Even out here in the sticks, we can drive the same distance to one of 3 K-Marts, 4 Target stores, three major regional chains, 2 Sears stores, 2 J C Penney’s stores, and countless other options… plus grocery stores of varying sizes and price ranges. Wal-Mart doesn’t usually put a store in, unless there’s already a fairly large potential market. And, when they’ve put people out of business (clothing stores, etc.), over the years, many of those same shop owners have adapted to carry specialty items that the chains would not think of. It forces a new diversity.

But many people shop at the Mart of Wals because it’s all they really CAN afford… at subsistence wages from their McJobs, supplemented by food stamps, they certainly can’t fork out that extra few pennies to go to the upscale neighborhood deli (which, BTW, also usually doesn’t rake in enough to pay for health insurance for its employees) or the local tailor.

And, boycots seldom do anything other than cut off the nose of the group that’s implementing them. Shutting down options is not exactly kosher — and while some Americans may endorse killing the opposition, it’s not exactly American, is it? Better to figure out real local competition for them.

Even out here in the sticks, we can drive the same distance to one of 3 K-Marts, 4 Target stores, three major regional chains, 2 Sears stores, 2 J C Penney’s stores, and countless other options… plus grocery stores of varying sizes and price ranges. Wal-Mart doesn’t usually put a store in, unless there’s already a fairly large potential market. And, when they’ve put people out of business (clothing stores, etc.), over the years, many of those same shop owners have adapted to carry specialty items that the chains would not think of. It forces a new diversity.

But many people shop at the Mart of Wals because it’s all they really CAN afford… at subsistence wages from their McJobs, supplemented by food stamps, they certainly can’t fork out that extra few pennies to go to the upscale neighborhood deli (which, BTW, also usually doesn’t rake in enough to pay for health insurance for its employees) or the local tailor.

And, boycots seldom do anything other than cut off the nose of the group that’s implementing them. Shutting down options is not exactly kosher — and while some Americans may endorse killing the opposition, it’s not exactly American, is it? Better to figure out real local competition for them.

Even out here in the sticks, we can drive the same distance to one of 3 K-Marts, 4 Target stores, three major regional chains, 2 Sears stores, 2 J C Penney’s stores, and countless other options… plus grocery stores of varying sizes and price ranges. Wal-Mart doesn’t usually put a store in, unless there’s already a fairly large potential market. And, when they’ve put people out of business (clothing stores, etc.), over the years, many of those same shop owners have adapted to carry specialty items that the chains would not think of. It forces a new diversity.

But many people shop at the Mart of Wals because it’s all they really CAN afford… at subsistence wages from their McJobs, supplemented by food stamps, they certainly can’t fork out that extra few pennies to go to the upscale neighborhood deli (which, BTW, also usually doesn’t rake in enough to pay for health insurance for its employees) or the local tailor.

And, boycots seldom do anything other than cut off the nose of the group that’s implementing them. Shutting down options is not exactly kosher — and while some Americans may endorse killing the opposition, it’s not exactly American, is it? Better to figure out real local competition for them.