If you guys think Wal-Mart is tough on it's business partners just be thankful you are not in the motor fuels industry. I mean any part of it from well to refinery to retail sales. If you think Wal-Mart can strong arm, and they do, then try going into business with one of our major oil companies. I did just exactly that for the better part of twenty years and it nearly cost me dearly.

By the way, the local merchants in my hometown fought the "new" Wal-Mart being built in town tooth and nail. Why there were all of these horror stories about them putting the locals out of business all over America. Why all of those reports about Wal-Mart working with the local retailers were just lies started by Wal-Mart to woo the ignorant unwashed public masses over to Wal-Mart's low prices through massive bulk purchasing and exclusive contracts.

Turns out that the Locals were, perish the thought, wrong about Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart went to incredible lengths to not sell the specialized products of the local retailes and built the store in a location that would cause the majority of their customers to drive past said local shops. The locals have enjoyed a big boom from the local Wal-Mart. Now Wal-Mart is moving out of town to build a Super Center and the very same retailers that were doing everything they could to keep them out are mad at them for leaving. Wal-Mart is moving out of the borough limits because there is not enough land within the limits for the new store.

Know what? That's business in a capitalist free market. Sometimes it isn't fair but we could be socialist and then the feds will tell you how to run your business and take your profits "for the good of the people". Sorry, but even if it means my own ruin I will take the free capitalist system everytime. If we cannot accept the risk of loosing our business and finding ways to keep our business competitve then we should never have gotten into business in the first place.

Just my 2 cents worth.