Wal-Mart has launched a massive TV campaign built around the tag-line "Wal-Mart: We're Not as Evil as You Think". The retail giant is fighting back against charges it under-insures employees, homogenizes the landscape, and generally is a force against all that is sweet and good.
Many of the ads feature vignettes of average-looking folk saying they don't detest Wal-Mart quite as much as one would expect. In one, and elderly Wal-Mart greeter admits he is underpaid and exploited, but goes on to say "at least they let me wear this really cool smock."
Another features a small town business owner forced to shutter the doors when a Wal-Mart opened nearby. He hops into his car and says "Wal-Mart gave me the courage to finally leave this dumpy town. And my dumpy wife too."
Others show shoplifters gleefully explaining how easy it is to steal from a big-box store.
Wal-Mart's next ad campaign, which will focus on convincing the public its employees are well compensated, will be funded by reducing all wages by one dollar per hour.
