Even with the living wage bill, Walmart and others can still make megabucks in Chicago. They'll squawk and fight in court, but don't expect them not to enter the market because of this victory.

The one thing, so far anyway, that has caused Walmart to close a site is when workers win a unionization drive, the only exception being their stores in China.

That's why some of us have been arguing against Walmart no matter what, since they're the poster child for 'low road' globalization. The strategic fight is against their whole business plan, not just their wage rates.

There are many positive alternatives to Walmart, from Costco and Publix in the U.S., to the best model of all, the 'high road' worker and consumer owned, eco-friendly chain in Spain and France, called 'Eroski.' Google them and you'll see what I mean.

Walmart started its growth and success by revolutionizing several means of how mass retail was organizing, using information technology. But not too long afterwards, they shifted to more brutal and unscupulous 'race to the bottom' means with an overall negative impact on everything except their quarterly bottom line.

I have a powerpoint on the topic if any group would like me to present it, or if you want some of the best analysis of them around, go to www.clcr.org That's the Center for Labor and Community Research headquartered here in Chicago. They have a long pdf you can download.