[Dunstan McShane]

I'd go so far as to argue that it isn't WalMart that hates small businesses: it's the consumers who shop at WalMart that do. Give people the choice between homegrown small businesses and WalMart, and let them choose what they want.

I'm no big fan of WalMart--I try to stay out of it when at all possible, and it's always possible--but if people want the smaller businesses to survive, they'd better patronize them rather than complain about WalMart's success.

[MineralMan]

"I'm no big fan of WalMart--I try to stay out of it when at all possible, and it's always possible--but if people want the smaller businesses to survive, they'd better patronize them rather than complain about WalMart's success."

And they do. At least they patronize the ones that offer good service. The Ace hardware store I mentioned started calling me by name the third time I came in there.

One time I had a broken spring from the recoil starter on an old Montgomery Wards outboard motor. Just on a whim, I took the broken spring into that Ace hardware store.

I learned that that outboard had an engine made by Tecumseh. After going through a drawer full of recoil starter springs for lawnmowers, we found the one I needed, and I was back on the lake that afternoon. Try that at Home Depot.

I dunno, but I really like to hear, "Hey Joe! How's it going?" when I come into a store. It's a lot nicer than "Welcome to WalMart" doncha think?