DiggerDave’s Recent Comments

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  Localization, Market Mythology + a Recommendation

  Mitchell makes a compelling case without even addressing one of the biggest destructive impacts of big box chains -- playing a critical role in driving manufacturers across the planet to exploit cheap labor and then shipping products back in highly polluting diesel cargo ships.

  DecapeJack's whine (previous comment) that domination by global chains is inevitable (the NRDC seems to share this defeatist view) epitomizes why we enviros are perpetually on the defensive and begging for whatever weak concessions corproations are willing to give.

  Contrary to his notion that we just prefer  Wal-Mart, the chain's spread results largely from millions of dollars in subsidies from taxpayer's around the country and evading taxes, not market competition. The Wall St Journal recently ran a great story on how Wal-Mart has evaded taxes in about half the US states by setting up shell corporations, for example. (found by searching "Wal-Mart state tax evasion")

  And Wal-mart is not exceptional in that regard--most corporate chains enrich their shareholders by stealing from the public. BTW, I've read her book Big Box Swindle and it truly is a "must read" for environmentalists -- I learned a ton from it.
  On The impossibility of a green Wal-Mart posted 2 years, 7 months ago 27 Responses