So Wally World is involved in a huge corruption scandal

[nadinbrzezinski]

in Mexico per the NYT, and the Justice Department may have to get involved.

Apparently they bribed people to drive the competition out of business... gee really? How shocked should I pretend to be? This was the rumor in the street in Mexico for years. Otherwise it made zero sense how fast Wally World expanded and drove it's major competitors out of business or bought them out.

But now the DOJ may get involved. Now here is a hint to Cramer... no this is not legal in Mexico either... will see if the counterparts in Mexico start that investigation as well.

[noel711]

1. Kramer gives me a migraine...

HIs hyper-ventilating style is exhausting...

And Walmart... be investigated?
In this climate of low pay/low prices?

Hell's bells, the republicans would want to use Walmart as an
example... give them all bonuses for setting the agenda
about capitalism.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. That's it... we are in an environment not unlike the end of the Gilded Age

which led to the progressive era and reforms, and yes, attacks on monopolies... such as the Sherman Anti Trust Act, a product of the Progressive era. Change, yes even break ups of monopolies will come with time. We may be close to this. We cannot predict it, but the people are getting damn tired, like they did back then.

Things are not static and do change.

[calimary]

3. See, there's one thing I just don't understand about these "free market" apostles.

They ALL talk about "Free Market!" "Free Market!"

They all talk about how wonderful competition is - to keep the "Free Market" vital and of most effective service to all.

"Better for consumers!" "Competition just makes everything better!" "New ideas!" "Better products!" "More choices!" "Free Market! Free Market!"

And then behind the scenes they're doing EVERYTHING they can to kill the competition and build a big fat monopoly that quashes all competitors and possible opponents. Yeah, competition. Like when things narrow down to three major record labels? One or two giant radio conglomerates that own stations that number close to 1000 - or more? A handful of mega-big oil companies? One prevailing big-box store chain? Companies merging and buying each other up so there's just this one giant faceless one-size-fits-all omnibus entity.

Assholes. Maybe some of them should be nationalized.

Where is Teddy Roosevelt when we need him?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. As I said above, we are in one of those historic moments

I cannot tell you when, but like the Gilded Age led to a populist Progressive Age... we are starting to see that happen now. I will not shed a tear when a few of these monopolies are broken up.

[calimary]

5. I've been yearning to see the proverbial pendulum swing back - for a long time now.

I'm gonna be 59 in a few weeks. Been wanting to see that trend start to take root. Still waiting, pretty much.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. !!