The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Wal-Mart not good for capitalism

This letter is in response to John Teresi's "Tribute to Wal-Mart, Capitalism" in the September 29th Daily Egyptian. I agree with Mr. Teresi that Wal-Mart started out as a "mom-and-pop" store, and there's no doubt that Sam Walton worked very hard.

However, John, Wal-Mart has closed down many mom-and-pop stores in the country now that they are no longer small but an overwhelming behemoth. And certainly they contribute millions of dollars to charitable organizations-which conveniently enough reduces their tax obligations through direct deductions while simultaneously giving them good publicity.

While Wal-Mart is not the largest employer in America (that honor belongs to the U.S. Post Office), they are the largest strictly private employer. Most of those non-union jobs are relatively low paying, with few if any benefits or retirement packages (unless, presumably, your last name is Walton).

Additionally, Wal-Mart has been the defendant in various class-action discrimination lawsuits by their female and/or minority employees, including one this month, which would indicate at least some dissatisfaction within their own ranks.

Yes, Mr. Teresi, capitalism is a wonderful thing. But my fear, and that of many others, is that eventually Wal-Mart will be the only game in town. Aren't we all supposed to value diversity more than that?

And sorry, John, but I'm a Rush Limbaugh Republican, so that shoots your "closet left-winger" theory all to hell. What Wal-Mart represents is closer to "crapitalism" than capitalism, in my opinion. Robert Weeks
instructor, accounting department

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