Just read a new article as to why Walmart will never regain its place as the top of the merchandising company in the world.This after showing a 6% increase in sales for the quarter. I was hoping for some new insights but found the guy's comments were semi-interesting restatements of most of the negatives that you and I have heard before. A negative in the writer's mind is Walmart's speedy entry and exit from different markets if there's no fit. To me the agility that an organization of Walmart's size can show boggles my mind and their inventory control system, wow! I haven't been in a part of the world where the serious Walmart haters live and picket the stores. My supposition is that most of the present day opposition is from union organizers (unsuccessful, so far). As far as the mom & pop stores-give me a break! Malls and chain stores killed that old-fashioned dream years ago except for a few downtowns kept alive artificially as pets or as tourist attractions. Goodbye to the old days, we barely remember you. Walmart rules!

Warren Buffett, Patriot

We're hearing a lot about Mr. Buffett and his call for increased taxation on himself and other wealthy individuals. After some thought, I've formulated my response to this seemingly unselfish gesture-

If I were 85 years old and had stock in Berkshire Hathaway worth $37 Billion, I would also ask to be taxed more.

Could you check back with me then when I reach those two checkpoints?

To be honest, Buffett's comments don't impress me nearly as much as Mr.R.G. LeTourneau, another extremely rich man down in East Texas who tithes 90% of his income. Now that's playing it forward! What do you think? Bill

Compromise, Thy Name is Washington

Tis' the season to compromise. Who among us thought that the deadline for increasing the dreaded debt limit would pass without action: Ha! The game of "Chicken" is alive and well in Washington. Now, I am about to write a line that may get me sent to Levenworth prison as a traitor to our wonderful Country. Here it is-Considering the way our government spends money, would any of you prudent readers lend money at the "Best" rate to the USA? Why do we think we are worthy of such a rating? I trust Moody's and the other international Bond Rating companies more than I do those boys in D.C. We're no Greece, but are we, or are we not, borrowing to pay interest on earlier loans? If you do that with checking accounts, we used to call that "kiting". Where do we get off spending as if there's no tomorrow. There is a future and it looks bleak if we don't start say, "ENOUGH!"