Ceres, CA. Doesn’t Need Another Wal-Mart

Op-Ed: No to another Wal-Mart in Ceres [Modesto Bee (Calif.)]

I work in Ceres and I would like to respond to “Ceres certainly needs more retail, but not more Wal-Marts” (Oct. 17, Page B-7). For me, Wal-Mart isn’t the holy grail of shopping. Wal-Mart almost sells all of what Ceres businesses had to offer before Wal-Mart came to town. Ceres certainly doesn’t need more of the same.

Especially distasteful to me is the notion of Wal-Mart’s new slogan “Save money, live better.” Is saving money the key to happiness? And who is living better — really? Certainly not Wal-Mart employees.

The perception of the “live better” slogan lies in grave contrast to the daily reports about how the Wal-Mart corporation abuses its authority and excuses itself from responsibility. As Americans, we never found it beneficial to allow corporations or any city to suppress its people.

I applaud all Wal-mart employees, vendors, and business partners, worldwide who have been courageous coming forward with their stories. Their accounts of Wal-Mart’s lack of concern for people and the environment, interfere with my support of the corporation. Nevertheless, I believe that many fine people shop and work at Wal-mart.

LIONEL BARRAGAN
Turlock

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Click Here for a Printer-Friendly Version