David Morris, in CO-OP AMERICA QUARTERLY, Summer, 1995:
A most remarkable exercise in democracy is taking place in America.
Not in Washington but on Main Street. The issue isn't welfare reform
or taxes but rather bigness and diversity. Or, more accurately, the
role of superstores in our future local economies.
Retail superstores are washing over us like a planetary tsunami. Wal-
Mart alone has over 2,200 large stores and over $80 billion in annual
sales and is adding more than 125 new stores a year. Some superstores
have as much space under one roof as entire downtown business
sections. Several studies show that superstores undermine the existing
local economy. Sales to local businesses drop and more money that used
to stay in the community is siphoned off to remote corporate
headquarters.
Is it any wonder that main street businesses are scared and citizens
are angry?
Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton once insisted, "If some community, for
whatever reason, doesn't want us in there, we aren't interested in
going in and creating a fuss." Under new management, Wal-Mart won't
take "no" or even "maybe" for an answer.
The citizens of Sturbridge MA, in a nonbinding referendum, voted 600
to 100 against a proposed superstore. Wal-Mart decided to press ahead
anyway. Three out of four residents of East Aurora NY signed petitions
opposing a change in the zoning law that would have permitted a Wal-
Mart. The developer continues to seek the change.
After a bitter controversy, East Lampeter Township PA agreed to a
compromise. It would allow Wal-Mart to build but only if the company
paid the cost of widening the necessary roads. The retailing giant
refused and is now arguing in court that state law prohibits a
municipality from forcing a developer to make offsite improvements.
The debate about superstores exemplified democracy at its finest. In
many cases citizens are voting directly on the issues. Even when local
planning agencies or city councils make the ultimate decision, average
citizens have significant participation. They don't have to travel to
Washington and do battle with well-funded lobbying groups. They are
not learning about the issues from 20-second sound bites on TV, but
engage in debates face-to-face, on the local radio, or through letters
to the editor.
No matter what the outcome, the process itself is empowering. It
brings down to the local level the national debate about our rights
and responsibilities as citizens and as consumers.
As consumers we like the idea of saving a few bucks a month by
shopping at Wal-Mart. As citizens we look beyond immediate pocketbook
gratification and consider the impact on the local economy. Do we vote
to save a few dollars in the short run or to preserve the long-term
economic health and character of the place where we live?
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