I grew up in a small town that didn't get Wal-Mart until I moved away. Growing up, there were small businesses on main street that sustained the local and regional population.
Steadman's V+S had inexpensive furniture that could be ordered from a number of manufacturers, so people got variety. They also had childrens toys and games, as well as some clothes and work wear.
Switzers was the drug store, until Shoppers moved in, then they coexisted.
There was a women's wear store and a mens wear store, as well as a couple stores aimed at teenagers.
Two hardware stores, a tack shop and western wear store, a cafe and a dedicated furniture store rounded it out. The radio station, post office, town office, a bowling alley, a hotel, a pub and a grocery store took up the rest of the street.
Those stores all allowed a reasonable middle class living for the owners (and their parents, most of whom started them). They also paid a living wage to their 1 or 2 employees each.
Now those people have put on weight, work part time at Wal-Mart for inconceivably low wages - a store they lobbied the town council to allow in for lower priced goods. The people no longer have a choice about where they can shop locally for a number of items… it's Walmart or a 2.5 hour drive to the nearest major center.
Fuck that corporation. I understand the capitalistic nature of it, but I'll never shop there because I don't support business practices that are anti-competitive. That, and they destroyed my quaint hometown… and many of the people there don't seem to understand how or why they were more wealthy without it.
No, I don't walmart. I'll pay 25 cents more for my diapers and stag chile, thank-you.
