Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart was the first supercenter I went to when I just came to Carbondale. I bought everything I needed in Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart also has played an important role in America. According to Hopkins (2003), “Wal-Mart’s influence on the U.S. economy has reached levels not seen by a single company since the 19th-century rise of Standard Oil, economists and historians say” (par. 3). Wal-Mart is planning on building a new supercenter in Carbondale-Murphysboro area. Some citizens will worry that the new Wal-Mart will influence the area that they live in.

First, Wal-Mart provides cheaper price. Money is a very important thing for international students. Most international students spend a lot of money to study in the U.S. So they need to save money for living in the U.S. Wal-Mart can provide the good price for everyone. Hoenig (2006) says that “The truth is that all Wal-Mart does is provide low prices, serve communities with long hours, …” (par. 17). Cheaper price also can make low-income shoppers be able to afford the price for their daily lives. Wal-Mart is also very convenient because Wal-Mart is open 24 hours and provides big free parking lots for every customer.

Next, Wal-Mart also provides more jobs. New Wal-Mart can provide hundreds of jobs. According to Hoening (2006), “In 2005, Wal-Mart created 125,000 U.S. jobs, and is continuously adding thousands each months” (par. 16). People have jobs to do and they can live by themselves. The social problems will decrease.

Finally, Wal-Mart pays the big taxes for government, because most people want to save more money and they go shopping in Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart also makes a lot of money and needs to pay big taxes. Hoenig (2006) says, “The truth is that all Wal-Mart does is provide low prices, … and pay millions of taxes – over $61 million in the state of Illinois alone” (par. 17). The more taxes government gets, the more development government can do.

Wal-Mart is building now. Opponents claim that new Wal-Mart will make more stores close. The obvious example is that Kroger was closed in recent months. According to Jacobs (2007), “Some Murphysboro and Carbondale residents are protesting new Wal-Mart supercenter in Murphysboro because they fear it will destroy the town’s small businesses and the quality of life for some of its citizens” (par. 1). But I think that survival of the fittest can give those opponents an answer. If small businesses have high quality and good service, residents will still to go to their store. But if they don’t have enough ability to compete with their opponents, they will eliminate through competition. I also believe that good stores will be saved even though new Wal-Mart will be open.

In conclusion Wal-Mart is the biggest warehouse in the U.S. Wal-Mart provides low price for everyone. People can save more money to do other things or keep good lives. International students can have lower pressure for studying in the U.S. Maybe Wal-Mart makes some stores close. In this society, someone can make customers happy and someone can survive in this society.

References

Hoenig, J. (2006, February 10). Welcome Wal-Mart. Capitalism Magazine. Retrieved November 27, 2007, from http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4561

Hopkins, J. (2003, January 29). Wal-Mart's influence grows. USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2007, from http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2003-01-28-walmartnation_x.htm

Jacobs, N. (2005, April 1). Local opposition to future Wal-Mart Supercenter in Murphysboro. Daily Egyptian. Retrieved November 27, 2007, from http://newshound.de.siu.edu/spring05/stories/storyReader$858