Wal-Mart on PFB

[Boozy]

I saw this letter on PFB but didn't feel that it would be appropriate to post on CS.

http://www.planetfeedback.com/index....opic_id=301189

Some of the responses infuriate me. If the workers don't like it they can quit? And get another job where, exactly? Wal-Mart's agenda is to run every other business out of town.

I am similarly appalled that someone is trying to speak out for what they believe in and gets replies like "Don't bother, no one cares", or "Its just business".

What has happened to America? Is this not the country of grassroots activism, freedom of speech, and right of assembly?

[protege]

Some of it is because people don't have the balls to stand against Wal-Mart. Nobody cares...unless their prices go up. People here constantly want lower prices--if a retailer can't offer lower prices, they usually aren't around very long. Unfortunate, but true.

I for one, *refuse* to shop there. Many times, the prices aren't all that much better than at Target, or Kmart, or even the little store on the corner. I quit going there, simply because I got tired of standing in line all the damn time. Why? Not enough people--they either cut staff to cut costs, or didn't hire enough people in the first place. I don't like their business practices, nor do I like what they do to their employees, so I stay away.

[rahmota]

No sad to say this is the coutry of apathy, greed, and selfishness. Where corporate masters and capitalist scum can and do walk all over people and no one cares.

I looked at some of that thread and found it rather disgusting too how some people where just concerned over the profit margin of the company. bah.

That having been said I do wind up going to wallyworld on occasion as they do have some cheaper stuff at least in my local area. But when we do go there its usually because we're on a budget and cant afford the other stuff, or its somethign that isnt available at another place close. Most of our groceries are either home grown or farmer's market stuff.

But yeah wally world has succomed to the degredation of values in america and forgotten the founder's ideals. Anyone remember their buy american campaign? Now they run sweat shops in thrid world countries and treat their employees like wageslaves rather than family members.

This society needs an enema!

[Rapscallion]

What has happened to America? Is this not the country of grassroots activism, freedom of speech, and right of assembly?

I think you missed "The country where workers can be sacked at will in most of its states." That ommission explains much.

Rapscallion

[Puckishone]

Okay, hang on...I have to take a little exception here (and I am in NO way defending Wal-Mart or its business practices). To go with what protege said, if you don't like it, don't shop there. It really is that simple - just walk your talk. I get really tired of hearing people bitch about "evil corporate America" who then complain if they have to drive "out of their way" for some product, or can't get the latest piece-of-plastic-rubbish, or whine about paying more to buy from a store that doesn't use sweat-shop labor and pays its employees a living wage. It's not just "advertising" and "the media" who tell us we "need" to accumulate an infinite amount of pointless crap...we do it to ourselves. Think of the last time you looked at something on TV or in a catalog and thought, I need that. You know what? Unless you're an amputee looking at a prosthetic limb, you probably don't need it.

You always have a choice...just because you don't like the choices doesn't mean they don't exist. Saying that your individual decision won't make a dent is also a cop-out: if you shop there, you are supporting them in a very real, economic way (you're giving them your money). What will really make a change is getting away from the "buy, buy, buy" mentality, and that won't happen overnight (or even in my lifetime). But I am determined to do my small part nonetheless...I might not effect change, but sitting on my ass doing nothing will only get me a fat ass.

[Boozy]

Okay, hang on...I have to take a little exception here (and I am in NO way defending Wal-Mart or its business practices). To go with what protege said, if you don't like it, don't shop there. It really is that simple - just walk your talk.

But wait - I don't get who you're addressing here. Are you assuming that the PFB letter-writer still shops there? I think its unlikely they do, and they gave no indication either way in their letter. I can assure you that I have not stepped foot in a Wal-Mart in over five years.

You actually make my point yourself here:

But I am determined to do my small part nonetheless...I might not effect change, but sitting on my ass doing nothing will only get me a fat ass.

Which is what the writer of the letter was trying to do - affect change. My problem was with the "Oh what's the point? Wal-Mart doesn't care" attitude of the responses. It seems as though Americans feel powerless over the corporations in their lives and have somehow resolved themselves to it.

[Puckishone]

My point was this: People who bitch about "evil corporations" yet patronize those corporations because of their "convenience" and "low, low prices" are as much a part of the problem as the corporate business practices. Rather like people who say "all politicians are corrupt" and either don't vote or vote ignorantly.

We're agreeing with each other, Boozy; I just did a little extra-strength venting, is all.

[Boozy]

We're agreeing with each other, Boozy; I just did a little extra-strength venting, is all.

Yeah...now that I re-read your post, that's pretty obvious.

Looks like this head cold has made me a little slow. Maybe I should lay low until I'm off the meds.

[Gayle]

All the things that are being addressed in this letter are the reasons why I found a new job. Funny thing is, at least in my store, they tried to promote it as though it were a positive thing. They would not work with me for school at all and I was getting about ten hours a week because "I wasn't avalible enough." And they got away with it because I was part time so they could reduce my hours to nothing, and they did. And the front end manager who's been giving me hours was threated with disciplenary action in he kept helping me. The store manager prays to the god that is Sam Walton, but like the writers of this letter said, follows none of his founding beliefs.

[rahmota]

Puckishone: Well speaking for myself only in self defense. I am on a tight budget. While I would love to be able to do without corporate america and all the baggage that brings (Heck I'd love to be so self-sufficient I didnt have to leave the farm except when I wanted to) it is rather difficult to do the way the system is setup and our society expects. So while one may have to dance with the devil they can do so in the least amount possible and still fight the system from within the system

Yeah I go to wal-mart. Yeah I am disgusted by their business practices and wish I could do more to change them. Part of it is the way our society seems to forgive companies and their ceos for their greedy attitudes of putting the business profits ahead of each and every last thing on the books. Yes a company should make money, enough that all their bills and expenses are met. Nothing more. Profit is the money left over after all the bills and expenses are met.

I prefer going to smaller businesses or even local mom and pop style places. The bad thing about that is I am out in the middle of podunksville where the options are not the greatest. In a 20 mile radius around me we have 2 kroger stores, 1 super walmart, 1 superKmart, 1 IGA, and a smattering of small quickie marts where you can get the basic staples of milk, bread, eggs and lunch meats. There are also a few farmers who sell off surplus stuff but only 2 real farmer's markets.

There are in that same 20mile radius 1 mom and pop hardware store that has been family run since 1910 but they are the last and only one in 20 miles from where I sit right now.

Where did the rest of the mom and pops go? Into the ground. Yeah people abandoned them for the big box chains low prices and stupendous selction of goods and by the time they realized how much smoke and mirrors the big boxes where and how much harm they where doing it was too late. The small stores where all gone. Some might be able to recover but I doubt it.

Basically while it may be nice and idealistic for people to say Just dont shop there not everyone has the same degree of options available to them and have to dance with the devil. Be it because of their lack of funds to go elsewhere, the lack of an elsewhere to go or whatever. So I take exception to the exception that was applied with a broad brush.

This country is going to need an enema from the ground up to change the way it deals with things. It needs to stop being so free market capitalist corporate elitist and work on actually trying to make things more fair and equitable for others all across the board instead of just in regions.

[protege]

Rather like people who say "all politicians are corrupt" and either don't vote or vote ignorantly.

...or those who didn't vote in the last election, and are bitching about the outcome. Sorry, but if you *choose* not to get your voice heard--which is what voting is--you have NO right to bitch about it. Make a difference and cast your vote. If your candidate wins, cool; if they don't, at least you tried to make a difference. Speaking of voting...when you refuse to shop a certain chain, that's exactly what you're doing...but with your wallet. Problem is, Walmart seems to be getting most of the votes

I have a feeling though, that sooner or later, their empire will crumble. They'll get complacent with things, and ignore problems. By the time they figure out what's going on, it'll be too late. They think it won't happen to them. Enron, Kmart, and GM had similar feelings--Enron went out of business, Kmart went through bankrupcty, and GM is still having problems.

[rahmota]

All empires fall. Be it from internal bloating and apathetic complacency, or external pressures and actions.