Its hard to call Walmart a monopoly, yet in some areas it sure seems like they are. If there is general apathy already due to outsourced jobs and layoffs, then people probably welcome a Walmart going up nearby. It becomes their happy place, like movie theaters were in the 1930s.

Several towns have banned big box stores through zoning regulations. That's why Walmart tried to build 2 Walmarts side by side near here a while ago to beat the store square footage restriction. Crafty devils. I like the fact that a town can zone Walmart out of existence if they want to. There have been few complaints.

So what if they are a monopoly? Isn't that the goal of business? They worked hard to get there and they didn't get there by accident. I have no beef with that.

As to the outsourced jobs and layoffs, if they price themselves out of the market, that is what happens. Have I been priced out in business before? Absolutely. If the other company can do it cheaper than I, more power to them. If I can't do better, I don't deserve the business. I have to find a way to make it better or I get to be going the way of the dinosaur.

I welcome a Wal*Mart and the Super Wal*Mart because it is convenient. I get all my stuff in as few stops as possible.

My brother went to the local WalMart to fill his insulin prescription. They gave him the wrong insulin but labeled to match his prescription. Later that evening, he went into shock and was rushed to the hospital where they spent eight days treating him for the wrong insulin. He almost died. A rep from WalMart called after his release and said "Will $5000 help alleviate any suffering?" He said "No sir" "I would prefer involvement in an investigation as to how this could have happened to prevent others from losing their lives to a failed pharmacist". He has friends in the "media" that are chomping at the bit.

I will gladly pay extra to avoid big box stores.

Ever look at their pre-packaged meat? It's packed in these gas filled, semi pressurised containers, and often looks all slick and shiney, and most of all, gross.
Not all of the meat is like that, but I would like to suggest, you look closely at what is under that cellophane wrapper, and read the label as well - after all, who want to pay good money for something that is 1/5th (or more) "solution" (saltwater & chemicals, usually)?

I have studied Walmart pretty closely doing various projects at school, and knowing how they buy their products I would be afraid to eat any food they have.

Remember they squeeze those suppliers to death. So you are getting the cheapest whatever that can be made. You ain't getting the good meat, no that goes to Trader Joes, your getting the rejected crap.

You have no idea whats in that food, those companies are under a ton of pressure to cut costs, so...

My wife prescribed insulin. She specified what she wanted but the numbnuts RN gave the other one instead. Sorry but this sort of thing happens all the time. I know of some pharmacists that will have their own stories to tell you. Nothing unique to Wal*Mart or Target or any other pharmacy.

Don't buy the cheap stuff. I don't. Yes we look at the label and buy what we want.

YES! This is the essence of capitalism; CHOICE!!
If you don't like it--don't buy it.
We buy our meats from a local grocer.

If the stores were run by the government you would lose the choice.

That seems scary to many people. Seems like they want the choice but when they get it or at least what the majority wants, they are not happy.

There are different grades of meat there. Take ground beef, you can buy the high fat ones or the lean ones.

I tried that. I even bought from a butcher that slaughters their own meat. Even bought some of that organic stuff on a whim. Could I tell the difference in a blind taste test? No. Could my wallet tell the difference? Yep.

Heh yeah, same with Target. :D Tell you what though, it sure keeps it nice and "juicy" when it's well done.