Mark,
I thought polls were verboten. Oh I guess unless it supports your point of view.
I am anything but rich (having chosen a low consumer lifestyle) and I won't set foot on a Walmart. I buy quality products when I need something and don't have to replace them time and again like the junk you get at Walmart.
Posted by:
Ash at July 9, 2006 07:25 PM
Ash,
You say you are living a "Low consumer lifestyle"?
Is that lib speak for...I live in my parents basement?
Walmart is a great value for us normal Americans. The fact they are union free is just icing on the cake.
Posted by:
Nebraska Militia at July 9, 2006 08:25 PM
Mark,
Wal Mart is a prime supporter of China. China has struck an oil deal with Iran. Iran's leader wants to wipe Israel off the map.
Think of your impact in that cycle. I stopped shopping at Wal Mart a year ago, because of their practices.
Posted by: Nick E. at July 9, 2006 08:59 PM
It seems your "thinking" is quite simplistic. A bit more depth would have been welcome.
Posted by: R. Messier at July 9, 2006 09:17 PM
No, Nebraska it means I have decided my time is worth more than the things I could buy if I worked full time. I don't watch television advertising and I yank out as many of the circulars that come in the newspaper. I only buy what I absolutely have to so I have more freedom.
Walmart is non union and you enjoy that? It also employs slave labor that work in subhuman conditions. Guess that doesn't mean anything to you. Walmart is the largest importer of Chinese products.
Well I guess as long as your survivalist bunker is well stocked with AK-47's you could give the hindmost to everyone else.
Posted by:
Ash at July 9, 2006 09:29 PM
Is that lib speak for...I live in my parents basement?
My parents have been deceased for almost ten years.
Posted by:
Ash at July 9, 2006 09:31 PM
Ash,
That still doesn't mean you don't live in their basement.
Don't try and guilt trip me about China - I want a complete trade embargo with China, as well as a severance of diplomatic relations. But thats just me - meanwhile, it is official government policy (and has been, quite wrongly, for 30 years) to make nice/nice with the ChiComs, and we can't fault WarMart, not make WalMart responsible, for short-sighted US government policy. I'd much prefer we purchased our inexpensive consumer goods from India, a fellow democracy.
As for the rest of your case - unions are contemptible, so you'll get no rise out of me about WalMart being non-union (you did take note that the "union" picketers at WalMart are actually no-benefit, minimum wage union employees hired to give the appearance that the union rank and file are opposed to WalMart, right?). Meanwhile, I don't know of substandard goods at WalMart...mostly what I find there are the brand names you can find everywhere. A lot of the furniture is made in China, but the clothes seem to be a grab-bag of sources, as to most other goods on the shelves.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at July 9, 2006 10:20 PM
Ash,
And polls aren't bad, but there are bad polls out there. There's no reason to suspect a political bias in a poll like this, but if you can find one, let me know.
Posted by: Mark Noonan at July 9, 2006 10:21 PM
dearest ash..
For some reason I can't help but feel your eyes are defintely brown because you are 100% full of sH&*...
Firstly you say WalMart sells poorly made products...
If as you say you won't step foot in their stores
How is it you know this? Truth is you don't.. your just regurgitating the Union mantra..
Next you talk about their employing slave labor... By that I'm sure you mean the people who manufacture their goods in China...
How do you know this? You don't ...again just regurgitating union mantras...
Well I know from personal experience having inpsected 4 factories in Southern China in the Guangdong Province, that happen to be used by Walmart and other major recognizable manufacturers, I can 100% assure you there is no slave labor. In fact I ate in the employee cafeteria with the people..(something they found quitre interesting) All wore clean smocks at the start of the day, were given fair breaks, lunches etc. In the cases of the employees needing places to live the company provided dorms which from what I saw were anything but dirty...
Now the usual distortion is when you see pictures of some in the stamping areas in under shirts...looking rather hot...
Well guess what... it is hot..and humid and it would be impossible to air condition the stamping area... as it neither is in the US or any other metla press house...
Now personally speaking I'm not a fan of Walmarts because it's too congested for me... but have been in their stores three times to review goods and look for an item...
In a nutshell you are the typical union supporter because of their ties to the dem party..yet a supporter who isn't likely a union member..but loves them.....plug it in and they talk..oh how unions love people like you
As a former union member, the great grandson, grandson, nephew and cousin of union shop stewards and foremen..can state from personal experience...unions suck
And my eyes are blue.....
ps...sometime ago you stated that China has 45 MPG as a standard for vehicles... while China has stopped issuing licenses/plates for old style mopeds or other high polluting two wheel vehicles... I can 100% assure you they don't have a working standard for 45 mpg vehicles...
once again you are full of it...
Posted by: theblksheepwasright at July 9, 2006 10:33 PM
Mark - what is it that makes you think that rich/elite white conservatives like Wal-Mart or want to live next to some Christian hicks either? Is that all there is - low and middle class good 'ol folks and rich liberals? You and your silly caricatures again...
Posted by: extramedium at July 9, 2006 10:41 PM
How is it you know this? Truth is you don't.. your just regurgitating the Union mantra.
Truth is I used to shop at walmart before I started reading about them and how they are hurting our economy.
Well I know from personal experience having inpsected 4 factories in Southern China in the Guangdong Province, that happen to be used by Walmart and other major recognizable manufacturers,
Let me guess: they knew you were coming. They had time to prepare for your visit. They guided your tour. Geez, get a clue.
Now the usual distortion is when you see pictures of some in the stamping areas in under shirts...looking rather hot...
No, I am talking about documentaries I have seen that are a bit more in depth than that.
In a nutshell you are the typical union supporter
Well that is a compliment, sir full of crap. Without them, workers are earning a poverty level salary, without health benefits for the first two years of their employment. Like, say, Walmar. Ah proud of your working man's ancestry yet full of yourself for rising above the heap and now working in management? Don't forget you stand on the shoulders of those hardworking relatives.
You're capitalist mantra, the me first, the shopping at walmart and the lowlife crowds (less at Foleys, I would imagine) sucks is well reason enough that you are full of it.
Posted by:
Ash at July 9, 2006 11:50 PM
If you don't like Walmart, don't shop there. That should work for the lefties who tell me if I don't want an abortion, don't have one.
Funny how the standards change, isn't it...
Posted by: John at July 9, 2006 11:52 PM
That still doesn't mean you don't live in their basement.
Guess you didn't read my definition of low consumer lifestyle and felt the need to be a smart a$s anyway. Even for a bottom feeder like yourself that was pretty insensitive.
And polls aren't bad, but there are bad polls out there.
Which of course proves my point. Polls are good when they support your point of view and bad when they show Bush with a 6% approval rating. Read blacksheeps comment re: union lover/ dems if you don't think this is a political issue. It is all the management types that always come to Walmarts defense.
Unions however are needed now more than ever to counterbalance the greedy robber barons.
Please if there is a stitch of clothing in Walmart that is made anywhere in the United States, I'd be astounded. Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, yes a hodgepodge of countries so poor that Stan Kronke can pay them $9 a day. Get your head out of your.....
Posted by:
Ash at July 10, 2006 12:00 AM
I don't know too much about Wall Mart - but sam's Club is considerably better than Costco!
In the end - everyone needs to follow the law, and Wall Mart is perhaps neither better nor worse than other corporations in that regard. This notion of slamming Wall Mart was a dumb idea to begin with. In the end, people go with companies that provide value. Low prices and good service do make the company that Sam Walton started a survivor today!
bryan@rightcommentary.com
Posted by:
Bryan Del Monte at July 10, 2006 12:03 AM
Ash,
So.... you buy only American made. Really? What brands would that be? For clothes? For cars? For electronics? Where do you shop? Wow, nothing from overseas. Is that the standard now? How do the longshoremen and maritime unions feel about it?
I just make sure not to buy anything associated with Levi Strauss & Company because they hate the Boy Scouts.
Posted by: Kahn at July 10, 2006 01:16 AM
Ash, you are such a liberal unionist putz, that I am driven to replace Walmart's loss of your money with mine. So, tonight after midnight I did about $100 grocery shopping, and smiled knowing you were not there. Then I thought about all those shopping at that time, and wondered how many were there that late so that their 'union' pals wouldn't know they shop there! Your conspiracy bullshit about knowing of inspections ahead of time, makes you appear dishonest, insincere, and incoherent all at the same time.
Posted by: dickdee at July 10, 2006 03:16 AM
Dickdee,
"In 2004, only 8 percent of Wal-Mart inspectors’ visits to factories were unannounced, giving supervisors the chance to coach workers what to say and hide violations. Wal-Mart claimed it planned to double unannounced visits by its inspectors but that would still leave 80 percent of inspections announced." [CFO Magazine, August 2005]
"A former Wal-Mart executive James Lynn has sued the company claiming he was fired because he warned the company that an inspection manager was intimidating underlings into passing Central American suppliers. Lynn documented forced pregnancy tests, 24-hour work shifts, extreme heat, pat-down searches, locked exits, and other violations of the labor laws of these Central American countries." [New York Times, July 1, 2005 and James Lynn to Odair Violim, April 28, 2002, www.nclnet.org]
--Here are just two of the charges--in major US publications--that contradict what you assert. It is not fantasy or "conspiracy bullshit" to believe that much is overlooked by Wal-Mart in the effort to "drive down prices".
By the way, that is quite a bit of vitriol from a person who doesn't even bother to research the BS he/she eats up like PEZ.
Posted by: Third Eye Open at July 10, 2006 10:45 AM
I just don't like the fact that they, but buying mainly cheap, foreign products, support outsourcing. Keep the jobs here.
Posted by: Georgia Frawg at July 10, 2006 11:08 AM
Georgia - what jobs? The cloth mills in North and South Carolina and Georgia are long gone. The vast majority of clothes are simply not made here anymore.
Now - I DO buy American at Wal-Mart. Savage, Remington, and Federal are ALL American.
Posted by: Kahn at July 10, 2006 12:42 PM
How can you say that Wal-mart is no worse than any other company? they are the largest employer in the united states annnd in the world. they are basically setting the standard for the other comapnies to follow suit. maybe you guys should check out some of the sites with real facts... wwww.wakeupwalmart.com
and jsut curious why sam's is better than costco? is is wrong knowing that those employees are actually being treated humanely?
Posted by: Chirelli at July 10, 2006 02:30 PM
Ash,
"Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, yes a hodgepodge of countries so poor that Stan Kronke can pay them $9 a day."-by: Ash
So you want to take their WalMart jobs away from them?
Posted by: Freedom1 at July 10, 2006 07:54 PM
In a moral world, Walmart would tell the owners of these sweatshops to pay better wages and provide better working conditions- or we will take our business elsewhere. Instead the opposite happens. Walmart demands an ever decreasing cost, so where do you think the manager cuts costs?
Or maybe even better, Walmart would only buy items made in the usa. But I know I am just dreaming.
Posted by:
Ash at July 11, 2006 01:08 AM
Freedom,
Think about it logically, if these people first-off have to take on the IMF burden of building infrastructure to have these factories built, then are paid WAY below fair market value for their labor, they are grossing negative aggregate funds here. The land and loans from the IMF could have been used to create infrastructure for local business and sustainable farming, instead of slash and burn policies that only enrich the factory owner (who generally comes from the established elite) and the company buying goods produced by artificially supressed wages.
If these poeople were given the chance to work at a job that enriches them and their local communites, and doesn't pillage the ecological balance of their lands, we would actually start to see a thriving middle-class instead of a new class of poor factory workers living in shanty-towns encircling 'mquiladores'.
Posted by: Third Eye Open at July 11, 2006 09:42 AM
Ash,
We live in this world and you didn't answer the question. Do you want to take their WalMart jobs away from them?
Posted by: Freedom1 at July 11, 2006 02:50 PM
Third Eye Open,
Write to the established elite in these foreign nations and tell them what you told me.
Posted by: Freedom1 at July 11, 2006 03:29 PM
Freedom,
We can all "write" them by refusing to buy goods which undercut American and fair-trade goods.
I guarantee you put an American/FT good against a good produced by slave-laborers and the price difference would be minimal.
How about you go to Indonesia or bangladesh, and visit some of the worker's in their shanty-towns, and explain why their rivers are polluted and they are beaten and abused by their bosses so that we can pay $.30 less for toilet brushes.
Posted by: Third Eye Open at July 11, 2006 03:53 PM
I guess I do freedom. I want them to go to Americans. Let's see how long Walmart could survive then. It's a two way street.
Got a problem with that?
Some people look at the world as it is and ask why. Others look at the world and ask why not?
I guess you are the former and I am the latter.
Posted by:
Ash at July 11, 2006 04:41 PM
Chicago smacks down Walmart:
Chicago makes sure it will pay a better wage. It will contribute to health insurance. With, what, 4 million people in the city I just wonder is Walmart will make good its threat to not build in the city. Should be interesting.
Chicago and Walmart Battle
Posted by:
Ash at July 11, 2006 04:49 PM
Ash-"Let's see how long Walmart could survive then."
Some of these foreigners are literally struggling to find enough food to feed themselves and their families. If you take away their WalMart jobs they may die. The reality of many desperately poor people is just that-a reality. They need their jobs to stave off death.
If you two really want to do something useful, campaign against these foreign nations' governments to enforce decent wages and decent working conditions. I know these nations governments are horrible, but that's not going to change unless people get together to change them.
TEO-"How about you go to Indonesia or bangladesh, and visit some of the worker's in their shanty-towns, and explain why their rivers are polluted and they are beaten and abused by their bosses so that we can pay $.30 less for toilet brushes."
Why don't you explain to them why they are out of work and starving in their shanty-towns because you helped put WalMart out of business?
Posted by: Freedom1 at July 11, 2006 05:12 PM
hats a fine sentiment freedom, but how can they supply walmart with what they want, when they want it and at the price they want it, if they do pay thier employees a fair wage?
Why not us take the high road? After all 5 of the 8 richest people in the universe are walmart heirs, owners. I'll bet you a biography of Sam Walton that if Walmart made it a requirment that factories in Indonesia pay their workers decently, they would. If you had to pay a penny more for a pair of socks at Walmart, wouldn't you think it worth it? I would
Posted by:
Ash at July 11, 2006 07:16 PM
Freedom,
The wonderful thing about global capitalism, is that someone will step-in to fill the economic vaccum.
By the way, it's not very comforting to think that our elected representatives are schmoozing tyrants who are forcing people into what amounts to indentured servitude.
The republican power elites were the ones killing the efforts to shine a light on the horrific practices of these sweat shops, so even with recognition of the abuses, it takes the guts of our officials to WANT to do something about it.
http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/marianasupdate.html
Posted by: Third Eye Open at July 11, 2006 10:49 PM
Mark,
I thought polls were verboten. Oh I guess unless it supports your point of view.
I am anything but rich (having chosen a low consumer lifestyle) and I won't set foot on a Walmart. I buy quality products when I need something and don't have to replace them time and again like the junk you get at Walmart.
Ash,
You say you are living a "Low consumer lifestyle"?
Is that lib speak for...I live in my parents basement?
Walmart is a great value for us normal Americans. The fact they are union free is just icing on the cake.
Mark,
Wal Mart is a prime supporter of China. China has struck an oil deal with Iran. Iran's leader wants to wipe Israel off the map.
Think of your impact in that cycle. I stopped shopping at Wal Mart a year ago, because of their practices.
It seems your "thinking" is quite simplistic. A bit more depth would have been welcome.
No, Nebraska it means I have decided my time is worth more than the things I could buy if I worked full time. I don't watch television advertising and I yank out as many of the circulars that come in the newspaper. I only buy what I absolutely have to so I have more freedom.
Walmart is non union and you enjoy that? It also employs slave labor that work in subhuman conditions. Guess that doesn't mean anything to you. Walmart is the largest importer of Chinese products.
Well I guess as long as your survivalist bunker is well stocked with AK-47's you could give the hindmost to everyone else.
Is that lib speak for...I live in my parents basement?
My parents have been deceased for almost ten years.
Ash,
That still doesn't mean you don't live in their basement.
Don't try and guilt trip me about China - I want a complete trade embargo with China, as well as a severance of diplomatic relations. But thats just me - meanwhile, it is official government policy (and has been, quite wrongly, for 30 years) to make nice/nice with the ChiComs, and we can't fault WarMart, not make WalMart responsible, for short-sighted US government policy. I'd much prefer we purchased our inexpensive consumer goods from India, a fellow democracy.
As for the rest of your case - unions are contemptible, so you'll get no rise out of me about WalMart being non-union (you did take note that the "union" picketers at WalMart are actually no-benefit, minimum wage union employees hired to give the appearance that the union rank and file are opposed to WalMart, right?). Meanwhile, I don't know of substandard goods at WalMart...mostly what I find there are the brand names you can find everywhere. A lot of the furniture is made in China, but the clothes seem to be a grab-bag of sources, as to most other goods on the shelves.
Ash,
And polls aren't bad, but there are bad polls out there. There's no reason to suspect a political bias in a poll like this, but if you can find one, let me know.
dearest ash..
For some reason I can't help but feel your eyes are defintely brown because you are 100% full of sH&*...
Firstly you say WalMart sells poorly made products...
If as you say you won't step foot in their stores
How is it you know this? Truth is you don't.. your just regurgitating the Union mantra..
Next you talk about their employing slave labor... By that I'm sure you mean the people who manufacture their goods in China...
How do you know this? You don't ...again just regurgitating union mantras...
Well I know from personal experience having inpsected 4 factories in Southern China in the Guangdong Province, that happen to be used by Walmart and other major recognizable manufacturers, I can 100% assure you there is no slave labor. In fact I ate in the employee cafeteria with the people..(something they found quitre interesting) All wore clean smocks at the start of the day, were given fair breaks, lunches etc. In the cases of the employees needing places to live the company provided dorms which from what I saw were anything but dirty...
Now the usual distortion is when you see pictures of some in the stamping areas in under shirts...looking rather hot...
Well guess what... it is hot..and humid and it would be impossible to air condition the stamping area... as it neither is in the US or any other metla press house...
Now personally speaking I'm not a fan of Walmarts because it's too congested for me... but have been in their stores three times to review goods and look for an item...
In a nutshell you are the typical union supporter because of their ties to the dem party..yet a supporter who isn't likely a union member..but loves them.....plug it in and they talk..oh how unions love people like you
As a former union member, the great grandson, grandson, nephew and cousin of union shop stewards and foremen..can state from personal experience...unions suck
And my eyes are blue.....
ps...sometime ago you stated that China has 45 MPG as a standard for vehicles... while China has stopped issuing licenses/plates for old style mopeds or other high polluting two wheel vehicles... I can 100% assure you they don't have a working standard for 45 mpg vehicles...
once again you are full of it...
Mark - what is it that makes you think that rich/elite white conservatives like Wal-Mart or want to live next to some Christian hicks either? Is that all there is - low and middle class good 'ol folks and rich liberals? You and your silly caricatures again...
How is it you know this? Truth is you don't.. your just regurgitating the Union mantra.
Truth is I used to shop at walmart before I started reading about them and how they are hurting our economy.
Well I know from personal experience having inpsected 4 factories in Southern China in the Guangdong Province, that happen to be used by Walmart and other major recognizable manufacturers,
Let me guess: they knew you were coming. They had time to prepare for your visit. They guided your tour. Geez, get a clue.
Now the usual distortion is when you see pictures of some in the stamping areas in under shirts...looking rather hot...
No, I am talking about documentaries I have seen that are a bit more in depth than that.
In a nutshell you are the typical union supporter
Well that is a compliment, sir full of crap. Without them, workers are earning a poverty level salary, without health benefits for the first two years of their employment. Like, say, Walmar. Ah proud of your working man's ancestry yet full of yourself for rising above the heap and now working in management? Don't forget you stand on the shoulders of those hardworking relatives.
You're capitalist mantra, the me first, the shopping at walmart and the lowlife crowds (less at Foleys, I would imagine) sucks is well reason enough that you are full of it.
If you don't like Walmart, don't shop there. That should work for the lefties who tell me if I don't want an abortion, don't have one.
Funny how the standards change, isn't it...
That still doesn't mean you don't live in their basement.
Guess you didn't read my definition of low consumer lifestyle and felt the need to be a smart a$s anyway. Even for a bottom feeder like yourself that was pretty insensitive.
And polls aren't bad, but there are bad polls out there.
Which of course proves my point. Polls are good when they support your point of view and bad when they show Bush with a 6% approval rating. Read blacksheeps comment re: union lover/ dems if you don't think this is a political issue. It is all the management types that always come to Walmarts defense.
Unions however are needed now more than ever to counterbalance the greedy robber barons.
Please if there is a stitch of clothing in Walmart that is made anywhere in the United States, I'd be astounded. Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, yes a hodgepodge of countries so poor that Stan Kronke can pay them $9 a day. Get your head out of your.....
I don't know too much about Wall Mart - but sam's Club is considerably better than Costco!
In the end - everyone needs to follow the law, and Wall Mart is perhaps neither better nor worse than other corporations in that regard. This notion of slamming Wall Mart was a dumb idea to begin with. In the end, people go with companies that provide value. Low prices and good service do make the company that Sam Walton started a survivor today!
bryan@rightcommentary.com
Ash,
So.... you buy only American made. Really? What brands would that be? For clothes? For cars? For electronics? Where do you shop? Wow, nothing from overseas. Is that the standard now? How do the longshoremen and maritime unions feel about it?
I just make sure not to buy anything associated with Levi Strauss & Company because they hate the Boy Scouts.
Ash, you are such a liberal unionist putz, that I am driven to replace Walmart's loss of your money with mine. So, tonight after midnight I did about $100 grocery shopping, and smiled knowing you were not there. Then I thought about all those shopping at that time, and wondered how many were there that late so that their 'union' pals wouldn't know they shop there! Your conspiracy bullshit about knowing of inspections ahead of time, makes you appear dishonest, insincere, and incoherent all at the same time.
Dickdee,
"In 2004, only 8 percent of Wal-Mart inspectors’ visits to factories were unannounced, giving supervisors the chance to coach workers what to say and hide violations. Wal-Mart claimed it planned to double unannounced visits by its inspectors but that would still leave 80 percent of inspections announced." [CFO Magazine, August 2005]
"A former Wal-Mart executive James Lynn has sued the company claiming he was fired because he warned the company that an inspection manager was intimidating underlings into passing Central American suppliers. Lynn documented forced pregnancy tests, 24-hour work shifts, extreme heat, pat-down searches, locked exits, and other violations of the labor laws of these Central American countries." [New York Times, July 1, 2005 and James Lynn to Odair Violim, April 28, 2002, www.nclnet.org]
--Here are just two of the charges--in major US publications--that contradict what you assert. It is not fantasy or "conspiracy bullshit" to believe that much is overlooked by Wal-Mart in the effort to "drive down prices".
By the way, that is quite a bit of vitriol from a person who doesn't even bother to research the BS he/she eats up like PEZ.
I just don't like the fact that they, but buying mainly cheap, foreign products, support outsourcing. Keep the jobs here.
Georgia - what jobs? The cloth mills in North and South Carolina and Georgia are long gone. The vast majority of clothes are simply not made here anymore.
Now - I DO buy American at Wal-Mart. Savage, Remington, and Federal are ALL American.
How can you say that Wal-mart is no worse than any other company? they are the largest employer in the united states annnd in the world. they are basically setting the standard for the other comapnies to follow suit. maybe you guys should check out some of the sites with real facts... wwww.wakeupwalmart.com
and jsut curious why sam's is better than costco? is is wrong knowing that those employees are actually being treated humanely?
Ash,
"Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, yes a hodgepodge of countries so poor that Stan Kronke can pay them $9 a day."-by: Ash
So you want to take their WalMart jobs away from them?
In a moral world, Walmart would tell the owners of these sweatshops to pay better wages and provide better working conditions- or we will take our business elsewhere. Instead the opposite happens. Walmart demands an ever decreasing cost, so where do you think the manager cuts costs?
Or maybe even better, Walmart would only buy items made in the usa. But I know I am just dreaming.
Freedom,
Think about it logically, if these people first-off have to take on the IMF burden of building infrastructure to have these factories built, then are paid WAY below fair market value for their labor, they are grossing negative aggregate funds here. The land and loans from the IMF could have been used to create infrastructure for local business and sustainable farming, instead of slash and burn policies that only enrich the factory owner (who generally comes from the established elite) and the company buying goods produced by artificially supressed wages.
If these poeople were given the chance to work at a job that enriches them and their local communites, and doesn't pillage the ecological balance of their lands, we would actually start to see a thriving middle-class instead of a new class of poor factory workers living in shanty-towns encircling 'mquiladores'.
Ash,
We live in this world and you didn't answer the question. Do you want to take their WalMart jobs away from them?
Third Eye Open,
Write to the established elite in these foreign nations and tell them what you told me.
Freedom,
We can all "write" them by refusing to buy goods which undercut American and fair-trade goods.
I guarantee you put an American/FT good against a good produced by slave-laborers and the price difference would be minimal.
How about you go to Indonesia or bangladesh, and visit some of the worker's in their shanty-towns, and explain why their rivers are polluted and they are beaten and abused by their bosses so that we can pay $.30 less for toilet brushes.
I guess I do freedom. I want them to go to Americans. Let's see how long Walmart could survive then. It's a two way street.
Got a problem with that?
Some people look at the world as it is and ask why. Others look at the world and ask why not?
I guess you are the former and I am the latter.
Chicago smacks down Walmart:
Chicago makes sure it will pay a better wage. It will contribute to health insurance. With, what, 4 million people in the city I just wonder is Walmart will make good its threat to not build in the city. Should be interesting.
Chicago and Walmart Battle
Ash-"Let's see how long Walmart could survive then."
Some of these foreigners are literally struggling to find enough food to feed themselves and their families. If you take away their WalMart jobs they may die. The reality of many desperately poor people is just that-a reality. They need their jobs to stave off death.
If you two really want to do something useful, campaign against these foreign nations' governments to enforce decent wages and decent working conditions. I know these nations governments are horrible, but that's not going to change unless people get together to change them.
TEO-"How about you go to Indonesia or bangladesh, and visit some of the worker's in their shanty-towns, and explain why their rivers are polluted and they are beaten and abused by their bosses so that we can pay $.30 less for toilet brushes."
Why don't you explain to them why they are out of work and starving in their shanty-towns because you helped put WalMart out of business?
hats a fine sentiment freedom, but how can they supply walmart with what they want, when they want it and at the price they want it, if they do pay thier employees a fair wage?
Why not us take the high road? After all 5 of the 8 richest people in the universe are walmart heirs, owners. I'll bet you a biography of Sam Walton that if Walmart made it a requirment that factories in Indonesia pay their workers decently, they would. If you had to pay a penny more for a pair of socks at Walmart, wouldn't you think it worth it? I would
Freedom,
The wonderful thing about global capitalism, is that someone will step-in to fill the economic vaccum.
By the way, it's not very comforting to think that our elected representatives are schmoozing tyrants who are forcing people into what amounts to indentured servitude.
The republican power elites were the ones killing the efforts to shine a light on the horrific practices of these sweat shops, so even with recognition of the abuses, it takes the guts of our officials to WANT to do something about it.
http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/marianasupdate.html