Further Troubles for Wal-Mart

We don't like the behemoth that is Wal-Mart. We know, we know: we should respect the free market, Wal-Mart lowers costs for consumers which in turn frees up money for consumers to spend elsewhere, it provides jobs. They're legitimate "pros." Still, its rapacious hunger to expand into every possible area--pharmacy, optometry, hair styling--to the detriment of small town proprietors who, at age 53, may not want to change careers in obedience to the crunching wheels of the free market, bothers us. Anyway, we enjoy the bad news about Wal-Mart, such as these:

Wal-Mart Watch has launched a new full-page ad in USA Today, questioning what happened to the Wal-Mart "Buy American" program, saying that "70% of Wal-Mart merchandise is from China," complete with a photo depicting a main aisle of a Wal-Mart store complete with "Made in China" arrows pointing to merchandise. Later this week, the ad will show up in local papers in communities affected by job outsourcing. Link (scroll to blurb at the bottom).

Slower sales and pressure from labor unions are some of the issues likely to weigh on Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s shares, fueling further worry about the outlook for the world's top retailer, Barron's newspaper reported on Sunday. Link.

If given enough time, maybe every behemoth does eventually fall under its own weight, which is a reason not to interfere. It's not a reason to like Wal-Mart, but it's a reason not to legislate against it.