Wal Mart's Exploitive Practices Attacked By Website

Wake Up Wal-Mart ^

[Clintonfatigued]

Because of Wal-Mart's inadequate wages and benefits, Wal-Mart employees are eligible for $2.5 billion in Federal assistance, which comes from your tax dollars.

[Goodgirlinred]

I just went up to his post. I can't help there. What type of work is he looking for, BTW? Did you say that you live in eastern Virginia, up near the Maryland border?

[Mrs.Nooseman]

You've got that right!

[Goodgirlinred]

Well, darlin', you are country folks to me. ;)

[Nowhere Man]

I'd suggest you read Henry Mayhew's The London Poor. It was written in the 1800s, so I believe it's non-copyrighted and should be available free online.

Well, one to my reading list. Another one I heard talked about from time to time is "Iron Heel" by Jack London (1908). If you want a down and dirty book about the life of the poor and so on, try "Susan Lenox, Her Rise and Fall" by David Graham Phillips (1908, published 1917). After I read that, it really made me much more wise although it verified what I know and believe. After reading that, I felt like I went through 13 rounds with Mike Tyson. I wasn't happy with the ending but I think my Christian beliefs are coming in on this one. I could write a litany about all of that but it will just gum up the discussion so that's for another time.

Capitalism, market forces, etc. are powerful engines capable of truly astounding things. We owe most of our modern world to the miracle of capitalism. But there is a dark side to it, which must be mitigated. That's where minimum wage comes in.

I think of capitalism much like an atomic reactor. It is a good tool when property used and controlled but when it runs away, it can melt down and hurt a lot of people. So that's why we need some sort of "control rods" in the economy. Everything has a dark side and although sometimes a little bit is needed, but when you don't keep it caged up, it will turn on you.

If you know how to splice genes, run a complex piece of equipment, cut cancers out of people, create pastries (sic), formulate computer models for movements in the stock market or have one of a thousand other sophisticated skill sets, then the bidding for your services/expertise goes no place but up. On the other hand, if you have a non-sophisticated skill set, even if you are willing to work hard, then the bidding for your services points downward.

We are seeing that in many skilled areas too, but you have a good point which is my concern about all of this too.

If we, as a nation, devolve into a two-tier economic systems, then we'll be in for a rocky road ahead. It'll be like some South American countries where the rich fly in sushi chefs for parties behind high walls manned by armed guards.

Sort of like something out of a mixture of a dark science fiction movie and Charles Dickens. That is until some time an Anakin Skywalker comes along or until we are nuked or invaded or just fall apart as a nation due to atrophy and antipathy. I know my history too. I'm part Russian, I come from a long line who became Bolsheviks, the ones who stayed. Looking back, they've backed the wrong horse, but it shows a point where if people feel or think they're voice isn't heard, they will look to something else. We could be headed that way.

[Gabz]

One Saturday morning, after a particularly nasty Walmart bashing thread we headed out to do some shopping.

First we stopped at the brand new Peeble's that openned across the street from Walmart and then went into Walmart - after having lunch in the new Chinese place that openned in the Walmart shopping center. When I got home I looked at all the labels of my purchases from both stores. Not one item I bought in Peebles was made in America, and only 2 items I purchased in Walmart were made in China.

Walmart is just the current whipping boy, primarily of hte left, so I still don't understand the vitriol here on FR.

Oh well - I'm out of here for now - have to go pay my property taxes and get some lunch with hubby - we're holding off til Friday a trip up to Walmart :)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Nope,we live in Oregon!

He is going to school for computer repair,since he has been laid of numerous times in the past and the job market sucks around here!

Once he learns all the ins and outs about computer repair and programming he is hoping to open up his own shop!

[Gabz]

Thanks, my FRiend!!!!!

Talk to you later!

[Goodgirlinred]

Yes. Everybody shops at Wal-Mart here. I always have to make sure I am neatly dressed and have my makeup on because I always see half a dozen people I know and I can't ever just rush in and shop and rush out. LOL! I love that. Even if I go in late, there is always a cashier to talk to because they always are shocked by the amount of pet food I buy! Then I get to bore them with stories about Harm the Wonder Dog! ROFLOL!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Just about every store carries foreign made products and not just from China!

Have a great day!

[Goodgirlinred]

That will be great. He will do well, because these darn things are always needing fixing. At least, mine always is. :(

[Goodgirlinred]

You are welcome, my FRiend.

[jayef]

You have to include in that number the aesthetic snobs who think corn fields are preferable to buldings with jobs, commerce and tax revenues.

[Goodgirlinred]

You just made my point! Hope you and hubby have a good lunch. Lucky you.

[Goodgirlinred]

Yep, me, too. I love Wal-Mart because I can usually get everything that I need in one place. I don't like to go shopping much, either. I wish they could expand their toy line more, but at least they do at Christmas. I hate to have to drive out of town to shop. Wal-Mart also allows us to keep more of our money in our area rather than shop in another city.

[Goodgirlinred]

No. What is it?

[Goodgirlinred]

Oh. Are you being serious? Sniping at me or someone else? I am confused. I like land being left forested, etc. That is the reason I hope to buy my sister-in-law's part of the family land around me. However, if people want to sell their land to Wal-Mart or developers, that is their business, isn't it?

[Mrs.Nooseman]

LOL.

I know what you mean!

He already had some knowledge about repairs,but not enough to make it his profession!

[Casloy]

If you don't like getting a flipping hamburger salary then get some skills that will pay more. If there are no jobs in your area then go where there are some. If enough people do that, companies that pay minimum wage will raise their salaries to attract the right people. If you know how to splice genes but choose to live in a small town in idaho you are going to be flipping hamburgers for a living. If we are going to assume that minimum wage has no impact on the economy and doesn't cause unemployment then I suggest we simply raise it to 20 dollars an hour. Better yet, 40 dollars an hour. I don't believe there is a single bit of data that supports the idea a minimum wage does anything to improve the standard of living of anyone. But, you an prove it often causes unemployment. The fact is, some business's have to lay of workers when the minimum wage is raised. What do you say to those employers? The truth about minimum wage is that is is about a bunch of liberal confressmen and senators playing to dumb masses who actually believe they are better off with a minimum wage.

[jayef]

I'm talking about zoning and regulation of Wal-Mart's use of land that it owns. What you do with your land as a private land owner is your business . . . which is, of course, the point of my post. This wasn't a swipe at anyone other than the Luddites who stand in the way of progress for selfish, self-serving reasons.

[jayef]

You could alway look stuff like this up on the internet. To save you some time:

http://www.afscme.org/