TREND OR TRENDIER

SINCE EDEN, IT'S BEEN ABOUT CHOICE. THE MAYOR OF BOSTON DEFIES THE TREND TO WAL-MART, THE MARCH OF DOLLARS, THE FRISSON ON THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. HE TAKES THE HIGH ROAD OF ELITISM CLAIMING THAT WAL-MART DOESN'T "PAY WAGES THAT ARE SUFFICIENT, THEIR BENEFIT STRUCTURE IS POOR." HE CONTINUES, "I DON'T NEED EMPLOYERS LIKE THAT IN OUR CITY." THEREFORE THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON WILL HAVE NO CHOICE.

INSTEAD, HE EMBRACES THE TRENDIER, TARGET BECAUSE OF THE "DIFFERENT IMAGE THEY HAVE IN HOW THEY MARKET THEIR PRODUCT AND THEIR APPEARANCE OF THEIR STORES. THERE'S A LOT TO DO WITH IT, THE IMAGE OF THE STORE. "

REALLY. THE FREE CHOICES OF MANY AMERICANS CONTRADICT THE ELITISTS’ DESIRES AND THEIR BIG BROTHER SOLUTIONS WHICH DICTATE WHAT ARE THE 'GOOD.' FACTS DON'T MATTER. THEIR 'APPROVED' RETAILERS CHARGE MORE FOR MERCHANDISE, EMPLOY FEWER WORKERS AND HAMPER THE FREE MARKET SYSTEM. YET, ONLY IMAGE COUNTS, THE IMAGE OF BETTERING ONE'S INFERIORS AS THEY LIVE AS SUPERIORS.

CHICAGO ALSO TRIED TO BAN WAL-MART IN AN APPROPRIATE, WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT AN ALDERMAN THREW UP THE ROADBLOCK OF A $10 AN HOUR SALARY AND A $3.00 HEALTH CARE BENEFIT. IRONICALLY, THIS ALDERMAN’S OFFICE SPENT $30,000 OF CAMPAIGN MONEY SHOPPING FOR SUPPLIES AT THE BIG, BAD STORE! LUCKILY, THE MAYOR VETOED THIS PROPOSAL AND BLOCKED AN OVERRIDE OF IT; ENLIGHTENMENT PREVAILED.

THERE ACTUALLY EXISTS A 'CORE EDGE AND CHARISMA INSTITUTE' SOMEWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY. THEIR NEED IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE BUT THEIR INFLUENCE PERVADES THE PSYCHE OF EACH BLUE-STATE LIBERAL HERE AND ABROAD. IT'S ALL ABOUT IMAGE FOR THEM EVEN THOUGH THE REAL WORLD SPINS ON ITS AXIS WITH THE FACES OF COMMON MEN AND WOMEN, ORDINARY PLEBS. WHY MUST THE MAJORITY FACE CONTINUAL MANIPULATION AND MANACLES FROM THE ARISTOCRATS WHO SNEER INSTEAD OF GRIN WHEN THEY SEE THE WAL-MART LOGO, A GOLDEN SMILEY FACE.