Why Small Businesses, Independent Journalism, and the “Little Guy” Matter More Than Ever

If you’ve ever found yourself rooting for the underdog in a sports movie, you already get it – small businesses, independent journalists, and the everyday entrepreneur are the backbone of America. YOU are Rocky Balboa taking on Drago, you’re Daniel LaRusso crane-kicking the status quo defeating Cobra Kai, and you’re the Rebel Alliance fighting against, well, you get it by now.  

But in a world dominated by mega-corporations, monopolized media outlets, and billion-dollar conglomerates, the “little guy” isn’t just some David vs. Goliath style feel-good story – it’s a necessity for a well-functioning society. And they matter more than friggin’ ever. Here’s why.

Small Business: The Heartbeat of America

According to the Small Business Association, small businesses make up 99.9% of all businesses, employ 46.4% of all private sector employees, and are responsible for 55% of total net job creation in the United States. It's enough to make you say:

Looking beyond numbers, small business brings something even more invaluable to our lives: character and community. Take a look around at any big box store or fast-food restaurant and tell us that, without the logos, they’re not basically indistinguishable from one another. The same goes for their branding and corporate-speak that is taking over our lives. Where our world used to be filled with variation, color, and personality. Now we have a bunch of beige and gray buildings that look like they were all designed by one dude with a set number of pieces and color to work with. Boooooring. Think of your favorite indie coffee shop, diner, or bookstore. These places not only have their own personality, but they foster connections, spark creativity, and provide cultural hubs. Exactly what we need more of in our lives.  

Unlike the corporate overlords, small businesses also put money back into our local economies. For every dollar spent with a local business, about 67 cents of that stays in the community. Shopping local encourages a reinvestment in your neighborhood that supports jobs, schools, infrastructure, and creates a cycle of growth and stability. On top of it all, you’re helping neighbors keep food on the table, you’re helping parents afford kid’s sports and band, you’re investing and improving where you live. It’s a lot better than helping Leon Bozos buy political influence so they can get even richer while sitting on a yacht that costs more than all of our houses and cars combined.  

When small businesses thrive, neighborhoods thrive. When they disappear, you’re left with soulless strip malls and endless Amazon warehouses. Neither of which have your best interests in mind, we promise you that.

Independent Journalism: The Last Bastion of Truth

If you’ve ever felt like the news is just one giant echo chamber of corporate interests, you’re not wrong. Over the past few decades, massive conglomerates have swallowed up most major news outlets, leaving fewer independent voices. Even scarier, the billionaire-owned news stations control what gets said all across the country. Effectively disseminating their message all across the country. If ever there was a recipe for a propaganda machine, this has to be it. And look - it's already happening on some level through Sinclair media as shown in this video from 2018.

Which is exactly why independent journalists and small, local news organizations not owned by the 1% are more critical than ever. They're the ones finding stories that matter, exposing corruption, and uncovering the truth without a corporate, or political, agenda.

Additionally, media conglomerates increasingly blur the line between news and entertainment, prioritizing ad revenue and engagement metrics over facts. There's a reason they're known for saying, "If it bleeds, it leads." Meanwhile, independent journalists and small news outlets are free from the shackles that keep other stories mainstream media ignores off our screens - local government corruption, environmental issues, grassroots movements, and corporate misconduct. Remember the Flint Water Crisis? How about the Panama Papers? Or even Jeffrey Epstein? All stories originally uncovered by independent journalists or smaller media outlets. In our era of misinformation, we need more journalism driven by truth, not ratings or secret agendas.

The "Little Guy" and the Power of Choice

Whether it's an indie artist, local farmer, freelance journalist, corner bodega, or whatever, small-scale entrepreneurs represent something huge: choice. Which increasingly seems like something they're trying to take away from us. Every purchase, every click, and every dollar spent is a vote for the kind of world we want to exist in. Let's be real, if we keep doing things the way we've always done them, we won't progress as a society. Small businesses drive innovation because they have to. They can't afford to do things the same way as everyone else so they experiment, take risks, and shake things up.

With big companies controlling supply chains, advertising platforms, and even how we shop and the products we see (thanks, algorithms!), it's already tougher than ever for the little guy to break through. But that doesn't mean they're not out there, coming up with the next big thing.

The more you support the little guy, the more diverse, innovative, and resilient our economy and culture become. If we continue to let monopolies tighten their grip, we throw away our ability to shape our own communities, our own media, and ultimately our own future.

Fight the Powers that Be

So how do we make sure small businesses, independent journalists, and everyday entrepreneurs don't get swallowed up like Pinocchio in that huge whale? It's not difficult. Here are a few simple ways:

• Shop small/local – Choose local businesses over massive chains whenever possible. And we realize it's not always possible.

• Support independent media – Subscribe, share, and donate to independent journalists and outlets.

• Engage with small brands – Like, comment, and share their content. It makes a bigger impact than you think.

• Advocate for Fair Policies – Support policies that prevent monopolies from crushing small businesses and that protect independent press freedom.

• Invest in marketing – If you run a small business, don’t just hope people find you - make sure they do.

We Control the Future

Listen, this isn't about nostalgia or anti-corporate sentiment. This is about maintaining a society where choice, accountability, and individuality still matter. And it's more important than ever.

The big guys aren't going anywhere, but that doesn't mean we have to fade into the background. With smart marketing, strong branding, and a community of supporters that believe in their value, small businesses and independent creators can thrive. Which is exactly why we do what we do here at TAWC.

Every decision we make - where we shop, what we read, who we support - they all help shape the kind of world we live in. And if we want a world where communities thrive, where the truth is abundant, and innovation isn't stifled by monopolies, supporting the little guy isn't just important - it's essential.