Now that a rather large step was taken in Wal-Mart's march to the Town of Wawarsing, perhaps the time has come to ask ourselves some harder questions about this potentially huge event. Wal-Mart has agreed to buy the Napanoch Valley Mall, and now it is up to Joseph Tso to sign the contract and close the deal. In the few short weeks that we have had to consider what Wal-Mart might mean to the Town, the possibility that it might actually happen always seemed remote, so why think too hard about it? On the face of it the question seems simple. An empty mall, a lack of retail choices, a struggling economy, Wal-Mart. Sure, sounds like a good idea. Let's see what happens.

Well, what will happen? No one knows for sure, but the change is too fundamental and far-reaching to just try it out and see. Now that it is significantly closer to occurring, the instinctual anti-Wal-Mart reaction of some, or the unthinking pro-Wal-Mart response of others needs to be further examined. To that end we have come up with six questions that we think address some of the real issues and are more specific than just whether Wal-Mart is good or bad.

Three questions to those who think Wal-Mart is a bad idea:

1. Do you still oppose a Wal-Mart if it means the local businesses Katherine's Kornor, Napanoch Valley Wines and Brother John's Pizza get brand new, desirable locations?
2. Do you still oppose a Wal-Mart if it means thousands of new shoppers a week will be in the area and potentially available to other local businesses?
3. Do you still oppose a Wal-Mart if it means that without it, the Napanoch Valley Mall will remain mostly empty, unproductive and continue to fall apart?

Three questions to those who feel Wal-Mart is a good idea:

1. Do you still want a Wal-Mart if it means local businesses Peter's Market, Matthew's Pharmacy and Thornton Hardware are forced to close?
2. Do you still want a Wal-Mart and the 300-400 new jobs if it causes nearly as many existing jobs to end due to other businesses closing?
3. Do you still want a Wal-Mart if it causes Canal and Center Streets in Ellenville to be mostly abandoned?

None of the questions we pose are out of the realm of possibility. In fact, each of the scenarios have occurred in some form or another when Wal-Mart has arrived in other towns in America. To honestly consider whether Wal-Mart is going to benefit or hurt our community, we have to look at all the potential outcomes, and not be afraid to challenge our instincts, or the loudest voice.

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