Why is Walmart bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know I was considered inferior by other mothers because I shot at Walmart!
Would you explain me why is that?

Well, I would definitely look down on you for shooting at Walmart.

[Anonymous]

Unions are at their weakest in the private sector in decades. Right now, they're just a scary story.

As for Wally World:

1. The "mom and pop" businesses they replaced had terrible wages (w/ no chance of advancing) and higher prices. So a few local Chamber of Commerce types who were ripping off their small towns got hurt. Boo freaking hoo.
2. Wal-Mart is indeed subsidized by the taxpayer to provide Medicaid. This is pretty bad.
3. Mom and Pop businesses exploited workers too -- or limited employment to folks with the same last name.
4. Given that Wal-Mart has 3,000 locations around the country, I'll accept the 17 violations as white noise, comparably speaking, unless you can show lower rates of violations from other national chains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which Walmart closed because of union organizing. I am pro-union and support Walmart's right to do business. Just curious as to the location of the closed facility. TIA

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0511-03.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know I was considered inferior by other mothers because I shot at Walmart!
Would you explain me why is that?

So you "shot at Walmart"? Does that mean you bought your gun there? I think you just answered your own question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walmart is a union buster. If Walmart employees vote to have a union -- their right under federal law -- Walmart closes that store rather than allow it to unionize.

The workers have a write to start a union, Walmart has a right to close their store. Do you want to be employed or do you want to unionize? I wish the DCPS could run like that. Walmart is far more effective and efficient than the DCPS because of the lack of unions.

This is a post about why Walmart is bad. It's not a post about Walmart's rights. As for the question of whether one wants to be employed or whether one wants to unionize...why must employees choose? Unionization is a federal right. Customers also lose when Walmarts close.

So if the workers want to unionize they can..but does that prevent a company from closing what would then become a less profitable store due to the demands of unions? No. it does not. Unions ruined GM, Ford, Chrysler,etc

Wrong. Unions did not ruin American cars. American cars were ruined by poor planning and poor engineering

Walmart has one of the highest profit margins...why in the world would they begrudge their workers a slightly lower profit margin. It's not either or. Union does not equal no profits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walmart is a union buster. If Walmart employees vote to have a union -- their right under federal law -- Walmart closes that store rather than allow it to unionize.

The workers have a write to start a union, Walmart has a right to close their store. Do you want to be employed or do you want to unionize? I wish the DCPS could run like that. Walmart is far more effective and efficient than the DCPS because of the lack of unions.

This is a post about why Walmart is bad. It's not a post about Walmart's rights. As for the question of whether one wants to be employed or whether one wants to unionize...why must employees choose? Unionization is a federal right. Customers also lose when Walmarts close.

So if the workers want to unionize they can..but does that prevent a company from closing what would then become a less profitable store due to the demands of unions? No. it does not. Unions ruined GM, Ford, Chrysler,etc

Wrong. Unions did not ruin American cars. American cars were ruined by poor planning and poor engineering

Walmart has one of the highest profit margins...why in the world would they begrudge their workers a slightly lower profit margin. It's not either or. Union does not equal no profits.

Walmart does not owe it workers anything. It gives them a paycheck. If they don't like it they can remain unemployed. Period. Walmart owes its SHAREHOLDERS the highest profit margins it can generate. I know a lot of you here would wish that the govt would take over Walmart and thus ask for less in terms of profit, rising stock price etc but that is not the case in the free market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somewhere the CEO of K-mart is yelling "Yah, take that!"

I don't shop at K-Mart either. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Why Wal-Mart is bad for America:

1. Wal-Mart destroys more jobs than it creates. A new Wal-Mart destroys jobs by putting local merchants out of business. The jobs Wal-Mart creates are fewer, lower-paying and mostly part-time. (Good Jobs First)

2. Wal-Mart burdens public health care programs. Most jobs at Wal-Mart have little or no health benefits. Wal-Mart encourages its workers to seek public assistance for their health care. In Georgia, 10,000 children of Wal-Mart employees were enrolled in the public health insurance program. (NOW with Bill Moyers, AFL-CIO)

3. Wal-Mart exploits workers. The average hourly worker makes just $18,000 dollars a year. Meanwhile, in 2002, the corporation raked in $6.6 billion in profits. Wal-Mart has known for years that many of its stores violate child labor laws and state regulations requiring work breaks - but has done little, if anything, to stop it. (Mother Jones, New York Times)

4. Wal-Mart degrades the environment. The federal government charged Wal-Mart with violating the Clean Water Act in 17 locations across the country. Run-off from Wal-Mart construction sites polluted drinking water, streams and lakes. To settle the charges Wal-Mart agreed to pay a $1 million dollar fine. (EPA)


Proponents of Wal-Mart tout their low prices - and the positive impact they have on the purchasing power of consumers. But Wal-Mart is able to provide low prices because they are heavily subsidized by taxpayers. In addition to relying on public health care for their employees, Wal-Mart has benefited from over $1 billion in economic development subsidies. (Good Jobs First)

A Better Idea:

Make corporations like Wal-Mart help pay for public assistance programs from which they benefit. Instead of providing taxpayer subsidies to Wal-Mart, invest in businesses that provide stable jobs with adequate wages and health benefits.

I would not believe this poster. I only got to point #2 and I could see plain untruths.

About 95% of Walmart employees have health care. Half of those are on Walmart plans and the other half are on their spouses' coverage. I don't know of a major retailer that can say that. Also, they came out strongly for employer mandated health coverage during the health care debate. The National Retail Federation (who represents the other guys) was completely opposed to this. Lastly, the "local" small businesses seldom offer health care to employees. Since Walmart's stand on health insurance is clearly in the public record, I would consider this person's post to be a rant and not believe anything until you find supporting evidence.

Your sources?

It's no secret. Here is the press on Walmart's support of the employer mandate for health care coverage.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10532320/1/wal-mart-backs-obamas-health-care-plan.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINN1319793920090713

Here is the information about Walmart's health plan coverage:
http://www.nationalpost.com/life/health/story.html?id=c53a7b42-198b-4462-957f-72cbc5993a53

Walmart's benefits plan is outlined on their web site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Walmart does not owe it workers anything. It gives them a paycheck. If they don't like it they can remain unemployed. Period. Walmart owes its SHAREHOLDERS the highest profit margins it can generate. I know a lot of you here would wish that the govt would take over Walmart and thus ask for less in terms of profit, rising stock price etc but that is not the case in the free market.

You sound like someone who is taking a first class flight to hell.

Slow down, the ride may be nice, but it's hot down there and the accommodations are permanent.

Call Jesus ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Walmart does not owe it workers anything. It gives them a paycheck. If they don't like it they can remain unemployed. Period. Walmart owes its SHAREHOLDERS the highest profit margins it can generate. I know a lot of you here would wish that the govt would take over Walmart and thus ask for less in terms of profit, rising stock price etc but that is not the case in the free market.

I smell a fellow Capitalist. Care to meet for dinner? I would thoroughly enjoy speaking with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Walmart does not owe it workers anything. It gives them a paycheck. If they don't like it they can remain unemployed. Period. Walmart owes its SHAREHOLDERS the highest profit margins it can generate. I know a lot of you here would wish that the govt would take over Walmart and thus ask for less in terms of profit, rising stock price etc but that is not the case in the free market.

Which is great. But the other part of the free market is that consumers get to decide where to spend their money. And they get to take into account whether whichever corporation they deal with are a bunch of dirt-rolling scumbags. Also, we get to bring social pressure to bear on those who *do* do business with said scumbag corporation for making our country just a little worse off.

Walmart is the logistics arm of the PRC, pure and simple. By shopping there, you may as well wipe your ass with the flag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walmart is a union buster. If Walmart employees vote to have a union -- their right under federal law -- Walmart closes that store rather than allow it to unionize.

The workers have a write to start a union, Walmart has a right to close their store. Do you want to be employed or do you want to unionize? I wish the DCPS could run like that. Walmart is far more effective and efficient than the DCPS because of the lack of unions.

This is a post about why Walmart is bad. It's not a post about Walmart's rights. As for the question of whether one wants to be employed or whether one wants to unionize...why must employees choose? Unionization is a federal right. Customers also lose when Walmarts close.

So if the workers want to unionize they can..but does that prevent a company from closing what would then become a less profitable store due to the demands of unions? No. it does not. Unions ruined GM, Ford, Chrysler,etc

Wrong. Unions did not ruin American cars. American cars were ruined by poor planning and poor engineering

Walmart has one of the highest profit margins...why in the world would they begrudge their workers a slightly lower profit margin. It's not either or. Union does not equal no profits.

Walmart does not owe it workers anything. It gives them a paycheck. If they don't like it they can remain unemployed. Period. Walmart owes its SHAREHOLDERS the highest profit margins it can generate. I know a lot of you here would wish that the govt would take over Walmart and thus ask for less in terms of profit, rising stock price etc but that is not the case in the free market.

Who the hell said anything about a gov't takeover?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Walmart does not owe it workers anything. It gives them a paycheck. If they don't like it they can remain unemployed. Period. Walmart owes its SHAREHOLDERS the highest profit margins it can generate. I know a lot of you here would wish that the govt would take over Walmart and thus ask for less in terms of profit, rising stock price etc but that is not the case in the free market.

Who the hell said anything about a gov't takeover?

You're clearly arguing with an American "conservative", hence the non-sequiters and random CAPITALIZATIONS. It's a hallmark of the genre. (e.g "Oh YEAH? Ayers, ACORN, Islamofascist!!")

[Anonymous]

Over the years they have forced US manufacturers to produce their products, like TVs and other electronics, for example, at a low price, which sends the manufacturing jobs overseas where there is cheaper labor. Not sure how much that has lead to the 10% unemployment we have, but clearly manufacturing jobs are rapidly disappearing in this country.

[Anonymous]

Talk about having a question misinterpreted. OP I believe you were talking about the ass that said peeing in the parking lot was a reflection of the demographic that shops at Wal-Mart. Yes, people like that poster think less of you for shopping at Wal-Mart. Do you really care what people like that think?