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[[Image:Walmart.jpg|thumb|The Wal-Mart logo and slogan]]

[[Image:Walmart.jpg|thumb|The Wal-Mart logo and slogan]]

'''Wal-Mart''' is America's largest employer,<ref>[[Christian Science Monitor]]. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0219/p01s04-usec.html Wal-Mart: world's largest company]</ref> running a chain of department stores. The company was founded by [[Sam Walton]] in Arkansas in 1962.  Walton was a [[Christian]] and tried to make his store pro-family.  The current Walmart CEO is Lee Scott. Wal-Mart also owns the "Asda" chain of superstores across the [[United Kingdom]].

'''Wal-Mart''' is America's largest employer,<ref>[[Christian Science Monitor]]. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0219/p01s04-usec.html Wal-Mart: world's largest company]</ref> running a chain of department stores. The company was founded by [[Sam Walton]] in Arkansas in 1962.  Walton was a [[Christian]] and tried to make his store pro-family.  The current Wal-Mart CEO is Lee Scott. Wal-Mart also owns the "Asda" chain of superstores across the [[United Kingdom]].

It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

It is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Wal-Mart is often the subject of criticism for allegedly paying low [[wage]]s with insufficient [[fringe benefit|health benefits]] and allegedly forcing "Mom and Pop" stores out of business.  It was also critisized for not supporting [[homosexuality]] and for not dispensing [[abortion]] inducing drugs at its pharmacies.  The company's defenders reply that Wal-Mart tries to uphold a family value system and is a well-known provider of decent employment and affordable merchandise across America and the rest of the world.  Wal-Mart's wages average significantly higher than minimum wage, which may explain why nearly 2 million people choose to work for Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart is often the subject of criticism for allegedly paying low [[wage]]s with insufficient [[fringe benefit|health benefits]] and allegedly forcing "Mom and Pop" stores out of business.  It was also criticized for not supporting [[homosexuality]] and for not dispensing [[abortion]] inducing drugs at its pharmacies.  The company's defenders reply that Wal-Mart tries to uphold a family value system and is a well-known provider of decent employment and affordable merchandise across America and the rest of the world.  Wal-Mart's wages average significantly higher than minimum wage, which may explain why nearly 2 million people choose to work for Wal-Mart.

It has also been criticized for selling imports of products manufactured in [[China]].<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/wmchina.html Is Wal-Mart good for America?]</ref>  

It has also been criticized for selling imports of products manufactured in [[China]].<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/wmchina.html Is Wal-Mart good for America?]</ref>