Three Women in MA backed by a pro abortion group are suing Wal-Mart over not stocking "Morning After" pills. These pills can be used for up to five days after conception by basically flushing out the egg before it has a chance of implanting itself on the uterus. Walmart has stated that this is merely a business decision and directs patients on locations such as CVS which carries the pill. The women claim that MA law requires that pharmacies stock all "popular" drug.

I find that this is being turned into a political/law drama which should not be the case. No company should be forced to carry some product out of "public necessity" when there are competitors who will. If you disagree with either of the business/moral decisions of Wal-Mart it is really simple, do not shop there. If enough people believe the way you do, Wal-Mart will respond or disappear like Woolworths. What is unfortunate about this fiasco is that hospitals are required in MA to carry this pill is available for those who are in need of this pill (which there are legitimate cases such as rape victims and others).

This is just a drop in a torrent of anti Walmart news recently. With groups such as Walmart Watch out preaching about the evils of Walmart, it is hard to see that Walmart has any redeeming qualities. In reality, Walmart is merely a reflection of American's values and right now this is an individualistic view which chooses individual happiness over social welfare. This is not inherently good or bad, but Walmart's customers for whatever reason have made a choice that by buying from Walmart they are increasing their purchasing power (due to lower prices) at the expense of others (due to a supposed depression of wages). There are costs involved at both outcomes and there are always "losers." Cases can always be made where Walmart has made the local communities better or worse off.

However, this does not say that Americans are worse off because Walmart spends billions among thousands of suppliers across the United States which also opens these suppliers to markets such as China which Walmart has had tremendous success breaching in recent years (see above picture).

There are many new small busineses that popup everyday and properly structured and managed, they even have a chance to compete with the "big boys", granted we do not see such bullshit as mergers aimed at eliminating competition and artifical barrieres to markets (I always love the taglines such as offering more choices from mergers, but I always wondered how one can have more choices with less...). These are all part of a very dynamic market that is constantly changing, often for the better. Walmart is merely redefining the retail market and change has brought upon much of our dominance over the rest of the world in terms of economic output. I recall the candle industry pressuring for laws against the lightbulb and just think what that could have done to the country had laws against innovation gone into effect (As we can see in the DMCA, there can be too much of a good thing).

Going back to the women, I challenge you to support those who believe in the way you do and if no company does, start a company which encompasses the values you represent. If enough people follow your cause, it will be successful. For if Walmart is really supressing the values of the American public, it will turn out to be like Woolworths which did not change to the changing values of the American public.

-Trevor