The "Palace;" center of commerce in Plymouth (AP Photo/Prake)
Economy Dead but Plymouth Shows "Fight"
Updated:2007-05-11 08:39:04
By Richard Koal
AP
PLYMOUTH (May 11) -- As the rest of the U.S. economy has grinded to a virtual halt, the void left by the fall of local governments and basic infrastructures has led to new forms of commerce. Though the spirit of capitalist America has died, capitalism is alive and well in Plymouth. The man behind the "boom" is known in these parts simply as "Stone." His business is kid fights.
"All these kids are roaming the streets, living in godforsaken squalor. I give them opportunity to help themselves. They're little patriot heroes, they help all of us here in Plymouth." Stone, thirtyish, is a new breed of entrepreneur. Cut from the same cloth of the dot-comers of the 90's, Stone, an eccentric, mad genius character, dons extravagant kingly garbs, handsome and charismatic. He is the classic opportunist. Is he for real? Unfortunately, yes. Street fights are a part of life in impoverished towns throughout the U.S., like Plymouth. Stone found a way to bring these gruesome fights to the masses, and turn a profit.
Stone and his operatives, all young and loyal, record mostly pre-arranged fights (some recorded fights are spontaneous, and all the more riveting and violent) and sell them via Internet and micro DVD. The operation turns a high profit, relative to cost - fighters are paid nothing for fights, but are provided food, shelter, and other "perks" for their services. Says one fighter, speaking on condition of anonymity, "We get all the girls and Stuff we like. And Stone is cool. There's always cool s**t going on at the Palace."
The "Palace" is the downtown center of Plymouth, the lair of Stone. What it lacks in extravagance, it makes up in youthful energy. Young boys and girls litter the Palace, high on the Stuff, but safe from the conditions of Plymouth and beyond - the Palace is their haven, and Stone their unofficial guardian.
"I love all the children. I love life. Together we are making place in the world for ourselves. We fight when we need to, but at the end of the day, we are a big, happy family. The fighters are taken care of, and the town benefits. It's a sort of trickle down theory."
Indeed, if one ventures through town, it's obvious the presence of the Palace and the existence of the kid fights has reduced the street population and restored some order to Plymouth, in a time when basic societal order eludes other towns like it. "It's our very own nation building. Our fights bring in rewards, goods in trade, that we use to better Plymouth. It starts with taking care of our youth, giving them basic needs to survive. In turn, they will grow into adults better enabled to make solid decisions on the future of Plymouth, and beyond." With the smile of a practiced politician, Stone turns and our interview is over.
If the kid fights of Plymouth are an indication, our country will rebuild by any means necessary. In ravaged towns like Plymouth, where tomorrow is never promised, capitalism lives on, and the citizens of America continue to fight the good fight.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-05-11 08:38:04
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