Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Wal-Mart off base?. Charles Hood, Tulsa. Despite our government's ever-increasing need to borrow from China, we continue to complain against China's inhumane treatment of its political prisoners and its manufacturing workforce. The political prisoners are jailed and deprived of all rights. And, although China's workers aren't "prisoners," they might as well be. They're forced to produce products while working extra-long hours in poor, unhealthy conditions - and they're paid just pennies per hour to do so. Despite being cautioned countless times to "be more considerate ... keep your criticisms to yourselves," our government continues to complain. Yet, one very greedy American sits on the sidelines and quietly - but gleefully - applauds these same working conditions. His name is "Uncle Sam" Walton. He supports these inhumane conditions, because these conditions support him and his 9,655 stores. Today, more than 90 percent of the goods Wal-Mart sells are "Made in China. How else could Wal-Mart sell its products at such cheap prices? These products lack quality, but what else can you expect from unhealthy, overworked and underpaid workers? What America fails to understand is that Wal-Mart's greed has forced untold numbers of U.S. retailers and manufacturers - and the jobs therein - to close their doors. After more than 20 years, the snowballing impact of Wal-Mart's greed has finally caused the demise of too much of America's production, the driving force behind a successful economy. It's a tragedy when America's largest retailer refuses to buy products "Made in America. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to letters@tulsaworld.com..