On the Wal-Mart Money Trail (Why the left HATES Walmart!)

The (left wing) Nation ^ | [from the November 21, 2005 issue] | LIZA FEATHERSTONE

[nmh]

Give me a break!

ALL the stores buy from China. Even your precious Target, K-Mart and major Department stores. You're totally ridiculous. Maybe you ought to call up ole Wilie Green - he hates capitalism too.

[kindred]

[As someone pointed out up-thread, it's disgusting to see so many Freepers fall into the "I'd rather have Socialism" column.]

Absolutely. Perhaps many of these freepers are socialists. I would guess this from other articles posted. I just hope that some will learn the truth about the fascist left while at conservative web sites,even while posing as conservatives.

[stopem]

I really don't think that people on the right are "bamboozled" by anyone. We have a mind of our own and are not lemmings and certainly do NOT adhere to the left's philosophy.

Therefore any dislike for Walmart's practices are based soley on many factors such as importing goods from a communist country, the affect eventually that a Walmart-like philosophy will have on America, there are many factors to consider than just plain saying some of us are influenced by the left's hatred of anything.

[Hendrix]

Every major retail store sells the same amount of products that are made in China. Go to Target and look where things are made (or pick any other store and do the same). The "China" excuse is just smoke because the bashers don't have any good logical arguments, so they trot out the China myth and the people who don't have a clue about free market economics buy into it hook line and sinker.

[stopem]

"You are a very ignorant conservative then about free market economics. Walmart's business model will do and has done exactly the opposite of what think--it is making our economy stronger and the best in the world.

Please do elaborate how Walmart is making our economy stronger? Walmart by themselves are the saving grace for America??

[Issaquahking]

Thanks for the ping. Still don't shop Walmart, because they don't pay my bills.

[Crawdad]

They're based in Arkansas. Shouldn't Bill Clinton be feeling the wrath of these socialists? It was during his time there as governor and as president that Walmart's ascendancy occurred.

[Hendrix]

Exactly where do you propose that we get our China goods from? We are at full employment (5% unemployment is considered full employment by most economists), so how are we going to make the products in the US? It is impossible for us to make the products that we demand in this country, and the same can be said for any European country. Your statement about buying US goods does not jive with reality.

[Hendrix]

"Please do elaborate how Walmart is making our economy stronger? Walmart by themselves are the saving grace for America??"

Yes Walmart is the single best thing that has happened to the US in the last 100 years IMO. Walmart has raised everyone's standard of living by providing more goods and services at lower prices, which enables people to buy more goods and services with their dollars, which in turn expands our GDP because more supply is produced to meet the bigger demand. That is how Walmart has made and is making our economy stronger, and most economists agree with that statement (although the more liberal ones like you want to find something bad about Walmart).

[RoadTest]

Isn't WalMart non-union? That would be reason enough to set the libs off.

[TheForceOfOne]

The heart of the matter is the dying union arm of the DNC which broke into pieces this year trying to hold onto the past and Walmart with its massive employee list makes a good target. Many DNC contributions come from union dues. Congress has tried to enact laws that make these contributions illegal without the consent of the union employees.

There is a war going on with the unions in America and business in general. The top three U.S. automakers can no longer compete against the competition fairly with the burden of union demands for current and retired employees. America is changing and the attack on Walmart is an attempt to stop it.

Once upon a time after WWII when America had a monopoly on the manufacturing trade, employers could pass union demands along to the customer in the form of higher prices but with the onset of global competition that is no longer possible. Businesses have to choices, cut the number of employees or move to a more cost effective location, either way the union loses.

I am not anti-union, its just common sense.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The Wal-Mart Foundation gives a staggering number of gifts, apparently in order to buy goodwill in as many communities as possible,

To buy goodwill? Now come on. If they give, then at least give them credit for a good motive.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

former Wal-Mart board member Hillary Clinton

Could come back to haunt her...

[Wonder Warthog]

"I don't understand the knock about WalMart and China. Yes, a lot of goods are made in China. But I'm buying the same national brands there that I buy at Target, Sears, or the local grocery store."

You're right on "Target". Wal-Mart is not distinctly different in its source of merchandise than any other major retailer. To assert otherwise is simply bullsh*t.

""If the left hates WalMart there must be a reason to shop there. And I will. It's sad to see so many FReepers jump on the bandwagon with leftist union organizers."

Those Freepers have "drunk the Kool-Aid" (bought into the propaganda). I watched the process when a Wal-Mart moved into a small town in South Louisiana, and the effects were overwhelmingly positive. Sure, some small businesses got displaced (a couple of pharmacies)--but those business sites didn't "disappear"---they were replaced with OTHER (and currently still successful) businesses.

I have sinced moved to another small town of similar size (but much more liberal politics)in Washington state, and they have been fighting (successfully, unfortunately) to keep Wal-Mart out. Ironically, they are actively working to attract a Costco.

[sam_paine]

Wal-Mart gives to the common man what all the Liberals and anti-capitalist Freepers think Government should but never will.

Perfect.

[antisocial]

"This thread is about WalMart. Support your claim that WalMart sells more Chinese goods than other major retailers or grocery chains."

Walmart alone has become the # 4 exporter of Chinese goods.
Stated another way Walmart is China's #4 trading partner, ahead of most countries that trade with China. Remember that most of China's export goods are produced by companies owned either wholly or in part by the Chinese military. They also pirate most of the products that are produced here and sell their replicas at very cheap prices.

[Joe Republc]

I'll save this for a later read. As a WMT stockholder and customer who probably spends a few thousand / year at Wal-Mart, I never really understood the demonization of this company. The cries of unfair employee compensation and use of goods from China have never really been compelling to me, since the company appears to me to be legal and ethical in their dealings, and the arguments against them are roughly arguments against a free market economy. Any fair wage or trade arguments I've heard -- if they have merit -- sounds as if they should apply to EVERYONE, not just WMT because they are big and successful.

The bottom-line with WMT is that they are THE BEST low-cost supplier of retail goods.

-- Joe

[BlazingArizona]

Keep spending and sending your dollars to China. They are all but certain to come back in another form.

The richer China gets, the more capitalist it becomes. China knows it can't do business today without letting in the Internet. It tries to censor content, but the Chinese just laugh this off and hack their way around the system. After all the Chinese, unlike Americans, are not afraid of foreign terrorist organizations like the RIAA, so why should they be afraid of their own Politburo?

[sam_paine]

Yes, a lot of goods are made in China.

I've done some personal "research" (aka shopping) in small Texas towns around me. One of which was in a town of about 10,000 that has had a WalMart on the edge of town for a while.

The local mom-and-pop Ace hardware downtown, on the square, with circa 1950 facade, sells, guess what? CHINESE CRAP!

Things like water sprinklers and hammers. Made in China.

The difference was when I went to the mom-and-pop store, they had Chinese Air Conditioners for sale in November, whereas Walmart does not stock window units in non-seasonal times.....so there you go. Same merchandise, different business hours. No protestors and picketing.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Walmart alone has become the # 4 exporter of Chinese goods. Stated another way Walmart is China's #4 trading partner, ahead of most countries that trade with China."

So?? That is because Wal-Mart is huge in size, not because they buy any higher percentage of Chinese products than any other merchandiser. Target, Sears, K-Mart, and on and on ALL buy Chinese goods.

"Remember that most of China's export goods are produced by companies owned either wholly or in part by the Chinese military. They also pirate most of the products that are produced here and sell their replicas at very cheap prices."

True, but irrelevant as to why Wal-Mart should be specifically singled out for abuse, rather than correctly blaming ALL major "retail brands" equally.