The idea of an evil villain being behind the workings of big business is not new to pop culture.
It has been 10 years since Mike Myers reprised his role as a super-spy in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. During the film, Dr. Evil meets up with his sidekick, Number-Two, in their new base of sinister deeds ‘- a Seattle Starbucks.
In January 2008, the heads of Starbucks Corp. underwent a change in management. Howard Schultz returned to his job as chief executive officer, and announced that Starbucks would be reducing the number of store openings in the U.S. while closing a number of underperforming locations.’
Over a year later, it would seem Starbucks’ plans for the Houston area are as ambitious as ever; a third Starbucks recently opened in the River Oaks Shopping Center at the new Barnes & Noble.’
While building multiple locations in such a small area seems to be a ridiculous idea, Starbucks is not the only business guilty of over-saturating a market when business is good.
This same business practice has been successful enough to make corporations rapidly open new fast-food restaurants and giant retail stores in the same areas. The problem is not the service these companies provide, but how they have changed the way America looks and acts.’
It is this change in the American landscape that is presenting a real problem for the future. Where there once were small, family-owned businesses, there are now giant, multinational conglomerates photocopying themselves all over the world.’ They seem to give any unproven business trying to enter into the market an unfair level of competition.’
This comes from Americans’ obsession with the cheap and trendy. The fixation causes a gross level of apathy for the problems big businesses cause, like the financial issues they present for anyone hoping to open a business of their own.’
Big business is not to blame for the destruction of the American landscape; we are. We refuse to accept the reality of the problems that we cause with our obsessions. This in turn will have even more negative consequences in the future, because children will grow to embrace these circumstances.
Travis Hensley is a philosophy and communication senior and may be reached at [email protected]
