I wish I had your energy! You've obviously given a great deal of thought to
this. I suppose it sort of mirrors the discussion from yesterday, with a
similar upshot. WalMart (whether one likes them or not) is able to operate
on the scale that they do because of (you guessed it) individual choices.
As long as Americans are willing to make pricepoint the deciding factor in
where they choose to shop, Wally World will live long and prosper, barring
an internal decay on the order of World Com, etc.
Raising the consciousness of the average American is not that difficult a
task. Raising the price of goods, however, seems to circumvent noble ideas
and causes at the individual level. Perhaps it's a by-product of
prosperity, as only disaster seems to reverse this tendency. As it with so
much of life, every choice brings a certain set of consequences. It is the
price one pays for the freedom to choose.
BTW, I doubt that anyone hates you for expressing your opinion. They may be
uncomfortable that you made them think.
(-:
Steven A. Ellis
Kennesaw, GA
>
>HA! Sorry Steven, I have to comment on this.. :-) MAN.. why'd you guys
>have to get me started on this!!!?? HA! :-) Before anyone reads this, I
>write this with no zeal twoards anyone, because I think all you guys are
>great people. What is shown above, only re-afffirms my belief in the
>independent businesses and to support them whenever i can and whenever
>possible.
>
>I also am biased, because I am an independent business owner and advocate,
>but for what I feel are sound reasons. I am not saying that their is not
>a place for Wal-Mart or other type places in our community, but at least
>for Ohio, we certainly have not been shown the market study needs, to
>justify 150 Wal-Marts in a state of 88 counties.
>
>What you are about to read, is just my personal reason's I choose not to
>support Wal-Mart. I am not telling anyone what to do or carving my views
>in stone. I've let the cat out of the bag before, and it's to no suprise I
>have no adoration towards Wal-Mart and friends! :-) Personally, I'd
>rather have a town with retail diversity, where I know I can get quality
>goods and service. In the economy, diversity as such, breeds stability in
>the economy. This makes for a bettter bond in the community, in my
>opinion.
>
>For example, in a town with a very diverse business sector, if one
>business shut down, it isn't making much of an impact on the community. But
>in many areas where their was a stable and strong local and independently
>owned retail section of the community, places like Wal-Mart have moved in
>and driven everyone else out, so they are left with an ugly ghost town of a
>community. I have a file full of news on this if anyone is interested.
>
>Sure, we all want to save some money, BUT, at what cost???.. Now you find
>yourself having to ask if their is a "Wal-Mart" in town, because now, their
>IS nothing else...
>One, among many, pet peeves I have, is the companie's stubborness on
>working to develop on properties where infrastructures already exist (sewer,
>electric, etc.) Instead, they take the "easier" way out and start the
>"sprawl-ball" rolling!
>
>While they are most likely making fair decisions that benefit the company
>itself, the losers ultimately are the communities when they have to
>subsidize this poor planning by building new roads, sewers, etc... provide
>police and fire, new schools, and even sometimes handing out tax
>abatements. One has to wonder if the investment in having such places
>come into town is a wise long term investment. Point is, it's about more
>than saving 5cents on a shower curtain.
>
>Lastly, among several other pet peeves, is this "greenwashing" they do. As
>an example scenario, they make a donation to a nature center, and now they
>are hailed as the pillars of the community in education and environmental
>stewardship. Isn't this the same place that cleared 60 acres of forest to
>tell me that they "care" about the environment? The same forest that
>perhaps you collected fish from.
>
>Yes, I know that even the place I live sits on land that was once
>forested, but now that we know the impacts of excessive sprawl and how to
>sustainably plan and build our communities, we can't keep using old and
>outdated planning ideals that treat the land and resources as though
>they are "limitless"... It is unlikly that we ever achieve such a
>perfect for everyone kind of town or city, but can't we at least strive
>for it, by keeping some of the abve in mind?
>
>Sadly, they continue to do so, like a man who beat his wife, goes to rehab
>and makes community service to a battered wives program, then when
>finished, goes right back to his old ways. Also, let them offer a local
>business the opportunity to sell his/her product in their store, and
>suddenly, through grand PR, they become the saviors of the "little guy"..
>
>I have a friend who owns a pizza shop. Wal-Mart wanted to carry his pizzas
>frozen for sale in their stores. He was offered the opportunity, but not
>without Wal-Mart execs. wanting him to cheapen the product, give him nothing
>for it, and sell it at a much greater mark-up. The result???. It makes
>Wal-Mart look to the public, as though they are helping the independant
>business! I am glad this person I know told them to go take a hike!
>
>It is often touted that they create jobs, but no one tells you about the
>jobs and taxes LOST due to how many they have driven under. I know free
>enterprise is at work, but for whom, may I ask?.. If this is, then it's
>fair game to let an NFL team play your local Pop-Warner kiddie league!
>
>At the rate it's going, all towns and cities retail districts will be
>exactly the same, owned by a few corporations who will be able to do as
>they wish, and you will have no voice in government. I may not change the
>world, but I am glad enough to know that I'm still free to think , and to
>not give my money to places that I feel do not care about what I think,
>afterall, hitting them in the wallet is where it's at! The backbone of the
>economy is small and independent business. According to the national
>Federation of Independent Businesses, small business accounts for some 80%
>of our work force. (Don't quote me on this, at last check, this is what I
>read)
>
>Ok... Now you can all hate me for saying this.. :-)
>
>Well, I guess I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am
>not.... HA!
>
>
>Rob C.
>/
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