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

[Platt Holden]

> [Arlo]
> Please explain why greater local wages, and the community benefits it brings
> (which I mentioned), is a "narrow outlook". If the wages in a community drop, as
> they do when a Walmart opens, how does that help the community?

Because you focus on one "community." In my state alone there are hundreds of 
"communities." In the nation, thousands. In the world, millions. 
 
> [Platt]
> Yes, you can find "the sky is falling" articles on almost any subject under the
> sun. Doom, gloom and fear is big business among the intelligentsia with Noam
> Chomsky leading the pack.. 
> 
> [Arlo]
> Except that all the articles I've found are from conservative sources. There is
> near unanimous agreement that wealth derives from manufacturing jobs (both
> personally and for the local and national economy), not retail or hospitality.
> Do you disagree with the conservatives on this?

There are hundreds of "conservative" sources. Which ones in particular are you 
referring to? I've never seen "near unanimous agreement that wealth derives 
from manufacturing jobs. Wealth derives from farming to advertising. To 
restrict it to factory work alone is patently absurd. All you have to do is 
look at the continuous growth in our GDP despite the loss of manufacturing 
jobs.   

> How are people more empowered
> when they earn minimum wage, versus the greater wages associated with
> manufacturing jobs?

You are looking at only one sector of the total economy again. How are people 
empowered by spending more for goods and services than they have to?
The savings afforded to the millions of Walmart customers empower them to 
influence the marketplace much more so than they could otherwise, thus 
satisfying their needs and wants to a greater extent and lifting the standard 
of living for everyone. I can think of no other reason for Walmart's huge 
growth and business success.  

Platt