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Wal-Mart would attempt to damage any product or any brands not willing to join them in Monopoly. Therefore its not surprising they'd start a war with the innocent kids!

I would normally side with the Girl Scouts, but what are you supposed to do if you don't know any Girl Scouts, or live in a place where there are no Girl Scouts? Live in a cookieless hell?

Really? Who cares what Wal-Mart does. They're cookies FFS. The first thing I thought of were Grasshopper cookies (that I hate), which you've mentioned. OMG no one before the Girl Scouts has EVER concocted anything like that in the history of food. Riiight.

People buy overpriced crap to support a cause, just like people spend more to buy green products, local produce, organic products so they support their cause, whether it's for political reasons, flavor, etc. The same ppl will still spend 4x more for those cookies. I bought them to support my coworker, who no longer works here, and gave them away because I can't stand them. I used to like a couple of them as a kid though.

I can't even stand to shop at Wal-Mart and never go there because I hate having to deal with their clientelle and have low regard for unions, but I just see it as envious people (or people who have nothing better to do) nitpicking just to pick a fight with the top dog to pull them down.

Sorry, but Girl Scout Cookies aren't anything special at all. If Girl Scouts actually baked themselves, sure, but this "time-honored tradition" amounts to nothing more than buying and re-selling boxes of industrially manufactured goods.
I do buy Girl Scout Cookies, but not because of the cookies at all. I have no problem with Wal-Mart selling cookies that are similar, or even exactly the same.

Who cares? GSA shouldn't have a monopoly on certain types of cookies. I'm sure Wal Mart stores will still let scout troops set up tables in front of the stores anyway. Personally, I'll still buy a couple of boxes each year when a scout's mom brings the order forms to my office (the little girl part of it disappeared years ago around here as most of the selling is done by parents). The other 50 weeks of the year I will grab a box or two of the knockoffs at walmart (if I happen to be at one, which is pretty rare since there are none nearby).

The GS cookie sale supports activities they engage in just like selling WF candy supports buying band uniforms, etc. for your local high school. If you aren't inclined to support such things, no one is twisting your arm to buy them. I don't get the hostility.
GS cookies used to be made by FFV in Richmond, Virginia, started in 1899, and were actually not bad for a commercial cookie. (Believe me, I can (and you can) make a better cookie at home any day of the week for less $$.) This is about supporting their organization. If you don't care for the newer versions of the cookies, baked by contractors since FFV moved out of Richmond, but want to support the cause, just write them a check and refuse the cookies.

You can buy pretty much the same cookies at our local Publix (FL) any time of the year should you choose. As for Wal Mart, well we all have our opinions of them. Personally, I dislike Home Depot more for telling manufactuers what they can and can't manufacture. I guess WM does the same thing, but I actually shop at HD so it bothers me more.

People duplicate recipes all the time so I don't think there is much that can be done.

I was a Girl Scout for YEARS, so I feel their pain. All I can say is that the GS have time and longevity on their side! Wal-mart's products won't be as good, guaranteed!

Every type of company is in the business of knocking off something or someone. You can't just say that Walmart is awful for doing it and ignore the fact that almost every product you buy is probably a knock off of some sort. Then you have to hate Target, Macy's or any store in your local mall. People who want to buy GS cookies are going to buy them regardless. I just wish (like some of you mentioned above) that GS quality doesn't keep deteriorating. Thin Mints are probably one of the best things on the planet.

People need to stop suggesting that Girl Scouts should bake the cookies.

The purpose is not to teach them to bake cookies for people. The purpose is to teach basic business skills, team work, how to set and achieve a financial goal.

Not only does this teach girls that not everything will be handed to them by their parents, but it also teaches them they have the power to earn for themselves. Not just to grow up, get an MRS and bake cookies for a spouse to provide for them!

Interesting use of caps there, htowninsomniac. What were you saying again about outrage?

As a mother and ex leader, of one of the highest achieving cookie selling children(over 3000 boxes one season), I say it was a ripoff. We recieved the highest profit available 55 LOUSY CENTS A BOX. How much did the big wigs at Girl Scout get in their pocket?(PLENTY). She recieved a tiny little trophy after breaking, well smashing the old record of sales. They claim to be non profit, but their CEO's make a bundle. Their products you must purchase are overpriced, and their camps also.
My daughter did learn one good thing, work hard and achieve your goal.
It's ashame looking back that I allowed them to use those cute innocent faces in vests to line their own pockets.....

Keeblers Grasshoppers are far superior to today's version of Thin Mints

So? Here in the USA we let the marketplace decide. We are a free market system. "Keebler" and "Back to Nature" both have "knock-offs" (if that's what you want to call them) and I am sure there are probably others. These flavor combos are classic and certainly not exclusive to the Girl Scouts. Many people love these cookies, but no longer wish to support the GS organization because of their sharp turn to the far PC left. If they want to compete they need to quit whining and make high quality cost effective products. Sorry if you are offended, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.