by Alan Kelsky

Created on: January 17, 2009

Saving people money to help them live better was the goal that Sam Walton envisioned when he opened the doors to the first Wal-Mart.

With todays economy in such poor condition, everyone needs a break.

Wal-mart employs more than 1.4 million workers in the United States. While entry level jobs at Wal-Mart maynot be the best paying, they do provide income and benefits to people who otherwise not have them.

Wal-mart has a charitable giving program, a green initiative and pioneered the $4 prescription plan for over 300 generic drugs.

Many people feel that as Wal-mart is staunchly anti-union it is an unfair employer. On the other hand,Wal-Mart's arguments against unions originated with its founder, Sam Walton, who wrote in his 1992 autobiography: "I have always felt strongly that we don't need unions at Wal-Mart . The partnership we have at Wal-Mart - which includes profit sharing, incentive bonuses, discount stock purchase plans, and a genuine effort to involve the associates in the business so we can pull together - works better for both sides than any situation I know of involving unions." The fact that Wal-marts non-union wages puts grocery competitors at a disadvantage claim grocery-chain owners, forcing them to keep wages depressed. Fast food chains are not unionized, and don't pay any better than Wal-marts nor offer as many benefits. Therefore, when a fast food company builds a franchise in a neighborhood it is likely to be welcomed, not condemned. But, if one fast food chain was unionized, there would be accusations made about the unfair advantage that the non-unionized chains have. This is the same situatiion Wal-mart finds itself in.

In today's economy, layoffs are rampant. Partly due to benefit costs associated with unions, the automobile industry is on the brink of demise. Millions of jobs could be lost forever if the bailout does not work. Perhaps, the real question is, are unions bad for America?

Wal-mart acts as an anchor for many new or revitalized shopping malls, bringing first construction jobs and then new retail jobs to communities. This in turn stimulates local economies and provides opportunities where their may have been none before.

Businesses must run according to the conditions that surround them. Instead of complaining, perhaps competitors can find more efficient ways of doing business.

Overall, Wal-marts is good for the consumer, good for civic activities and good for the consumer. Wal-mart is good for America.

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