I believe it meant tongue in cheek but it made me laugh.
I’m against theft but there is a big difference between stealing from Walmart and stealing from a local small business.
Maybe I’m a hypocrite but I hate large chains like Walmart. I’m old. I remember pharmacies owned and run by pharmacist. They were part of the community and not just draining money from the community.
We had downtowns filled with local shops. Yes things were more expensive but I’m ok with that. The quality of life was much better.
So everybody who runs a mom and pop shop or runs their own small little independent store is now part of the bourgeoisie and elite like Elongated Muskrat and Jeffrey Bezos?
Eh... It depends on how you apply the definition to modern times. As literally defined: yes. They are business owners and merchants.
However, realistically they are much, much closer to the proletariot as these people are also exploited by the Musks and Bezoses and there isn't really much of a middle class anymore. On top of this they don't hold any actual power politically which is an important part of being in the bourgeoisie.
This is how i understand it all, anyway. Feel free to correct me.