Wal-Mart part II

[pvn]

In the previous OP, nobody really addressed what I thought was the most important point:

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Retail can't build your economy. You can't export it. Its effects are primarily negative. How could minimizing it be bad?

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Retail is nothing on its own. You have to have some other production to actually sell.

Distribution is the same way. They are both overhead. A means to an end.

If star-trek-like transporters became readily available, and you could have all consumer goods beamed straight to your home, so that all retailers (mom and pop and Wal-Mart alike) and distribution channels disappeared, would the economy be better off or worse off? Long term, no "well WMT employs 3 xillion people, were are they going to find new jobs?" BS.