Wal-Mart signifies all that is wrong in America

I'll tell you what I do: Whenever possible, I shop at small, privately owned stores. Or local chains, rather than national ones. And that includes skipping Starbucks, our local giant enterprise.

Now, I know what you may be thinking: I have the advantage of living in a big city with lots of choices. Sometimes there are no such options. Or not as many. But we all make choices, and that's as political as life gets.

D:

I think you are one of the FEW, so be proud, I am one of the shameless who will not give up the convenience. I have come to love my rural life and hate to "go to town" for any reason I don't have too-so Wal-mart who matches "any competitors ad" keeps me from running all over town, getting in and out (remember we have to drive everywhere-added expense) and gets me home.. AH!!! Sweet Home....

d:

I guess we can agree to disagree, and I appreciate our civil discussion of the topic. Actually, we may have more in common than seems apparent. Though I live in a big city, my house is in a quiet neighborhood. I try to shop at places close by when I know the people who work there. It's like a small town sometimes...

D

The point is taken. It's hard to know what to do sometimes without knowing the whole story and the options. That's why I depend on varying opinions on this forum.

PAN:

You also have a VERY good point.

Surprised nobody's mentioned this but....

For an awful lot of things which you might buy, another alternative is Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com

gungasnake, I have used them for buying old movies, books and CDs. Really saved a lot. I think I have made at least 50 purchases without a problem. Never sold anything there. No idea how that works.

Wal-Mart contributes to Socialism
Did you know that 1/4th of Wal-Mart employees have to rely on government handouts to supplement their income?

So in other words, Wal-mart contributes to socialism in America. The Neo-Cons want to overlook that little detail.

The neocons and the jargon have about gone by the wayside. They are not the threat many people thought they would be when the jargon first came out a year or so ago.

I have no objection to a little Socialism. Most Americans whether they like to believe it, admit it or not receive some form of subsidy from their governments either directly or indirectly.

My retirement life is "Golden" mainly because through my military retirement pay, Social Security, free medical benefits and so on, I do very well. These benefits are clearly all well deserved rewards for serving our country and living a good life and are Socialistic in nature.

As far as that 1/14 at Wal Mart? So what? That is a long way from 100%.

I would not worry about Socialism in America unless it began to become obvious that all of us were becoming equal. Then you would know Socialism per se, was here.

No, as long as America has its unmarked but clearly seperated class distinctions with regardes to economics we will continue to be better than any other country in the world. Just as we have for many years. Even with the help of a little Socialism. :wink:

I'm all for welfare, food stamps, tax supported health care etc, I'm merely pointing out how big business and it's neo-conservative methods contributes to the very things that they despise. They want their cake and eat it too.

Is it at all plausible that the 1/4 at Walmart would have even less without that particular job? I'm asking, not stating.

I would guess that many of those employees would be making more if they were working for one of the many mom and pop stores that Wal-Mart has driven out of business.

Oh, I understand. I believe all of us like to have our cake and eat it too. I know I certainly do, I try every time I see an opportunity. Neo Cons are like the the alarm that never was or never went off. I never believed they had any real power to start with and they don't.

There is only a vocal minority against Wal Mart here where I live. Most people like it and shop there. I do. I don't think I would like to work there only because I had jobs that paid me far more money elsewhere. On the other hand I never would want to work for a transit district or a military exchange but do you realize there are some people that work their entire lives in places like that and are happy?

Not long ago I spoke with a woman that went to work for a military exchange part time while she was still in high school. She is still there (full time) after 27 years.

Although I wish people in those jobs were paid more money they are not slaves. There are people enjoying careers at Wal Mart.

I hate to dig up this old thread again. But it looks like Walmart has succeeded in putting Albertsons out of business. See article:

Albertsons may put itself up for sale

It's not just Walmart, I say Bush played a part. In Bush's economy where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, fewer people can afford to shop at the traditional grocery store so they shop at alternatives like Walmart, Winco and Costco. It's ironic that those rich executives at Albertsons probably voted for Bush. Another example of people voting against their own economic best interest. Only this time it's the rich that pays the price.

I shouldn't complain though, because I work for one of those above mentioned discount stores. I'm paid very well so you know it isn't Walmart that I work for, and the worse the economy gets the more likely people are to shop at discount stores. So I'm not worried. I just see the injustice because I've been poor most of my life. So I know what it's like to hunt for scraps in the kitchen cabinets. Albertsons troubles and the success of the discount stores is such an obvious consequence of Bush's economy, I'm surprised more people don't see it.

Businesses are bought, sold, merged more often today than ever. I have yet to see one improve after it has been involved in one of these "deals."

I don't see how some of them remain open either.

Lucky was a nice store here. It became Albertsons and I noticed almost immediately the prices on most everything increased. Not long after a Ralphs was built on the other side of the highway a block East and is the "anchor" for the new shopping center there. That was nearly five years ago. I rarely shop Ralphs because Albertson's is closer and more convenient but each time I have visited Ralphs there is hardly anyone in the place and there are only two, three registers open regardles of the day of the week or the time. They have to be heavily subsidized by other stores.

Yet, I recall reading an article about Albertsons where they set a hard dollar target for a store and if it falls short of that number? They shut the store down. I don't know.

All the stores are still clean and I have no complaints other than the price of food. I am now single and retired but years ago when my wife and I were raising six children? We never would have been able to eat properely with the cost of food today.

Are the prices at these Wal Mart Super Stores I hear about really that much better I wonder?

many time the manufacture carries all risk and burden - the giants carry little risk and gain much at the expense of others\suppliers.

I don't understand what you mean by "maufacture." Do you mean the vendors that supply the stores?

I don't understand what you mean by "maufacture." Do you mean the vendors that supply the stores?

yes - suppliers to the stores

Ididn't think of it that way but yes the point in having a store in the first place is to sell your product. Factory stores. Hard goods; cars, trucks, computers, appliances.

I just never thought of super markets operating that way but I see your point.