Who Killed the Little Man?

[One Sweet World]

I was just listening to Alan Jackson's song, "Little Man" about how corporate behemoths like Wal-Mart have drown out small town America, and thought I'd share some lyrics with all of you. It really hit home for me. My home town has had a ton of big chain stores take over and drown out our downtown in the last couple of decades and it's sad to see the decline. It's prompted me to start doing some work with Wake Up Wal-Mart to try to restore the balance of workers' rights.

Check out these lyrics; let me know if it resonates with you as well:

I go back now and the stores are empty
Except an old Coke sign dated 1950
Boarded up like they never existed
Or renovated and called historic districts
There goes the little man
There goes the little man

Now the stores are lined up in a concrete strip
You can buy the whole world with just one trip
Ya save a penny 'cause it's jumbo size
They don't even realize they're killin the little man
Oh the little man

I don't know – maybe I'm being hopelessly nostalgic. But I think America is better than 50,000 square foot Wal-Mart that sells cheap Chinese crap on credit. And I know Wal-Mart isn't the only offender, but they're the worst offender. I'm going to keep supporting the little man and Wake Up Wal-Mart.

[soothsayer]

wah? danny devito's dead???

[soothsayer]

1. wah? danny devito's dead???

[rurallib]

2. I realized about a year back that from 1933 to @ 1981 was about the

only time that the "little guy" ever really had a chance. And then only in the US and a slice of Europe. We were actually a bubble in history.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. There were lots of little shops here in Japan as well

In fact, until recently the government had been working to support the mom-and-pop shops. But here as well, once the big box stores get their foot in the door, the mom-and-pops are doomed.

[amandabeech]

3. Ronald Reagan. n/t