Caroline Baum over at Bloomberg wrote today that the Democratic candidates for major public office -- who have crossed Iowa recently with negative-speak about the world's largest retailer -- should shop there. Why? Because, Wal-Mart saves the average American family roughly $2,300 per year, according to Global Insight. In other words, Baum is saying that the Democratic politicians currently on a dragon-slaying mission against Wal-Mart should remove themselves from their perches and actually visit and shop there.

Regardless of your position, it's always a great idea to immerse yourself in whatever environment you current are lauding or despising, to ensure what your experience is matches with your pre-conceived notions and bias. We all have biases -- some just choose not to admit it. Politicians, as usual, love to stir up emotional issues to garner emotional votes, and the current war in progress, gasoline prices and retailing behemoths qualify as emotional lighting rods for these folks.

The fact is that workers choose to work at Wal-Mart, and larger companies (and any company) don't "owe" a certain wage or benefits to workers. It's a capitalistic choice to provide these things, unless America was a socialist country the last time I looked (not yet). While I don't agree with Wal-Mart's pay scale or benefits, which don't really provide the level of comfort needed for a family, the company is not handcuffing employees to the store, are they? I agree with Baum on this one.

Brian White has worked in various executive positions in technology and telecommunications and now focuses on editing and writing.