by samuel samson

Created on: August 03, 2010   Last Updated: August 05, 2010

Saying that Wal-Mart is bad for America is like saying that the original entreprenuerial spirit of America no longer fits into our fair-minded modern ideals. Wal-Mart did not create the system, it has just been incredibly successful in working within that system. Wal-Mart is also not alone in being a success. Sure they are at the top, but others such as Lowe's, Target, and Home Depot have also grown tremendously. But Wal-Mart seems to carry the Lion's portion of any blame that is thrown at big business. There are several reasons for this.

Wal-Mart is an example of capitalism at work. Everything about their approach from purchasing and producing, all the way to the product reaching the consumer screams capitalism. This drives the anti-capitalists in Washington and in the media nuts. So they will try everything to tarnish Wal-Mart's reputation. If it doesn't fit into the "big business is evil" template, then they want nothing to do with it. All the jobs that have been created and all the values that consumers get matter not. These people want us to think they have the people's best at mind, but that is only true when it advances their ideas and power.

Coincidentally, unions have made no headway into Wal-Mart. Since unions carry huge political power, they have friendly ears in the media and in Washington where they can vent any distresses they may have. Unions were once a welcome and needed part of America. Now they are the deathnail for American industry and dead weight on the back of every tax paying American citizen.

Wal-Mart has been accused of killing American business by buying overseas instead of here at home. The dirty little secret that every business owner knows is that the real reason that American firms have trouble competing with companies overseas are the crippling taxes and regulations that the government enforces. These cause American companies to be too expensive for bargain shoppers. Try easing some restrictions and let's see what happens.

Critics also claim that Wal-Mart has hurt our country by selling cheap merchandise that keep lower income citizens constantly spending all their money at Wal-Mart instead of on their families. They claim that Wal-Mart can actually have an effect on a person's character. To me, this is the most ludicrous charge. More harm is done by far by the governments welfare for votes programs than anything Wal-Mart could ever do.  We are destroying a whole generation of Americans by killing their jobs and then paying them to sit home. The terrible part is that none of this is secret. It is well known and purposeful. 

Learn more about this author, samuel samson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.