Walmart and Teotihuacan

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Walmart is building a store near the famed ruins at Teotihuacan - and locals are objecting

 

CNN

 

I know some people categorically dislike WalMart - but I think this story raises an interesting question. Note the objection isn't about the integrity of the ruins but the financial impact on local businesses - the same argument that was used in my home town. The low prices WalMart offers does benefit some people - should these people have to pay more to preserve someone elses way of life? In other words, should change - which is usually inevitable in any culture - be prevented? Or quite simply how do you decided which group gets financially disadvantaged?

 

But a handful of opponents say Wal-Mart will kill local family-owned enterprises and erode a lifestyle dating back centuries, while sucking income from locals.

[Odie 0]

That is a difficult question. Most people fear Walmart because of its size. None of the smaller stories found in lots of small towns don't have the competitive advantage. They simple can't compete. The owners of the stories don't get the same value and discount from the manufacture that Walmart receives. Lots of stores from the small towns closes. When stores close the lowers the town's tax base. The lose of the taxes have to be made up somewhere. Most of the time the property tax will go up. When the small story closes the unemployment goes up in the town. Even if they are employed they are pay far less than their former employment. If they can't they are forced to leave to the town to find a job. The tax base of the town continue to go down. This causes the town raise their property tax. There are no benefits when the competition in the town is gone.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Odie, are you refering to sales tax, city income tax or business property tax.

 

I agree the displaced mom and pop owners will have a problem finding a new job.

 

But I'm not about the effect on the community as a whole. One grocery chain closed it's store when Walmart opened here. Scotty's closed when Home Depot and Lowes's opened but I think the overall sales tax from both stores outweighed the losses. And the people that worked there wouldn't have jobs if they hadn't opened.

[VaBeachGuy 12]

It's in Mexico so the way I look at it it's a matter for Mexico to worry with. It makes no difference to me where they put the stores, in most cases I don't even care where they put them in the United States.

[Admiraltribble 0]

far as im concerned they should not be allowed to build anywhere near an important archaeological site!

[Odie 0]

Odie, are you refering to sales tax, city income tax or business property tax. 

 

I agree the displaced mom and pop owners will have a problem finding a new job.

 

But I'm not about the effect on the community as a whole.  One grocery chain closed it's store when Walmart opened here.   Scotty's closed when Home Depot and Lowes's opened but I think the overall sales tax from both stores outweighed the losses.  And the people that worked there wouldn't have jobs if they hadn't opened.

262467[/snapback]

I stated property taxes that are lost when all the small stores close in the community. Some cities don't have income tax. I know that for a fact. The city of Buffalo,which I am from, doesn't have a city income tax and depend on property tax and service fees, which all of them have slowly gone up with the lose of businesses. There was one mom and pop place that recently burn in Buffalo. They employed over a 100 people. Now the 100 people are without a job until their employer rebuilds the store. The sale tax goes to the county and the state not to the city, town, or village. That is how is set up in New York. Sales tax doesn't pay for the running of the schools, public works, town admin, and other host of services that town has to support.

 

I am not talking about one store or more mom or pop store. Have you been to a small town where all the stores are closing on Main Street, because Walmart has unfair competitive advantage? Even better have been to a small town where the only store is a Walmart? Even worse have you been to one town where the only store is Walmart and they are close leaving to town high and dry for a grocery store? I have and its a depressing sight. I am only talking about small towns. Larger towns can afford the loss of some of the mom and pops stores, but not small towns. Also remember some of those small stores can employ over 100 people in the community. What if five of the those small stores closes that could add up over 500. Will Walmart hire the displace workers?

 

Would you be happy with one store that provided everything and not be able to compare prices to see if you got the better deal? I would rather have two different grocery chain to compare prices than just having one. It avoids one store become a monopoly in the community.

Edited September 12, 2004 by Odie

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Sorry Odie, I was just asking a question.

 

But since you asked, no I do not like living in a small town where local interests conspire to keep restaurants and businesses out in order to benefit the people that own everything in town. Some people get tired of driving 45 minutes to shop or go to dinner.

 

Sure people may lose their jobs if a business closes - but what about the people that work at Walmart and wouldn't otherwise have jobs? So that goes back to my original question. Should those people who work at Walmart not get jobs so those who work elsewhere can keep theirs?

 

Actually, very few cities have personal income tax - NYC is the only one I know of. As regards sales tax - cities do get some services from the county. As regards property tax - about one fourth of the working residents of my county drive out of the county to work (including myself and most of my relatives). So the county gets property tax even if you work out of the county.

 

I'm pretty sure we don't have five businesses that employee over 100 people here in this town. In fact I'm not sure I'd call any town that does have five large businesses a small town. Personally, I like being able to buy medicine, food etc at Walmart's lower prices.

Edited September 12, 2004 by TheUnicornHunter

[Odie 0]

UH, you have made some interesting points.

 

First cities are in the county and the residents of the city are still residents in the county. The county still has to prove services to all county residencts regards where they live. That is a hot topic where I live. The share of the sales tax from the county and the city.

 

There is a big differnce between Walmart want to open in area and Walmart that open for business. It would be very unfair to close an establishment by the government. I know some communties that took up a vote regard wiether or not they want a Walmart store. Some of communities want it and that is fine. Some communities don't want the store, and Walmart sues the town.

[Gotabite 0]

Walmart provides not only jobs that others would other wise not have; but as you also said products, clothing, medicines, and at Super Walmarts......groceries and gasoline, at costs most other retailers just can't beat. I like the idea of competition with other stores.....But most retailers, including Mom and Pop stores simply can't compete.......So often this will put smaller retailers out of business. This I think is the real reason many object to Wal mart.....the fear factor that not only can I no longer charge higher prices..........I may not be around much longer...........Well unfortunately, it's all about survival today.....Consumer are going to always go for "the best for less." Small businesses are going to have to find creative ways to market/ hold on to their customers when Walmart enters their territory, or they just won't survive....... Why deprive consumers, who in today's economy need every financial break we can get...........Besides, I see people from the poorest, to the riches sides of town, shopping at

Wal Mart.