what is the most progressive supermarket?

[mdmc]

what is the most progressive cellular phone service provider? I am interested in buying a cell phone and shopping at a progressive grocery store.
My choices are:
Price Chopper
Aldi
Adams
Shop Rite
Stop n Shop
Hannafords.

What say you, DU?

[NewHampshireDem]

1. Stop n Shop is unionized, at least ...

No really sure where the rest of your money will go, however.

On edit, isn't Hannaford owned by a British company? I thought I read about that when they changed all the Shop n Saves to Hannaford.

[physioex]

2. You forgot...

Costco.

Also there is a chain here called Trader Joe's, and they have some pretty cool stuff, but are a bit more expensive. I am not sure how they treat employees...

On Edit: Didn't Hannaford's go belly up?

[NewHampshireDem]

4. Oh no ... we still have Hannaford's ...

and good call with Trader Joe's. The closest one to me is about an hour away, but well worth the drive. Unfortunately, I think you'd be hard pressed to do all of your groceries there. :(

[physioex]

5. Ohhh...Here is some advice on the cell phone....

I typically reccomend the following carriers:
1. Verizon Wireless
2. AT&T
3. Cingular
4. T-Mobile

Although I think there was a recent merger.

Anyways when you get a phone, you have a few days of trial period before you get locked into a contract. In that trial period use the phone in the typical places you will be using it. Like home, work, and friends. If you get lousy service cancel before you get locked in the trial period, and try another carrier. Remeber you are buying a service not a phone so don't get conned by phones with fancy bells and whistles.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Our Trader Joe's has quite a selection and relatively inexpensive.

I buy most of my groceries there, and then bulk shop at Costco. :hi:

[Blue Wally]

6. Costco

Has a sex discrimination suit against it. Glass ceiling for female employees is charged.

[Bridget Burke]

13. I hadn't heard about that suit; a link would be useful.

Just to get more info, y'know!

[nyhuskyfan]

7. Costco is very progressive

The company is profiled in Jim Hightower's Let's Stop Beating Around The Bush, which I recently read. Their employees get twice the salaries (with health benefits) compared to WalMart, yet spend less on labor costs because they retain their employees and don't have to keep retraining people.

As another tangent, I've seen a couple of BP ads on TV lately about how they are trying to use natural gas and renewable resources (their slogan is "It's a start"). I'm thinking of getting all my gas there from now on (unless the ads are baloney).

[kerry-is-my-prez]

8. Yes I love them. They treat their employees better than anyone.

And they give money to the Dem. Party.

[canuckagainstBush]

3. Any that are unionized is the first rule of thumb.

If there's a Co-operative in your area, that's a good bet too.

[Kellanved]

9. Aldi has cellphones in the US?

Interesting.

As to Aldi itself: it is owned by the Albrecht brothers, German Billionaires (the US business belongs to Karl Albrecht's Aldi Süd chain).
Both Albrecht brothers avoid publicity, nobody knows their politics.

However it is known that ALDI is very anti-union. This is quite remarkable, as German unions used to have very much influence (there are almost no laws regulating the labor conditions, besides the right to unionize, in Germany: neither minimum wage, nor maximum hours, nor minimum vacation).


On Edit:
Trader Joe's is Aldi.

[IkeWarnedUs]

27. What do you mean, Trader Joe's is ALDI?

The two stores seem vastly different. Do you mean it is the same ownership?

[Placebo]

10. I don't get it, is there conservative broccoli and progressive broccoli?

:shrug:

[LeftyLou]

26. grocery business is traditionally conservative

The grocery industry lobbying groups support laws that lower food safety standards and labor laws that are not good for low wage workers.

Here's a link to the largest groups site:

http://www.nationalgrocers.org/

Look they've almost defeated mandatory labeling. Whooo Hoooo

[Bluebear]

11. I like their black bean soup...

Oh sorry, I thought you said Progresso. My bad.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

12. I've heard that Shaw's

has unionized. I've also heard that Shaw's is going to be taken over by Albertson's. I always liked Shop'n Save/Hannaford. I used to work for a privately owned Shop'n Save. I'm not sure if they have unionized. Shop'n Save/Hannaford gives discounts for reusing paper, plastic, and cloth bags for groceries.

[avenueb]

14. trader joes

eom

[Zomby Woof]

15. Trader Joe's

[tkmorris]

16. For the cell phone it's a no-brainer to me

Working Assets.

MISSION
Working Assets was established in 1985 to help busy people make a difference in the world through everyday activities like talking on the phone. Every time customers use one of Working Assets' donation-linked services (Long Distance, Wireless, Credit Card or Online), the company donates a portion of the customer's bill to nonprofit groups working to build a world that is more just, humane, and environmentally sustainable. To date, $40 million has been raised for progressive causes.

The company also serves as a strong political force, dedicated to giving its customers the opportunity to speak out on critical public issues through its Web site and monthly phone bill.

We have been with them for about a year now and I will NEVER use anyone else. I love these people. Their customer service is the best I've ever dealt with too.

http://www.workingassets.com/

[physioex]

18. I agree it's important to help progressive causes....

However these people use Sprint as their carrier. By far the worst carrier around in my opinion. He might be better off choosing a better carrier and donating the money on the side... Also I think you should select carriers based on how well you receive a signal in the typical place the phone will be used as I said in my post above...

[tkmorris]

24. Depends a lot on where you are

For example, when my wife visited her Grandmother high up in the mountains east of LA she was able to call me at will, whereas the rest of her families cell phones were dead, requiring them to drive toi the valley to get a signal. Anecdotal to be sure, but we have had no real difficulty with the network, in fact it has compared favorably to others.

[jackieforthedems]

17. Aldi

Since they arrived in MN last Fall, I have hardly gone anywhere else, and I have managed to cut the grocery bill in half!:-)

[Rockholm]

19. Trdaer Joe's, and Whole Foods.

and RIP Bread & Circus.

[Logansquare]

21. One caveat re Whole Foods: Union breaking

The CEO of WF is a libertarian and he has busted up nearly every unionization attempt at WF stores. Our local WF has prohibited "non-natural" hair coloring and facial piercings, which I think is absurd!

[jeffrey_X]

23. Trader Joe's rocks.....

My wife and I do 85% of our grocery shopping at TJ's.

[Logansquare]

20. Working Assets Wireless

http://www.workingassetswireless.com/
Free Phone
UNLIMITED night and weekend minutes
300 anytime minutes
Nationwide long distance
Voicemail, numeric paging, caller ID, three-way calling and call waiting
Free shipping and no activation fee
Tree-friendly bill printed on 100% recycled paper
1% of your wireless charges will be donated to progressive causes -- at no extra cost to you!

(No, I don't work for 'em)

[physioex]

22. Yes, but they use Sprint...

And everyone knows Sprint is crap unless you live in a major metro...