It’s never been popular to like big business. People debate whether government is too small or too big but they can generally agree on preferring small business. Big business it’s thought knows how to play the game too well. It’s either in bed with government working tirelessly to destroy or absorb small businesses or out to swindle and manipulate the average consumer. The recent outrage at bonuses paid to bailed-out executives proves that hatred for big business is alive and well. Be that as it may this image that big business is all bad has been challenged a bit for me lately.
It first happened when I went to check my mail the other day. Thumbing through junk mail that I tolerate for its box-filling effects I looked up and had to do a double take. The far wall was splashed with citrus paint and was sporting a new sign—”Jamba Juice.” What rapturous joy— I couldn’t believe the projected smoothie store opening in February 2010 was actually coming to fruition in February 2010. I had expected to wait until the fall to shell out the price of a meal for a smoothie but I had misjudged big business. Jamba Juice wants the business of Pepperdine students as much as we want to be “berry fulfilled.” It’s only common sense they would work as quickly as possible to remove the lingering stink of Freshens and begin shooting us full of wheat grass.
Not more than a few minutes later I was enjoying my Cocoa Puffs and chicken tenders in the Caf— yes I fully acknowledge I’m 12 years old— when I was filled with anticipation at the tantalizing prospect of La Brea Bakery. Paninis soups and sandwiches made fresh daily? I realize the latter two options are already available in the Caf and at the Sandbar respectively but just think of the difference in bread alone— it’s a bakery after all. I think I will eat my Cocoa Puffs out of bread bowls for the rest of the year just because I can.
But for those of you still cynical about big business despite the two exciting corporate newcomers to campus I have but one question: Did you watch the Super Bowl? If yes did you see those Denny’s commercials? They were offering a free “Grand Slam” breakfast to every American on the following Tuesday. (You can’t accuse me of a shameless plug; the date has already passed.) That as the advertisement made clear with very frightened animated chickens is a lot of eggs. And that’s what can be so great about big business— they can afford to do such things. Of course they’re out to make profit— it’s their job. But in the process consumers enjoy some benefits they couldn’t if small businesses were the only game in town. Mom and pop don’t have enough cash in the register to advertise during the Super Bowl and thus actually offer something to the whole country. And as those animated chickens demonstrated it takes a corporate amount of eggs to deliver on such a promise.
Perhaps however your belly is full of legumes and spinach leaves and you’re far too cosmopolitan to be caught dead enjoying such a plebian event as the Super Bowl. Guess what? There’s a big business for you too and you know its name— Google.
The trend-setting Fortune 500 company has had the long-standing pledge “Don’t be evil.” This motto may sound pithy to the critical ear but in many ways Google has not only avoided evil but attempted to do a lot of good. What makes Google’s best attempts even better is that they are like the search engine itself completely free. A couple years back Google bid unsuccessfully for a chunk of the electromagnetic spectrum from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Their intent was to offer all Americans free Wi-Fi. While we’re still paying for Internet access here in 2010 Google is once again trying to improve Web access for everyone by building one-gigabit fiber optic networks— that’s Internet a hundred times faster than average speeds; like downloading a 128-MB file in one second. Hulu will need never buffer again. Granted Google only plans to build these networks for a select few communities at present. Yet they expect their actions will incite sluggish telecommunications companies to follow suit even if it takes them a few years.
That’s big business improving big business and that’s something worth smiling about.