Reply #115: They have a point, though.

[Atman]

It may be tough to understand, especially if you live in a nice suburban area with a shopping strip. I have no fewer than six major super-store super markets within five miles in any direction from my house. Two Stop & Shops, two Shaw's (Albertsons), and a very nice locally owned chain, Big Y. Plus, slightly farther off we have access to a Trader Joes, Wild Oats and Whole Foods. At the end of my street we have a small "boutique" grocery, with an old-fashioned butcher shop and gourmet prepared foods. I have more choices than I can know what to do with.

But have you ever driven across upstate New York? Wal Marts have literally killed entire villages. I used to have a client in Oneata, NY, and forgot my dress shoes one day on the way to a meeting. I pull off an exit where I had seen a mall on previous trips. It was just a strip mall, but had JC Penny and some smaller outlets. But when I actually pulled up to it, every store in the stip was out of business. I drove a bit further to a new Wal Mart (this was about six or seven years ago) which was massive. The biggest store I'd ever seen. Full-size McDonalds, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut inside the store, a full size Sears auto store inside the store, a super-sized grocery department inside...you literally couldn't see across the store it was so massive.

And it had literally sucked in every single customer in the village to the point where there were no other choices for them. When you're in upstate New York, it ain't like just jumping in the mini van and running out for a gallon of milk. Many of these ultra rural areas really don't have anything but a Wal Mart, because Wal Mart has killed off all competitors, and has become the employer AND shopping source. The company store.

Choices are only good if you have them to make. But even then, Wal Mart DOES sell healthy food! You just have to actually buy it.