Editor,

Dave Tolley, manager of the Polson Wal-Mart, has presented our community with good reasons why Polson should not allow Wal-Mart to locate a Super Center here.

As Mr. Tolley states, Wal-Mart is a part of our community now — with all the contributions he cites. But we'd like to emphasize the word "part." Wal-Mart's current size and impact is compatible with the Lake County communities it serves. We have choices now — shop Wal-Mart or one of the many smaller businesses that have managed to co-exist with a larger retail store.

The only reason we can see that Wal-Mart would consider upsetting that balance is that it wants more than its fair share. And given its multi-billion dollars worth, Wal-Mart is poised to play very unfairly to get what it wants.

Let's decide to allow our small businesses the right to continue to hire local residents, pay wages and make contributions to all the worthy causes of our communities — as Mr. Tolley states Wal-Mart does. Many of the owners of our smaller businesses have worked for years to make a living here and don't deserve the unequal competition that a Wal-Mart Super Center presents.

Marie and Marty Mumma

Polson