Today's Gazette had a particularly clueless letter about the closing of Smith's grocery (scroll down to "Don't blame Wal-Mart ... .") Money graph: "Also, maybe Montanans should be thanking Wal-Mart for offering low prices on groceries. It sure makes it easier to feed your family on an average income of around $8 to $10 an hour without benefits." In other words, shopping at Wal-Mart makes it easier to live on Wal-Mart wages. And as other competitors go broke, those wages can go even lower, making shopping all the more enjoyable.

Rather than taking responsibility for helping to fuel that spiraling downward trend, Byrd blames Smith management. Other businesses that struggle to pay above-average wages and benefits can expect similar treatment -- and similar cluelessness on the part of shoppers.