text: The Editors October 23, 2006
  Catholics in Alliance plans to distribute its brochures through grass-roots organizations, partner groups and the Internet (www.thecatholicalliance.org). Its work reminds us not only that litmus tests are flawed tools for the voting public, but also that the total demands of the Catholic faith are never embodied in the platform of a single political party.
  I knew it and suspected it for a long time. It's time for the good Jesuit Fathers at 106 West 56th Street, NYC to cross the Hudson River and actually visit a Wal-Mart store instead of relying on the screeds of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union for their information on Wal-Mart and its employees.
  Instead of bashing the company for its slogans you and your readers would be better served if you focused on why millioms of customers who live from paycheck to paycheck as well as others who know a bargain when they see it shop at Wal-Mart.
  Hard working people know value when they shop at Wal-Mart. Savings are significant and in comparison shopping at Wal-Mart versus national food chain stores in our part of America our food bill is 20% less or more when we shop at Wal-Mart. I'm sure this is one reason why 30% of Wal-Mart shoppers in near-by NJ are residents of New York City. Twenty percent savings on a $200 food bill is $40 which means a lot to many people with growing and young families.
  Take the time to get behind the resistance to Wal-Mart by the UFCW.The employers whose employees they represent are competing against Wal-Mart especially Supercenter stores which have food departments. The failure of the Union to win representation rights at Wal-Mart speaks more about the failings of the union than it does about Wal-Mart. If the union had something tangible to offer Wal-Mart employees besides slogans perhaps some would join in a free democratic election. I suspect not but we won't know until there is a secret ballot election of Wal-Mart store employees
  Earning upwards of $ 10/hr and more is a decent wage in many parts of America. Maybe not in New York City but in rural America where most Wal-Mart stores are found it's a wage that helps pays the bills in two income families. It's better than area competitive wages for service economy jobs so please don't denigrate the wages of these hard working people.
  Full disclosure: I don't work for Wal-Mart nor am I a shareholder. But I do believe in fair reporting and editorial commentary which this commentary fails to deliver. I expect more from America than I read in this commentary.
  This article also appeared in print, under the headline "Current Comment," in the October 23, 2006 issue.