Dear Editor:
In the Aug. 9 issue, Democratic City Council candidate Matthew Silverstein stated that if elected he “would fight every day to block companies such as Walmart from entering our community” (“Not if I’m elected,” Letters). His argument is that Walmart is anti-union, pays low wages and benefits and would kill off mom-and-pop stores.
Let’s have a reality check. Walmart is popular because it offers a wide selection of goods at low prices. If companies like Walmart are prohibited from operating in the city, the effect would be a tax on the poor and middle-class people Mr. Silverstein claims to represent. People would have to pay higher prices at existing stores, making it harder to stretch the money they have.
No one is forced to work at Walmart. Liberals like Mr. Silverstein would rather see people unemployed than work at Walmart. Let the workers make that choice. Also, Walmart’s competition is mainly other large stores, not mom-and-pop stores. It should be pointed out that mom-and-pop stores usually offer low pay and little or no benefits. Why not complain about them?
Is the city’s unemployment rate so low that we could afford to turn away potential employers?
Mr. Silverstein should realize that if elected he would represent all the people and not just the unions.
Welcome to the discussion.
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