I am curious to hear what people think. We landed on the moon in 1969, and we opened the first Wal-Mart in the same year. Which has had a bigger impact on our society?

I think millions of small business owners (former and current) will agree with me that it's Wal-Mart. Abbey road is second.

Wal-Mart easily. Aren't their revenues close to 3% of the US' GDP

June 28 – The Stonewall riots in New York City mark the start of the modern gay rights movement in the U.S.

 

August 15–18 – The Woodstock Festival is held in upstate New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era.

 

September 2 – The first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Centre, New York.

 

October 5 - Monty Python's Flying Circus first airs in the United Kingdom.

 

November 10 – Sesame Street premieres on the National Educational Television (NET) network.

 

November 15 – Dave Thomas opens his first restaurant in a former steakhouse on a cold, snowy Saturday in downtown Columbus, Ohio. He names the chain Wendy's after his 8-year-old daughter Melinda Lou (nicknamed Wendy by her siblings).

 

 

The lunar landing.

Wendy's.

It's obviously an achievement to land on the moon, but really, what impact did that have on us, except for the phrase "we land on the moon but we cant (insert thing that hasn't been done)?" Society didn't change at all. If there were such a thing as an impact on society, I'd believe landing on the moon would make Americans even more arrogant.

 

As far as The Beatles, they had other, better albums (I believe) than Abbey Road. Sergeant Peppers, for one.

 

Wal Mart has had a much larger impact on lives than the Beatles or the moon landing.

Edited July 19, 200916 yr by Flash Tizzle

I'm going with ATMs.

A lot of cool stuff happened in 1969. ATM's are a life-saver. And I love Wendy's. But, yeah, Wal-Mart opening has probably had the largest impact on society.

It's obviously an achievement to land on the moon, but really, what impact did that have on us, except for the phrase "we land on the moon but we cant (insert thing that hasn't been done)?" Society didn't change at all. If there were such a thing as an impact on society, I'd believe landing on the moon would make Americans even more arrogant.

How much stuff was developed directly or indirectly from the 1960's NASA programs though? Where would the world be without satellite technology, the computers, combustion, and materials that were developed as part of the lunar program?

A lot of cool stuff happened in 1969. ATM's are a life-saver. And I love Wendy's. But, yeah, Wal-Mart opening has probably had the largest impact on society.

 

You can live without WalMart; just try going two weeks without an ATM.

 

That's a lot of trips from 9am to 5pm to a bank.

Good deal on Gatorade and underwear >>> Moon landing

How much stuff was developed directly or indirectly from the 1960's NASA programs though? Where would the world be without satellite technology, the computers, combustion, and materials that were developed as part of the lunar program?

 

Not to mention velcro and Tang!

You can live without WalMart; just try going two weeks without an ATM.

 

That's a lot of trips from 9am to 5pm to a bank.

True... If there were no ATMs, banks would have to have longer operating hours, wouldn't they? Otherwise, people would have to go on their lunch-break since most are at work during those times.

Edited July 19, 200916 yr by dasox24

I'm going with ATMs.

That wasn't part of the question

I think millions of small business owners (former and current) will agree with me that it's Wal-Mart. Abbey road is second.

..and millions of Americans who save an average of $2000 a year by shopping at Wal-Mart would agree with you too.

How much stuff was developed directly or indirectly from the 1960's NASA programs though? Where would the world be without satellite technology, the computers, combustion, and materials that were developed as part of the lunar program?

When I read the options I knew better to equate the single moon landing with the NASA organization as a whole.

That wasn't part of the question

Neither was Wendy's.

 

(I voted WalMart)

It's obviously an achievement to land on the moon, but really, what impact did that have on us, except for the phrase "we land on the moon but we cant (insert thing that hasn't been done)?" Society didn't change at all. If there were such a thing as an impact on society, I'd believe landing on the moon would make Americans even more arrogant.

 

As far as The Beatles, they had other, better albums (I believe) than Abbey Road. Sergeant Peppers, for one.

 

Wal Mart has had a much larger impact on lives than the Beatles or the moon landing.

 

Considering that part of the path to landing on the moon was the introduction to satellites, I'd say that the moon landing had a far greater impact than Wal-Mart or a music album. Also, the moon landing continues to contribute to the future. Wal-Mart? Hardly.

Edited July 19, 200916 yr by BobDylan

When I read the options I knew better to equate the single moon landing with the NASA organization as a whole.

Different point though...the moon landing specifically was a gigantic technological challenge almost on the scale of the Manhattan project. Nothing NASA's done or even attempted since then has even come close. They've produced some interesting stuff, but the developments associated with the Lunar Program in particular are so far unique.

Walmart was the ultimate display of capitalism. They showed what an almost free market can produce. Amazing. But the human costs, as Soxy mentioned, are high. The lunar landing was a triumph of human knowledge and accomplishment that paid dividends throughout the next forty years, with the cost being almost strictly in dollars and sense.

 

So, I believe the biggest positive impact was the lunar landing.

But the human costs, as Soxy mentioned, are high.

Is the negative impact on small business enough to offset jobs created by Wal-Mart and their suppliers as well as the billions of dollars their stores help Americans save?

Neither was Wendy's.

 

(I voted WalMart)

Well you brought Wendy's into the equation too

Is the negative impact on small business enough to offset jobs created by Wal-Mart and their suppliers as well as the billions of dollars their stores help Americans save?

This is so going to wind up in the Filibuster, but are the billions of dollars in "Savings" also worth the billions of dollars in costs associated with their low wages? (the government providing health care for all their employees, the depression of wages in every other industry, the energy and personal costs associated with moving all of manufacturing to countries with weaker environmental standards and less employee protection)

Wait, I thought Democrats want the Government to provide health care for everyone.