Wal-Mart workers pay for lower prices

Re: The March 1 article on Brown & Cole Stores closures: The "ca-ching, ca-ching" ring from Wal-Mart cash registers doesn't translate into savings. When it comes time to file your tax return, the "ca-ching, ca-ching" sound you'll hear is your money going into social services to help fund assistance programs for Wal-Mart employees.

There is nothing wrong with helping those who have less than they need.

There is something horribly amiss, however, when your help is needed because huge conglomerates like Wal-Mart refuse to provide decent health care coverage or pay sufficient wages. Many Wal-Mart workers are on welfare as a result. In short, when you shop at Wal-Mart you're subsidizing a corporation that is worth more than many towns in the United States.

Wal-Mart claims it sells for less. How? By treating its workers shabbily. Decent businesses like Thrifty Foods have to charge a bit more because they pay higher wages and provide better benefits. In some cases they can't compete and are forced to close their doors.

Personalize the issue: If a company employing teachers, truck drivers, carpenters, city workers, beauticians, refinery personnel, etc., suddenly swept into town and offered up cheap labor, where would that put you? Out of a job? On assistance?

We must shop at businesses that treat their employees right. If we don't, those of us who work for a living will sooner or later become Wal-Mart's "road kill."

Richard Austin
Mount Vernon

Letters to the Editor - Skagit Valley Herald