If you thought that you knew what kind of company Walmart is

[Xargos]

Where is Theodore Roosevelt when you need him?

[lazs2]

sled.. if I got you wrong then I apologize..  I just read this and thought that meant that...  if you were a democrat then you would vote for democrats..

"For the record, I am old school democrat (Zell Miller type), or what some call a "Conservative Democrat". The way the democratic party was before the "liberal" movement. I am a NRA member, Pro-life, believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I Believe in responsible use of our resources (logging, fishing, motorized recreation, etc), I have a large collection of assault weapons, A 130hp 2 stroke snowmachine, and a RAM 4x4 with a Hemi. Wink I believe there should be prayer in schools, and when I say the pledge, I use the word "God".

Now with all of that said, I also believe that the American worker has the right to organize and negotiate a contract with it's employer."

If that is not what you are (a democrat)..  if you are only saying that IF the democrats were like they used to be that you would vote for em.. then I have misjudged you.   What you have described tho is a republican..  there is no such democrat today soo.. you are either a republican who can't admit it or..living in the past.   Democrats were also against equal rights in the past.   I doubt most new democrats want to claim that legacy.

lazs

[Hap]

Walmart saves the average lower middle class person about $2000 a year...  you want to put a $2000 a year tax on poor people by getting rid of walmart?

lazs

Of course I do!  Along with unionizing the snot out of them.  And extending the price increases to all of you.  Oh, the horror, the horror!  End of the world sort of stuff.  We will have to pay more for our fluffy wuffies!!!

I was raised during the autumn hey day of unions.  Poor America.  It was so wretched here from 1957 to 1967.

What strikes me as odd is how happily many on the boards are thrilled to be plundered by guys in suits and ties.  Don't you feel squeamish holding their hands in public?

Anyone have the stat on what portion of stuff bought by American's is needless?  Read it recently someplace.

[lazs2]

awmac... touchy touchy..  not my fault you have Texas envy.. you claim I don't know enough about the Texas okie rivalry but..  I do know this much.. the Texans here aren't playing is what I see.. they pretty much ignore you.  While you.. are obsessed.. every thread.  You seem to be the only one playing.

ltardglock...  I don't know what jesus christ said.. I wasn't there.  I do not believe that it is difficult for a rich man to be a good person or to get into heaven.    any more than it is for a bigoted, narrow minded fundamentalist to get into heaven or even not be terminally obnoxious to be around.

I said that it is none of my business who you give to or how much.. just as it is none of yours who I do... I get nervous when you start saying "WE NEED TO.." on anything.. you are not a "we".  You are not allowed to tell me what I need to do or who I give my money to.

As for Walmart and how much poor people save.. I noticed you didn't dispute that.. getting rid of walmart would be a $2000 a year tax on the poor..  You asked if I didn't think there was alternatives....  I don't.

Union?   prices up to pay salaries higher than the worth of the product... Mom  and Pop?   low wages.. high prices and a general tendency to treat everyone like crap..  they won't even smile at customers until a walmart shows up in the neighborhood..

In our town the local stores were crap with high prices and low wages and an arrogant attitude.. when walmart came.. the raised their wages and lowered their prices to compete.. they even say "hi" and smile now.

So where are these "alternatives to walmart"? that you tout?

lazs

[lazs2]

well hap.. then maybe you were around in the 60's when the unions destroyed the auto industry?    All those high wages and what?  did it make it so the guy working at the gas station could afford a new chevy or....

did he buy that new Toyopet or datsun?

I shop at walmart.. we have a new one and it is pretty nice.  clean and friendly.   lots of folks who didn't have jobs now do.    What is the problem?

lazs

[Hap]

well hap.. then maybe you were around in the 60's when the unions destroyed the auto industry?   

Lazs, what dog do you have in this hunt to turn a blind eye to where the money accrues?  Are you in the grip of a theory or what?

So you believe unions destroyed Detroit?

Well, if you say it, that must make it so.

[lazs2]

hap.. I am not sure what you are saying.   It is none of my business where the money goes.   For the most part...

I lived in Fremont where there was Ford and Gm plants.. I knew plenty of folks who worked there.. they were overpaid druggies like you would not believe.  they got way too much money for way too little skill level.   The parking lot looked like it was covered in diamonds and riches from the freeway until you got close and seen it was just broken bottles and used syringes causing the glitter.   I made a fortune off those worthless union guys and wouldn't buy a new car for decades.   Did you ever see the level of craftsmanship in those cars back then?

I got no problem with unions.. they are welcome.  I would rather just hire mediators and used interest based negotiation but.. to each his own.

lazs

[bj229r]

Please, feel free to show me where Toyota sets the prices of any part of their supply chain.  You are grossly wrong in your assertion.  Walmart is the first and only company to EVER reverse the normal supply and demand structure of capitalism. 

Normally, demand drives prices, with supply determining said price.  Wally World has become so large, they TELL companies what they will be buying from them and what price, and usually it is way below the price at which demand has fixed it.  So, therefore, smaller suppliers are forced to deal with Wally World on Wally's terms, and not the terms set forth in a free market economy.

  Do the research, it will spin your head.

What they DO (at least what they did in Japan, cant speak to how they work it over here, other than it seems any foreign auto plant is always in a non-union state like Tennessee, Mississippi or Alabama) is find a contractor that makes some aspect of a vehicle (differentials, etc), get put enough demand on that contractor to get him to commit to doing ONLY Toyota work,(i.e. re-tooling plant) or losing it all---At that point he HAS no other customers, and he then becomes Toyota's b***h. If said contractor doesn't jump through every hoop, Toyota (OR Nissan, any of the others) can effectively end their company's existence--brutal world out there.
http://www.h-net.org/~business/bhcweb/publications/BEHprint/v019/p0163-p0171.pdf

[Hap]

I lived in Fremont where there was Ford and Gm plants.. I knew plenty of folks who worked there.. they were overpaid druggies like you would not believe.  they got way too much money for way too little skill level.   

This is getting to the crux of a matter.  Without taking care or pride of one's life, union or no union doesn't matter a whit.  

Changing the cast of characters, much could and should be said about mismanagement.

As it is now, it seems folks are into the "selling" racket.  Doesn't matter what.  Oh!  The goose that laid the golden egg is a good example.  Folks selling the goose back and forth.  All being to impatient too wait for the eggs.  Pity the guy who gets the goose last when it's worn out and not laying anymore.

The alternative, which I favor, is to scan about and see what we need.  Make that ourselves.  Pay those in the loop what they need to frame a decent life.

[lazs2]

hap.. sounds good until....

You tell us how you would do that.   How do you do any of the things you think should happen?

Nope.. you let things take the natural capitalistic course.   Sure.. the management and ceo's are worthless and  bloated but..  that is changing believe it or not..  more and more stockholders are squeaking and asking for results.. if they get results.. then it matters not what the salary...

It also matters not how much the worker "needs" if all he does is run an air powered screwdriver and put in the same 5 capscrews all day long.   he ain't worth much.

I will buy from walmart.  they have some crap I won't buy and don't need.   kids clothes that are outgrown in 6 months and made by cheap labor in china?  why not?

Do I feel bad about the conditions those people are working under?  nope.  not really.. they aren't.. they want the work.. the alternative is starving.. they don't like the work?  don't do it.   Don't like starving?  How bout they have about 6 less kids to feed?

lazs

[MORAY37]

Do I feel bad about the conditions those people are working under?  nope.  not really.. they aren't.. they want the work.. the alternative is starving.. they don't like the work?  don't do it.   Don't like starving?  How bout they have about 6 less kids to feed?

lazs

Par for the course, Lazs.  Full of pre-conceived ideology and racial bias. 

[SteveBailey]

Par for the course, Lazs.  Full of pre-conceived ideology and racial bias. 

       what a clown

[Urchin]

I'm curious Steve - what do you do for a living?

[Maverick]

Of course I do!  Along with unionizing the snot out of them.  And extending the price increases to all of you.  Oh, the horror, the horror!  End of the world sort of stuff.  We will have to pay more for our fluffy wuffies!!!

I was raised during the autumn hey day of unions.  Poor America.  It was so wretched here from 1957 to 1967.

What strikes me as odd is how happily many on the boards are thrilled to be plundered by guys in suits and ties.  Don't you feel squeamish holding their hands in public?

Anyone have the stat on what portion of stuff bought by American's is needless?  Read it recently someplace.

I’m going to ignore the emotional hyperbole in the first (majority) part of your post. The part that I want you to explain is the “plundered by suits” bit. It has a nice ring to it but in the context of your post seems to have a null content. Are you referring to the union “suits” or the employer “suits”?

The other thing I want you to expand on is the lament about the “useless stuff” “stat”. Who is to decide what is useless and whether or not anyone else’s should be buying it? Are you going to deign to tell folks what they should do with their money? Are you suggesting that you will decide what people really need to buy and then restrict them to it? Who will determine the other person’s real “need”?

This is getting to the crux of a matter.  Without taking care or pride of one's life, union or no union doesn't matter a whit. 

Changing the cast of characters, much could and should be said about mismanagement.

As it is now, it seems folks are into the "selling" racket.  Doesn't matter what.  Oh!  The goose that laid the golden egg is a good example.  Folks selling the goose back and forth.  All being to impatient too wait for the eggs.  Pity the guy who gets the goose last when it's worn out and not laying anymore.

The alternative, which I favor, is to scan about and see what we need.  Make that ourselves.  Pay those in the loop what they need to frame a decent life.

Here is another bit of whimsy on your part.

“Changing the cast of characters, much could and should be said about mismanagement”
OK! Now how would the union take it if the company wanted to change “the cast of characters” working for them? Which characters should be changed, management or labor? What is the basis for changing them? Should it be based on their time spent at work, or their time away from work as well? Who decides?

I believe that selling is the basis for a free enterprise market place. Companies make things that people want to spend their money on. Are you suggesting that this is not the case?

I think you really need to expand on your “alternative” here. Who decides “what we need”? Who decides what those “in the loop” need “to frame a decent life” and how are you going to mandate this? Are you suggesting a benevolent government regulate all of that? Perhaps something like “equal distribution of wealth”?

[FrodeMk3]

So Wally World is the Retail Mafia?

When you read all the way through that link's story (10 pages) It appears' that way. It was a long read, but pretty informative. And I don't think that Fastcompany.com leans' left or right, either, but I could be wrong. I'll throw it up their one more time, so that you don't have to go back 2 pages in this thread, if you need to dig it out and quote something.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html?page=0%2C0

It offers' some insight as to their business practices' that most never see.

BTW, you guys' do realize that while during the '50's and '60's Unions' made up roughly 22% of the workforce, that it has shrunken to less than 8% today?