Nothing wrong with supporting local businesses. Trouble is finding them. Its hard to find really local businesses here. Most of them have closed up but its not always bad for them.
I personally know of 2 guys that owned independent auto parts stores. When a national chain made them offers that made them wealthy, they sold out. And both of them made a pretty good living at their stores.
The small family farm we used to buy veggies and fruits from sold out to developers and they also made a bundle.
As far as Wal-mart, they have very few things I would buy. But when it comes to a national brand that they sell cheaper than another, large national chain, I'll go there. Charmin is Charmin after all.

No, you are not on my shit list, at least not today. I can say the issue with 4-H came about because Sam used that as a way to show whatever town she lives in in Oregon (Medford is my guess) was better than the towns up the road with the Walmarts and she used by example the purchase of free range organic meat from 4-H. To me if you are not telling the truth about that then what else is not accurate in her Lake Wobegone existance?

I also don't believe in all this new age Mother Earth gotta eat free range if it says free range BS. These people just jump on a bandwagon without really knowing what is pulling that wagon IMHO

So, be of good cheer and if you were really really on my shit list you would also be on my ignore list

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

Nathan: I may not be on your shit list on this thread, but we might find something about which it argue

I don't wish to be on "ignore" lists, but then, I think it's possible to disagree without resorting to name calling and personal attacks. It's obvious not all posters in this forum feel the same way. I'm not suggesting you and sam have resorted to such, but I could read the frustration in ya'll's posts.

What kind of an IDIOT thinks you can disagree without resorting to name-calling?!?

You are you calling an Idiot you ignorant slut?

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

I guess I would be that "kind of an IDIOT"........usually.......

That's not to say I haven't lost my temper and slipped. I just try not to make a habit of it.

I would like to add one more comment to the Olive Garden slurs. First of all food prepared on the East Coast is not evil and wicked as some seem to imply. Perhaps the issue was not that it was prepared on the East Coast but prepared 3000 miles away, if that was the intent that is a different matter and can be justified. First of all I can ship from anywhere in the United States to anywhere else overnight. So food prepared on "The East Coast' can be at an Olive Garden on Oregon's coast by 6:30 AM the next day. I will guarentee that very few resturants that serve food at the price and quality level of an Olive Garden prepare that food any faster. Yes there are those resturants that prepare from scratch as you order the meal but those meals are far more likely to be in the $25.00 to $30.00 range per entre, not counting the sides, drinks, etc. OG's meals are all at least half that price. OG's meals are more likely to be consistant, tasty and overall healthy, unless your entire premise is that unless its delightly organically locally grown its not good for you.

I am not an overly huge fan of Olive Garden but if they were not deliverying a quality meal they would not last in the market for very long. I have eaten at some locally owned Italian resturants in Jacksonville that I will never set foot in again the food was so bad. I don't know how anyone can screw up pasta and tomato sauce like I have seen some of them do. Olive Garden is at least consistent in its quality.

Truthfully, I think we need the choice. I do personally avoid the chains when I can but unless you are independently wealthy many of these upscale locally owned organic resturants are simply out of reach. My favorite resturant in Jacksonville was B.B's Bistro. The food was very good, it was locally owned and the menu was eclectic. However, a meal for my wife and I would set us back $100.00 plus tip (another $20.00) Since we run a small business we were eating out 3 or 4 nights a week, at $120.00 a night that gets expensive very fast. I find that chain resturants only put the inexpensive incompetent resturants out of business. Why should I spend $20.00 for a meal I can barely eat when I can spend $20.00 for a meal that is rather tasty.

Another point is that if choice is your main issue then its the upscales that stop the chains from moving in, not the other way around. So, who is reducing choice?

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

I just want to say that if you like to pay more and buy from the smaller stores that is your right. Most Americans are concerned with getting the most for their shopping dollar. As far as eating organic foods they are pricer that other food stuffs. I buy my beef like sam does but it means that you spend more money up front. Thirdly why can't we all be friends?

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An informed voter scares the Goverment lackeys.

An American first and always a Conservative.

lack of Anti trust laws will make this moot. Youll all pay more now. even at Wally world

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Cussing out low class inbreds isnt uninteligent, its honest

Good typing is not inteligent its dexiteritous.

Everything you just said is total bullshit

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V8Ek...eature=related