[Winona Online Democracy] "How would the list readers feel about trading 3 smaller, Winona-owned retail businesses for a Wal-Mart one-half hour closer to home?"
I'm sure this is going to be an extremely unpopular opinion but here goes: Even though I steadfastly refused to shop at Wal-Mart for MANY years and I still often cite them as one of the great "evils" in today's economy, I really have a hard time raising that venom now that they are considering a move here to my town. Why? Well it seems that over and over again I have watched as several highly vocal local business leaders have taken stances on local issues that are directly opposed to what I believe is in the best interests of our community. I believe that our schools, parks and civic opportunities have more often suffered from the tight-fisted philosophies of local business leaders than benefited from their support. Winona is already infamous for it's low-wage jobs and has seen several of its wealthier business owners move away to the "big cities". There are many local business owners that I have never seen at the Winona Mall, or the local theater, or a restaurant, or anywhere other than inside their own businesses. I have a hard time believing that Wal-Mart will be any less committed to our community than some of the owners they may displace. I see this as simply a lesser of two evils, and we all know that Wal-Mart is the low cost leader. JMHO Bryon Bothun ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jamie Groth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 3:31 PM Subject: [Winona] Walmart > [Winona Online Democracy] > > --- Bob Sebo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ...but I really don't see how it would > > devastate the local business > > community. The devastation has already taken place. > > Target, Shopko, KMart, > > Fleet Farm, Menards, HyVee, EconoFoods (who have I > > missed?) > > I agree totally with the idea that our government > allows too much bullying by mega-corps like Wal-Mart. > > I do not agree that all the damage has already been > done. I'm guessing that we "ain't seen nothin' yet." > Walmart seems like a different (at least much larger) > animal. Plus, the cows have not yet come home to > roost with the new HiVee, Menards, and even Target. > Isn't this exactly the time we should be asking > questions about adding *another* mega-store? > > Couldn't we be happy enough consumers with Walmart a > comfortable 30 minutes away? > > Hypothetical: > How would the list readers feel about trading 3 > smaller, Winona-owned retail businesses for a Walmart > one-half hour closer to home? > > Jamie Groth > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
