Wal-Mart Denounces Health Bill

washington post ^ | 4-7-05 | Michael Barbaro

[TXBSAFH]

Wal-Mart Denounces Health Bill Retailer Says Maryland Could Lose Future Jobs

By Michael Barbaro Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, April 7, 2005; Page E01

ROGERS, Ark., April 6 -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. yesterday said approval of a bill that would require it to boost health care spending in Maryland could endanger its plans for growth in the state, including a new distribution center that would employ as many as 1,000.

The company questioned the motivation behind the bill, which is backed by a top competitor and its labor union.

Wal-Mart "will have to rethink its future growth in a state that is willing to pass such a bad business bill," said Nate Hurst, a government relations manager for the company. "This type of legislation, where lawmakers single out one employer, does not create a favorable environment."

[Doohickey]

I read these threads and think there must be roaming Wal-Mart press gangs snatching people off the street. I mean, people can't voluntarily work at Wal-Mart can they?

[ran15]

Ahh the poor babies might have to ride their bikes.. or use the library computers at school.. There oughta be a law!

[Steve_Seattle]

"So, are you suggesting an increase in the minimum wage?"

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea; it's been frozen for a long time. I can afford to pay an extra 25 cents for a Big Mac meal. I have never bought in to the argument that minimum wage laws destroy jobs. I speak as someone who once had a job that paid 50 cents an hour (no, I'm not 120 years old).

[mojojockey]

I lived in Seattle for a short period of time. There are a lot of people in that region that advocate a rise in minimum wage.

[balrog666]

You left out the Food Stamps, rent subsidies, low-income energy assistance, AFDC & WIC, free/subsidized daycare, free medical care, state subsidized insurance for poor children, school breakfasts & lunch programs, etc.

And don't forget the Earned Income Credit - tax-free cash for having kids when you are poor. What a great idea, huh?

[American Vet Repairman]

"think there must be roaming Wal-Mart press gangs snatching people off the street."

Are you saying people at Wal Mart are...."Shanghaied?"


Ooooohhhh. Bad pun! Time out for me.

[Steve_Seattle]

Re: My buddies Hillary, Kofi, etc.

There are different forms of conservatism; I am a social conservative, and I believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the 2nd Amendment, and American sovereignty; but I do not worship Walmart nor do I defend the law of the jungle as the overriding operating principle of business.

[balrog666]

Not much, they continue to thrive and your weekly grocery bill goes up $3-4, but their employees are better off.

Utter crap. They will reduce their employees in the state to 9,999 and tell the state to kiss off. The state can't win without sticking it to every other business in the state too - and that isn't winning.

[Steve_Seattle]

What's wrong with a businessman having the attitude, "I want my employees to be well-paid and have good benefits so they can enjoy their jobs and their lives"?

[dfwgator]

I read these threads and think there must be roaming Wal-Mart press gangs snatching people off the street.

[Steve_Seattle]

I don't support a law that selectively applies to only one business, or is tailored as a grandstanding statement regarding one business, but I'm not defending Walmart either.

[balrog666]

I am a social conservative,

From your posts, that appears to be the same thing as a flaming liberal. I can't see any difference.

and I believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the 2nd Amendment, and American sovereignty

Just not when it comes to business, huh? Ask any economist, without economic liberty, there is no liberty.

I think we can all do without your kind of ignorance when coupled with Hillaryesque activism.

[balrog666]

What's wrong with a businessman having the attitude, "I want my employees to be well-paid and have good benefits so they can enjoy their jobs and their lives"?

What's wrong with pointing a gun at a businessman to tell him how to run his business and how much he must spend on overhead? Or rent? Or to donate to charity?

Then how much money (if any) he is allowed to keep? And that he is not allowed to go out of business?

Do you really not see a problem here?

[SteveH]

Wal-Mart employs the otherwise unemployable. That should be enough.

By that standard, when should I be able to pick up a new liver or kidney from a local Wal Mart staffed with friendly willing donors employees of the type you describe?

[A. Pole]

Just not when it comes to business, huh? Ask any economist, without economic liberty, there is no liberty.

Just remember that liberties and rights belong to the individuals. Granting the corporations the status of the person is a special EXCEPTION which went out of control and which is devouring the rights of the actual human beings.

We are moving fast into the corporate fascist state and then into the new feudalism.

[quack]

What's wrong with a businessman having the attitude, "I want my employees to be well-paid and have good benefits so they can enjoy their jobs and their lives"?

As a business owner,I agree with wanting employees to be well paid and have benefits,but ultimately,it is the consumer who dictates that.The same consumers who want to pay less to a contractor with illegal laborers will be the ones wanting to pay less to a business that does not have higher rates due to better paid employees and their benefits.It's just the way it is.

If I raise my rates to pay my employees more and offer them better benefits,customers will start shopping elsewhere.Then,I'll have to lay off employees or close up shop,which benefits none of the parties involved.

[A. Pole]

If I raise my rates to pay my employees more and offer them better benefits,customers will start shopping elsewhere.

That is why one rule should be applied to all. Either by the universal requirment (combined with the tarrifs to level the playing field for foreign production) OR by introducing the national health care system, there is no other way.

[balrog666]

Just remember that liberties and rights belong to the individuals. Granting the corporations the status of the person is a special EXCEPTION which went out of control and which is devouring the rights of the actual human beings. We are moving fast into the corporate fascist state and then into the new feudalism.

And your solution is? Other than making corporations an arm of the government, of course?

[XRdsRev]

"If Walmart pays so badly, why do the people choose to work there?"

Let's be honest, most (not all) people working at Walmart are very low-skilled. Walmart is better than nothing.

I am always amazed how some people love Walmart. I have found it to be a place that basically sells low quality junk and beyond the basics, customer service is fairly poor.

Myself and everyone I personally know, given a choice, avoid Walmart like the plague. Walmart is generally viewed with disdain and ridicule around here. Personally I'd rather pay extra to get something decent along with good customer service than to deal with a glorified junk shop like Walmart.

Just because it's cheap, doesn't make it good.

[pawdoggie]

Wal-mart is a sum sucking Chicom loving bottom feeder.

I'd like to believe that your expressed sentiment is the main reason why the the political Left, the MSM, the Unions and the Democrats are going after Walmart so hard, but it's not. Instead, as was the case with Microsoft, we're looking at the confluence of trade union business-busting, political payoffs by Walmart competitors to corrupt Democrats, and socialist-fascist statism. Only a Buchananite "conservative" could side with these depredations.