Super Wal-Mart isn't needed in Polson

Editor,

When we lose our sense of perspective on what makes a local community truly strong and vital, we often are tempted to succumb to the pure attractions of economic considerations with invasions of behemoths such as a Super Wal-Mart complex.

If we forget the strength and locally appealing friendliness and true family style service of local businesses, which were born and grew through the support of their friends and neighbors, it is all too easy to fall prey to the mesmerizing appeals of these huge business conglomerates who prey upon local governmental entities which are charged with the responsibility of facing and wisely directing the inevitable growth and expansion of towns such as Polson.

It is not that those charged with these responsibilities are trying to hurt the community. On the contrary, they most often take these responsibilities very seriously, and do believe they have the best interests of the local community at heart.

I only implore those with these decision-making responsibilities to sit back and consider the full range of assets involved in building a community such as Polson.

These assets go way beyond just economic considerations of tax revenues, grand promises of this and that physical improvements, and the lure of great job opportunities.

The true and lasting assets, I suggest, are the basic core attitudes from which Polson emerged as a community: The hard work of local citizens, the pride of a community working and living together, and the strong support of and from locally owned businesses.

The Polson community, in my opinion, will grow, expand, and be a much stronger and dynamic entity, meeting all the growth challenges, without the invasion of outside forces such as a Super Wal-Mart, which does not have our local interests at heart. They are only really interested in their bottom line, regardless of how they present themselves through their very clever and well-crafted presentations.

Bob McClellan

Polson