I saw the Wal Mart thread on the religious thread and I have no problem with choice and chain stores that sell products primarily from other countries. I think a market should be consumer driven and if people like shopping Wal Mart they should have that option. I live just outside of one city and close to another smaller city. This smaller city is probably one of the most beautiful in the nation. Stone architecture, small curved streets. a roaring economy and mostly local businesses. McDonalds opened up and then went out of business. Community citizens preferred the many small quaint local hamburger shops that have fresh lettuce and home made buns and ripe red tomatoes on their lean free range burgers.

All of these local community businesses spend an enormous amount of time, energy and money to keep this city clean, crime free and wholesome. Last Sunday I hiked a park that was lovely, trash free and went for miles up into the mountains. Afterwards I had an early dinner at a small local Italian cafe with homemade pata and organic greens with home made dressing. Afterwards I drove home and along the freeway I could see a crowded black top parking lot at an Olive garden restaurant. Prices high at thsi place with heavily trans fat foods and pre cut bagged lettuce salds and pasta made on the east coast and packaged for 6 months. No ambience and yet I had just left a vine covered outdoor patio with a great fresh meal and paid less .

This city is an enticiing business opportunity. If someone starts a small business and they do it with quality and pride in their community it prospers. I personally prefer spending my dollar supporting my community.
We have musicians and theater productions that are normally unheard of in a city this size. This entire community puts so much effort into maintaining a crime free and clean wholesome local driven city-it is amazing. The only real problem is that most who visit want to move to this city and it si growing at an alarming rate.

I think Americans should vote with their dollar. If someone prefers spending more money to park in traffic along black top and eat faux food that was packaged on the east coast that is their choice and so be it. I will drive an additional 2 miles to support a family owned business where the owner takes community pride, contributes to the community and enhances that city besides offering a superior product.