Wal-Mart has a history of entering neighborhoods where they're not wanted by fronting a puppet "local" organization with $$$ that spews vitriol and propaganda at at the sheeple. These sheeple then vote to allow WM into their neighborhoods because they don't want local gubmint to "tell" them where to shop. WM builds. Downtowns die. Rinse. Repeat.
WM actually ran a nazi-style ad in Flagstaff, AZ, complete with book-burning references - "Would you let your gubmint decide what you read?" "Would you let your gubmint decide where you shop?"
Nevermind that WM censors free speech daily. But at least it's not gubmint...
Unfortunately, yes they are. I used to like Wal-Mart (and Sam's Club) until I found out they were trying to seize private property all over the country using the very method the US Supreme Court just okayed today.