Chapotraphouse

Is this an America thing? Or like a big city thing maybe? A good majority my local businesses are run by very caring people who really give a shit. Yeah they're out to make money. And as always, there's a range of types, but overall they are way better.

The cafe owner down the road literally opens once a month just to give free food and coffee to people who want to be warm and eat stuff but can't afford it. (In fact, two local cafes do this). The convenience store round the corner is run by a workers' cooperative, it donates a good percentage of their stuff to an open food larder so that anyone can come and get free food without even having to ask. The restaurant gives out their car park so the town can do a bonfire there and the local school can use their land for events. A tourist driving through town crashed their car, and the mechanics on the other side of town came over, fixed him up, and sent him on his way, all for free. Many local places know the local people, and give them discounts or free goods solely on the knowledge that said people are hard up for cash. These places pay decent wages, have flexible working, whatever the fuck basic concessions.

Yeah, materially, the petit bourgeois have conflicting interests, and I'm never going to support them over the workers themselves. But I will quite happily make effort to support my local businesses over the large ones, because they do indeed give a shit, extract less surplus value (though absolutely, still extract it), help local communities and provide for people in need, while the large companies do none of those things.

I'm guessing other people here have had a very different experience, but in my life, my locals will absolutely get my 'critical support'.