[JustTheTruth]

Walmart understands, perhaps better than just about any other business, how to succeed in the business environments in which it operates.

What that means is that Walmart has figured out that in Socialist/Statist countries with leftist control, they must worship at the altar of the state and buy - overtly and otherwise - influence where influence is to be had.

They have also figured out that as a capitalist enterprise, they must curry favor with the party in power, and they have long been vulnerable to a possible power shift from the Republicans to the Democrats. That power shift is now complete, and Walmart must reposition politically to find new allies to counter the anti-Walmart, anti-profit, anti-globalization, pro-Labor coalitions within the Democrat party.

No surprises here .... and it is not very complicated at all.

[nascarnation]

Thanks for the excellent analysis.
I think they are trying their best to stay alive in the era of Baraq. If they can trade healthcare support for staying non-union, that may be the best they can hope for in this environment.

[investigateworld]

I agree totally with your post. I saw it coming when they stopped selling rifles and shotguns in my 'outskirts of Portland Metro' market.

I knew they'd stop selling those items in urban locations, but still I was shocked when stopped here. (Camo can be stilled be considered formal dress ware - after October)

[Iron Munro]

Exactly - this is simply a business decision and has nothing to do with core philosophy. This follows Ayn Rands admonition that people and business entities have a responsibility to act in their own best interest.

For Walmart, this also would level the playing field, so to speak.

If Walmart and all its competitors have to provide insurance that meets a minimum government standard the competitive advantage for companies not currently providing health insurance is eliminated.
Furthermore, Walmart’s huge size and buying power could very well give it a competitive advantage when shopping for a corporate policy.

So it follows that an unintended side effect of this intrusive government action is that it could very well strengthen Walmarts position.