The Evil Empire: Wal-mart

After a recent post by my colleague, pissed off patricia, regarding Wal-mart, a visitor to this blog felt that liberals are hypocrites for knocking the very store that sells cheap stuff to poor people.

Funny stuff, but I thought you guys were supposed to be champions of the poor and friends of the underprivileged, unwashed masses. Where's all that compassion for those less fortunate souls who didn't win life's lottery or marry Teresa Heinz? Hypocrites.

I get that Wal-Mart is low brow, but could someone please explain to me why so many liberals hate Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart sells the cheapest stuff on earth. Where do you think all that welfare money goes? Po' folk shop at Wal-Mart. Hell, I shop at Wal-Mart.

Wouldn't it be better if all that welfare money went back to the people? To a mom and pop store? What happened to free enterprise? Wal-mart took care of that.

Sure it's hard not to shop at Wal-mart. Everyone wants a bargain. But is it worth it to be tempted by a bargain when Wal-mart (and their ilk:Home Depot) are making the gap between the top 1% and everyone else even larger? Is it worth it to give up democracy for a bargain? I think not. I'd rather live without stuff than give up my freedom. I miss the days of anti-trust laws.

What say you?

UPDATE: An astute reader and commenter left these links in case anyone had any doubts about the chilling effect of Wal-mart on our country.

1. The LA Times 2003 Series on Wal-Mart
2. Watch Frontline Series: Is Wal-mart Good For America?
3. Steve Gilliard: Working for Slave-mart