Rural America is waking up

After a long time we heard good news. Wal-Mart has decided not to open one of their stores in Bath.

It is of course debatable how much impact the campaign run by the Bath Group opposing Wal-Mart had, but the fact remains that they were a group of dedicated people, activists, environmentalists, progressive, well wishers of local traders and persons who a feeling for local color and culture, who stood up to an immensely powerful machine on a wing and a prayer as it were. The businesses, which would actually be devastated with the advent of Wal-Mart in our midst, were conspicuous by scant presence in the ranks of its opponents.

It is nevertheless a tribute to the cohesion of the group and the untiring work, zeal, zest and enthusiasm of the group president bill Rogers.

It is also a harbinger of the political awakening of rural America. It will hopefully spearhead the struggle for a social democratic egalitarian state ushered in Europe in the aftermath of WW II, which provided universal health care, free education to all levels, and reasonable welfare benefits, which has been a fond dream in the richest country in the world. A pundit recently pointed out that Finland with scarce resources provides all that to its citizens.

It is scandalous that 47 million people do not have any health care coverage, that hospital bill are the biggest cause of bankruptcy and foreclosures and this is before the current sub-prime scandal.

It may be light at the end of a long tunnel, but may be just may be, rural America will no longer tolerate distractions of narrow chauvinism, latent racism, media manipulation by the combine of neo-liberalism and evangelism, celebrity shows and foot ball.
S.Ehtisham
Bath