The Ultimate pro-WalMart Article

Ludwig von Mises Institute ^ | June 28, 2006 | Paul Kirklin

[Ace of Spades]

It's easy to make mindless generalizations, isn't it?

Easy to point out exceptions, isn't it?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Easy to point out exceptions, isn't it?

So why do you hate Wal-Mart?

[Ace of Spades]

So why do you hate Wal-Mart?

For Heaven's sake, where did I say that? Or even insinuate it?

[Calpernia]

copy and past where I said that.

[camle]

"...the ever-widening chasm between the rich and the middle class in America..."

ever-widening? America is one of the few places where one can move from one economic position to another.

also, what benefit would there be the the middle class to have them pay more for stuff? I don't see too many limos at wallmart, but I do see a lot of middle class people trying to get the most for their money.

what's wrong with that?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

copy and past where I said that.

You obviously take exception to the fact that Wal-Mart sells goods from China, but as I pointed out so does everybody else.

Exactly what is your point?

Other than self-righteous indignation to show how holier-than-thou you are?

[Sam's Army]

Its wrong doncha see? Folks saving money is a sign of inequality in the system and Capitalist, Materialist, Colonialist, Patriarchial, and Theological oppression.

(Former lefty, I know the cool buzzwords by rote)

[Steve_Seattle]

My son works for Barnes & Noble, and a few weeks ago a liberal woman (customer) told him that she only buys books at B & N because it supports Democratic candidates. My son didn't tell her that B & N pays him only a little bit above minimum wage, and he has no medical benefits. Moreover - and my son didn't know this - when the B & N came in, it put out of business a small, locally-owned bookstore that had been in that mall for years. I told that anecdote to my liberal sister - who self-righteously refuses to ever set foot in a WalMart - and she had no reply.

You are right: the left has just singled out Walmart, as they periodically do with one or another major capitalist enterprise, and the media picks it up and runs with it. But they never seem to pick on liberal-owne dbusinesses with similar practices. And if Castro pays his workers $2.00 a day, the libs have no problem with that.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I guess, but then why don't they hate Lowe's? Or Starbucks? "

Starbucks has sometimes come under fire from the Left, but not nearly as often or to the same degree as WalMart.

[Calpernia]

Oh trust me, I am an Equal Opportunity 'Made in China' hater.

[camle]

LOL~! Some folks hate walmart because they're programmed to. they see others hate walmart, adn feel that they should to. there's little other cognisant processing going on. it's the "Get onthe bandwagon" effect.

most people who take the time and effort to think actually beleive thaat walmart is beneficial to society. when you open your mind it's hard to disagree with that.

kinda like we were all told how horrible hiroshima/nagasaki were, and how evil the us was for feeling it necessary to drop those two bombs. but when you think about it even the japanese ought to thank us. but that's another stopry.

[Huck]

I think to the left, Wal-Mart is like the FOX NEWS of retail stores. Actually, do I now recall back in the 90s Wal-Mart raised the ire of lefties by not selling offensive music? Maybe that's where it all started. They wouldn't sell CDs with profane lyrics, so they became the right wing bugaboo of the retail industry.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Oh trust me, I am an Equal Opportunity 'Made in China' hater.

My, you are holy.

[Steve_Seattle]

I've only been in a WalMart once - as far as I know, there aren't any within 15 miles of me - but I don't think their practices are that much different from most large retailers. They have just become a huge symbol to many people, on both sides of things - either evil capitalism, or glorious capitalism, as the case may be.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I think to the left, Wal-Mart is like the FOX NEWS of retail stores."

lol Good comparison.

[Sam's Army]

And prolly doesn't own one single thing that says "Made in China".

It's a lot of work taking the tags off right after purchase...

[Calpernia]

[camle]

some little guy in a rural state had an idea. he ran with that idea and reaped many benefits from it. so did a lot of other people who didn't have the idea, but managed to profit from it.

so do a lot more people who didn't have the idea than one might think. their employees, their customers, their communities.

somefolks see the glass as half empty, others as half full. i LIKE walmart. I'm glad that they are all around me.

[Steve_Seattle]

I was in a kite store in Seattle a few years ago - owned and operated by a very liberal guy - and he was frantic that the U.S. might impose some kind of trade sanctions against China that would affect his business. He seemed to have little concern for low wages, working conditions, or personal freedoms of Chinese workers. But he probably hates WalMart.

[Calpernia]

>>>He seemed to have little concern for low wages, working conditions, or personal freedoms of Chinese workers.

Hmmm, try again.