Char and I recently returned from a road trip through the western two thirds of the United States. On this journey a thought I had during a prior road trip coalesced into a deeper understanding of what is happening in our country. Corporate America has swallowed up our culture.
On our previous trip it became apparent to me how Route 66 had really "died" in the 1960's. It wasn't the fact that the Interstate Highway System had by-passed the small towns leaving them to wither. It was that Corporate America had snapped up all property at the interchanges. This allowed them to install their "branded" commercial operations (Denny's, 711, Holiday Inn) right next to the highway. Travellers could stop could and have their needs satisfied right there and never venture the 1/4 mile into town.
On our most recent trip I became aware of how Corporate America had build on their success. They had expanded into the businesses within the communities and starved out the locals. We'll call it "the Brand Effect". They set up the "Brand" in a community sparing no expense for the best location and build the best facility possible. Once open they offer their wares at a loss knowing they will lose money until they destroy the local competition. They can afford to do this. They know once the local competition is gone their "Brand" will command the market and they can impose their profit margins, thereby funding the next conquest.
What brought me to this conclusion was the near total abandonment of the businesses in the old "downtown" areas. It wasn't a matter of a particular merchants being out competed, it was complete collapse. Every town where this has happened has buildings sitting as if freeze-dried. They sit there with the original names, phone numbers and logos, faded but readable. No one has found a reason to reuse the properties. And somewhere nearby is a "Brand".
More on this in Part 2.
