Editor,
The letter published in the Oct. 13 issue of The Post, New Athens businesses ... at what cost? misunderstands how an economy works. The letter bemoans the loss of small businesses sure to be devoured by the huge (read: evil) corporations coming to Athens: Staples, Blockbuster, and Lowe's.
What the author does not seem to understand about new stores coming to Athens is that all these businesses do is offer a service. They don't herd the town into their stores; they simply give the people who live here another option. What the author seems to be afraid of is that people will make a choice that she doesn't care for. Instead, she submits that, in short, people should be refused the right to make that decision.
In addition, her examples only prove the opposing point. For example, after claiming that local stores can't compete with the low prices of national chain stores, she goes on to note that movies from Blockbuster cost almost 4 dollars. In addition, they can't do specialized ordering. What, then, is she worried about? If it's an inferior business, it will surely not be able to compete with the more convenient choices of local rental stores.
She goes on to express her disdain for lazy
consumerist Americans. This group seems to be defined as anyone who doesn't agree with her. Apparently it's better for us to head uptown and shop on Court Street, no matter how expensive it is. One might indeed argue that in a poor area, like Athens, it is precisely those with the least money who benefit the most from lower prices.
Particularly in Athens, I doubt that local stores will be very hard-hit. Not everyone has access to cars, and even if someone does, it's not very convenient to drive out when walking uptown is often so much faster.
Overall, though, she misses the entire point of trade, that being that when two parties trade without deception or coercion, both are better off than they were before the trade. If the stores weren't making people more satisfied, no one would go there.
The author only sees her vision of an idealized Athens. And since, if individuals were given the choice, the (obviously stupid) people might prefer larger stores, the article suggests that they not be given the option in the first place. The author has every option not to go to the new stores. What she may not do is say that no one else can, either.
- Rick Sexton,
rs149800@ohio.edu 17
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