So if you hav to blame this on someone, blame it >> on the current powers-that-be This is not about "blame." "Blame" is childish. My mother handled blame appropriately: Jerry [my brother] did it. Well, why didn't you STOP him? Why indeed. This is not about blame; it's about fixing the problem. R'osity doesn't have to do this, any more than anyone else has to participate in totalitarianism. Hell, the consequences here aren't going into a wood chipper or burning at the stake. (Though one of my neocon acquaintances --to stretch that word-- was arguing a while back for grisly public executions as the solution for something or other. Stay tuned, Taliban West.) They choose to go along with it because they care more about profits than principles. Not because they'll go broke if they don't capitulate, but because they can make more money by pandering to the REAL PTB. So show them that's a misconception. >> they're not sure the Disney model is going to >> bring in more geld than... Your post hits each nail deftly on the head. (And much more temperately than mine, but then, Savonarola was more temperate than I am.) A few years ago, my son was with me when I was headed for a WalMart. He was obviously unhappy that I was going in. In fact, he waited in the car, as if I were visiting an adult book store or something equally repellent. When I came back, I told him I didn't "like" WalMart, but their prices were better and I needed something I could only get there (in this case, a brand of dog biscuits). He explained to me why he refuses to spend a nickel in WalMart. Most of his reasons are now more widely known -- their hateful treatment of employees, their appalling record on environmental issues, their vicious contracts with suppliers, their gangsterish handling of local governments, their donations to totalitarian causes (good for business, you know). Their prices are better because they give nothing to the community and take a tiny bit less than others do -- and keep it all for themselves. Great business model; nobody I want in my neighborhood. He was right. I didn't know all those things, but once I did, I refused to shop there again. Haven't been inside one in nearly two years. And the dog doesn't seem to miss the biscuits. Maybe I "needed" them; he didn't. Every so often, someone at work will give me the "I hate Walmart too, but I can't afford not to shop there." The last one is 40, making $70K/year, has no kids, and drives a brand new car. Spare me. I pay an extra few cents a purchase to buy from independent groceries and maintain a membership at CostCo for access to bargains. I don't need to save five cents on a bag of potato chips so badly that I will give a buck to Walmart. Vote with your wallet. R'osity is counting on you to lack the integrity to quit shopping here. Americans pay a lot of lip service to "values" like integrity. Let's see if you actually have any. ...your turn, Mr. Savonarola.... M