Coming out has never been more acceptable than it is today. In fact, psychologists and psychiatrists will tell you that hiding in the closet has many negative outcomes. Isn’t it time to set yourself free? In fact, one could argue that it’s downright unpatriotic to remain in the closet any longer.

OK, I’ll come out of the closet first. I’ll even hold my head high. To admit to you, and anyone else who will listen that -  “yes, I shop at Wal-Mart.” (NYSE WMT) Radical act?… not really, but you’d be surprised how many people remain closet Wal-Marters. People who think of themselves as somehow better than “those” people who do shop there.

For example, I recently was doing a seminar attended by people from all walks of life. I have a theory that has yet to be disproven - That people will not readily fess up to shopping at Wal-Mart. In the pursuit of scientific evidence, I ask as many people as I can a simple question. One designed to help me find out just how many people will admit to shopping the aisles of Wal-Mart. That one questions is this: “do you shop at Wal-Mart?”

Almost every person responds with a resounding “No!” This answer is then followed by all the reasons in the world that people can think of. Things like “it’s too busy,” “they sell cheap products,” or my favorite, “they don’t have what I want.” Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, many of these people are the very same one’s that I’ll run into when I shop at Wal-Mart.

Why is it so hard for people to admit to shopping at Wal-Mart, and why that question? I believe that Wal-Mart offers each and every citizen one long sought after value: the idea that when you shop Wal-Mart, you are somehow beating the system, getting something for next to nothing and saving money at the same time. It’s our way of thumbing our nose at other more uppity retailers.

Wal-Mart is the undisputed marketing king of America. The only other nationwide company that comes even close to the Wal-mart marketing model is McDonald’s (NYSE MCD) In fact, if you walk through a Wal-Mart, I challenge you to go to an area that is of special interest to you and not feel as though the prices are the best anywhere. I like electronics. I really need a new surround-sound system. So when I go to Wal-Mart, I always stop by their electronics department to check out what they have.

Brand names, access to all the knobs and dials, why the systems are even turned on! There’s no embarrassing need to ask for a salesperson to assist me, I’m in charge. The price is upfront, and if you’re lucky enough to find it on sale, you’ll find one of those bright yellow smiley faced tags shouting at you what a deal this one is. The Wal-Mart marketing machine has put in place a remarkable money making scheme that is designed so that when you walk through its stores door, before you leave, you’re going to buy something, anything.

It’s Ok, you can come out of the closet now. After all, it’s you’re patriotic duty to buy. It’ll help get us out of this recession/depression we’re in.