and if you are angry with them, I won't try to take that away from you. There are many legitimate reasons to be, especially if you are an employee. I fully support the Employment Free Choice Act, unions, and also believe that a living wage is a human right. If you feel boycotting Wal-Mart is essential to dealing with the negative impact they create, I support you.
This diary isn't about the worker, it's about the consumer. Consumer is a word I have come to hate, as I imagine many of you have as well. A consummation driven society, I find disgusting. It debases the human spirit, denies us greater purpose, and encourages the worst aspects of human nature.
I lead an urban lifestyle in a small city. I have a job that pays good wages, and leaves me smack in the middle of the 'economic ladder'. However, should I fall ill, or my industry (software) continue its decline, I will likely find myself starting over when I am 50.
I can afford to pay a little more for my socks, my shampoo, & my groceries. The problem that persists is the one that Wal-Mart has become the most infamous for. You see, it doesn't matter if I go to a shopping mall and stop in at Macy's, Sears, Lord & Taylor, or any number of more upscale boutiques. The problem is still the same for me as it is for most consumers - you can no longer purchase a great majority of everyday items made in the United States.
I know this is not a revelation to any of you. But I wanted to frame the problem this way: Every one of these purchases we make helps finance the continued demise of our beloved country. It's not about it's made in China, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, etc.; It's about the fact we no longer have the ability to financially support our economic system in a meaningful way. Being a consumer in a sense is now a synonym for being a conduit for economic collapse.
I am sure there are many of you out there who have some good tips for keeping things 'local', and I would appreciate you sharing them with all of us. If you are under economic hardship (I know many, many are), this diary isn't about you. Please don't be offended. This is simply about recognizing an unsustainable problem we are all guilty of letting happen.
It's essentially cannibalistic capitalism, implementing policies & procedures whose long term effect completely destroys its own ability to 'make money'. We see this time & time again. Wal-Mart is just an example, albeit a very efficient one. In fact, in order for Wal-Mart to hide bad sales months, they have switched to quarter reporting cycles. We see this with GM. Instead of accepting a baseline profit percentage, they introduce 'planned obsolescence' and focus on vehicles which do not meet the needs of consumers, and only try to exploit 'wants'. The all wise consumer wanted the SUV, the 8 cylinder sedan with a 18 foot clearance, the 0 to 60 in 5 seconds.
The consumer is rarely all wise. Profit motivation does not lead to long term prosperity. Furthermore, you have to ask yourself which your needs as a consumer are largely 'manufactured'.
My choice for now is to shop as I need to, but I also choose to learn several handy crafts. I think they will become necessary as we move into the future. I don't see an end to cannibalistic capitalism, and as such, I want to help myself and my community when the time comes. It will always take a village.
UPDATE Thank you for all the interesting comments. Please recommend if you feel this is a good discussion to have with a larger audience.