Not so long ago, I saw a film bashing Walmart. According to this film, Walmart hurts America, especially rural America, more than it helps, destroying lives and entire communities.

The film puts forth the notion that small businesses are the first to go when a Walmart comes to town. Small businesses simply can't compete price-wise, so stores that have been owned by Mom and Pop for 60 years or more are forced to close down. Like a huge, sucking black hole, Walmart attracts the frugal and budget-minded with their guaranteed lowest prices and plastic smiles.

Anybody who has worked for Walmart, myself included, can vouch for the fact that their wages and benefits need improvement. They maintain a strict non-union ideology. According to this film, part of their "benefits" package includes educating employees how to apply for welfare. I did not know that.

What I do know about Walmart as a result of working there, is that they care about their image more than about making a difference in the community. Each time they give a dime to any cause, they're sure to have a camera nearby. Do you ever read the notices at their customer service desk? You know, the ones that say Walmart gave $50,000.00 to the community last year.

Does this mean I don't shop at Walmart? Not at all. What about the employees who are working for slave wages while drawing welfare, and Ed's Hardware Store on the square?

First of all, nobody's putting a gun to these people's heads and making them work for Walmart. They are free to quit any time they choose. If enough of them do, in fact, maybe Walmart would change their ways. The fact that so many don't says that it's not that bad. I worked at Walmart for three years. Believe me, I've worked at far worse places for a lot less money, with no benefits whatsoever.

As for Ed's Hardware Store, I'll cite a personal experience.

A little while ago, I needed a sheet of plexiglas for an art project. This was after I'd seen the Walmart movie, and I wanted to support the "little guy." I knew a small, quaint little glass shop on the square. I looked forward to going there after work.

I called the shop, and the guy seemed friendly enough. When I asked what time he closed, though, I was shocked. "Four O'Clock," he said, matter-of-factly. I didn't even get off work until five, and I had to have this today. So, I got off work at five and went to Home Depot, which stays open until 10:00. They had exactly what I needed, so I paid my $3.99, rode home, and worked on my project. I would gladly have paid twice that amount to support a smaller business.

Another example occurred about one month ago. I needed a new set of bicycle tires badly. The shop I usually go to said they were out of my tires, but were expecting a shipment in any day. Any day? Does that mean tomorrow, the next day, or next week? I needed them now. So, I got online, found my brand, and two days later Fed-Ex delivered them to my work. My bike shop lost eighty bucks, and probably a good chunk of my future business.

My point is this: If small business wants us to support them, then they've got to start supporting us. The way we do business has changed. Sure Walmart sucks, but they're always open, and most of the time they have what I need. It used to be that if your favorite store didn't have what you needed, they would order it for you, and you waited a week or two for it to come in. Now, you can order it yourself online, and get it delivered to your home much faster.

As much as I hate to see and admit it, I think the quaint, small businesses on the squares of hometown America are dying, rather like the dinosaurs, due to their inability to provide competitive service, prices, and convenience to their customers. In their stead, we'll have Targets and Walmart Supercenters.