[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

First things first...

[Arlo previously]
The potential for more rewarding activity is destroyed when Walmart moves into
an area. It limits choice, by relying on mass production in overseas markets,
and as other business go under, and more and more Walmarts are built, the
opportunities for employment that can lead to greater wealth, not to mention
more fulfilling careers, are destroyed. 

[Platt] 
Nonsense. The more Walmart saves it's customers money, the more that money can
be spent on what you would consider more "worthwhile" endeavors. 

[Arlo]
Truth. And you buck savings is a false savings. Consider the following articles
examining the economic impact of Walmart (among other "box stores") on local
communites. I realize they are not written by radio talk show commentators, and
so by your reasoning are dismissable based on that fact alone, but
nonetheless....

The Impact of Big Box Grocers on Southern California: Jobs, Wages, and Municipal
Finances (http://www.coalitiontlc.org/big_box_study.pdf) found that, among
other things, "as Wal-Mart builds supercenters in southern California, the
company will absorb up to 20 percent of the region's grocery market and cut
grocery workers' income by up to $1.4 billion annually."

Wal-Mart and County-Wide Poverty, a study done here at Penn State,
(http://cecd.aers.psu.edu/policy_research.htm) found that "Counties that gained
one Wal-Mart store showed an 8 percent smaller reduction in the poverty rate
compared to the national average, while those that gained two Wal-Mart stores
experienced a 16 percent smaller reduction in poverty."

The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics
(http://www.civiceconomics.com/Andersonville/) found that "hat locally owned
businesses generate 70 percent more local economic impact per square foot than
chain stores."

Of the 5 impact studies cited on Wikipedia, four point to social damages,
economic hardship on local economies, etc.

Yep, you can save a buck. But then watch your town collapse around you. But hey,
that buck is all that matters in America, right?

[Platt]
What I object to is no conservative professors in the liberal arts section of
many universities, including those state universities directly supported by
taxpayers whose views are not given a fair hearing.

[Arlo]
So there's a hiring conspiracy now? Where are all these "conservative liberal
arts professors" that are being discriminated against in the hiring process?
But I wonder, is this a similiar conspiracy keeping "liberal CEOs" out of the
boardrooms?

[Platt]
What's your objection to having diversity of views on campus anyway?

[Arlo]
I have no problem with the diversity, and I've never once been in a classroom
where a "conservative" view was shot down simply because it was "conservative".
Many of the professors I work with closely (in the liberal arts) are hunters,
sportsmen, etc. Many are self-described "fiscal conservatives". Oops, but
again, that's coming from someone working in the academy, and not a radio
talk-show host, so I'm probably lying.

[Platt]
Because you and your fellow travelers always appeal to the heavy hand of
government to fulfill your agendas. I have no objection if you want to protect
and preserve natural resources for future generations. Just don't think you
have a monopoly on good works so that you feel justified to impose them on me. 
That's Rigelism -- fullof ideas how others ought to behave at no cost to
themselves.

[Arlo]
Pot, meet kettle.

[Arlo previously]
In short, we need to value "people over money". Something I wonder if I'll see
in my lifetime.

[Platt]
If America wants to keep its high standard of living and remain open to
innovation, we need to viligently protect the free market from those who think
they know how to spend someone's money better than she does.

[Arlo]
Don't do your "he's trying to take away the free market" tactic. I never said a
solution was to control the market. I've said in a plethora of posts that
overcoming this infectious mercantilian language by focusing our cultural light
on things greater than "money", like identification and care, is the way to go.
The market will adjust accordingly.

Arlo