Here in small-town Whitewater, we’re getting an expanded Walmart. It’s Walmart, not Tiffany & Co. It is, however, popular with millions, for low prices on a wide selection of goods.
We’ve also a selection of local merchants, some of whom are positioned to thrive regardless of Walmart’s plans. I’ve objected to an exclusionary ‘buy local’ effort because Walmart is local to us, too, and but mainly because the city administration was wrong to take sides in consumers’ choices between independent merchants and chain retailers. Adults can — and daily do — make these decisions without Whitewater’s city manager cheering on one side or another.
(In this case, oddly, cheering both: pushing for an anti-chain-store campaign while working to clear the path for Walmart. See, for general objections, Whitewater Local Government’s Favoritism of Some Local Businesses Over Others.)
Demonizing Walmart isn’t just silly — it’s destructive for communities that will benefit from lower prices for ordinary items. Reason has a video about how agitated some have become over Walmart:
Here’s the description accompanying the video:
Retail giant Walmart is planning to open its first stores in New York City and Washington, D.C.
That’s got local politicians and activists up in arms.
“Walmart, keep your plantation because there are no more slaves,” says New York City Councilman Charles Barron.
Walmart will make criminals of our children, argues Washington D.C. commissioner Brenda Speaks, because “kids are kids” so they’ll shoplift and then “security will grab them.”
If we’re tricked into welcoming Walmart through our city gates “wrapped up in a shiny package,” explains New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, it will take over and destroy us.
So what’s getting anti-Walmart activists so riled up?
The answer: cheap groceries.
Written and produced by Jim Epstein, with help from Joshua Swain. Narrated by Nick Gillespie. Approximately 7.30 minutes.