Attention, Wal-Mart critics

The Seattle Times ^ | November 30, 2005 | Michael Medved

[beaversmom]

IF you're among the 100 million Americans who shop at Wal-Mart weekly, it probably never occurred to you that you're supporting a malevolent institution described by critics as a new "Evil Empire." The retail colossus remains so popular and so powerful (its 1.2 million workers make it the nation's biggest private employer) that the persistent sniping about Wal-Mart's business practices inevitably sounds like irrelevant sour grapes.

Nevertheless, filmmaker Robert Greenwald has just unleashed a bitter documentary ("Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price") that has been shown in November in some 3,000 private homes, union halls and churches across the United States before its general DVD release. Produced with support from labor organizations (which resent their inability to unionize Wal-Mart), and endorsed by Hollywood comedian-activists Al Franken and Jeaneane Garofolo, Greenwald's film accuses the company of exploiting employees, despoiling the environment, destroying small businesses, and flooding the United States with sweatshop merchandise from abroad.

Neither Greenwald nor his backers expect to connect with an eager mass audience; it's safe to say more people will visit Wal-Mart stores in any single day than will watch the film over the next 10 years. In fact, all the angry debates over Sam Walton's legacy occupy an elitist, abstract atmosphere utterly disconnected from the real world of shopping and spending.

"Progressive" activists may hate Wal-Mart, but they must recognize that if the company closed tomorrow it would throw hundreds of thousands out of work and make the lives of millions of customers vastly less convenient.

Critics insist they don't want the retail giant to fail: They merely want better salaries and benefits for workers. But even the most rudimentary understanding of economics indicates that paying more for employees leads inevitably to higher prices, leading in turn to less business, less growth and fewer new jobs — particularly the entry-level jobs our economy so desperately needs.

If critics challenge Wal-Mart's business model as woefully misguided, they should be able to press rival companies to deploy their more enlightened notions, thereby displacing the Bentonville behemoth from its position of dominance.

At Arkansas headquarters, corporate leaders aren't exactly holding their breath, but they do seem annoyed by the latest attempt to discredit their brand name. Their public-relations firm has researched Greenwald's filmmaking background and focused new attention on his long-ago creative triumphs such as "Portrait of a Stripper" and "Beach Girls," along with Greenwald's one big budget film, "Xanadu" (which made the dishonor roll in my own 1986 bad-movies book, "Son of Golden Turkey Awards").

More recently, Greenwald has focused on unabashedly left-wing documentaries, including last year's "Outfoxed," an angry "exposé" of Fox News Channel — another profoundly profitable institution that has earned enthusiastic support from the American heartland.

In fact, a consistent contempt for ordinary Americans seems to connect both poles of Greenwald's career: In his earlier, populist "Portrait of a Stripper" phase, he attempted to connect with a mass audience by insulting its intelligence; in his more-recent work as a high-minded documentarian, he has portrayed the people as helpless boobs manipulated by evil corporations, and unable to make appropriate decisions about their own long-term welfare.

One of the sponsors of the new film's premiere, Liza Featherstone of The Nation magazine, begins one of her frequent diatribes against her least-favorite company by sniffing: "Wal-Mart is an unadorned eyesore surrounded by a parking lot, even its logo aggressively devoid of flourish." Of course, most middle-class shoppers will care far more about getting decent value for their money than a logo's flourish or a store's architectural amenities.

Intellectuals have always despised the "bourgeoisie" (In the '20s, H.L. Mencken ceaselessly derided the "boob-oisie") for its hard-headed practicality, refusing to recognize that most people simply don't have the luxury to look beyond narrow notions of self-interest and affordability.

It's true that thousands of (mostly well-heeled) liberals may find hours and dollars to sponsor showings of a new documentary looking down on Wal-Mart, but few of their fellow citizens have the inclination to join them. Most of us work too hard and save too little, struggling to pay credit-card minimums and hoping, some day, to finance braces for the kids.

In this context, it's still possible to walk into a vast, bustling sanctuary of a Wal-Mart store and feel dazzled by the startling array of products, reassured by the clockwork efficiency of the whole operation and, yes, unapologetically gratified by the low prices. Michael Medved hosts a nationally syndicated daily radio talk show, broadcast in Seattle on KTTH-AM (770), noon to 3 p.m.

[beaversmom]

Michael Medved Ping. Anyone want on or off this ping list, please send me an Fr-mail.

[BelegStrongbow]

Not to be catty, but what the intelligentsia actually wants is a pretty set of pets they can trot out to demonstrate their own piety and wisdom with.

[backhoe]

The great thing about America is her freedom to make choices- if you abominate Wal-Mart, you can go elsewhere, and vote with your wallet.

I shop there because it's convienient- where else can I get groceries, medicine, an oil change, and maybe a gift, all in one stop?

Here's an example- a few years ago, my wife needed a keyring LED flashlight... I had to drive all over town, and ended up paying $20 for one at an out-of-the-way sporting goods store. This was before WallyWorld expanded into the current super store size.

Last week, I passed a display there, and Lo! In a blister pack with a carabiner and penknife, was a similar keyring light- all for $5.

[rdb3]

Nevertheless, filmmaker Robert Greenwald has just unleashed a bitter documentary ("Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price") that has been shown in November in some 3,000 private homes, union halls and churches across the United States before its general DVD release.

My nephew had this DVD and we watched it over the Thanksgiving holiday. He and I both were amused and sickened over this blatant left-wing propaganda.

What I find puzzling is that the same arguments the Left uses against Wal-Mart are the exact same as those on the Right who oppose this company. You'd think that this intellectual matchup would be akin to trying to place a square peg into a round hole.

[beaversmom]

you can go elsewhere, and vote with your wallet Exactly! Let all those who loathe Wal-Mart shop at the mom and pops. I'm happy to go to Wal-Mart. No one holds a gun to my head.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Liberals can't stand free choice.

[Drammach]

As long as there is viable competition in the marketplace, Walmart will be marginally acceptable..
It's size allows it to leverage buying power to negotiate those low prices.

At a certain point, however, the economic power of any company can become such that no viable competition exists any longer..
That is called a monopoly..

Some companies in the past have used unfair business practices to enhance that economic power, destroy competition, and seek such a monopoly..
Standard Oil was once such a company..
The Taft Hartley Act was passed specifically to deal with monopolies and Big Oil was the first...

Recently, Microsoft has felt the legal ramifications of public perceptions that it was trying to unfairly compete and create a monopoly in the Computer Software market...
That perception was not just an American phenomenon, but an International one..
Microsoft is still dealing with the repercussions in Europe..

Walmart has to walk a very fine line in the business world..
Too much market share can bring unwanted attention, even though it may be unwarranted attention..
Then again, it may be warranted..
It may be that Walmart thinks they can do some sort of refinement of the Microsoft strategy..

I am not saying that Walmart is necessarilly a "villian" here..
It does however, have the potential of becoming one..

[Reform4Bush]

and endorsed by Hollywood comedian-activists Al Franken and Jeaneane Garofolo There are two reasons to shop at Wal-Mart right there. Two comedians whose careers died after being forgettable cast members of SNL and can now only find employment being bitter politically active lefties endorse Wal-Mart bashing. Where's those pom pom's???? Sign me up for some cheerleading lessons!

[backhoe]

you can go elsewhere, and vote with your wallet Exactly! Let all those who loathe Wal-Mart shop at the mom and pops. I'm happy to go to Wal-Mart. No one holds a gun to my head.

Exactly- Let me see if I can locate a related example...

---

"Leave a Cart" campaign at Wal-Mart (BARF ALERT, PINKO ANTI-CAPITALISTS)

Posted by backhoe to Bird Jenkins On Bloggers & Personal 11/11/2005 7:34:39 PM EST · 5 of 33 The sheer wastefulness of it disgusts me, and my heart goes out to the working folks in the blue vests who will have to spend all their time cleaning up after these animals. Exactly- it's the floor personel who have to put all this stuff back on the shelves- the working stiffs. If these cretins want to protest? Just don't shop there- go to a competitor.

[rdb3]

What is it about Wal-Mart and "Big Oil" that makes otherwise good conservatives lose their minds?

That's a mystery, like Stonehenge, the statues on Easter Island, or something. So your guess is as good as mine.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

**Attention, Wal-Mart critics***

IF you're among the 100 million Americans who shop at Wal-Mart weekly,***

As it has been pointed out in the past, there are always some Elitists who will say, "I'm better than you because I don't shop at Wal-Mart!"

I shopped at Walton's 5 & 10 on the square in Bentonville years ago and have no reason to change stores now because some Elitist says they are BAD-BAD-bad.
Not bad for a store that got it's start as a "Mom and Pop" business and did well.

[G L Tirebiter]

The Taft Hartley Act was passed specifically to deal with monopolies and Big Oil was the first...

You mean the Sherman Anti-Trust Act...Taft Hartley is a labor relations piece of legislation passed in 1947.

Wal Mart's a boon to its shoppers and the bane of labor unions - especially in the grocery trade. That's the segment that has really felt the pinch since the emergence of Super Centers a few years ago.

And yes, like Standard Oil, IBM, Microsoft - all of whom were perceived as being bad because they were big - Wal Mart had better play the necessary political games in DC and the 50 state capitals.

[DugwayDuke]

"What I find puzzling is that the same arguments the Left uses against Wal-Mart are the exact same as those on the Right who oppose this company. You'd think that this intellectual matchup would be akin to trying to place a square peg into a round hole."

And, exactly why do you still think these 'on the right' are really 'on the right'?

[dhuffman@awod.com]

I'll use your anecdote to illustrate my problem with FR/GOP-'conservativism' and the tension between capitalism and commercialism.

'Need an LED flashlight keyring'? For $20 plus fuel? What does 'is' mean indeed. Certainly WM fills this 'need'.

I prefer a greater variety in measures of value than 'dollars' only. Heck, see the etymology of 'dollar'.

[rdb3]

And, exactly why do you still think these 'on the right' are really 'on the right'?

Well, they say that they are. I mean they are so "principled" to where they levitate.

Now, it can be debated if they actually are on the Right.

[mewzilla]

Anyone asked Greenwald if he shops at Wally?

[T'wit]

Wal-Mart competes with socialist promises. But Wal-Mart delivers the goods, where socialism has always been empty.

The "great" Soviet Union had only one kind of soap in its stores, and it couldn't supply enough even of that one kind to keep people clean. Wal-Mart has whole aisles full of hand soaps, bath soaps, liquid soaps, sink detergents, laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, shop cleaners and degreasers, and a profusion of other cleaning products. Of course the same is true with food, clothing, tools and other products. Wal-Mart delivers, socialism steals.

Socialism promises handouts to the needy, then never gives them more than a pittance. Wal-Mart hires the needy and the handicapped and trains them for a life of self-sufficiency and achievement. Welfare recipients can't feel good about themselves living on handouts. But Wal-Mart employees take pride in their work, so they feel great about themselves.