Posted on 12/03/2005 6:24:54 AM PST by narses
If the costs of doing business weren't so high in America, thanks to excessive taxation and regulations, then Wal-Mart would buy from manufacturers in America more.
People need to stop beating this dead horse and realize that it's the politicians in Washington that has created the problem of jobs going overseas.
Have you looked at how much we export to China ?
At the rate we're going, we'd better start learning Mandarin - (and I'm not referring to an 8 stringed acoustic instrument !)
"But....but...the shampoo, CDs, and motor oil are of lesser quality than if you would have gotten it elsewhere! I mean the potato chips may have a dozen less chips in them...." < /Sarcasm >
“Wal-Mart was the only one of the top 10 drug chains to refuse to stock Preven when Gynetics Inc. introduced the morning-after
contraceptive in 1999. Roderick L. Mackenzie, Gynetics' founder and nonexecutive chairman, says senior Wal-Mart executives told his employees that they did not want their pharmacists grappling with the "moral dilemma" of abortion.”
We export about 50 billion to china for a bilateral deficit of about 220 billion.
Tell us, how much do we export to China? How much of what we import was made by American companies operating in China?
In Jefferson Citm Mo the city council wants to use eminent domain to claim land (in a family since 1840) for highway interchanges to a proposed new Super Wal Mart. HIghway and transportation funds will be used for construction, touted as a "safety issue". How slick can Wal Mart get?
For all the billions of dollars they profit, there should be no public subsidy. Especially for a 2nd Super Wal Mart in the City.
I have seen some parts of the documentary......"the high price of Wal Mart". The documentary is not only an example of what one large company does when it moves operations overseas.......it is representitive of ALL companies.
Taking advantage of poor people by giving them menial jobs in the name of economic development is a farce.
From Slate, Aug. 10, 2004,....Last week, Jeffrey Brotman and James Sinegal, chairman and chief executive office of Costco, respectively, joined the list of executives who endorsed John Kerry for president....
So far this campaign cycle, Costco CEO James Sinegal has made campaign donations of $93,500 according to OpenSecrets.org—all of it to Democratic candidates and entities. Brotman has donated $38,250 in this cycle, again all to Democrats. In addition, Brotman and Sinegal have also given $95,000 apiece to the Joint Victory Campaign, one of the most influential of the anti-Bush527 committees, independent entities that can accept unlimited donations from individuals. Sol Price, the founder of Price Club, which merged with Costco in 1993, has given more than $44,000 to Democratic campaign causes this cycle.
Wal-Mart, by contrast, focuses its fundraising largely on Republicans. Jay Allen, Wal-Mart's senior vice president for corporate affairs, is a Bush Pioneer, meaning he's raised at least $100,000. Wal-Mart CEO Leo Scott has donated to the president's re-election campaign. Through July 6, according to Sheila Krumholz, research director at the Center for Responsive Politics, Wal-Mart—the company, its PAC, and individuals employed by it—have made political donations of $1.658 million. Of that, $1.34 million, or 81 percent, went to Republicans. While many corporate PACs hedge their bets and give to both parties in rough proportion to their control of Congress, "Wal-Mart stores appears to be a more ideologically aligned company," said Krumholz.
The thing is, the owner of that mom-and-pop hardware becomes the Hardware Dept manager at a Wal-Mart. Ditto for the pharmacist who now works in the Wal-Mart Pharmacy Dept.
At the same time, their businesses are replaced with more highly efficient, niched shops that usually spring up next to a new Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart I shop at has a sporting goods store next to it that puts the Sporting Goods Dept in Wal-Mart to shame.
In order to keep prices low Wal-Mart is a very aggressive buyer, meaning they squeeze their suppliers and look for the best sources. If the buyers don't like it they don't have to sell to them but because of the volume they do. That is the same reason many companies go to China.
Wal-Mart is also probably the leader in diversity hiring. I have seen many old and handicapped workers who I doubt are worth what they are being paid even if it is minimum wage.
The left hates Wal-Mart because they are the epitome of free enterprise. The unions are just an arm of the Communists Party, as is the Democrat Party, so they have a common enemy in the free enterprise leader of the world. They are all on the attack.
So Michael Moore style crocumentaries are your source of facts?
"True, but irrelevant as to why Wal-Mart should be specifically singled out for abuse, rather than correctly blaming ALL major "retail brands" equally."
I blame all of them equally.
:)
So just trading with China raises your ire? What about India? South Africa? Israel? Saudi Arabia?
Like any organized crime organization, the Left is threatened by anybody who refuses to pay protection money, and is strong enough to not have to. It sets a bad example for the others
Here is some feedback on what the President thinks:
From an article on Yahoo:
By Caren Bohan Sun Nov 20, 6:13 AM ET
BEIJING (Reuters) - Washington and Beijing will cooperate toward making the yuan's exchange rate more responsive to market forces of supply and demand, visiting U.S. President George W. Bush said on Sunday. "
"According to U.S. figures, the United States had a trade deficit of $162 billion with China in 2005, a gap that is on course to grow to $200 billion this year.
"They need to move," said Faryar Shirzad, an economic affairs specialist with the White House National Security Council. "We understand the move to full flexibility will have to be gradual and implemented over time. But it's really time for them to begin to move much further than they have already," he told reporters on Saturday aboard Air Force One.
COSTS AND BENEFITS
"China accounts for about a quarter of the U.S. deficit. But Chinese officials and independent economists say this largely reflects a profound change in manufacturing patterns in recent years to take advantage of cheap Chinese labor."
"Such "processing trade," which accounts for more than half of Chinese exports, would simply move to other low-cost rivals in Asia if the yuan were revalued sharply, but jobs would not be regenerated in the United States, Chinese officials say.
They also say pressure for a stronger yuan also neglects the benefits that U.S. consumers derive from China's low costs.
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. alone, were it a country, would have been the sixth-largest importer of made-in-China goods in 2004. Its purchases of $18 billion were almost twice those of France, according to figures from brokerage CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets."
"Economists say western pressure for a much stronger yuan is also self-defeating because about 60 percent of all Chinese exports are churned out by foreign-owned firms. "
All that you have been doing is to say liberals hate Walmart, Conservatives love Walmart, and if you debate the virtues of or against Walmart you are labeled a lib. Grow up people! Investigate if there are deeper issues when it comes to Walmart/Americans/Imports etc. other than love or hate Walmart and than label someone a lib.
"Keep spending and sending your dollars to China. They are all but certain to come back in another form."
I understand all the free market talk, etc. But if you have ever SOLD to Wal-Mart (actually sat across the table from them in Bentonville) you'll never really understand what they are and what they represent.
Some of our largest manufacturing companies in the USA have up to 70% of their output going directly to Wal-Mart. (That's a good thing). But what you can't see is the (wet-behind-the-ears) purchasing agent that sits down with you in Bentonville on a $40 Million dollar account and simply ask you, "what is your discount this year?" At first, when Sam was running it, this was a good thing. It caused all of us to learn about supply chain management and really sharpen our manufacturing processes cutting out the waste. For a few "purchasing rounds" (bid periods) one can get away with discounts. The discounts CAUSE you to become more efficient so you can maintain your profitability (a good thing!). But once you've trimmed the fat and made your company sleek economically and you return to Wal-Mart, the same question is asked ("Your Discount?"). At this point you have 60% of your business in danger of being lost. Your company would "fold" if you lost it ... so you give a little more. But like a drug, Wal-Mart continues to ask for more ... and when you can no longer give ... they go to China anyway. You lose the business, your company folds and they "go forward."
I DO understand the free market ... but if you've ever been across the table from a "child purchasing agent" in Bentonville, you'll never forget it. Value is never discussed, only price. You come away from your "appointment" realizing you have either been raped or mugged or both. You will never WIN... it is only set up so they win. Wal-Mart is not "doing" anything (manufacturing, creating, etc), they are simply robbing from the profitability of American firms, moving them toward bankruptcy, then moving on to China for their goods. And the difference in the Chinese goods is that China is robbing their own people to please Wal-Mart.
Before the free market folks jump me ... first, there is no free market with China ... not until they let their currency float. It is economically dangerous and has EVERYTHING to do with the "free market" ... Wal-Mart, by increasing their huge percentage of purchased goods from China is supporting a rogue economy. Don't use "emotion" for an answer, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS!!! Is Wal-Mart buying from Europe? The bulk of the purchases are coming from China and the bulk of our deficit is going to China.
What was a good idea when Sam ran it has turned into something dangerous. And again, until you've been run out of business by the Wal-Mart purchasing child and the Chinese, you haven't a clue what you are talking about. I've been there. Thank you Wal-Mart. I really don't mind playing the game, in fact I love it. I'm a Capitalist ... but nobody should be forced to play in a crooked game.
I want a free market economy, but only when the playing field is leveled. The Chinese are not playing on a level field, and Wal-Mart doesn't care. What frightens me more is that when a friend shops at Wal-Mart ... he or she is handing the economic stilleto to the Chinese who will, sooner or later, put it into all our red white and blue hearts.
If Wal-Mart were not allowed to deal with China because China is running an illegal game ... what would happen to Wal-Mart? Now that's another thread isn't it?
I know a few hundred people who won't be having a nice Christmas this year because of the great and benevolent Wal-Mart. I'm one of them ... along with the many people I used to employ. Thank you Wal-Mart ... thank you China ... and thank you Free Marketeers. I know this is all for a good cause!
... and a Merry Christmas to all.
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