In response to Carla McDonald’s rebuttal to my last letter criticizing the Star’s coverage of the “big-box store” controversy, I’m amused she took five paragraphs to say absolutely nothing … other than insinuate I was somehow blaming her for the way the paper ran her initial letter, and that I was falsely assuming there were no other readers who had already written in supporting my position.
The Star itself, however, inadvertently made a mockery of her retort by using that very issue for yet another one-sided front-page “big-box” story, two more anti- “big box” letters from readers (not one pro), as well as of course McDonald’s rebuttal.
But that’s neither here nor there.
While I did not present my opinion of “big-box” stores in my initial criticism, allow me the opportunity now to give McDonald, the Star and its readers both barrels:
First, stop whining about Wal-Mart’s negative effect on the “mom-n-pop” stores. After all, they’re mostly tourist attractions and hob-knob eateries selling overpriced merchandise, have virtually no work-force, cater to a specific economic demographic (the well-to-do) and provide no real stimulation to the local economy (where the average per capita income is only a few thousand over the poverty level). Stop hailing these businesses as the economic driving force of the one county in the state with the highest rate of unemployment.
Second, stop criticizing Wal-Mart’s treatment of its employees and using that as a position against its inclusion … especially when most of you are already well aware that Hamilton’s K-Mart and other retailers here treat their employees the exact same way. Don’t cry “foul” on Wal-Mart while ignoring the same crimes other retailers you hypocritically support with your local dollars commit all the time simply because you want to make your argument look better.
Third, stick a fork in it regarding the so-called “evil impact” of Wal-Mart on the environment, because that’s just beauty-pageant hysterics. Certainly none of you are griping about the “evil environmental impact” of all the casinos and convenience stores clustered along 93, so why are you so worried about one Wal-Mart? Does its square-footage somehow obliterate the ecological barrier and turn its surroundings into a barren, toxic wasteland … or is that kind of effect reserved only for places like Missoula (which has TWO Wal-Marts … yet, curiously, seems unaffected by their big fat slimy, small-business-destroying Tentacles of Doom)?
And, finally, while you’re throwing up rhetorical smokescreens and scaring the rest of us with promises that Wal-Mart will destroy the “fabric of the community”, keep in mind that not a single one of you have bothered to come up with plan to address and minimize the county’s economic disparity and its pervasive lack of opportunity for those like me who have to WORK for a living and support a family.
Ravalli County is my home now, and as a resident whose own hard-earned money stands as an investment in its growth, I’m going to have a say in how I think it should be run.
Whether the rest of you like it or not.
Jason Cornelius
Victor