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Washington's War On Wal-Mart Will Only Hurt The Poor
Investors.com ^ | July 10, 2013 | Editorial

Posted on 07/10/2013 4:44:13 PM PDT by jazusamo

Leadership: If Washington, D.C.'s local politicians have their way, three new Wal-Marts planned for the troubled city will not be built. Oh boy! Just what the capital's struggling residents need: fewer jobs and higher prices.

ngaclThe extraordinarily unwise politicians who run the nation's capital have decided to pass a law that would require so-called "big box" retailers — Wal-Mart, in other words — to pay their workers a "living wage" of at least $12.50 an hour. Wal-Mart employees nationwide average just under $9 an hour.

Wal-Mart is already building three stores in D.C., and has plans for three more. But it says it will scotch the last three if D.C. goes ahead with its wage hike.

City officials were indignant at Wal-Mart's threat. But why? Their legislation, which targets only Wal-Mart, is plainly discriminatory. The city already has an $8.25-an-hour minimum wage. The "super minimum wage" would affect just one employer.

If Wal-Mart pulls out, it won't be hurt — long-suffering D.C. residents will.

Some 900 retail jobs would disappear — along with 600 construction jobs — in a town where unemployment in the inner city is well into the double digits.

Moreover, D.C. citizens already lack access to fresh food and inexpensive consumer goods — which Wal-Mart's presence would solve.

At a time when millions of marginally employed Americans are scraping by, prices at Wal-Mart average 10% to 40% below other retailers for food, clothing, medicines and many other items.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: livingwage; walmart; washingtondc
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It passed the council vote 8-5 but don't believe it's been signed by Mayor Gray yet and he implied he may veto it.
1 posted on 07/10/2013 4:44:13 PM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

Barack Obama loved the poor.
Loved so much he made some more.


2 posted on 07/10/2013 4:45:04 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: jazusamo

Washington DC is simply Detroit, albeit with the money of the Federal Government keeping much of it afloat.


3 posted on 07/10/2013 4:52:29 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: BenLurkin
Yep...It seems these thug politicians running D.C. came up with this long after Wal-Mart made the commitment for six stores.

The proposed ordinance will only apply to Wal-Mart because of their size, I call it legalized extortion.

4 posted on 07/10/2013 4:53:16 PM PDT by jazusamo ("I am so old that I can remember when most of the people promoting race hate were white." T. Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

I moved from the DC metro area in Jan 1972. The city got Home Rule shortly after and has been run by horses @zzes ever since.
Only forcing Walmart to pay the new wage? This is a good example of what I mean.


5 posted on 07/10/2013 4:53:18 PM PDT by willibeaux (de ole Korean War vet age 83)
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To: jazusamo
Washington's War On Wal-Mart Will Only Hurt The Poor

maybe it's just meant to further the objective of social division

6 posted on 07/10/2013 5:00:08 PM PDT by drypowder
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To: jazusamo
I wish I ran Walmart for just one day.

I'd bulldoze all 3 stores they have started and put up billboards with the names and pics of those voting for this unConstitutional law (Bill of Attainder, anyone?) and offer campaign $ to anyone who runs against them.

And I'd STILL make sure Walmart never set foot in DC again.

7 posted on 07/10/2013 5:08:48 PM PDT by Feckless (I was trained by the US << This Tagline Censored by FR >> ain't that irOnic?)
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To: drypowder
First, Wal-Mart pays on average above the minimum wage. Near where I live a lot more. As in $11 per hour. Not great money, but it's honest entry level work.

These DC council azzholes need to shut their pie holes.

Second, WTF is wrong with Wal-Mart that they want to build stores in high-crime neighborhoods?

Chicago and DC?

These stores will be picked clean by shoplifting thugs and thugettes.

Reminds me of the Koch brothers wanting to buy the LA Times.

Why would you throw good money into a cesspool?

8 posted on 07/10/2013 5:12:50 PM PDT by boop ("You don't look so bad, here's another")
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To: Feckless

I hear you...It’s criminal that these jerks would jeopardize a deal with a retailer of this size in an area that 99% of retailers won’t even consider investing that kind of money in.


9 posted on 07/10/2013 5:16:31 PM PDT by jazusamo ("I am so old that I can remember when most of the people promoting race hate were white." T. Sowell)
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Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

10 posted on 07/10/2013 5:18:01 PM PDT by jazusamo ("I am so old that I can remember when most of the people promoting race hate were white." T. Sowell)
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To: jazusamo
City officials were indignant at Wal-Mart's threat. But why? Their legislation, which targets only Wal-Mart, is plainly discriminatory. The city already has an $8.25-an-hour minimum wage. The "super minimum wage" would affect just one employer.

Isn't this illegal under federal law? I'm pretty sure it is.

Of course, no way Holder's "Just-Us" department would ever enforce that law.

Mark

11 posted on 07/10/2013 5:19:57 PM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: BenLurkin

An excellent poem, sir!


12 posted on 07/10/2013 5:20:35 PM PDT by spankalib ("I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.")
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To: MarkL
I don't know the law on this but they sure as heck singled out Wal-Mart and you're absolutely right about Holder.

Like Obummer the turkey running the “Just-Us” department only enforces laws he agrees with.

13 posted on 07/10/2013 5:25:19 PM PDT by jazusamo ("I am so old that I can remember when most of the people promoting race hate were white." T. Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

All the tradespeople and suppliers that won’t have jobs or contracts to build are also impacted. With a little luck they can up the unemployment rate another three or four points. WTG Marxist Libs. Obama luvs u.


14 posted on 07/10/2013 5:38:04 PM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: willibeaux

.....documentably where blacks take over 100% of political power in ANY political jurisdiction everything goes to hell. I challenge anyone to name an exception to this rule. Go back a thousand years if you want.

The question is in a democracy how can we structurally save blacks from themselves. I think you have to go back to electing people from districts not AT LARGE. This could insure more of a regional representation with proportional representation among the races. Also, too many heavily populated areas have 3 sets of politicians in separate political units passing laws/regulations willy nilly seemingly every day. For illustration purposes only, Austin has a City Council, Travis County Commissioners Court, and the state legislature. Now, Travis, Williamson and Hays Counties have grown together for one big regional metroplex but these same 3 counties each have County Governments (i.e. commissioner courts) and local City Councils (probably scores of them) and the legislature. And, never even mind what all these scores of little “mini governments” cost to operate. Why not have one Government for the whole area and do away with all the little fiefdoms burning tax payer dollars we don’t have.

I understand the race pimps like Sharpton and Jacksons (2) would instantly holler racism and oppose any consolidation of government. But, 100% all black local governments are dinosaurs that need to to go. Just look at Chicago, Detroit, Oakland and Liberia as only 4 examples that come to mind quickly. What I am suggesting is done on the federal level so I see no reason it cannot be done in regional governments as well. Plainly, we have too much government, period.


15 posted on 07/10/2013 5:52:59 PM PDT by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
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To: jazusamo; P-Marlowe

Unfortunately, Washington has it wrong on WalMart and wage controls, but unbeknownst to itself, it is right for the wrong reason on low wages.

Why are wages low?

Because millions upon millions of illegal immigrants drive wages down by working for peanuts underground jobs within the economy. This downward wage pressure affects all essentially unskilled labor rates because it provides a huge surplus of available labor. Econ 101 teaches that if you have too much supply, then prices will drop.

WalMart, Wash DC wages WOULD be higher if WalMart were competing for the quality workers in a far smaller work force.

Illegal immigrants take jobs and drive down wages. And those so-called “jobs Americans won’t take”. Sure they would if the wage were based on a market not flooded by imported serf labor.


16 posted on 07/10/2013 5:59:50 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins
So true and the Dems and RINOs want to legalize 11 million (probably more like 25 million) of those illegals.
17 posted on 07/10/2013 6:10:53 PM PDT by jazusamo ("I am so old that I can remember when most of the people promoting race hate were white." T. Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

“Some 900 retail jobs would disappear — along with 600 construction jobs — in a town where unemployment in the inner city is well into the double digits”.

At least the unemployed will be unemployed at a higher wage.


18 posted on 07/10/2013 6:24:03 PM PDT by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough)
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To: jazusamo

Perhaps WalMart should open stores just outside of the district’s limits.


19 posted on 07/10/2013 8:05:07 PM PDT by Only1choice____Freedom (As long as America's tolerence of failure is not overwhelmed by a desire to succeed, we will fail.)
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To: Only1choice____Freedom

there are plenty near the district. There are also plenty of Targets, a Costco just over the bridge in Arlington as well as many supermarkets. I’m not familiar with the PGC side but I imagine there are stores nearby as well. They never tried to get into DC because of the unions and the “sudden zoning issues” that usually arise requiring special “paperwork” of the green variety. This was all just a shakedown racket.


20 posted on 07/10/2013 8:12:22 PM PDT by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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