[Vision2020] Re: Re: Walmart, the big domino.........

[g. crabtree]

Mr. Uk, Manys the time you have waxed nostalgic over your time in the 
kingdom. I would be curious to know why you returned to the states? 
Seriously, no dig or sarcasm intended, if life there was so idyllic, why 
plonk yourself down in Moscow, Idaho of all places? It would seem easier to 
remain in a place you enjoy rather than try to remake a place you don't in 
its image.

gc
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chasuk" <chasuk at gmail.com>
To: <ToeKneeTime at aol.com>
Cc: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Re: Re: Walmart, the big domino.........


> My objection to Wal-Mart, or any big superstore, is admittedly
> subjective.  For me, it is purely a quality of life issue, not to be
> confused with standard of living.  Doing all of my shopping at one big
> Megamart is convenient, yes, and usually cheaper, yes, but the cost of
> this convenience and "cheapness" is, in my opinion, quality of life.
>
> True story: I moved to the UK over 25 years ago, where I Iived for
> many years.  All of the stores were closed on Sundays (with a few
> peculiar exceptions), most shops shut by 5:30pm, and had early closing
> at least one day a week.  It was bloody annoying at first, but when I
> finally adjusted, I liked it.  I had to shop separately at the
> butchers, the bakers, and the fruiterers (a real word), and I became
> friendly with most of the shopkeepers.
>
> I'd been there two weeks when I went into a pork butchers to buy a
> ham.  I'd never met the butcher before in my life.  He saw me eying a
> large ham, so when I plonked down money for a smaller one, he asked
> why I'd not purchased the one I wanted.  I explained truthfully that
> it was more than I could afford.  He handed me the larger ham and told
> me to pay him when I had the money.
>
> I shopped there for many many years after that.
>
> When the small stores have been vanquished by the Megamarts, they are
> gone forever, and with them a quality of life that can never be
> restored.  Maybe I'm selfish to want to hold on to that, but I'll live
> with myself.
>
> I've lived in both worlds, and I know which one I prefer.  Most people
> that I know, especially if they are young, don't realize what they are
> giving up by embracing the Magamarts.  The market where I bought a lot
> of my fruit and vegetables had been in the same place for nearly 700
> years.  For some reason that I can't explain, that knowledge felt
> comfortable.  It felt "good."  The sausage that I bought at the
> sausage shop (yes, a distinct sausage shop) sold sausage that was
> different than the sausages that I might buy in the next village, or
> the village after that, or the village after that.  Ditto the fresh
> bread from the bakery, and, largely, the pint of beer from the pub
> supported by the local brewery.
>
> You don't miss it until it is gone, and I've been missing it ever
> since I left England almost a decade ago.
>
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