I don't disagree that the minimum wage has to be raised, and that companies that deliberately manipulate hours to avoid paying for benefits should be put out to pasture, or worse. If Walmart workers are willing to step out and risk their jobs to get fair pay and fair treatment, I'll be with them.

But I also think we need a hard, hard look at the bigger picture. Who shops at Walmart, and for what!? 'Cause someone does, for them to be as big and town-sucking as they are.

A gross oversimplification to be sure, but I do believe the larger part of their customers are people who don't make much money, and have to stretch it, and so buy cheap shit at Walmart. Some of which is important stuff we all 'need', but an awful lot of what Walmart markets is cheap shit that tries to look like better shit, that many people feel like they need to have to keep up with the god-blessed, everloving Joneses and their more expensive shit. Same goes for Target.

I really do think the wide streak of stuff-wanting in our culture is a piece of this puzzle that has to be taken seriously.

I'll step aside and listen.

Dani