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This article is nothing but a pile of anti-free market, Third Way nonsense which perhaps is to be expected from a magazine founded by Pat Buchanan. Sam Walton simply was more efficient at retailing than others were, and saw a market need to provide a wider array of goods and services than was available in small town and rural America. At least when he was alive, Wal-Mart boasted about their buying American products for sale when available. In so doing, Wal-Mart actually encouraged American manufacturing.

Currently, Wal-Mart seems to sell relatively little that is not made in Red China or some other Asian country. However, the Chinese have managed to produce goods of acceptable quality at low prices. Like it or not, the decision to eliminate most trade barriers was made by the Executive Branch, with the advice and consent of Congress. The blame for the decision not to use quotas or tariffs must fall on the Feds, not private companies that must deal with the existing economic and political environment.

"Currently, Wal-Mart seems to sell relatively little that is not made in Red China or some other Asian country."

Good post but I always like to address this issue. Information avalable on Wal-Mart's site. Last year, Wal-Mart spent 8 billion with China. They spent 150 billion with American companies.

Some of those American companies do choose to have some of their products manufactured in China. The same products are sold in stores all over America, not just Wal-Mart. Your comments about trade agreements and the Feds is right on.

Currently, Wal-Mart seems to sell relatively little that is not made in Red China or some other Asian country.

Latest numbers I've seen indicate WalMart buys about $22 billion out of $240 billion from China. About 9%.

The blame for the decision not to use quotas or tariffs must fall on the Feds, not private companies that must deal with the existing economic and political environment.

True. But who is one of the largest and most-conspicuous of political donors and lobbyists for imports?

So it becomes a synergistic "snow-ball" effect, as the government becomes increasingly co-opted by the foreign interests.