COMMENT OF THE DAY: WHY HOUSTON NEEDS THAT NEW WALMART BY THE BAYOU “With all this rain, surely pollutants are leeching out from the soils of this brownfield site and flowing into White Oak Bayou. If there were a Wal-Mart here, the surface would be impermeable with only trace amounts of leaked motor oil contaminating the bayou. And as a kayaker that enjoys high water, that means less cancer for me!” [TheNiche, commenting on Only a Little Off Target: Walmart Heading Right Between Washington Ave and the Heights]
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The first flush of storm water (the most polluted) will have to be treated according to the storm water quality guidelines. This will remove all the motor oil and debris.
This land will have cleaner runoff from the development than if it were to be returned to a natural setting.
Niche, you just cracked this kayaker up!
Way to make lemonade!
Since they painted the Yale Street railroad bridge – Red, White and Blue – does that mean it will be a regular Walmart? Now the color scheme is making some sense,
The bigger question is how will you contain the pollutant of stigma by having a low budget chinese outlet store deteriorating property values.
Maybe its just me, but I prefer to live far away from communist regime supporters as possible. Perhaps the Taliban will build a shopping mall next door. That would be ok wouldn’t it? Since its all about saving a dollar no matter what evil empire the money supports.
well mr. wally, you can’t discount the notion that the best way to hinder/change this communist beast just may be to help their economy become more sustainable and advanced. increased standards of living demands more choices and freedoms.
just like how less well-off folks laugh at your bourgeoisie ideals and choose to shop where they want to decrease their cost of living and better their families.
joel is right. What Wal-Mart has done for the poor in the US by raising their standard of living it is also doing in China. Wal-Mart (and free market capitalism) in China has given residents there access to goods at prices that make their lives more comfortable. Although the government of China is still the all controlling communist, the citizens on the country are continuing to get a taste of the capitalist freedoms by having choice and access to better lifestyles.
They just need to install a toxin-detector to walk through in “Chinese-made” section in the toy dept. All Hail Chinese quality control!
Why does Wal-Mart get all the grief for Chinese products when they are available at all stores (even locally owned small stores!).
kjb434,
To answer your question – people in general tend to complain about things/people/companies that succeed. The more successful you are, the more people hate you. It’s the american way. The other guaranteed feeling is – “It’s okay with me as long as it is not in my backyard.”
KJB, you are quite the optimist. Surely the holocaust was a good thing; less mouths to feed?!? Love how Republicans like to look at people especially those of lower financial standing as a commodity or a resource, and not as people like themsevles. A lot of this phobia of WalMart has to do with the people that shop there, the market they tend to cater to, and yeah I’m not a fan of PWT ethos either but better to accept them, than to ostracize them.
cm,
What the hell are you talking about? Capitalism and free markets don’t commoditize people. They don’t discriminate and classify them the way socialism and communism does. It also doesn’t enslave them in poverty the way socialism and communism does.
Also, I never ridiculed the often stereotypical shoppers of Wal-Mart. Several of you may also be surprised by shoppers of Wal-Mart that are quite succefful (even millionaires). People with real class are those that are themselves and don’t have to pose at “upscale” shopping locations to be seen.
Fair enough, and a valid point. Though because the system tends to dminish people to this, and certainly wouldn’t be something I’d be so willing to accept. The greatest resource we have is people, not oil, not gold, nor any resource or commodity. It’s disheartening to see intelligent people like yourself so willing to accept this, last I checked this is 2010 not the industrial revolution. Rather sad that people feel more in line with corporations than with the people of your own country, as the last entity that needs anyone’s sympathy is faceless corporation dead set on profits. Maybe over simplified but some people just have trouble seeing past themselves, I’m making money so who cares mentality. Though when it comes to corporations versus people, I’m sure it’s akin to spinning plates to maintain a balance.
The US and Europe had their industrial reveloutions long ago. China, Brazil and India are moving through theirs.
We can’t expect them sling-shot themselves from 3rd and 2nd world status to 1st world instantly. It’ll take time just like it did in the US. It may take almost 100-years like it did in the US and Europe to adjust to industrialization. If you think about, it wasn’t until the 70s that environmental responsibilities were placed on many industries in the Western world. The many years prior to that, although pollution occured, can’t be dismissed as part of the growing process for a society. Although globalization is in full effect, we are still individual countries that have to grow in our own way. China, India, and Brazil are three countries to watch to see how they move forward. China will be the hardest one to clean out some demons from industrialization, but it also had industrial expansion at the fastest pace ever seen. China, India, and Brazil just like the US will fade out sweatshops and workers will gain more rights. This is already starting in China.
The concept of “quality of life” is truly a concern of the people who have and not the have-nots. The same goes for environmental issues. Once the aforementioned countries see a large middle class form, the priorities will start to shift and the public will want “quality of life” to be more important. As long as a large portion of these countries are poor, they won’t focus on “quality of life.”
ha ha ha …you elitist donkey lovers in the height are getting your just deserved.
Sir, I am no donkey lover.
While there are some guinea fowl in the heights, I doubt there are any goats, aside from the cabrito at chilosos. Thanks for adding so much to the conversation, overwhekmed by intellecutal salvo you fired. KJB, again good point and I see you maintain a balanced perspective and have done your homework. :-)
Okay, I don’t like shopping at Wal-Mart. So when it is built, I won’t go there. But, all this posturing about supporting communism, buy American, boycott Chinese goods is absurd. Who do you think outsourced to China in the first place? Americans. Are Chinese goods inferior? Depends on the type of merchandise. Are all American goods top quality? Certainly not. Large American manufacturers do not like to pay high wages, offer good benefits, etc….so they source their products elsewhere and while it is a boon for developing nations, our workers lose out. When China plateaus in 50 years, we will be buying goods produced in The Congo or somehwere else with minimal standards of living. Yes, Wal-Mart, being the biggest wholesale consumer in the world, drives developing economies with the sheer amount of their purchasing power but if you think Gallery Furniture or Macy’s or is filled to the brim with American made goods, think again. And let’s face it, Wal-Mart’s target customer is driven by economics- buying a shirt for $7.99 or saving .39 on dishwashing liquid not wondering or caring how their purchase affects the world economy.
Great, just what we need another freaking Wal-Mart! I am surprised Wal-Mart hasn’t paired up with Weingartens to plow over the rest of the River Oaks Shopping Center instead. This is what you get people when you keep voting against zoning!