As pointed out by Bill Piper earlier today, Willie Nelson has a new CD out. Countryman is his first full-length reggae album. The cover features a marijuana leaf, except at Wal-Mart. There, it features a palm tree.

Wal-Mart as censor rears its ugly head once again. At least it is carrying the album. As a libertarian with anarcho-capitalist tendencies, I recognize that Wal-Mart's decision to carry or not to carry a product is one that is properly within its realm as a private corporate entity. It is ultimately up to the record company (and hopefully the artist) as to whether it will accede to Wal-Mart's "family-friendly" demands. [I even support the so-called "big box" Wal-Mart stores that feature supermarkets: the ever-increasing prices of food deserve far, far more attention than gasoline prices. But that it another story for another time, as German author Michael Ende once put it.]

I loathe the entire shopping experience at Wal-Mart as a consumer: the stores are laid out awfully, the lighting is harsh, the noise level is unbearable, and the staff seems worn -- when they are available. I also find their selection of products to be rather... well, let me be polite in saying "lacking." Not to get too personal, but the only items I have bought at Wal-Mart are razors, undershirts, and a paperback copy of the T.H. White's The Once and Future King (which I later gave to my literature-starved brother Aaron). But as a disciple of the Austrian School of Economics once re-enforced to me, "always remember the price." And no, it wasn't the late Sam Walton -- though more than any other American he has put that principle into action, having adopted "Always Low Prices" as his chain's raison d'etre.

The masses may shop at Wal-Mart, but I much prefer Target, where I can purchase media items without guessing whether they are censored. Additionally, Target is a much better consumer experience overall, even at rush hour.

Hopefully more consumers will exercise their own discretion and decide not to patronize the chain. In fact, I personally hope they buy more and more products online so that they can take advantage of the deep discounts and tax-free environment. [Buyer beware: if the retailer has a physical presence within your state, then it is obliged to charge you sales taxes.]

But that is up to them as individual consumers. I don't do boycotts, or at the very least publicly advocate them.