[Theodore R.]

To my knowledge retail stores all pay low wages, but not all have the huge profits that Wal-Mart does. Of course, W-M may say that its profits are because (in part) the wages are so low. Henry Ford presumably had the opposite philosophy regarding wages. That's what I meant.

[SamAdams76]

To my knowledge retail stores all pay low wages, but not all have the huge profits that Wal-Mart does.

Well that statement differs quite a bit from your original statement that "Wal-Mart pays among the lowest wages in the industry." Now "all retail stores pay low wages."

I'm not trying to be overly argumentative but I had to respond to your earlier statement in Post 1. Wal-Mart pays wages that are competitive in the industry? Why would they do otherwise? It is unfair to pick on Wal-Mart for paying competitive wages in the industry (which by the way are usually well above minimum wage).

Any smart businessman or corporation would work to keep expenses down. Overpaying for labor is just not business smart. On the other hand, underpaying for labor has its own drawbacks as I earlier pointed out.

As for Henry Ford, if he was around today, he would be crucified by the same people who are bashing big corporations like Wal-Mart and Microsoft today. Henry Ford was no benevolent employer. Did you know that Henry Ford strictly regulated how his employees led their private lives? In fact, he would often visit the homes of his employees to ensure that they were in compliance with what he termed "an unblemished lifestyle".