Wal-Mart, the New World Power

[G_j]

Wal-Mart, the New World Power
http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/editorial/44735

<snip>
Walton's five-and-dime stores grew into today's global retail juggernaut, with $245 billion in annual sales and a new store opening almost every day in the United States.

It employs 1.3 million people and plans to hire 800,000 more in the next five years, a work force equal to the combined populations of Idaho and Vermont.

If Wal-Mart were a nation, its economy would rank 15th among the world's free-market democracies. In gross revenues, it's closer to Sweden than Target
<snip>

If the United States thought of Wal-Mart more like a Japan or any nation with significant influence over the U.S. economy, it might pay more attention to the retail giant's growing power.
<snip>

[Military Brat]

1. The bigger they are, the harder they fall

Slowly, but surely, people are getting wise to Wal-Fart. One by one, people are boycotting this store. Can you imagine what kind of world we would have if everyone did what Wal-Fart does? It would look very similar to the bush administration.

[spanone]

2. With an average salary of $13,000.00. Poverty wages.

[Don_G]

3. They Need To Start Thinking

About how many manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas at the cost of income and corporate taxes. Sales tax won't nearly cover the price in an increased burden on the welfare system nationwide.

[DUreader]

4. But they have thought of and taken care of that, eliminating it.

If you get sick and can't pay, you die.

[MessiahRp]

18. What Welfare system?

Most states eliminated the majority of Welfare benefits which is probably the biggest reason the economic recovery was so slow after Bush's tax cuts. With the poor out of work there is no Welfare to help them out anymore. Food Stamps and Medical Assistance remain with extremely difficult requirements for people to get on them, and the AFDC grants/loans they gave people each month or "The check" as Welfare recepients used to call it... almost entirely eliminated. What few do get it have to pay it back which means they will never get out of the hole they are in when they require help.

Wal-Mart has smartly taken advantage of the one group of people nobody can afford to legislate against them on. The Poor.

Rp

[OneBlueSky]

5. what do vote Republican, abuse small animals, eat liver, and . . .

shop at Wal-Mart all have in common? . . . they're all things I absolutely refuse to do anytime, any place, under any circumstances . . .

[Muddleoftheroad]

6. Well, somebody sure shops there

And that remains the problem. As a grassroots movement, the anti-Walmart idea is not taking root. I think this will take time to make them treat people like human beings.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JNelson6563]

11. except for those who have little choice

See part of Wal-Mart's success has been location. Pick a location that has little development, the land is cheap. Put all the smaller businesses around it out of business.

Once these other retailers are gone this leaves little choice as far as employment is concerned. Many are unable to travel 50 or 80 or whatever miles to get a job other than Wal-Mart.

Then figure in Wal-Mart's tactics with manufacturers. They can put a manufacturer out of business if they refuse to meet their extortionist prices. Wal-Mart then orders their goods from sweat-shops over-seas, thereby eliminating decent paying jobs in America.

I've put in a few years in the Sam's Club division of Wal-Mart Corp., I know of which I speak.

Julie

[G_j]

20. sad

I've noted that some local WM workers have to drive far out of town to find housing they can afford on their WM poverty wages.

[Bronco69]

8. I don't personally know anyone who works at Wal Mart

But when I used to go there sometimes I would feel so sorry for the people who worked there. Just look into their eyes and you can almost see the desparation. I just know that they were forced to take that job as a last resort. When I see their commercials on tv with all of their employees smiling and acting like they are so happy to work there, it makes me want to puke.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bronco69]

12. When you can't get a job with a livable wage

you are FORCED to take whatever you can to support your family! Go ask the people who work there and I would be willing to bet you that they only took the job because there is nothing else available. In fact, I would like to see how many people who work at Wal Mart are actually working two or three jobs just to make ends meet.

[Military Brat]

13. Is Cheilion a freeper?

Cheilion, have some compassion. People are forced to work in undesirable jobs because of circumstance. And if you can't look at someone and tell what they're thinking, then you have no empathy.

"He jests at scars, that never felt a wound." Shakespeare

[Bronco69]

15. I have a feeling he is.

How can you not have compassion for someone who has to work for minimum wage?

[ima_sinnic]

16. after searching the name I have to say yes

See if you don't agree.
I have alerted the mods.

[dutchdemocrat]

9. Watch out for the Dutch Company Ahold

Royal Ahold is the world's largest food suppliers (ON EDIT - on a global basis) and number two food supplier in the US. You just don't know about "Ahold" because they don't hide under one brand.

Control the food and you control the people.

From the former CEO of Ahold.

"For food retail companies, I expect the regional grocers to suffer, decline or be acquired. The strong national companies will clearly survive, but global companies and niche players will be the stars.
Essentially, I believe that there will be less than 5, perhaps only 3 major retailers, within the next ten years."

SNIP

http://www.kamcity.com/library/articles/ahold.htm

[solinvictus]

14. Wal Mart and earnings

Wal Mart's size alone has an impact on real wages. Large employers help determine local and regional wage scales. On their employees, read Barbara Ehrenreich's otherwise shitty book "Nickle and Dimed" to glean some insight into the real level of poverty that their "associates" live with. In one account, an apparel department worker has been eyeing a sweater for purchase. It's already on markdown, but she simply can't swing the $7-8 to buy it. The store marks it down further, but her department manager will not allow her to take the employee discount as the item is on clearance. Ehrenreich details the dehumanization of their "associates" through physical and psychological control. It's pretty damned insidious and I won't shop there.

[Wapsie B]

17. Every korporation

has a time of tremendous growth followed by a plateau. Then comes the eventual decline. Even the powerful Walton family can't avoid that. Unless of course they and their kind keep putting supply-side repugs in office.

[CWebster]

19. The Arkansas company that was ushered into power with Hillary

And yet...they cheer on for Hillary, never able to connect the dots.