Nice summary, David Shove, of problems with Wal-Mart. For more on why Wal-Mart is not widely accepted as a valuable community asset see http://www.sprawl-busters.com/caseagainstsprawl.html. Also, Jim Hightower devotes a section of his new book "Thieves in High Places" to opposition movements against Wal-Mart.
BUT....for now I don't know how real the fear of a Minneapolis Wal-Mart should be. On the various Issues List postings on the subject, I didn't read any specifics about where, when, how and why Wal-Mart would build in Minneapolis so I called my council member's office (Dan Niziolek) and, after a bit of research, they replied that there is no proposal, to their knowledge, for a Wal-Mart locating in Minneapolis. That said, the Lake Street Kmart site is always vulnerable for purchase. Perhaps we should stay tuned with Kmart developments and be prepared.... Does anyone know differently about the possibility of a Wal-Mart in Minneapolis? Jeanne Massey 3606 Harriet Avenue So ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Shove" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Victoria Heller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Minneapolis Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: November 25, 2003 2:04 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Wal-Mart doesn't need Minneapolis, Minneapolis needs Wal-Mart > This is the standard line used by the ruling class to destroy small > business and co-ops and unions; to send our jobs overseas; etc. > > The crucial part is to parade some POOR PERSON who can buy CHEAP TOILET > PAPER at the big box. And for that we're supposed to give the big boxes > truckloads of corporate welfare (TIF), eminent domain to steal land, > freeways to get there, disregard EIS statements to pave over acres of > land, bust fair wage laws, see small businesses close by the droves, see > small towns wasted, see our jobs sent overseas, etc. But by god the poor > person is going to buy CHEAP TOILET PAPER. > > And if anyone objects, they are "arrogant and snobbish"! > > I have heard this same line many many times (well before this instance); > there is always some poor person, cheap toilet paper, and "arrogant and > snobbish" objectors. > > The general line seems to my crap detector to be straight out of the > big-box playbook. Probably researched by right-wing think-tanks and > audience tested for maximum insidiousness. Turn on your crap detectors. > The ruling class is the main source of and beneficiary of mass-produced > propaganda (and very effective it is). > > I do NOT admire Sam Walton or his other billionaire family members. The > whole operation undermines democracy and community. Big is bad. > > And I do not want to live in a city ever more invaded by freeways, big > boxes, stadiums, bill boards, vanishing small business, corporate > blood-sucked citizenry. And neither do most other people. > > For poorer people we had in the past higher welfare, unemployment > benefits, job retraining, stonger unions, higher effective minimum wages, > etc. We could and should demand them back. But the ruling class has led > the war to demolish them. And then when as a result the poor are even > poorer, they get to be used as poster people to sic soulless big boxes and > billionaire predator families on us. Clever and heartless. > > This is a battle for the soul of Minneapolis. Imagine lots more freeways > and big boxes and huge parking lots. Imagine your favorite little > businesses closing. Like it? > > --David Shove > Roseville > > On Tue, 25 Nov 2003, Victoria Heller wrote: > > > Kimberly Goodman writes: "Lowest prices and cheap part-time labor is not > > necessarily the best for people, local businesses, neighborhoods, etc. I'd > > rather be socially responsible with my spending." > > > > Winston Churchill in 1904 said: "We say that every (citizen) shall have the > > right to buy whatever he wants, wherever he chooses, at his own good > > pleasure, without restriction or discouragement from the state." > > > > Vicky here: Forcing the poor to pay high prices does not strike me as > > responsible. > > > > Kimberly has every right to spend her money where she wants to - but SO DOES > > EVERYONE ELSE. Some people cannot afford to pay $20 for a lipstick, or $4 > > for toothpaste. Denying people freedom of choice seems arrogant and > > snobbish to me. > > > > Sam Walton had the same philosophy that I do: Offering quality goods and > > services at the lowest possible price HELPS MORE PEOPLE. The alternative is > > jacking up costs and prices, then demanding subsidies for the poor: This > > method makes elitists feel good about themselves - but it harms the people > > they claim to be helping. > > > > Wal-Mart doesn't need Minneapolis. It's expanding by leaps and bounds all > > over the world -- especially in Asia where all of our good jobs are going > > too. I doubt that Wal-Mart would even want to locate in Minneapolis because > > the cost of doing business is just too high. > > > > Competition drives costs down and keeps everyone honest. This principle is > > true in business and politics. Too bad Minneapolis doesn't have any. > > > > Vicky Heller > > North Oaks > > > > REMINDERS: > > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > > ________________________________ > > > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
