Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 18, 2020

And grandpa can get a job as a greeter.

When was it ever called ‘The People’s Emporium"?

Nearby we have a large distribution facility (the COOP) but I will never go to that place to buy a book and I will continue to get supplies from the small bookshop run by two girls and, often, I go to buy food and more in the small shops that are there. in my town . Human relationship gains.

Wal-Mart was just the first fatal blow to small businesses. Amazon has finished them off.

Walmart hollowed out more small towns than China ever did.

“It’s the end of the world as you know it.” Welcome to the 21st Century.

There goes the neighbourhood!

And so life was forever changed. Made in America became Made in China.

It is unfair to blame Walmart; they only sell what they can sell. Back in the 50s/early 60s NYC had a thriving unionized garment industry (looking for the union label when buying…)Then the industry started moving into the non unionized South and if the consumer could save a $1 on a pack of T shirts they stopped looking for the union label (even the wife of an UAW worker doing back to school shopping) Then the garment industry discovered consumer would buy those T shirts from Pakistan/Honduras if they could save another $1-in all cases it was the consumer who voted with their $s – they wanted the cheaper non union/foreign T shirts as long as they were cheaper. If Haines knew they could sell a pack of union made tube socks for $20 they would never have moved production to China so they could sell the pack for $12.

When things were made in America many consumer items were expensive. In 1960 a 19" Zenith tv was $240 ($2,200 in 2020$) average wage was $2.25 hour and you were lucky if a repairman was not needed when it was two years old. In 1951 a toaster was $20 – $200- 2020$.

The other side of the coin of capitalism; no more good products, only ‘good’ prices.

A few decades ago Wal-Mart tried to move into a prime piece of retail real estate, but it required an exemption to existing zoning laws (WM was planning a new building). Township council refused to grant the exception, WM fought it for seven years, cost the township millions, but WM lost.

I shopped in a walmart once. it was shabby and the service slow. I did not return

Oh boy, knock off products at a slightly cheaper price. Just the thing to make billionaires out of scumbags.

Yeah. I remember that. I lived in a town – population ~15,000 – when Wally World came. Very similar reactions. From “finally, thank heaven” to “NO. NO. NO. For love of God, NO!” Yeah, it was a bible belt town.

WalMart does hire quite a few workers. A minimal grasp of the Official Language seems to be a major criteria.

Hires a lot of part time workers so as not to have to pay insurance, pensions, etc.

When this arc started, there was speculation if it was going to be about Fat Donny. No, it’s worse than him. It is about successful greedy bastards.

Bought a half dozen pairs of their house-brand george jeans at Wally World. Most did not survive a first washing before wearing. They wouldn’t take them back. I should have known better but I couldn’t resist the less than half price of Lee jeans. Never again.

A store I have never shopped at and never will.

A store I have never shopped at and never will. Thanks, GreggW, you saved me keystrokes.

Back in Mark Twain’s day, charlatans were tarred and feathered, and ridden out of town on a rail. Danny Doyle, and all his ilk, are perfect candidates. Congrats, GT, on capturing that smug arrogance. Makes me want to slap him.

Rubbermaid had to close their American factory and all their molds were bought by a Chinese company. Wally world had copies made in China and Rubbermaid could not match their price. Drive through Twin Falls Idaho and all the little stores on the main street are closed and empty, but there is a Wallyworld just outside the city limits.