I think what the living-wage movement has done in the past 11 years is incredible. How many other issues are there where progressives have been this successful? I can't think of one.

Short term is tough. We're living now with the consequences of policy decisions that were made over the past several years ? in some cases, over the past several decades. The core of the problem is skyrocketing demand in the United States and other countries and instability among key suppliers.

The reality is we are living with the results of policies in place for the past couple of decades.

They've got a problem to solve. For some reason, they alone among big box retailers have sort of become evil in part of the public's eye.

There are a lot of people who hate Wal-Mart. In the absence of data, they have a visceral reaction,

I think this is a gamble by opening up to more research. Some will be good, and some will be bad.