Is This Good For America?

[kalm]

So six people have as much wealth as nearly half of the rest combined. And Walmart is now the 3rd largest employer in the world behind the US and Chinese militaries.

I would think any card-carrying, zero-reg, free trade, free market conk would have to say yes...

The Walton family, heirs to the founders of the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. superchain, are worth nearly as much as the bottom half of American households combined.

The Waltons' value -- $89.5 billion in 2010 – is equal to the worth of the 41.5% of families at the lower end of the income ladder, according to an analysis by Josh Bivens of the Economic Policy Institute. That comes out to 48.8 million households.

And as the mid-point of family net worth fell 38.8% in the U.S. between 2007 and 2010 to $77,300, the Waltons’ fortune grew an inflation-adjusted $16.2 billion.

Household net worth took a 35% dive from 2005 to 2010, according to recent data from the Census Bureau. Recent pay raises don’t amount to much, considering the impact of inflation.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/18 ... s-20120718" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ASUG8]

I dislike Walmart for their predatory tactics and complete reliance on foreign made goods. That being said, the success of the Walton family is the American dream. Is it good for America? Hard to say...until Americans decide they don't mind paying a bit more for US sourced products Wally world will always be around, filled mostly with folks who vote Dem.

[mrklean]

HELL NO this is not good for our country. Look at how they treat there employees. SMDH

[∞∞∞]

And Walmart is now the 3rd largest employer in the world behind the US and Chinese militaries.

I see three bad things for America in that sentence...

[ASUG8]

HELL NO this is not good for our country. Look at how they treat there employees. SMDH

Work someplace else.

[mrklean]

HELL NO this is not good for our country. Look at how they treat there employees. SMDH

Work someplace else.

So that gives you the right to treat your employees like crap????

[ASUG8]

Work someplace else.

So that gives you the right to treat your employees like crap????

As an employee who is dissatisfied with how they're treated by their employer they have right to walk their asses right out the door.

[mrklean]

So that gives you the right to treat your employees like crap????

As an employee who is dissatisfied with how they're treated by their employer they have right to walk their asses right out the door.

This is why you have Unions. They are Employees not slaves. Yes they can leave, but what happens when all companies treat there employees like crap?

[kalm]

So that gives you the right to treat your employees like crap????

As an employee who is dissatisfied with how they're treated by their employer they have right to walk their asses right out the door.

I agree with this in general. Your employer owes you nothing more than a paycheck and you have the right to leave.

But let me throw a hypothetical at ya:

You're a pharmacist at a locally owend drug store in a relatively small town. You have school age kids, your friends and some family are here and your roots are firmly planted. Your employer treats you well, works with your schedule when kids are sick, compensates you appropriately, etc.

Then Walmart moves in and pushes the drug store you work at out of business. You now go to work at Walmart for far less than your last job, where they have no regard for family leave, and force your co-workers to come in on Thanksgiving.

You posted earlier that the Walton family wealth embodies the American dream and when people are ready to pay more for domestic goods things will change.

The American dream used to be a small house with a white picket fence, and perhaps the ability to send your kids to college. Now people believe they are on the road to the Walton American dream by saving a few bucks on some p.o.s. brushed steel table fan that 93hen returned with a couple of the parts missing.

The disconnect between cheap goods from China and american wages driving demand is depressing.

[mrklean]

As an employee who is dissatisfied with how they're treated by their employer they have right to walk their asses right out the door.

I agree with this in general. Your employer owes you nothing more than a paycheck and you have the right to leave.

But let me throw a hypothetical at ya:

You're a pharmacist at a locally owend drug store in a relatively small town. You have school age kids, your friends and some family are here and your roots are firmly planted. Your employer treats you well, works with your schedule when kids are sick, compensates you appropriately, etc.

Then Walmart moves in and pushes the drug store you work at out of business. You now go to work at Walmart for far less than your last job, where they have no regard for family leave, and force your co-workers to come in on Thanksgiving.

You posted earlier that the Walton family wealth embodies the American dream and when people are ready to pay more for domestic goods things will change.

The American dream used to be a small house with a white picket fence, and perhaps the ability to send your kids to college. Now people believe they are on the road to the Walton American dream by saving a few bucks on some p.o.s. brushed steel table fan that 93hen returned with a couple of the parts missing.

The disconnect between cheap goods from China and american wages driving demand is depressing.

Like you said before, you can allways leave.

[kalm]

I agree with this in general. Your employer owes you nothing more than a paycheck and you have the right to leave.

But let me throw a hypothetical at ya:

You're a pharmacist at a locally owend drug store in a relatively small town. You have school age kids, your friends and some family are here and your roots are firmly planted. Your employer treats you well, works with your schedule when kids are sick, compensates you appropriately, etc.

Then Walmart moves in and pushes the drug store you work at out of business. You now go to work at Walmart for far less than your last job, where they have no regard for family leave, and force your co-workers to come in on Thanksgiving.

You posted earlier that the Walton family wealth embodies the American dream and when people are ready to pay more for domestic goods things will change.

The American dream used to be a small house with a white picket fence, and perhaps the ability to send your kids to college. Now people believe they are on the road to the Walton American dream by saving a few bucks on some p.o.s. brushed steel table fan that 93hen returned with a couple of the parts missing.

The disconnect between cheap goods from China and american wages driving demand is depressing.

Like you said before, you can allways leave.

I can see both sides to most arguments. But remember who started the thread.

[mrklean]

Like you said before, you can allways leave.

I can see both sides to most arguments. But remember who started the thread.

This is why I do not shop at Walmart.

[ASUG8]

Kalm, I get ya, hence the predatory practices comment I made. Walmart will come into a town and destroy every local pharmacy, independent grocery, eye care center, etc. The American dream comment was solely meant that they started in rural Arkansas with a single location and became today's behemoth. I personally wouldn't walk over to piss on a burning Walmart but I respect their business acumen to deliver cheap products to much of the world.

[Ibanez]

As an employee who is dissatisfied with how they're treated by their employer they have right to walk their asses right out the door.

This is why you have Unions. They are Employees not slaves. Yes they can leave, but what happens when all companies treat there employees like crap?

This is why you have right to work states. You don't like it, go somewhere else. Unions are dangerous.

[Ibanez]

I can see both sides to most arguments. But remember who started the thread.

This is why I do not shop at Walmart.

You are probably healthier for it too.the last time I was in a Walmart it was filled with kids sneezing and sweaty hunters will fresh blood on their pants.

[kalm]

This is why you have Unions. They are Employees not slaves. Yes they can leave, but what happens when all companies treat there employees like crap?

This is why you have right to work states. You don't like it, go somewhere else. Unions are dangerous.

Not as dangerous as monopolies.

[Ivytalk]

This is why you have right to work states. You don't like it, go somewhere else. Unions are dangerous.

Not as dangerous as monopolies.

Unions are labor monopolies.

Happy Thanksgiving, kalm!

[ASUG8]

This is why you have right to work states. You don't like it, go somewhere else. Unions are dangerous.

Not as dangerous as monopolies.

True, but we have laws on the books to bust trusts.

[kalm]

Not as dangerous as monopolies.

Unions are labor monopolies.

Happy Thanksgiving, kalm!

Right back at ya buddy!

[Baldy]

You're a pharmacist at a locally owend drug store in a relatively small town. You have school age kids, your friends and some family are here and your roots are firmly planted. Your employer treats you well, works with your schedule when kids are sick, compensates you appropriately, etc.

Then Walmart moves in and pushes the drug store you work at out of business. You now go to work at Walmart for far less than your last job, where they have no regard for family leave, and force your co-workers to come in on Thanksgiving.

You posted earlier that the Walton family wealth embodies the American dream and when people are ready to pay more for domestic goods things will change.

The American dream used to be a small house with a white picket fence, and perhaps the ability to send your kids to college. Now people believe they are on the road to the Walton American dream by saving a few bucks on some p.o.s. brushed steel table fan that 93hen returned with a couple of the parts missing.

The disconnect between cheap goods from China and american wages driving demand is depressing.

Go to work at CVS, Rite-Aid, or Walgreens instead of WalMart.

[kalm]

You're a pharmacist at a locally owend drug store in a relatively small town. You have school age kids, your friends and some family are here and your roots are firmly planted. Your employer treats you well, works with your schedule when kids are sick, compensates you appropriately, etc.

Then Walmart moves in and pushes the drug store you work at out of business. You now go to work at Walmart for far less than your last job, where they have no regard for family leave, and force your co-workers to come in on Thanksgiving.

You posted earlier that the Walton family wealth embodies the American dream and when people are ready to pay more for domestic goods things will change.

The American dream used to be a small house with a white picket fence, and perhaps the ability to send your kids to college. Now people believe they are on the road to the Walton American dream by saving a few bucks on some p.o.s. brushed steel table fan that 93hen returned with a couple of the parts missing.

The disconnect between cheap goods from China and american wages driving demand is depressing.

Go to work at CVS, Rite-Aid, or Walgreens instead of WalMart.

The town I'm thinking of only has Walmart. If they're allowed to be successful enough free marketeers that's all any town would have.

[Chizzang]

America is Wal-Mart
It is what we have become - it is who we are
Wal-Mart is a direct reflection of everything that is great / and not so great about America
It is a literal one-to-one exact duplicate reflection of us

[Ivytalk]

America is Wal-Mart
It is what we have become - it is who we are
Wal-Mart is a direct reflection of everything that is great / and not so great about America
It is a literal one-to-one exact duplicate reflection of us

So what the fuck does that mean, Obi-Wan-Chizzobi?

[kalm]

America is Wal-Mart
It is what we have become - it is who we are
Wal-Mart is a direct reflection of everything that is great / and not so great about America
It is a literal one-to-one exact duplicate reflection of us

So what the fuck does that mean, Obi-Wan-Chizzobi?

I used to make the same remark about Vegas...the very best and worst of America wrapped up in one place.

It also means you cannot possibly have a good answer to the thread question.

[Ivytalk]

So what the **** does that mean, Obi-Wan-Chizzobi?

I used to make the same remark about Vegas...the very best and worst of America wrapped up in one place.

It also means you cannot possibly have a good answer to the thread question.

It's psychobabble bullshit, kalm. What you're good at.