T7 youll wish you HAD spent that $80 with ma n pa when you get laid off. That $80 might not stay in your household when you spent it with ma n pa but it WOULD stay in your own town/state. How much of it stays there when you spend it with WallyWorld? They pay corporate taxes that go too federal and state beauracrats. The construction of their stores is handled by a large conglomerate that you likely have never even heard of and most likely NONE of your buddies helped or benefited in its building. The mgmt of the store may or may not be local (typically they are brought in and arent there longterm). The rest of the store is hourly employees who make half what they did when they were on an assembly line producing American made products. I wont even go into what the chinese are being paid to produce those same goods now.

Im as big a fan of capitalism as there is. I am a walkin example of its beneifts. BUT this business model that is Wal Mart IS destined too failure, unregulated "free trade" benefits only those who import the goods which thereby export the jobs!!! But unfortunately its our children who will have to pay that lesson.

Im NOT tryin to be personal guys, just puttin the facts out in black and white. Unfortunately to many dont care until THEY loose THEIR jobs and then they want to blame someone else,
RA

ps
T7 lemme also ask you a question. Why do you favor the Waltons making more and MORE of your money to buy new cars, planes, estates, business' etc. Yet you somehow hold a grudge against a local entreprenuer making anything other than a meager living from a community that they live in and share interest in with yourself and your own family? I will NEVER understand such philosophy.