The perception and truth of Wal-Mart

Shortly before Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast on the morning of Aug. 29, 2005, the chief executive officer of Wal-Mart, Lee Scott, gathered his subordinates and ordered a memorandum sent to every single regional and store manager in the imperiled area.

"A lot of you are going to have to make decisions above your level," was Scott's message to his people. "Make the best decision that you can with the information that's available to you at the time, and above all, do the right thing."

Gee, I thought all corporations only existed to gouge the poor consumer. The perception of Wal-Mart again does not live up to the reality of Wal-Mart. Of course Wal-Mart is a fierce competitor, is a big and therefore easy target to hate or envy, but they still remember they are a business and do not have a monopoly on the customers. If they don't do the right thing, someone else will and the customers will go there and that will be the end of Wal-Mart.

Too bad we don't have that option with public schools or even government, except by expensive options of the public.