Discussion Board: "In Praise of Chain Stores"

Article: In Praise of Chain Stores,

Article: In The ruins By Nicholas Lemann

Please respond to the following items:

1. Postrel establishes the importance of her argument by first defending chain stores against the attacks often leveled against them. Look back through the article and locate Postrel's positive claims that praise chain stores. Why are chain stores more than just "not dangerous" to a community? What makes them good in Postrel's eyes?

2. What values does Postrel appeal to in this article? What does she believe that her audience finds most important in the stores that they want to go to? What does she suggest are the important things in building a life?

3. Think back to "In the Ruins," your other article for the week. What creates the character of New Orleans for Lemann? Compare his description of what constitutes the character of the place to Postrel's discussion of place in "In Praise of Chain Stores." To what degree do they agree on what makes a place unique? In what ways do their opinions and observations differ?