That’s a good question, Aegrus.  Unfortunately, my distaste for Wal-Mart has kept me from visiting their stores while in foreign countries...somehow it feels even dirtier than the idea of going into one in America.

I was given some stuff bought at one in Germany once, by the mother of an Austrian girlfriend.  She ranted and raved against America all the time...and then went to Wal-Mart.  It took me a long time to explain what i found so funny.

I do know that the Chinese have adopted the rough equivalent of EU consumer safety laws.  This means that the semi-toxic stuff made in China can’t be sold in a Chinese Wal-Mart; it can only be shipped to America.

This is such a relief, I can feel the crime rate dropping already in my neighborhood! This kind of policy is a no-brainer since the areas in this country (Washington DC)and around the world (London)where there is the most gun control also have the lowest rates of violent crime. Thank heavens for thinking people! Why haven’t folks understood that criminals have long been using Wal-mart as a major supplier for their guns? Hopefully other stores will follow suit and soon all of America will be as safe as our brothers and sisters in the DC area.

JS, would you suppose since China has Wal-Mart now, is it nationalistic for the Chinese to buy from these stores? As I’ve read, it was completely re-configured to match Chinese culture. Hell, perhaps they sell American-Made fireworks or Mexican-made stuff in these stores. I’m really curious as to what this store looks like in China.

It’s about time!

Finally, an enlightened WalMart is adopting a policy which will re-establish the vitality of the small, neighborhood business.

At first, of course, your neighborhood gun dealer will hang out on the same corners as your pharmaceutical supplier.

But as business booms, and with investment capital from the NRA and China, firearm merchants will be able to afford small storefront establishments, ex-porno shops near schools will be much in demand.

And some day, a Sam ‘The Merchant’ Walberg will come along, and overnight, Sam’s Weapon Superstores will spring up across the nation, occupying abandoned WalMarts, forced to close because of frequent armed robberies.

US capitalism, doncha love it?

Wal-Mart shows us, yet again, what it means to be an upstanding corporate citizen in these United States.  If it wasn’t for Wal-Mart, people would probably be bitter and angry.  As it stands, those feelings of angst can all be washed away by visiting the new face of America and getting a little consumer crack fix.  “the prices are so low, i can’t afford NOT to buy this piece of Chinese plastic crap that i’ll throw away in 2 months because it’s broken.”