That sparkling jewel of capitalism, Wal-Mart, is being attacked, from the Left, with broadside after broadside today.
Why? What in the world did Wal-Mart do to upset the American Left?
Well, two things, really. They became wildly successful, making money hand over fist, and… they are not unionized. There you have it in a nutshell.
Of course, you can use the Health Insurance "thing" that Maryland is using to force Wal-Mart to leave the state and take the jobs of thousands of Wal-Mart employees, in the state of Maryland, out of that state. But that is only secondary, really. Maryland is a hard Democrat state and they want Wal-Mart gone. It makes the lawmakers of Maryland nervous to see such success, especially a successful business with its origins in the South and with its home base remaining in the South… to this day.
The Left does not understand business and... they simply don’t want to understand it. They see business, especially a "successful" business, as a cash cow. They will tax the living daylights out of a successful business. Then... they demand that that business, basically, give its profits away to its employees. That is not the way a successful business operates. Nor can it.
In the first place a business, any business, is not “in business” to do you, or me, a favor. They are there to make money, to make a profit for their owners and/or their stockholders. If, providing jobs for area workers helps the economy of the area, then well and good. But they have no responsibility to become the cash cow for that town, county, or state. Sam Walton knew that. All capitalists know that. Somehow, the socialists have missed that, or, choose not to understand it.
Wal-Mart does not want to unionize. Any business, in its right mind, is against a union. Unions are deadly enemies of business. So far, Wal-Mart has been able to forestall unionizing in its stores.
I have no use for unions. Some members of my family have been union members. One member of my family became the Vice-President of one of the largest Unions in the United States. The US Secretary of Labor attended his funeral. But, as for me, as I said, I have no use for unions. I have no use for collective bargaining. I have never understood why an individual cannot meet with a probable employer and come to an agreement with that employer as to pay per hour and benefits. No threat is involved… unlike the collective bargaining of unions.
Now, Wal-Mart certainly doesn’t need me to defend them. But, I will. Some have suggested that Wal-Mart move it’s stores just across the Maryland state line into Virginia and Delaware. Maryland would lose all that tax money and over 10,000 Maryland citizens would lose their jobs. At least that would make the point that Wal-Mart does fill a need in the state of Maryland.
There is much to dislike in the Big Box Stores. Their effect on small, Mom and Pop, businesses is devastating. But, hey, times are changing.
My small town has a Super Wal-Mart and it meets the needs of this community and then some. It draws many customers from the adjoining state of South Carolina. We are located approximately one hour from three large cities. Without a Wal-Mart here, we’d be forced to either drive to those cities, to shop, or do without.
Yes, Wal-Mart is welcome here. We are thankful for the variety of merchandise it has brought us, at affordable prices, and we are truly thankful for the jobs it has provided our people.
Long Live Wal-Mart!
Longstreet
7 comments:
You again Longstreet have it wrong. The left doesn't hate Wal-Mart we hate that they don't follow rules and laws (much like President Bush, but that's another story.) They break the law by forcing people to work off the clock, not allowing people who work 6 or more hours to take a 1/2 hr break, using illegal aliens, locking clean up crew inside the stores over night. Read the lawsuits! I WILL NOT SHOP AT WAL_MART UNTIL THEY FOLLOW THE LAW. For someone as yourself who complains about people on welfare an tax payer supported healthcare you should be apalled by the actions of Wal-Mart. They show their emoployees how to sign up for medi-caid. Hey I am as much for free enterprise as the next guy I just believe that a company who accepts American dollars, relys on the American Consumer should do all it can to make this country the best they can. If they can't then they are un-american. This is, and I truly believe this to my core, A GREAT COUNTRY and every single citizen, from the greatest to the least owes a little something to his neighbor. that is not just my belief but I I feel the beliefs of any true American and Christian!
Frank had some very good points. I also boycott Wal-Mart and have for years.
I would like to add that Wal-Mart has a VERY cozy relationship with Communist government of China. In fact, it has been reported that Wal-Mart exports account for 1% of China's Gross Domestic Product (http://singleplanet.blogs.com/csrchina/2005/03/that_walmart_mo.html).
Now, explain to me again how this is good for America?
P.S. Longstreet, if you honestly want to find out more about Wal-Mart, check out these grassroots, non-partisan sites:
http://walmartwatch.com/
http://wakeupwalmart.com/
One would have to be fairly dense, indeed, not to notice the Wal-Mart connection to China. The labels themselves provide all the clues one needs to establish that.
No, I am not happy with that. But, it is THEIR business. I have no say in how it is run, and I do not believe anyone outside the owners, stockholders, and board of directors of Wal-Mart should.
There are a number of places I do not shop simply because they are funded by, owned by, or supplied by, a country, or a government, I do not respect for one reason or another.
For instamce, I will not buy a Japanese automobile. I have not forgiven them for Pearl Harbor yet, and I never will. I do not buy Citgo products because it is owned by the government of Venezuela. So, I am convinced it is a personal choice. That does not give me the moral right to tell the Japanese what kind of cars they will produce or what kind of Health Insurance package they must furnish for their employees. It does not give me the moral, or legal, right to dictate to Venezeuela what they can do with their oil... as much as I might like to. That is where I draw the line.
Wal-Mart belongs to the Waltons and their stockholders. I do not own any stock, therefore I have no say in where they purchase their products for resale. However, I can protest the way they do business by not shopping in their store, if I have a mind to, as does anyone. But that is as far as it goes.
Business is the bedrock of America. Attacking it is attacking the foundation of this great republic.
Mr. Longstreet,
About your comment, "Business is the bedrock of America. Attacking it is attacking the foundation of this great republic." I beg to differ. It is freedom, equality, self determination, life, lberty, and the persuit of happiness, that are the bedrock of this GREAT NATION. Consumerism, and Capitalism are biproducts of the industrial revolution. A revolution that turned citizens into consumers and nothing more. Being the student of history that I know you are, I thought you would have known that. And if a company can't pass along some of it's good fortune to the people who do the real work, and when those people are real Americans whose sons and daughters are persued by military recruters and give their lives fighting and dieing on foreign soil to secure a prosperous nation to build new Wal-Marts, dang it those people who punch the clock everyday should be considered their number one asset!
The Wal-Mart issue in Maryland causes a lot of headaches for conservatives.
On one hand, they want to take up for Wal-Mart. But to do so means putting tens of thousands of Wal-Mart workers on welfare at the state's expense.
On the other hand, making Wal-Mart pay for health care would reduce taxes in Maryland.
It's not an easy balancing act for conservatives.
The simple fact is that big business in America is fast becoming the biggest supporters of universal health care.
After WWII, when advances in health care changed the dynamics of medical care, the civilized world had two options: 1) let government pay for it or 2) let big business include it as part of a salary package to lure workers.
Health care is too expensive for the individual to afford.
Most of the world went with the government option. The US, with a labor shortage, went with the business backed one.
But health care inflation is rising faster than production and profits. Most Americans are convinced there is no economic boom because they haven't seen a raise in five years. That's because their employers have been pouring money for raises into health insurance.
Eliminating health insurance costs overnight would be the single largest tax break ever for American business. It would free up hundreds of billions of dollars for reinvestment and raises.
But the only way to do that is with the government stepping in to cover medical care.
Our health care coverage already ranks lower than any other English speaking nation in the world -- longer waits for doctors visits, most expensive care, most medical mistakes and poorest care -- according to the most recent medical studies.
It's only going to get worse if companies like Wal Mart dump people on the states and companies like Ford and GM have to keep subsidizing the health care of the uninsured.
Expect to see lobbyists from big business pushing for universal health care in the 2008 elections.
“After WWII, when advances in health care changed the dynamics of medical care, the civilized world had two options: 1) let government pay for it or 2) let big business include it as part of a salary package to lure workers.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You are "spot-on", Tex. That is exactly what happened.
I have said, on this blog, that I DO expect a national healthcare system, of some kind, preferably a single-payer system, in the near future, in America.
I don't like the idea, but, I'm afraid I see no way to avoid it.
Before I retired, I ran a business... and my largest expense was health Insurance for my empoyees. At one point, I dropped my own coverage to try and reduce that cost. It only worked for a short time. Soon, I was swampped again.
One thing is for certain, we cannot allow business in America to flounder. Business is the engine that drives this republic and this republic's government. I just don't think modern Americans are made of the same stern stuff as were the Americans of the late 1920's and 1930's when the business community collapsed in this country. I'm afraid if that happens today, America will cease to exist. So, we have a trade- off.
As someone who has been hospitalized some 70 times, since I was 25 years of age, you can imagine my concern. My fear is, that when we allow government to take over our healthcare system, we will experience a drop in the overall quality of the care given patients. I mean, look at the Post Office! Why, just look at the Medicare Prescription Program struggling to get on it's feet... right out of the starting gate. It's a dud.
I don't like the idea, and I cannot support the idea, BUT, I truly believe we are headed for a national healthcare system in America.
One other thing. Be prepared for a healthcare system, outside the government's, which will be available to those with the money to pay escalated costs for care. Even, I repeat, even, if the government makes the practice of medicine outside the government's system there wil be a vast medical underground established, almost immediately. Sad to say, but those treated by the "outlaw docs" will receive better care, for their money, than those treated inside the system. When docs punch clocks, and receive salaries, instead of realising their goal of great wealth, and fame, then their commitment to their patients will, at the very least, be suspect.
I don't trust govermnment with anything. And when I am asked to place my life in the hands of a governmment doctor, forgive me if I go looking for "Bootleg Medicine" and a doctor who is looking for more than quitting time.
Again, I say that I feel sure it is coming, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Longstreet
Well Tex. and Longstreet your on the right track but you missed the train completely. Why should a full time employee of a company as successful as Wal-Mart even qualify for public assistance in the first place? Do you know they have huge meetings for dept. heads and managers? Do you know how they start those meetings? With the pledge of alligance? NO! With a prayer? NO! With the "Wal-Mart Pledge". Seriously how un-American and un-Christian is that? Puting a company before God and Country. As an American Christian 1st and Liberal 2nd I will not help support this company.
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