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

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

[Platt]
Effect on local economies? Not only are these stories cherry-picked for their
anti-Walmart effect but completely ignore other areas of the economic life of
the country and the world.

[Arlo]
MSNBC ran the story "Is Wal-Mart Good or Bad? It's Still a Mystery"
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9925824/), which concluded... "'The evidence is,
on balance, more consistent with the claims of critics of Wal-Mart, although
questions remain', the researchers concluded."

Of course, I expected your "academic" response in denying the validity of any
article that disagrees with your worldview. However, far too many studies have
concluded that Wal-Mart has an overall negative impact on local wages,
reduction in poverty rates, and other economic indicators to simply ignore it
in favor of blind faith to ideology. 

[Platt]
I'm surprised that an avowed academic would have such a narrow focus. But on
second thought, I'm not surprised.

[Arlo]
I'm surprised that someone bemoaning conservativism's lack of acceptance in the
academy would begin his inquiries with the belief, "everything that agrees with
what I already think is right, everything that disagrees with what I already
think is wrong". On second thought, I'm not surprised. 

[Platt]
Walmart  has put other stores out of business thanks to economies of scale
passed on to consumers. That's how capitalism and the free market work. In a
free market, companies that offer the best value for the dollar win. Your
anti-Walmart position reveals your anti-capitalist bias, reflecting the
prevalent view of the liberal professorial class.   

[Arlo]
Obviously, you didn't even bother to read the articles. But again, I'm not
surprised, this just reveals your anti-academic bias, reflecting the prevalent
view of the conservative radio commentators.


[Platt]
Conservative views get shot down by falsely attributing their basis to talk
radio and other "suspect" conservative media, as you have so amply demonstrated
in these posts.

[Arlo]
"Falsely"? Ha ha. Funny. I know several who make cogent arguments for
conservative views, as I try to do for support of gun rights and arguing
against eminemnt domain expansion. But, when all one has to offer is deceptive
rhetoric and fear and distortion, and argues for an unquestioning, blind
adherence to an ideology, where everything is support of that ideology is
pre-selected as "right", and any and all criticisms are simply dismissed as
"liberal bias", well, I listen to enough Limbaugh and Hannity every day to know
where that comes from. But you just try that "duck and run". It works from
Limbaugh, maybe it'll work for you here.

[Platt]
Focusing "our cultural light?" You mean propaganda from the lectern, right? No
different from propaganda from the pulpit if you ask me. But, always glad to
hear you defend the free market and pledge to stay out of the way of Walmart.

[Arlo]
Interesting response. I'd say Pirsig focused our cultural light on a new way of
thinking about values. Do you consider that "propaganda"? As for "staying out
of the way of Walmart", nonsense. While I won't advocated government shutting
it down, I remain vocal and active in getting the facts out about Walmart.
Despite those who are offended when someone challenges "bottom line cost" as
the most important thing in the world.

Arlo