To the Editor:

I would like to respond to the rants of Cindy Parola of January 13.

Off the top, I am not a property owner (with visions of dollar signs whirling before my eyes), I am a retired employee of this town and I am a consumer who works part-time to help make ends meet.

Personally, I am not interested in what happened almost a decade ago (when the IGA was here and the other store in town liked to raise prices during the tourist season).

I do not know why you portray Walmart as an opportunistic land-grabber. I feel they have earned the right for the opportunity to expand their business and relocate. There is no law that I know of that prohibits relocating a business if other businesses have also moved out of the plaza. There must be issues the landlord and its tenants cannot solve. You cannot force a business to accept the terms of the landlord's lease.

Being closer to two major highways brings better business opportunities, so Walmart can survive during these tough times. We, as consumers, want the convenience to shop at one store and purchase what we need at a reasonable cost. This also spurs competition, which is our way of life. It means more revenue for this town, and additional jobs during these tough times.

Since you have a hang up about vacant buildings, did you know Dollar Tree just moved into town, and brought more jobs for our citizens?

As for the people of Buzzards Bay and South Plymouth, how about all the years West Wareham residents had to travel east to get what they need to survive? The business climate has reversed itself.

I feel that negative comments by a former politician need a response, so why can't we "save money and live better"? Because you distrust Walmart, we feel better about ourselves.

Walmart must take care of business, and we have to take care of our business and provide for our families.

With the price of gas going up and up, we must find a way to spend our money wisely. If somebody wants to help us get through these dire times, I'm all for them. It's all about competition and convenience and business. Not whether they have to abandon the building they are in.

What do you want Walmart to do? Leave town? They have outgrown their business. They can't expand because they are restricted by a piece of paper.

What is the lesser of two evils? Walmart moves within Wareham, or this town loses out on revenues it needs to survive and a nearby town gets to thrive with a bigger Walmart and reap the benefits, because of the your politics and mistrust of a company with supposed ulterior motives to deceive all the citizens.

Arthur Sandland

East Wareham