Quote of the Day.

"I was raised with American values, that good companies take care of workers. Wal-Mart is changing the rules. We're at a crucial point where society needs to decide whether we're going to follow them on this race to the bottom, or not."

Craig Cole, President of the independent grocery chain, Brown and Cole.

Heck, credit him with the runner up, too.

"Wal-Mart is like a form of social pollution. If we let an oil company dump waste into Puget Sound, it could make cheaper gas. But we don't let them, because it degrades the environment.

"Well, what Wal-Mart is doing degrades American workers. And not just their own."

The quotes are from a Danny Westneat column in the Seattle Times about a legislative proposal to force Wal-Mart to do business in a socially responsible fashion if they're going to do business in the Upper Left. They don't like that? Let them leave. We'll be well served by local businessmen like Cole, who, as Westneat reports, "...buys health insurance for 95 percent of his 1,500 workers, including any who work 20 hours per week. He also insures their families." That's the kind of business that pro-business Democrats (and there really isn't any other kind) should absolutely fall in love with. That's the kind of business worth expending a little political capital to promote and protect.

There are 29 Brown and Cole stores spread across the Upper Left, operating with names like Cost Cutter, Food Pavilion, Food Depot and $ave-On-Food$. There aren't any in King County, but if you're off yonder somewhere, there may be one near you. Look them up, and when you need to stock the pantry, consider rewarding good behavior.

Hat tip to CitizenSteve at Washington Outsiders.