For those that are interested.

[yuri]

Some of my remarks in my terse reply above ( I really, really hate Walmart ) were not directed at dendroboard participants, so don't take it personally.

Americans often seem to think of themselves as detached from the rest of the world.

Our frogs come from other countries whose populations live in such poor conditions that it is really hard for me to comprehend, because I live such an incredibly spoiled lifestyle by comparison. Part of the very reason they live in such poor conditions is directly attributable to the USA and its citizens. It takes a little digging and some reading, but there are stories out there about what is going on and why it is going on and ways in which to improve the situation for all involved.

Americans need to wake up and smell the coffee (sustainably grown, organic shade-grown, free trade certified; sweetened with organic, unrefined sugar beet sugar with a bit of grass fed, organic milk).

[Dancing frogs]

"Buy your USA made (materials and labour) goods from a union or employee owned company that has a sustainable business plan. Buy it from an indepepndant retailer that cares about their employees and pays a living wage. There is a reason why this 'mighty' nation has 1 in every four children living below the poverty level."

I work for a plastic company that is employee owned, and Wal-Mart is our biggest customer, I stated this earlier, our company has grown a great deal since they started taking our products.

I'm not saying they are great or anything, but having them as a customer is helping us.

I buy small things at walmart, deodorant, razors, toothpaste, motor oil, etc.

There are things I would never buy at walmart:
Any type of media, but music especially...they are pro-censorship.
Electronics...I like better stuff than walmart carrys, so I go to mom and pop!
Pet supplies...they usually don't have anything I wan't, and I can get better deals elsewhere..
Just another $0.02

[yuri]

Dancing frogs,

I think it awesome that you work for employee owned company. I think it would be awesome if I could purchase goods made by your company at a mom and pop or a local retailer. I will not buy anything from Walmart though.

Yuri

I still dont like walmart.

And I own a pet store. I'm too biased to leave a sane post here.

:roll:

Yuri – thank you for that. It was so refreshing to hear another person who has drawn a rational line connecting all these greed based afflictions that we Americans have. The recent waive of propaganda telling us that anything that is pro-American business is therefore pro-American is just plain wrong and is obfuscating what these businesses are actually doing. Currently American corporations have the same rights as an individual, and they are using us sheeple to increase their profits. “Hey, you NEED this, and you MUST HAVE more of that”. We are dying from it, and we think it’s OK. Wha….?

To all who feel helpless in this recent de-emphasis on the individual and reemphasis on business, please go to adbusters.org. There are a number of organizations and actual things you can do locally to help change this country. (http://www.adbusters.org/jammergroups/)

This has been a public service announcement from the third coast of counter culture, Chicago. Cheers all, and DOWN with MON-SATAN-O.

Hugs & Crap,
Maxwells