The Wal-Mart issue has sparked a good bit of conversation in my Yahoo group and we’ve gone down several different rabbit trails in the process. It’s certainly interesting and obviously not everyone agrees, though as always it is an amicable discussion.
Truly I do understand this is a much bigger issue but for my family the Wal-Mart thing has been a catalyst to looking at it more closely.
I know that the whole —big-box stores harm to local communities/harm to developing nations— problem is complex and how someone deals with that will look different depending on individual circumstances. I also know that our family really doesn’t need to shop at those stores, we have other options. But I also I know others might not have those options so I do think it’s an individual matter of conscience.
When I wrote that I thought Catholics “may have a moral obligation not to” shop at Wal-Mart I honestly meant that in the context of individual circumstances (thus my use of the word may). I don’t think it’s inherently wrong to shop at these stores but it may be wrong for individuals who can choose otherwise. But again I say may because it’s something you have to discern yourself.
Certainly there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get a good price for something but this is where I had to stop and ask myself if I was too used to getting things cheap. I think I was. I had stopped thinking about what was fair and all that it took to make an item –all the people and resources involved– and was just thinking about getting what I wanted at a low price. I had become a consumer.
That’s what we’re really focusing on changing here right now. Wal-Mart isn’t the only store we are going to be avoiding. As much as possible our goal is to support local businesses and avoid all the big box stores.
On a related note, here are a few links I’ve been purusing lately:
http://www.thesimpledollar.com
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human-footprint
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
lisa roder 04.14.08 at 11:14 pm
I do a price comparison about once a year or so, just to make sure we are not “missing out” by not shopping at Wal Mart, plus informal polling of my friends often! I have come to the conclusion that Kroger and ALDI are across the board less expensive anyway. at least for what I need to buy. I am a sale and clearance type shopper too and Wal Mart just does not seem big on sales. on a side note dh and I often wonder if we have all been “brainwashed” somehow into thinking that “Wal-Mart is cheapest” when indeed, it might not really be….
I’ve enjoyed reading the discussions…
lisa roder 04.14.08 at 11:15 pm
PS Farmer’s Market season is upon us. just say “no” to produce grown 3,000 miles away!!
LAA 04.17.08 at 12:19 am
I have greatly enjoyed the conversation on your Yahoo group about WalMart. This is definitely a hot topic and it’s one that isn’t easy to discuss in person in a group. I appreciate having the forum that FCL provides to do it in. I’ve been sorry to see the level of activity in that conversation go down, I still feel like the questions I posted have not been answered! Oh well, we are all busy and perhaps the Pope’s visit is more on everyone’s mind right now.
Anyways, thanks again for bringing up the topic!