Dude, what a load of crap. First off, Walmart always demands property tax breaks. Secondly, they drive out most of the business' that are paying full property taxes. Thirdly, the money doesn't stay in the area, but heads straight for Bentonville, Arkansas. Fourth, all this supposed good they do in the community services through donations comes from their employees donations and the community. Very little of that comes from corporate coffers. They just take the credit for it. Fourth, they could care less about the environmental damage, as so well expressed by Patty Clink. Fifth, they almost always seek a variance to build in a buffer zone instead of the normal retail zones. This is so they will have access to multi family housing closer than their competition who followed the rules. They use their immense financial strength to buy off local officials. Finally, as to the ability to advance, what a load. Very few make it through to the management level, and they do so by screwing their associates out of pay raises and benefits to make the bottom line look better. This is why less than 40% of the people eligible for benefits have them. They also offer a number of health insurance plans. The only one that is affordable has a ridiculously high co payment, to the extent that it is worthless for the average person with the exception of catastrophic care. But for the average single parent raising kids, it is not worth the money charged. The policy that is comparable to what the average union grocery worker has costs the Walmart worker in excess of $800 per month. This on $7 to $8 an hour. This from the most profitable company in the world.

I have serious problems with those that espouse here and other places one set of values, but when it comes down to it them, they go with the lowest price. At what cost? And if it was your family, children, grandchildren being driven to this, then what? In fact, those of you who are suffering from the lack of decent jobs can likely thank Walmart for much of it. Think Master Lock, Brown Shoe, and Briggs and Stratton as just a few examples.

Mick