https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvxNgdFeWqM The entity that is known as Wal-Mart got its start in a small town in Arkansas, and it has grown into to the worlds largest retailer, operating 11,000 stores in over 27 countries (courtesy Wikipedia). Its capacity for carrying nearly everything you might need at very low prices, combined with a 24-hour availability, makes it the number-one destination for many Americans who want to do all of their shopping in one place. Where else can you buy groceries, clothing, electronics, computers, gardening supplies, pharmaceuticals, personal care items, sporting goods, kitchen implements, hardware, jewelry and DVDs at any hour? The company is pilloried for its anti-union stance, along with the tendency to wipe out small businesses that cant compete with its low overhead and large retail space. They also come under fire for their refusal to pay a living wage to employees; the group Americans for Tax Fairness reported that Wal-Mart cost Americans $6.2 billion in public assistance costs, to include food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing. And there's even a website dedicated to posting unflattering photos of Wal-Mart shoppers. But Americans keep going there, because those prices are so low.
15. Fast Food
As a mobile society, overworked and underpaid, Americans are hard-pressed to find time to eat a decent meal, much less take the time to prepare it. But we have an alternative, just as the rest of the world does, in fast food restaurants. Its a business model that has done very well in America, with most small towns on interstate highways having a restaurant row and larger cities installing them on major thoroughfares. The model has been exported all over the world, but its strongest examples are still in the U.S. and despite some serious health warnings and controversies, the industry is going nowhere.
