Michael Cannon, the senior health policy analyst from the Cato Institute, had an interesting story in his interview for "Why Wal-Mart Works."
Something really interesting happened in Santa Fe, when Wal-Mart wanted to open a second store there. The city counsel split down the middle about whether to allow Wal-Mart to open another store, and the mayor had to break that tie. Now put aside for a moment whether it’s a good idea that entrepreneurs should need the government’s permission to open and new store and try to offer people cheaper products. If you look at that city counsel vote, you notice something interesting. Every city counsel member with a Hispanic surname voted to allow Wal-Mart. Among those with non-Hispanic or more Anglo surnames most of them voted against allowing Wal-Mart. Now that may not mean anything, but it may mean that people who are closer to low income workers who know a little more what its like to have to struggle to put the food on the table, are very appreciative of Wal-Mart, and that others who are opposing Wal-Mart have lost touch with that segment of society.
