Why America's 20-Somethings Won't Put Up with Wal-Mart

It isn't just me who knows about the horrendous business practices that Wal-Mart uses in its daily transactions. These range from undervalued employees to decrepit conditions in overseas manufacturing to taking full advantage of government subsidies and handouts. Wal-Mart is working the system, and the 20-somethings of America are not going to put up with it.

My husband and I were forced to do almost all of our shopping at Wal-Mart the first year of our marriage. It was not something we wanted to do, but with having no money, we didn't have a choice. They really do have the lowest prices around, and, like many Americans, it was the only place to afford groceries, clothes, and toiletries.

After watching a documentary about the horrendous business practices that Wal-Mart uses in it's daily operations, we were appalled. We knew Wal-Mart was not a great place to work, nor support, but we never guessed the conditions were as bad as reported. Entire towns' thriving businesses are now bankrupt due to the 'Wal-Mart Way.' Families who are depending on their Wal-Mart paychecks to get them through life, are forced to take health insurance through government because Wal-Mart offers such lousy health care and promotes their employees to take advantage of government welfare. Overseas working conditions are despicable, but all that some people can afford to take to get by in life. It is horrible, and it is time to stop.

The '20 somethings' in my generation, now, are for radical changes in this world. One of the ways we can step up to the plate, is to stop purchasing from Wal-Mart. No, I do not want hundreds of people who need that paycheck to lose their jobs, however, I want Wal-Mart to know that they cannot push the consumer around. We will not stand for shoddy business practices. We are here to promote change, and the only way Wal-Mart will change is if they know they will lose a significant amount of our business.

We are the generation leading change. As we get married, and have children, we teach them the values that we know and live by. Some of these values are to promote positive change. By taking the initiative to stop purchasing from Wal-Mart, it shows this company that neither us, nor our future children will support a company that treats its employees and consumers like indispensable goods.

In order for change to happen anywhere in this country, we must band together as a generation to promote positive change. Let us start with a company that does not protect its employees nor its consumers. Let us place a stronghold on the types of businesses like Wal-Mart that do not push for equal rights among their workers. Instead, let us promote businesses like Costco, where they pay their employees almost double what Wal-Mart employees make, and whose CEO takes only a fraction of a paycheck compared to most CEO's in the U.S. Let us not purchase from companies like Wal-Mart who force the consumer to look at them as the cheapest option, and instead, opt to spend a few cents extra at the local hardware store to support our local community and its people.

When people band together, especially the generation of us 20-Somethings, we promote direct, efficient change that will in turn, change our world. If there are injustices, speak up, speak out and join together to promote change. Together, we can push for Wal-Mart, and similar businesses, to begin a positive change to bring a fair wage to their employees, and a fair competition to the community.