Grocers Do What?

For the purposes of fleshing out ideas for this anarchist blog, I’ve been reading a lot of anarchist literature.  I have to say that much of it has been focused on structural oppression.  Too much!  Yes, the individual is being marketed to themselves; yes, the environment which shapes us into the (pseudo) individuals we are has been dishonestly constructed by corporations.  Individuals are no freer in this society of fast food and Apple Computers than they are responsible of the forces which oppress us.  And that is a problem.

I will, however, not like to tolerate people clamoring over how corporate grocers are manipulating shoppers by putting milk in the back of the store.  The theory runs that milk is in the back of the store so that we will have to walk through the whole store to get to the product we so frequently need to purchase—milk.  The idea is that if we walk through the whole store we are likely to pick up an item or two while we’re at it.

I’m making reference to a lecture which I bought and have on my ipod.  Yes, I still own an ipod.  This lecture is by a man named Raj Patel.  And on a whole I found the lecture invigorating and well thought out.  But this point about the milk is really—and very simply—wrong.  It is wrong to bemoan the inner workings of the grocers, as they have conspired to have us all walk to the back of the store just to by milk, because there really are much much worse things plaguing our society.  It is wrong that when people are starving to death, here in our country, we bitch because we don’t have all that we want.

Please think about this carefully…I will.  I’m certain I’ve fallen into the privileged bitch fest role enough times to cause me to think twice before I ever say I’m being stifled by corporate politics.  There are anarchists who are walking the edge of just complaining about corporations and government.  Let us not stymie our so precious chance at revolution in exchange for a little idyllic wisdom.

We have to consider that our corporations and government have manufactured laziness and privilege in the midst of war and poverty.  And please, if you feel strongly about an issue, do not let my words inhibit you in any way.  But remember where you came from; if you are sucking the teat of privilege—represent.  Stand strong for the betterment of our society; what we need is people who are willing to take a few shots to the chin; we need them to stand for what is right—not what is better.