Walmart & Controversy

Who would ever think that a slight "bashing" of Walmart in a general conversation would be controversial? Well I found out that it certainly can be. We were at a dinner and I brought up the topic of our local Walmart and it's bid to purchase a liquor license to set up and sell in a package store area. I had signed the petition but upon really thinking about it I was kind of sorry and really didn't think they needed to. Well the man sitting next to me is a "free market" thinker and jumped on me. So what about the "little guys", etc. In this case - yes I want to see the little guys succeed. I don't like that most of my grocery shopping is done at Walmart - I do try to shop other places but as a pastor's spouse I also have to be a good steward of the funds we have. I can't afford to do all my shopping elsewhere so I am glad that I have the Walmart. I would bet that most people in town do a large majority of their shopping there. So if they could also buy their liquor would this adversely affect our alcohol problem - and yes I think there is one? And again yes I think it would. Now to purchase alcohol someone must go to a separate store and most of these do close. Walmart doesn't close. Now there are city/state laws that regulate hours - but the current major retailers close earlier than that. Plus many of us go to Walmart more than once a week - would the easy availability of the alcohol lend it to people purchasing more? I don't have these answers but No - I don't want to purchase my alcohol at Walmart along with my eggs and milk. But now - what can I talk about?