This is a good thread about a very interesting local movement that is being very successfully used in small communities these days.
Unfortunately, Mr. Silver, you put "The Anti-Walmart movement" right in the thread title, which pretty much guarantees a whole 'nother heated Walmart argument thread, and sadly pulls the thread attention away from a genuinely interesting and thought provoking idea that communities have been putting into successful use.
It is not that different from buying shares in your local food co-op...an idea that has been successfully promoting local food producers for many years now.

I suggest that before everyone starts arguing about Walmart again , they read the links that Mr. Silver posted in his first post, and discuss the actual thread subject.