In a fit of reporting worthy of the Onion, the New York Times broke the compelling story that Edelman, Wal-Mart's PR firm, sends out press releases and other promotional material to bloggers, thereby fulfilling both the P (press) and the R (relations) in the PR function they were hired for.
The Times is well aware of Edelman's duties for Wal-Mart, as they gave Edelman a warm and fuzzy front page above-the-fold profile about their Wal-Mart "war room" in November. So what gives? Why praise them then and damn them now?
Is this a sign that the anti-Wal-Mart forces have jumped the shark in their Ahab-like search for bad news? It seems as though every issue imaginable has been thrown at evil old Wal-Mart, from not selling the "morning after" pill to not providing free health care to every sentient being in America. I feel quite sure they will soon be blamed for the breakup of Brad and Jen. So how does Wal-Mart respond?
They announce plans to open 1,500 more stores in the next few years, which will provide 450,000 new jobs at the store level and twice that at the vendor level, as well as bringing low cost goods to millions of consumers. Those 450,000 (non-union) new jobs created are nearly 8 times the 60,000 (union) jobs the auto industry just cut.
Are there genuine issues regarding some of Wal-Mart's business practices that need to be addressed? You bet, and many apply to other big-box retailers. But in a world where we are (I believe) about to experience a profound resurgence of inflation, I bet Wal-Mart will come to be viewed in a different light. Not everyone owns a Mom and Pop store. But everyone is a consumer.
And the people snarking about Wal-Mart are not the ones who need to shop there.
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