What kind of growth do we want?

Editor,

Wal-Mart's proposal to build a Super Store here in Polson is more a matter of greed than need. Rather than waiting for Polson to grow large enough to warrant a huge store, the corporation wants to hijack customers from local businesses such as Safeway and Super One.

Wal-Mart is gambling on local growth, but at what cost to the market share of other businesses? As a matter of arithmetic, Wal-Mart adds to its profits but subtracts from the profits of other businesses.

Growth adds to our local tax burden because it demands greater infrastructure: roads, sewer, water, electricity, police and fire protection. While we may save money on consumer goods, we lose our small town flavor and quality of life. And the "job creation" argument must be balanced against the job losses caused other employers.

I was not originally against Wal-Mart building in Polson because the existing store fills a niche that had already been vacated by other businesses.

The current store serves the community well without swallowing up Main Street and without turning Polson into a strip mall. But a Super Store will have negative impacts on several fronts. How much of our lush, green environment do we want covered by another imposing building and paved-over parking lot? Do we want corporation-driven growth, or do we want naturally-occurring growth at a slower pace that allows us to add services and infrastructure as needed?

Suzanne Marshall

Polson