With its yellow complexion, wide eyes and missing nose, the Wal-Mart "rollback" character sometimes looks like a creepy omen of what's to come.
The broad grin of power, hiding thoughts of world domination within the fold of its smile. Perhaps one day we'll look at this evil symbol in the same manner we do a Bible, fearing it, ignoring it and revering it all at the same time.
OK, so maybe not -- it's a nice little happy face after all. But, the world domination part may not be far from the truth. Well, at least not in this nation where Wal-Mart has become a "one stop shop" for anything you could ever want and more.
Maybe this is fairly obvious for some of you. But for others, stopping to ponder over the retail giant isn't generally a part of everyday life.
So it's a bit surprising to pick up The Arizona Republic and find out that a store opening in Glendale attracted 8,000 applicants for 525 jobs. That means applicants had a one-in-15 chance of getting a job. That sounds more competitive than the ASU admissions process.
As the state's largest private employer (and the nation's as well), each weekend more people swarm the lots of Wal-Mart than any other retailer.
As a result, one Chandler neighborhood tried saying "no" to the Wal-Mart invasion. Locals feared the loss of smaller businesses and jobs, claiming they don't need another grocer (referring to the Wal-Mart Marketplace) on that corner. After resident complaints and pleas to the City Council to reject the company's proposal, Wal-Mart filed a request using a technical loophole allowing the council no say in the process.
And in Los Angeles last year, the company petitioned to be on the ballot after Inglewood's council rejected their proposal. With more than 7,000 voters on their side, Inglewood residents turned Wal-Mart down once again earlier this month for similar reasons, adding in their shared resistance to a corporate takeover.
Perhaps it's a bit dramatic and overly political. After all, the solution seems clear: don't buy from Wal-Mart. Individuals "vote" with their dollars. And so rather than claiming Wal-Mart drove away other businesses, the consumer is the one really at fault.
But can we blame customers? Wal-Mart's success is based upon consistent and competitive pricing, as they advertise, "every day low prices." Add good customer service as well as new job opportunities, and it's no wonder people flock to the store.
Yet, at the same time failure to ignore the company's poor treatment of workers and recent trend of taking over the nation one community at a time can't be ignored.
In several states throughout the nation, Wal-Mart is facing more than three dozen lawsuits claiming employees were paid less than they deserved according to state law, or that they have been forced to work overtime without pay.
In California, the state Supreme Court is to hear a case alleging employees were forced into working without breaks. The plaintiff's lawyer claims this case could involve up to 230,000 others. Even sexual discrimination is being pointed out. In another case, 1.5 million women claim they were paid less or denied promotions based on gender.
Consumers like you and me are pushing carts in the middle of a paradox. We want our "everyday low prices," but we must not ignore the threatening Wal-Mart regime taking over our world.
Rosie Cisneros is a journalism sophomore. Reach her at rosie.cisneros@asu.edu.
