The Bottom Rail by verbal shredwright

The Invisible Hand?

Maybe you heard? There's been some hubbub surrounding the word backcountry recently... Lol. Well, this isn't another piece about hate but rather a piece about hope... kind of. I know… it's crazy talk… especially, if you follow my regular Bottom Rail contributions. Calling my perspective dark-realism is sometimes acurate and sometimes an under-statement. But, yeah you did read that right… this is my shot at spreading a little hope! So here it goes…

To the underdog… the little guy… all those who put passion ahead of profits… and those who put purpose before politics… this is for you. Being different and being small doesn't somehow make you less deserving or diminish your right to the pursuit of happiness. That’s what we are really talking about if you think about it. Freedom. It makes some people happy to be the small local outfitter who introduces and shares the backcountry with locals and visitors in ways a dot-com can't. They don't want to work for a profit driven heartless big city corporation. These are people who want to cut out the middleman and provide a personal touch along with the gear and experiences that can help their customers get the most from their time in the mountains.

On the other hand… the pursuit of happiness should include the voice of the consumer who deserves the right to choose a small local provider to the big city brand… even if it means spending more for the local knowledge and experience. This might be one interpretation of the invisible hand described by the Father of Capitalism Adam Smith, where he talks about the unintended social benefits of an individual's self-interested actions. If people want to buy local they should be allowed… and if local businesses are satisfied with a local or smaller market share they should be free to choose. Forcing people to settle for what one provider offers is not really not the same type of capitalism these ruthless corporations hide behind is it? They call it a free market, but cry foul when their consumers hold them accountable for their corporate greed and bullying.

After only a short time the word spread and the fairness movement was gaining momentum. Fairness for the little guys and fairness for the customers who support them. Imagine what we could accomplish if the same effort was made to fight other injustices happening across the mountains? What if the "community" took a stand and gave a voice to affordable housing… suicide prevention or living wages! Let's be blunt… it's more than one big company and its lawsuits that's trying to monopolize the mountains. Partnering with a select few businesses you were trying to extinguish seems almost like only admitting part of a mistake instead of taking responsibility for a failed corporate culture that is disconnected from their customers on so many levels.

Everybody knows about the greed driven resort companies… and now the whole backcountry controversy spotlighted the same corporate mentality in retail too. But, there's more… there's always more. Advertising and media is another example where smaller businesses are denied equal access and opportunities to inform people about things like the actual snowfall, events, politics, weather, reviews, etc. The big box media is owned or beholden by their richest advertisers. The reality is in that big city resort and media companies take over as many brands as they can… and then call them "revenue centers"… compared to small business owners who call it their dream, passion or life's work. If you have experienced the feeling you get when something matters… you know the local owned and operated difference right away.

This same feeling is what fueled a grass roots movement that is making a difference and bringing attention to a situation that impacts a lot more than one word, business or brand. The question is will the light shined on this one instance flicker and fade… or will it ignite an eternal flame lighting the way to meaningful changes for others by opening the hearts and minds of the people who drive the continuing need for corporate greed, power and control everywhere! Guess we'll have to wait and see.

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