the job opening-prefers locals

[Uncle Buddha]

Walmart is a prime example of both the good and bad, with the current "American" business model. Capitalism - with too much regulation.

On one hand, Walmart is "the" example of the "American dream". Building a company from the ground up, into the largest retailer in the world.

On the other hand, Walmart is also a great example of what happens when moral and ethic principals are abandoned.

[weroses]

Hey Ive been out of work since Oct. Jobs are hard to find all over You even got to take a test to work at Walmart and your still lucky to get an interview even though you pass it

[CCCVDUR]

Hey folks, - I'm just a big city guy transplant to the SW, and don't like Flagstaff and Santa Fe because they are anti-business. As far as I'm concerned both cities should be 500,000 people, like albuquerque.

By my Dennis Kucinich standards, ALL the stores in Santa Fe: Target, Wallgreens, Wallmart, REI, Sunflower Market, Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Costco down in Albuquerque *ALL* all underpay their employees and import cheap goods from overseas. Except for Costco, employees aren't unionized. Both Flagstaff and Santa Fe have wallmarts, but they are not superwallmarts (super meaning they have a food ctr.).

Everyone in flagstaff wants a superwallmart, because the local grocery stores are too expensive. Other than this big box issue where I am economically Libertarian, I am the most socially liberal / pro-union person you can get. In fact, AZ or NM are both waaaaaay too conservative on social issues, and also not pro-union enough compared to my native Seattle. Seattle and Manhattan have a different kind of liberal democrat that is very socially liberal yet also very pro-business. That's why we keep going back and forth here. Hey I've seen it happen here in Flagstaff between east coast and upper midwest Liberals versus the local Protectionist Anti-Growth Democrats.

Back in Seattle, liberal Democrats allow big box stores, since they generate tax revenue, and help the middle class afford food and household gods. I can be a Democrat in Seattle, but am a Libertarian in small towns in AZ or NM, due to the severe environmental restrictions and opposition to big box stores / high tech companies.

Now if you want to talk about a great general merchandise store with a complete food center, it's Fred Meyer in Washington/Oregon. ALL employees in EVERY department are unionized, and the prices are very reasonable. I did 80% of my shopping at Fred Meyer up there.

Relax - I'm not moving back to your city, and I'm departing Flagstaff for the same reason. I would really like the more economically progressive Albuquerque, Boulder, or Eugene, Oregon. Anyway I hope this debate can end. My own goal is to buy 5 acres in the Southwest and start an organic farm. Meanwhile why pay 30%-50% more for stuff at places that import stuff from the same countries as wallmart?

[TomM1]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

Relax - I'm not moving back to your city, and I'm departing Flagstaff for the same reason.?

[Cathy4017]

In fact, AZ or NM are both waaaaaay too conservative on social issues, and also not pro-union enough compared to my native Seattle.

New Mexico? Conservative? LOL!!! Alamogordo, Los Alamos, Hobbs and Farmington are more conservative than most of the rest of the state, but.....still not THAT conservative.

Unions suck.....and they suck the very life out of an economy. Unions and their demands are the major problem with the auto industry, not to mention most everything else.

If you're pro-union and all that stuff, you have a lot to choose from on the east coast.

[CCCVDUR]

TOM M1 and CATHY -

LOL at your posts

I will forward your posts to my friend in Manhattan and he will laugh hysterically

I look forward to Colorado and Oregon

[brendiej]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

My own goal is to buy 5 acres in the Southwest and start an organic farm. Meanwhile why pay 30%-50% more for stuff at places that import stuff from the same countries as wallmart?

I have wanted to start making goat cheese! Let us know when your farm us up and running. That will be fantastic!

[MZBEA]

There really isn't any IDEAL place to move to in the uSA. Just decide which place has the least BS you can tolerate and move there. To me, ABQ sucked big time as did Lordsburg, Deming. SilverCity was barely tolerable with its new agey and ultra conservative, bible thumpers and enough illegals to choke a 6 lane highway.

[bongo]

Just to chime in to popcorn off the original poster, one of the reasons I am a New Mexican living & teaching in Alaska for the past 10 years while renting out our place in the Northern NM mountains is due to local-centric politics of hiring. After interviewing at numerous small northern NM town schools, I was blatantly told by a few that although they wished they could hire me, they could not even hire a hispanic from Albuquerque much less an anglo who was not a local.

And of course I can understand why they would want to provide jobs to their home-town kids who go away to university to return to teach in their local schools.