"Wal-Mart's very success may be working against it," reports the Washington Post. "[T]he public tends to mistrust institutions that get too mighty." The world's largest retailer, with 4,300 stores and 1.3 million employees, Wal-Mart's woes include a lawsuit for Americans with Disabilities Act violations [3], federal raids netting some 200 illegal immigrant workers, and charges that employees are encouraged to rely on taxpayer-funded programs for health care [4]. Wal-Mart's response? Run feel good TV ads and increase political donations to become the second-biggest donor in the 2004 election cycle, overwhelmingly to Republicans [5]. "Our critics make an awful lot of noise, and we need to ensure that our side of the issues is heard as well," explained Wal-Mart spokesperson Mona Williams.