Reply #21: People Make the Most Practical Choices for Their Situation [View All]

[On the Road]

Shoppers should not be blamed for bad governmental trade or labor policies.

I use Wal-Mart as a third or fourth option, but for some items, it's the only local store open late. I would rather use Target or another store, but I also know that whatever I buy may come from China no matter where it's purchased. For some categories like toys, almost everything is from overseas.

Some of Walmart's advantage is from more efficient distribution and integration, which is beneficial to everyone. Some of it's from size, which is indifferent. Some of it's from hiring too many part-time jobs with no benefits, which is bad and should be addressed through legislation. Some of it's from monopolistic practices in small towns, which might be addressed either by city councils or by strengthening antitrust practices.

Knowing a lot of people in mainland China, I also see the other side of the equation -- the aspirations and hard work of people trying to lift themselves out of poverty. There's easily more upside in China than downside in the US. International trade is a very mixed bag.

The key concern is poor employment opportunities for unskilled and semi-skilled workers here is the US. Wal-Mart is exploiting a labor and business situation which should not have been allowed to continue for so many years. I agree that Blaming the customers is starting at the wrong end of the situation.