It was always a guiding principle that government should only do those things which private enterprise cannot do. The outdated military exchange system is a relic of formerly isolated posts which lacked access to competitive shopping, but this is no longer the case now that every base has a Walmart, Home Depot and other franchised superstores outside every gate. Government should never be allowed to compete with private businesses, since it can grant itself artificial advantages over its competitors. Military exchanges have outlived their purpose and are no longer needed, and should be disbanded in favor of private enterprise.
The Few. THE PROUD. The Marines. I asked for it. They paid me. I don’t even do veterans discounts at local restaurants or anywhere else where offered. Semper Fi.
WELL SAID!!!!....WORTH REPEATING!
This Army cannon-cocker thanks you for your service.
Your post holds a great economic truth about the government not doing something that could be done better by private enterprise. Applying that to the exchanges just because WalMart is outside the gate overlooks two things. The exchange is a non-appropriated fund (NAF) activity thus no taxes are expended for its operation. Additionally, purchases at the exchange generate morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) funding that is distributed down to unit level for functions that meet the title description. Ending the exchanges means those funds go away along with the nice things they used to buy for the troops.
I don’t see WMT setting aside a portion of sales received from military families in order to fund MWR activities. They would rightly say they already pay taxes without understanding the reality of how MWR funds come from non-tax sources.