I write regarding the Jan. 27 (opinion titled) “Walmart plans may be good for farmers”.
For the record, I want to say that this farmer has boycotted the Camrose Walmart since its inception, which incidentally sits on the edge of town on fertile farmland, as it does in most other cities.
And oh yeah, they are planning to build 40 more stores in Canada, over more of our farmland, to take more of our dollars out of our economy and send them to the United States.
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That sounds like an astute and impressive business plan to me.
Walmart has closed numerous home-grown and/or locally owned businesses here, put the squeeze on many others with its bulk importing of cheap goods made cheaply overseas, and caused people to lose their livelihoods.
In return, Walmart offers a few part-time non-union positions with no benefits.
The only thing I concur with in the Scholz article is that it does provide a few jobs during the building of their stores.
I heartily suggest readers procure and thoughtfully read a somewhat dated book calledHow Walmart is Destroying Americabefore becoming a Walmart customer.
Allowing for the author’s bias and an agenda, this book still offers real eye-openers as to how Walmart operates and how it impacts the surrounding areas when it puts up its stores.
I find it highly improbable that Walmart would ever provide an opportunity for farmers, and purchase 30 percent of its produce assortment locally on an annual basis unless Walmart profits extensively by it.
Walmart is counting on the positive PR of their announcement of pseudo environmental intent to buy local to boost their bottom line by millions of dollars, as consumers buy into their most recent ploy, and purchase more merchandise and/or produce during this downturn in global buying. …
This farmer housewife will continue to totally support authentic local Albertan/Canadian outlets and merchants in every way possible.
I will not use my hard-earned dollars to support a subsidiary of the worst American giants…
Marion Leithead,Bawlf, Alta.
