American dottiness...

America is getting soft both physically and mentally. As a patriot of some 70 years, I am distressed at the deterioration of our people and our institutions. A recent encounter at a Wal-Mart store in Giddings, Texas illustrates this point.

A Wal-Mart cashier asked for identification the other day when I was purchasing some wine and beer. “Why, do I not look over 40 to you” I asked? For some reason, Wal-Mart here has a policy of verifying the age of all customers under 40 years old. This policy is recorded in a notice posted in store lobbies.

“Sorry sir”, came the reply, “but we have a policy”.

I asked to see a supervisor. She explained that carding all customers, and not only those under 40, was now store policy in the Wal-Mart region which includes the Giddings store.  She continued to explain that such policy was necessary for two reasons, one to make absolutely sure a customer buying alcohol was over 21 and also to determine that the customer’s driver’s license was not out of date.

Both explanations fractured my sense of reason. The physical act of showing an ID is not at issue here, but rather it is the insanity of the policy and what it says about contemporary life in America.

There are few institutions that better represent America than the chain of Wal-Mart stores that stretch from coast to coast and beyond. Their hard fought success in marketing and merchandizing over a very short period of time resulted in well-deserved accolades. The process also generated biting criticism. Nevertheless, Wal-Mart is America and as such is a reflection of its people, politics and economy. Thus, when Wal-Mart issues a policy, however regional, for all customers, or even those who look to be under 40, in order to buy wine or beer, it is America speaking.

What is it that motivates management to take such a drastic decision? Most probably it is the fear of litigation stemming from a cashier having sold alcohol to a minor who subsequently drinks, drives and becomes involved in an accident. Snooping lawyers tracing the alcohol purchase back to Wal-Mart can make a strong liability case against the company and its insurers.

So, this is what America has come to. Fear of the law, law suits, lawyers and even the public at large. Is the answer tort reform, or simply re-introducing some logic and common sense into the Wal-Mart’s management decisions? Could it be that in their wisdom, Wal-Mart is actually trying to keep prices down by aggressively combating grounds for law suits? Or is there another explanation?

In any case, America is looking pretty silly as the good folks down in Giddings, Texas are forced to show proof of age whenever they buy wine or beer. These sons and daughters of the pioneers who trade in agriculture, cattle and oil, are treated like errant children at the local Wal-Mart store.