tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post3832252931399923164..comments2024-03-09T08:58:57.961-05:00Comments on Everything is Interesting: The modern market placeJulie H. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18370626312151913595noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-24896534574626176232008-11-26T09:32:00.000-05:002008-11-26T09:32:00.000-05:00Unfortunately, folks like Sam don't generally feel...Unfortunately, folks like Sam don't generally feel guilt, do they?Julie H. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18370626312151913595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-75266495094102220152008-11-25T19:13:00.000-05:002008-11-25T19:13:00.000-05:00I live in the country, too, and sometimes there ar...I live in the country, too, and sometimes there aren't a lot of shopping choices. When we first moved back here (from Chicago) I dropped a fair amount of money at Walmart, because often my only other option for getting what we needed was to drive many miles and pay twice as much when I got there. <BR/><BR/>I eventually swore off Walmart, in part because of the labor issues--especially the gender discrimination--but mostly because it has come to represent all that is deeply wrong with contemporary consumer culture. My decision is as much aesthetic as ethical, as I remind myself every time I walk into a Target or a Lowes. All your points about the inconsistency (hypocrisy?) of people's complaints about Walmart are absolutely right, Julie.<BR/><BR/>FWIW, I think feeling guilty about these consumer choices amounts to punishing yourself for something that isn't your fault. You didn't set up this crazy system, and you aren't getting rich off it. Just do the best you can, and make compromises when you must. Let the Walton clan feel guilty.BitterGracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18262639525430954930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-70864862839696539532008-11-25T15:13:00.000-05:002008-11-25T15:13:00.000-05:00You're not going to find me giving you any grief e...You're not going to find me giving you any grief either. <BR/><BR/>There are reasons I don't shop at Walmart, many of which were illuminated in the documentary "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices". But, yeah, I do sometimes shop at Target. They are probably just as guilty of many of the same crimes as Wal-Mart. <BR/><BR/>Fortunately, I hate shopping and am quite happy to make do with what I have. I wish I could say this is the result of some kind of mindfulness or decision to live green. Nope. I just hate to shop and I ain't fancy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-36511080468326180732008-11-25T02:01:00.000-05:002008-11-25T02:01:00.000-05:00There are many reasons that people hate Walmart. T...There are many reasons that people hate Walmart. They have environmental violations, lawsuits and the fact that they are big George W. supporters makes me hate them. However, there are many ways in which you can support your local economy and shopping is only one of them. The bottom line is that you do need to take care of yourself first and foremost. And no one -- no one -- should fault you for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-39372417925063593152008-11-24T23:59:00.000-05:002008-11-24T23:59:00.000-05:00Better if you first check and get quotes online be...Better if you first check and <A HREF="http://www.domyquote.com.au" REL="nofollow">get quotes</A> online before doing your shopping. It helps in the budget, and it's stress free too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694397133863244362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-42307243205489861622008-11-24T19:58:00.000-05:002008-11-24T19:58:00.000-05:00Thanks, TMC. I basically do what you wrote above. ...Thanks, TMC. <BR/>I basically do what you wrote above. <BR/><BR/>I feel terribly guilty when I shop there, though I'm not informed enough to understand all the issues. Well, I better get informed. <BR/><BR/>Free floating guilt is rather useless. Informed guilt has some merit.Julie H. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18370626312151913595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7048229334858323343.post-67312907733738940212008-11-24T19:39:00.000-05:002008-11-24T19:39:00.000-05:00I'm not going to give grief, just sources of i...I'm not going to give grief, just sources of info. <BR/><BR/>Here's some on why folks object to them:<BR/>http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/cms/page1668.cfm<BR/><BR/>And here's the Tibet angle for boycotting Made in China goods (Walmart's full of them):<BR/>http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/section.php?id=34<BR/><BR/>My thought is to buy what I can locally, buy imported items of value to me (you Irish oats, Jasmine rice), & shop mindfully for everything else. If I can only afford a $10 muffin tin at Walmart, I'll buy that and only that there, and take care of it so I never have to buy another one. It's the old "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" adage. <BR/><BR/>I think part of the issue with big box stores (or even dollar stores) is that they make it super cheap and easy to buy unearth-friendly disposable crap. Everything's replaceable & value-less.TMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12287499048486219026noreply@blogger.com