Discussions

I have replied to a certain thread im not sure if it went through or not, but it sparked a really touchy issue. I am going to utilize my freedom of speech without the fear of prosecution so here I go.  
 
I have not lived in this city long, I got posted here in 2007 from New Brunswick, and perhaps I dont have quite the say in what happends in this city, however this issue seems to be a constant trend in today's society as a whole and I really think it needs to be addressed.  
 
I for one am making a stand, and essentially putting my foot down to large conglomerates and corporations taking over town/cities profits and individuality. When people ask me, "So, whats Brandon like?" "What's in Brandon that would persuade me to move here?" I simply say well, "We have a Walmart and a Future Shop, and Starbucks."  
 
But in reality what I am doing is I am using those big corporations to essentially promote and advertise what Brandon is.. which in my mind is DEAD WRONG.  
 
I dont know if the moral majority will agree with me on this one but it begs the question, Where did Locally owned buisnesses go? Did our society get so bad that we have to rely on big time corporations such as Walmart or Starbucks to provide us with ammenities that we use day to day? In hindsite, when we buy products from these stores, all we are doing is fueling the head offices that arent even located in Brandon, and in turn does nothing to fuel or sustain Brandon whatsoever!  
 
I may be too young to remember this, but where are the locally owned bakeries or coffeeshops or even for that matter stores in general that are not backed from some head office miles and miles away? In my mind, don't local buisness give a city it's identity, and give the city something to brag about because it's a true Brandon buisness? This city is turning into yet another faceless nameless city controlled by virtually every chain out there, and it's sad.  
 
 
I believe if the government bumped up its social and economic programs to promote individual buisness, Brandon would have a name, and not just be another city.  
 
Brandon Wake up. Just because Walmart offers everything you possibly need, you are doing nothing for YOUR community at large. You are taking away from the identity of this great city. Lets give Brandon a better pitch other than, "Well, we have a Walmart."  
 
Can I get a Amen?