Every class has that straightA student who studies, aces all his tests and wins all the academic awards. Other students start to envy him, but the smart students try to learn from him. He's just working hard--and succeeding.

Wal-Mart is that free-market kid.

Wal-Mart's enemies and critics, who don't like to see the free market succeed, are making predictable assaults on the nation's largest private employer. The U.S. economy is roaring ahead with job growth, low unemployment and high productivity, so opponents of the free market are focusing their criticisms on businesses. They don't appreciate Wal-Mart's contributions as a provider of affordable goods

or shoppers, or for giving job opportunities to 1.3 million Americans including thousands of minorities, women and older workers.

All that success is making WalMart's critics angry and envious.

n response, they are working overtime to cripple the company's ability to grow through lawsuits, discriminatory state laws and community protests.

It should come as no surprise

hat unions are behind the major

ty of anti-Wal-Mart efforts, including the recently passed Maryland law aimed directly at Wal-Mart. That law forces the

etailer to pay 8 percent of its payroll costs to employees' health benefits--a practice that's ed to bankruptcy in other indusries, including the auto and air

ine sectors.

The unions aren't the only bully on the playground. They

eceive plenty of help from the media, who gladly seize any opportunity to frown on Wal-Mart. CNN's Miles O'Brien even de

ided Wal-Mart workers in a January broadcast by wondering aloud whether "we're all going

o be greeters at Wal-Mart some day" because pension plans are declining.

Wal-Mart promotes its employees-it doesn't keep them down. The company reports that 76 percent of its store management started in hourly positions. Its CEO, H. Lee Scott, started out as the assistant trucking manager in 1979 and has worked his way up to the top.

Wal-Mart is one of many businesses that utilize the free market to fuel our growing economy. Unions and ill-informed legislators, fueled by envy and politics, are trying to kill that economic growth. People are starting to take notice that an attack on Wal-Mart and businesses is an attack on the very system that keeps our country's economy thriving. The Retail Industry Leaders Association has noticed, and its 400 members have joined together to file suit against anti-Wal-Mart laws in Maryland and New York.

Wal-Mart and other businesses are symbols of opportunity and hard work, allowing workers to obtain their American dream. They deserve an Aplus for free market success. The critics and opponents of that success simply want everyone to be D students.

Herman Cain is the former president and CEO of Godfather's Pizza, Inc. and currently is CEO and president of T.H.E. New Voice, Inc., a business and leadership consulting company. He is the National Chairman of the Media Research Center's Free Market Project.