Re: “Sears fell to economic Darwinism,” letter, Oct. 21.
It is well documented and reported that the collapse of Sears Canada is the result of the practices of its American majority owner, who chose to use the assets of the business to enrich himself and shareholders rather than reinvest in the stores and honour any commitment to employees.
Was this mismanagement, or a deliberate action to benefit one’s own monetary interests? It would point to the demise of Sears Canada as due to the practice of an oligarch rather than the principles of natural selection.
What is the world that now exists or that we can look forward to? Is there no necessity to have local retail space filled with products that can be purchased in person? At one time, Sears and other retailers profited by attending to quality and service for customers and providing loyalty to employees, while collecting and paying taxes to all levels of our governments.
If it is better to look forward, what are we replacing this with? Online shopping for inferior products and guarantees from limited sources with profits going to foreign interests?
Perhaps the writer would not be so cavalier in saying good riddance if his livelihood and pension were lost due to no actions of his own.
Janice Davis
Oak Bay
