If you think Wal-mart is the only company that does this, you're clueless.
No one said they were. The name of the thread makes that pretty clear. However, Wal-Mart is the largest example of the trend. Considering that over 10% of China's total exports in 2004 went to Wal-Mart alone, which was a larger portion than went to several large nations, you'd be hard pressed to find another company to compare them to.
What about Blowes or Home Despot?
Wouldn't know, don't shop there either. While the number of alternatives to such stores have decreased at a steadily increasing rate, they do still exist.
You don't think that they're driving small businesses away and taking the suppliers overseas?
Yes, but not to the extent that Wal-Mart has. While they both offer goods from other countries, I'm told that they still offer the majority of their goods from US sources and they have not exerted the pressure on their suppliers that Wal-Mart has which has forced so many US jobs overseas. Nor do they attempt to wrap themselves in the American flag while doing it.
Check out where Stanley makes their tools.
While the majority of the tools under the "Stanley" brand name are still made in the USA, that part of their company has been the latest to feel the "Wal-Mart effect". Meanwhile, Stanley Inc., the corporate parent, has been cited repeatedly by the Federal Trade commission for advertising and selling tools under their other brands such as "Proto" and "Husky" as "Made in the USA" when in fact they were not. In many cases the tools were even marked "Made in the USA" when they were actually made overseas.
You're probably already contributing, you just don't know it.
If you're willing to put forth a minimal effort, you don't have to be. At least not willingly. You can minimize the amount of money you give to such companies without doing much damage to your wallet in the process.
