Why does the idea of an open-hand capitalist system so terrify the left? The only answer I can come up with is that somewhere deep in the pscyhe of the NYC left is some sort of devotion to a Marxist ideal that captialism is just the next step to socialism/communism. But hey, just look at how the City Council runs itself now. What's the difference? Why should we be shocked?

The only thing we can do is laugh at their hypocrisy. Just look at the Upper Left Side. All the mom 'n pop stores have been run out and now there are all the Starbuck's and GAPs you want. Because they need their high taxes to build all the NIMBY low-cost housing, they're moving Time's Square uptown. Good. They deserve it.

NYC republicans need to start campaigning on this important issue. Clearly, the democratic controlled City Council is impeding economic development, job growth and tax cuts with their blocking of stores like Wal-Mart & BJ Stores. Opening a Wal-Mart will not cost tax-payers any money. The new store will create hundreds of jobs and provide goods to consumers who will shop there and help our economy. With tax collection, more revenue will be made and the city can lower taxes to spur more growth and more development and more revenue and then even lower taxes, which will allow smaller businesses to hire and create more jobs and in the end, we'll all be happy. We'll be able to balance our budget with lower taxes, while having more New Yorkers working and spending to sustain economic growth.

It's a spiral affect in a positive way and we should preaching this to voters over the course of the next three years, so when 2009 rolls around, we can field candidates for City Council and get a larger republican representation in our city legislature.

I agree that support for Wal-Mart is a good rallying scheme to promote free enterprise.

It's important to note that many of those who work at Wal-Mart are part-timers that means they're teenagers, stay at home moms, or senior citizens, who otherwise have health insurance. And Wal-mart does offer health insurance policies to full time employees. If we choose to go to Wal-Mart, work at Wal-Mart, or make a purchase at Wal-Mart, it's our decision. They offer low prices in a high taxed city where every little saving counts.

Front page in yesterday's Sun, Wal-Mart reports that spending in surrounding areas, from NYC residents has increased by 30% from 2004 to 2005. Wal-Mart's poll shows that 60% of adults living in NYC support Wal-Mart. Further reported in the New York Sun, "Wal-Mart says every new store in NYC would create about 300 new jobs and generate about $5 million in tax revenue for the city."

The City Council are acting like hired guns for mob-style unions, by intimidating a private company from making a purchase that would create commerce, in favor of union bosses that line their pockets. Lee, you're right, liberals are complete hypocrites.