Marx predicted that tensions inherent in capitalism would cause the system to destroy itself. Radio Shack's story seems like what he thought would happen to the entire system: relentless expansion beyond its core mission, in order to serve capitalism's need for unlimited growth, caused its inevitable downfall.

I get skewered, but in this case maybe Marx was right? I thought they had too many stores. In my neck of the woods, they had three within 10 minutes driving?

This company seemed to be having trouble even before the Internet. They seemed to run the stores like it was still the 50's?(demanding ties, while paying minimum wage=grouchy employees). The website was always terrible. Marketing was terrible. Seemed top heavy with assistant regional managers, corporate big wigs, etc.

My last time shopping there I bought a tube if Artic 5 to reball a faulty HP graphic chip. The price was more than 2-3 online competitors price. The nice guy helping me said, "You are not are typical customer." I knew what he meant, and I was sad. I walked past the garbage near the front entrance, the dissy array of phone plans, dodging marketing stands, and said goodby to the only lonely employee." I knew that would be my last time in a Radio Shack. (The only reason I can imagine why they loaded up the front of the stores with--crap, is because maybe we don't tinker as much as I want to think? I know you people do, but the average consumer--I've seen so many people roll their eyes when I tell them I can fix it. "Just buy a new one!" As to crafts, like sewing and leather work--I think people will get back into it, but right now it's just easier to buy because their is a lack of time. I will never forget the neck Ties and the perpetual help wanted sign though.

Marx was right, in the same way Malthus was right. Excessive growth can lead to collapse of individual companies or communities. Both failed to appreciate that in globally distributed, heterogenous, decentralized economies not everything collapses at the same time, and new things grow in the spaces left by the old.

Anything that implies people should not be working from cradle to grave while being 100% involved in only productive tasks is Marxist to far too many people.

Lamenting the increased number of hours worked is a popular notion among those on the left. The author suggests that the downfall of Radio Shack was based on societal changes rather than more traditional market forces (competition, changing consumer demands, etc).

> The author suggests that the downfall of Radio Shack was based on societal changes rather than more traditional market forces (competition, changing consumer demands, etc).

Societal changes producing changes in supply and demand, and that causing both the fall of old firms and the rise of new firms are traditional market forces. Its what proponents of capitalism point to as the manner in which capitalism, via the free-market, aligns the work done in society with its current needs and desires.