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[[File:New Walmart logo.gif|right|thumb|250px|The Wal-Mart logo and slogan]]

[[File:New Walmart logo.gif|right|thumb|250px|The Wal-Mart logo and slogan]]

'''Wal-Mart''' is America's largest private 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 "Sam's Club" chain of wholesale stores and the "Asda" chain of superstores across the [[United Kingdom]].

'''Wal-Mart''' is America's largest private employer,<ref>[[Christian Science Monitor]]. [https://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 "Sam's Club" chain of wholesale stores and 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 criticized for supporting [[homosexuality]]<ref>[http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/08/21/4 "Wal-Mart launches gay-friendly initiative" August 21, 2006]</ref> 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 supporting [[homosexuality]]<ref>[http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/08/21/4 "Wal-Mart launches gay-friendly initiative" August 21, 2006]</ref> 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> despite the fact that most other retailers also sell Chinese imports. Wal-Mart has asked Premiere Radio Networks not to air its commercials during [[Rush Limbaugh|The Rush Limbaugh Show]].<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/12/442673/141-companies-advertisng-rush-limbaugh/?mobile=nc Thinkprogress.org]</ref>

It has also been criticized for selling imports of products manufactured in [[China]]<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/wmchina.html Is Wal-Mart good for America?]</ref> despite the fact that most other retailers also sell Chinese imports. Wal-Mart has asked Premiere Radio Networks not to air its commercials during [[Rush Limbaugh|The Rush Limbaugh Show]].<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/12/442673/141-companies-advertisng-rush-limbaugh/?mobile=nc Thinkprogress.org]</ref>

==Wal-Mart in the U.K.==

==Wal-Mart in the U.K.==

==Political contributions==

==Political contributions==

Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated and its employees generally favor Republican candidates in terms of campaign contributions. In 2012, 53% of donations from the company (including employees) went to Republican candidates, vs. 47% to Democrats. 100% of major contributions from Wal-Mart Pharmacy associates went to Republican candidates in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000367&cycle=2012|title=Wal-Mart Stores: Totals|accessdate=2012-12-05|work=Opensecrets.org|publisher=The Center for Responsive Politics}}</ref>

Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated and its employees generally favor Republican candidates in terms of campaign contributions. In 2012, 53% of donations from the company (including employees) went to Republican candidates, vs. 47% to Democrats. 100% of major contributions from Wal-Mart Pharmacy associates went to Republican candidates in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000367&cycle=2012|title=Wal-Mart Stores: Totals|accessdate=2012-12-05|work=Opensecrets.org|publisher=The Center for Responsive Politics}}</ref>

==External links==

==External links==