Wal-Mart is evil.

Many people seem to think Wal-Mart takes the cake in a world full of awful, selfish corporations.

What began as small towns protesting the movement of the giant corporation into their market has spread into a nationwide outcry against it. It's time for you to join them. It's these kinds of events that force change.

This week is Wal-Mart Higher Expectations Week and more than 1,200 anti-Wal-Mart events will be hosted throughout the country. It's not often the entire country becomes involved in a protest against just one thing. Wal-Mart has made it happen.

The idea of equal pay for equal work has been around for decades, yet it is alleged in a lawsuit against the company that more than 1 million former and current female employees earn five to 15 percent less than men.

Wal-Mart's presence in small communities makes it nearly impossible for locally owned stores to compete.

Protesters also claim the company offers unaffordable health care programs to its employees and it is harmful to suppliers who are forced to accommodate the company because of its huge presence.

Some people argue that although Wal-Mart might hurt small businesses, it makes up for it with the jobs it creates in local communities. But in the wake of these allegations, what kind of jobs is the company creating?

Is it really doing the community good to have a lot of people working for as low a wage as possible?

As it continues to expand, the situation will only get worse. It has already helped to force one of its major competitors, Kmart, to file for bankruptcy. If the trend continues, Wal-Mart could become a monopoly, which might mean the end of low prices.

Thankfully, there's plenty for us to do about it. This week's events are a good start. It's refreshing to see local grassroots campaigns come together in a national protest. Unfortunately, just protesting outside the doors of a local Wal-Mart isn't enough.

It's time to sacrifice a little bit and take your business elsewhere. Next time you're tempted to check out the latest rollback in prices, just roll on by to your local grocery store.

It might cost a few extra dollars, but if it forces Wal-Mart to upgrade its practices it will be worth it.