i live down south and keep seeing local business owners posting in local groups pleading people to come buy shit at their stores prior to this winter storm because if they have to close for a few days it’s apparently detrimental for them. like they’re entitled to exist. in any other context this behavior would be considered desperate and begging. but we’re conditioned to think small business tyrants are some class above us all who are entitled to not have to work a job like the rest of us. worst case scenario they lose their business and that’s what happens, and working people are conditioned to feel sorry for them. “please don’t let me become underpaid by some asshole exactly like myself!!!”
Cool, let’s socialize that then. Neighborhood councils get to decide about what kind of businesses they want around and get money from the state to use as capital to either start for themselves or to be started by someone else, in either case the person working in the business earning a wage from the state for their job, and their position there being conditional to the democratic desire of the community. Not only in a “vote with your wallet” way, but also in a “we collectively decided we need two more cafes and we don’t need these two clothing stores” way.