Purchasing low-priced goods from abroad, which puts American workers out of jobs
...and which the "American workers" turn right around and buy from Wal-Mart.
We are our own worst enemy
And who works in Wal-Mart? Slobobians? Give me a break.
Isn't it a shame people won't obey you?
The only "positive" I can come up with regarding Wal-Mart:
Wal-Mart's competition and now near monopoly in some areas has gone a long way towards keeping inflation in check. Wal-Mart has fed the consumer desire for cheap goods. Yes, that involves buying abroad - mostly China - but it's what consumers want. Amazing that those same consumers will complain and bellyache when their own manufacturing jobs are lost to overseas sweatshops. But these same consumers won't quit shopping at Wal-Mart.
Unfortunately, it's geting more difficult - if not impossible - to find many daily needs that are not "Made In China" or some other overseas location.
. It's not all Wal-Mart's fault - part of it can be laid to blame on the government. I think if how things are imported/exported and the taxes/duties involved were changed, you might see a shift the other way.
Heck, look at the foreign car companies that are building their cars here while "American" car companies are building abroad. Something is really screwed up when this happens, and the "American" car companies say they can't afford to build here.
As far as Wal-Mart...well, there is also the aspect that a portion of the money spent there goes back to China, which is not a good thing. The other big problem, everybody who says they like Wal-Mart, when asked if they would mind one being built very close by, probably would answer no ;-)