you get the idea. I'm sure that berating potential customers isn't the greatest of business models. I doubt Netflix ever talks back to you, or calls you out on your politics. But sometimes, especially when drinking, I feel it is my civic duty to civilize the more civilized than myself by means of a confrontational tongue lashing.

If someone has a better idea, by all means feel free to share. I like to think I'm more open minded when sober.

The War on the Second Affront

Due to popular demand, and the end of the high school soccer season, Retail Resistance will begin anew after a three months hiatus. Three months is a long time, and we have built up enormous amounts of filmic and political frustrations which can be sublimated no longer. Our outrages, and the outrageous, must be expressed and spread throughout the internets. Welcome us back, and let the resistance to the occupational begin again. Stay tuned...we intend on being untelevisable.