Wal-Mart would hurt Bath region
To the Editor,

I developed an interest in the impact of economic globalization on the working class when I returned to Bath in 1991. Rural counties of upstate NY are agriculture based and have never been very affluent.

The eight years that I spent in Pakistan I saw great changes for the worse in the economy of the region I had returned to. Singer factory closed down, Taylor wine bought by a global corporation, moved away; Westinghouse closed its doors and Corning Inc. outsourced most of its work. I have mentioned only a few examples, as this is not supposed to be an exhaustive survey of the economy of the area.

As a consequence, unemployment was at an all time high. People could not afford medicines. Too many houses were on sale. Bankruptcies were rampant. But there was surprisingly little resentment among the populace. They had all been brain washed by the mainstream media, sports and other distractions like the American Idol. For which more people voted than for the presidential race. When I pointed out that Canada next door had National Health Service and treatment and drugs were free, they said it took too long to have an x-ray done. They were completely taken in by the neocon propaganda that we had the best health service in the world.

Globalization is a continuation of capitalist development.

Wal-Mart is the biggest player in globalization. It has laid waste industry and manufacturing in most of this country by indirectly forcing its suppliers to go to China by asking for unreasonably low prices. China pays 81 cents per hour. US workers I do not believe would agree to work at these rates. I would suggest a few books like "China Inc.," "The case against Wal-Mart" and "Globalization and its discontents," by Stiglitz,: and the video, "High Cost of Low Price."

The impact of Wal-Mart on Route 54 on a small rural community like Bath and the areas around would be immense. It would be entirely different from those of Wal-Mart's in Painted Post, Hornell and Elmira. They are situated in sparsely populated areas. According to Wal-Mart's own estimates increase in vehicular traffic would be by 800 per hour. Patients might have a rough time getting to Ira Davenport Hospital and doctors offices. The local business will literally go to pot. They could not compete with the huge buying power of Wal-Mart and the subsidies it manages to squeeze out of local government. Local newspaper and radio will suffer. Few businesses will survive to provide advertising revenue. Tax rates would go up. Profits that Wal-Mart would make would not stay in the community.

The whole character of the area would suffer for the worse. Liberty Street in Bath and the square in Hammondsport would look like deserted islands.
S. Ehtisham MD
Bath