What if it IS good for Pullman?

This appeared in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News today:

What if it’s not good for Pullman?

The Wal-Mart issue has nothing to do with the right wing versus the left wing, or the intelligentsia vs. the, well whatever the opposite of intelligentsia is. The local businesses that would suffer due to a Wal-Mart opening seem to be forgotten by the city and the chamber. Is the chamber supporting the businesses that would suffer, that have supported the chamber all these years?

A World War II veteran brings up the issue of the location of Wal-Mart to the cemetery due to veterans buried there. That’s reason to not build a Wal-Mart here. We need to support our troops. What message does this send? My great-granddad was the blacksmith in Uniontown and many of my relatives are buried there in the cemetery. Don’t get me started as to how I would feel if Wal-Mart wanted to go in next to their resting places.

I traveled this great country of ours for 18 months, 68,000 miles, and 42 states through the back roads and the interstates. I can tell you the towns suffer a loss of identity you wouldn’t believe when the super Wal-Mart goes in. No study needed, you can look for yourself. Do we value cheap merchandise more than good factory jobs? Supporting Wal- Mart is ending American jobs because they are sent overseas.

To those groups that say, “Wal-Mart will be good for Pullman.” I ask, “What if it’s not?” If the supporters are so sure, then put up a bond that will help people that can’t make a living or whose good paying jobs end if the Wal-Mart goes in. Who among the Wal-Mart supporters will take personal responsibility if existing businesses and workers suffer due to Wal-Mart? Blogs are cheap.

Kelly Turk, Pullman

My congratulations to Mr. Turk. I didn’t think it was possible to incorporate so many non-sequiturs, myths, and urban legends about Wal-Mart in 300 words or less.

"...whatever the opposite of intelligentsia is."

Well, intelligentsia is defined as "the elite class of intellectual or educated people within a society, or those who consider themselves to be so." The opposite therefore must be those who are not the elite class of intellectual or educated people within a society, or those who do not consider themselves to be so, i.e. the common people. Count me in the latter group please.

“Is the chamber supporting the businesses that would suffer, that have supported the chamber all these years?”

How many businesses in the Pullman Chamber of Commerce compete with each other? Quite a few actually. Yet magically somehow, Chamber members all get along with each other. That’s because the Chamber’s mission statement is "To make Pullman a better place to live, work and do business!” not “To regulate competition and foster monopolies among businesses in Pullman!”

Let’s look at Burger King. They were probably a Chamber member, as are McDonald’s and Jack-in-the-Box. Did the Chamber “support” Burger King. I’m sure it did, just as it does the other two restaurants. And yet, Burger King is now closed. See, this is where the liberal/university types don’t get it. The world of business is for grown-ups. You’re on your own. It’s scary. There are winners and losers. There are big risks, as well as big rewards. Chances are you won’t make it. And unlike most every other aspect of our modern life, “Big Brother” isn’t there to hold your hand when you fall.

Plus, it’s the PULLMAN Chamber of Commerce. The businesses are ALREADY suffering. It has just been reported that Pullman residents spend 50 cents of every dollar outside of town and that a Supercenter would help keep those shoppers local, as well as attracting shoppers from elsewhere that don't normally shop in Pullman. ALL businesses in Pullman would benefit. That explains the Chamber’s support of Wal-Mart.

“We need to support our troops. What message does this send?”

Yeah, our LIVE troops. Since Wal-Mart won’t be actually digging up any of those deceased veterans, I’m not sure it’s sending any message at all. I imagine, however, that some of those veterans who fought for our freedom might be rolling around a bit in those graves if they knew how their memory was being used in a dishonorable effort to take that freedom away.

"Don’t get me started as to how I would feel if Wal-Mart wanted to go in."

Don't worry. Although I'll guarantee you people in Uniontown wouldn't be nearly so picky to have all the tax revenue, development and jobs a Wal-Mart would generate as some of our delicate Pullman gentry.

“…towns suffer a loss of identity you wouldn’t believe when the super Wal-Mart goes in. No study needed, you can look for yourself.”

You’re right. I don’t believe it because I have looked for myself. Wal-Mart in many ways is the last manifestation of the old-fashioned five-and-dime store. There’s not a time I go over to the Wal-Mart in Moscow that I don’t see four or five people that I know. We bought my daughter a Pullman Greyhounds stadium blanket there. Didn’t see one at ShopKo, our “Pullman small-town identity chain store”.

“Do we value cheap merchandise more than good factory jobs? Supporting Wal-Mart is ending American jobs because they are sent overseas.”

Funny, the only good factory jobs I know of in Pullman are at Schweitzer Engineering Labs. I don’t think Wal-Mart will be selling discount relays. As far as American jobs going overseas, good. I’m happy no one in America has to do those menial manufacturing jobs. Now they are free to have a much better and higher-paying job. For the person in China that does the menial manufacturing job, it’s better and higher-paying for them than holding a plow behind an ox 12 hours a day. It’s all a matter of perspective.

Now, lets’s juxtapose the last paragraph a bit:

To those groups that say, “Wal-Mart will be bad for Pullman.” I ask, “What if it’s not?” If the opponents are so sure, then put up a bond that will help pay for the tens of millions in annual lost sales and tax revenues if the Wal-Mart doesn’t go in. Who among the Wal-Mart opponents will take personal responsibility for their blighting of Pullman if existing businesses continue to lose customers to Moscow and future businesses are scared off due to their efforts? Sanctomonious nitwittery is cheap.

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