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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (5080)	11/8/2005 12:15:36 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 541402

Walmart as metaphor/proxy probably means something different in California than, say, a little town in Alabama or Missisippi. There are no unions to speak of in the Deep South and mom-n-pop stores never could afford much in the way of health plans or retirement plans anyway. So Walmart is a good job. My problem with Walmart is that they got started in Arkansas, and they have a more rural clientele, so except for extremely generic stuff like toothpaste or shampoo, they never have anything that appeals to my sensibilities. Speaking of sensibilities -- last night I went to K-Mart for the first time in forever, because I had read that they were carrying some Zymol knockoffs (car detailing goop). They weren't, but I wandered around in the Martha Stewart aisles. Some of the stuff seemed very interesting -- if you want a copper bottomed pot or pan, I've never seen them at such a reasonable price, for example. Some extremely weird. There must be committees that brainstorm these ideas, tests the colors on focus groups, it can't be just Martha. I have no idea what kind of people want to decorate their Christmas trees purple or rust orange -- Goths, maybe? On the other hand, she did spend a lot of time in prison recently, rubbing elbows with women who probably shop at K-Mart when they aren't in prison. Did a little market research while she did time, knowing Martha, she's a multitasking kind of gal. If you are at all interested in household objects as social metaphor and phenomenon, check it out.

To: epicure who wrote (5080)	11/8/2005 1:22:06 PM
From: coug	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541402

Hi ionesco, One thing that never seems to be discussed in this day and age of diminishing energy and other resources is that big box stores help conservation. One stop shopping and one stop distribution to the stores.. A lot of people just don't want to walk a few blocks to each and every little mom and pop store so they drive. Also on the other end, separate distribution trucks delivering 10 gals of milk to 10 different stores adds up in energy use. Instead of a 100 gals or more to one spot.. It is fun to go into little stores to shop on occasion, but it is a luxury to society, imo. It is just the way it is. That said, our faves are Costco and HD because of our perceived social policies they have, which I hope are right. <g>.... We do go to Walmart on occasion in emergency but I just don't care for the environment either. We go to Wild Oats, Trader Joes and Raleys mostly for groceries. And a local Ace hardware on occasion. Local coffee shops are fine but here again, Starbucks seems to place their stores in busy shopping centers so one can walk to them instead of driving. Also they are pretty socially responsible from what I know. JMT on the subject.... m