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AVoice Against Wal-Mart from Small Town, USA

My mother's recent retirement from Wal-Mart sent me searching for their corporate office mailing address when I came across your website and comments concerning this retail gorilla.  Of particular interest were comments concerning the employees who work so hard and tax breaks given to attract Wal-Mart to certain areas?  I'm compelled to send this message because I have first hand knowledge of this disaster Sam Walton's family has created (against his dying wishes, I'm sure).
 
Wal-Mart in Mt. Pleasant, Texas was the first store in this state and, maybe, the nation.  When Wal-Mart moved in nearly every independently owned retail establishment was literally put out of business.  If you didn't work for Wal-Mart or Pilgrim's Pride chicken, you were unemployed.  Yes, many businesses desire perimeter locations because it's the only place in town left to shop so, you just might make a living.
 
Corporate welfare afforded Wal-Mart when planning a store, serves only to raise taxes for the rest of us.  It's a fact that taxing entities will generate enough money to meet their budgets using their available tax base.  If an exemption or abatement is granted, revenue is split among the taxable property.  I suppose it's viewed as excusable since they create sweat shop type jobs for the communities where they destroy land, jobs and opportunity.
 
After fourteen years at Wal-Mart, my 69 year old mother retired.  The many horror stories that can be told from those years are astounding to me.  And the stories that seem to fade away without a final chapter are amazing.  A young woman in a small Texas town is murder while walking to her car after work.  Employees, of course, are asked to park as far away from the entrance as possible so that paying customers might have access.  Security video recorded the woman's last moments as a man followed her to her car and drove her away to a violent demise.  During that weekend, Wal-Mart had no comment.  By Tuesday of the following week, seems as if everyone forgot the incident even happened!
 
Over the past two decades, business in our country has become based solely on greed with no regard to human life, property, self respect or consequences.  The American dream has faded since Wal-Mart has become our God of Life's Necessities destroying the dreams of future entrepreneurs.  I have refused to shop at Wal-Mart for over 10 years now but, fortunately, I have that option.  When expressing my disgust with the company in small towns, the standard answer is, "there's nowhere else to shop".  In my opinion, there would be if everyone would car pool to the nearest Target store!
 
Events, for which I have first hand knowledge, have occurred at more than one Wal-Mart store and should have been reported to EEOC, the Department of Labor and/or OSHA.  But, knowing the outcome of each event, I'm certain reports were never made.  In fact, in each case, the victim takes the position of "you can't fight Wal-Mart".  It's the only dictatorship I know of in the free world.
 
I could continue however, I refuse to allow the latest issues with Wal-Mart fall into the black hole with all the others.  My widowed mother deserves more than that.
 
Thank you for your time and for creating an avenue by which to voice my feelings.
 
Sincerely,
L. Andrews
Desoto, Texas