Is Wal-Mart Good for America?

Wall Street Journal ^ | 12/3/2005 | Editorial Board

[Woodworker]

The campaign against the company is about union politics.

It is a testament to the public-relations success of the anti-Wal-Mart campaign that the question above is even being asked.

By any normal measure, Wal-Mart's business ought to be noncontroversial. It sells at low cost, albeit in mind-boggling quantities, the quotidian products that huge numbers of Americans evidently want to buy--from household goods to clothes to food.

...Wal-Mart's average starting wage is already nearly double the national minimum of $5.15 an hour...The company has also recently increased its health-care options for employees on the bottom rungs of the corporate ladder. Starting in January, one of those options will be a high-deductible health savings account, which is a great way to insure yourself if you're relatively young, relatively healthy and yet want to protect against the onset of some catastrophic illness.

[Woodworker]

Walmart is out there doing evil in the eyes of the Socialists by providing the workers with cheaper goods and jobs that pay more than the Gov't-mandated minimum wage...

[narses]

To the left they ARE evil, they:

Won't allow unions,
Do allow choice in healthcare,
Do support school-choice,
Do refuse to sell pornography, and
Won't EVER allow unions.

[onevoter]

Let's face it - if a company doesn't have some union thug being paid $40 an hour to sweep floors (when he actually spends half his time playing cards and drinking coffee) then the liberal press is going to go after that company. They consider it un-American to run a company in a way that gives the consumer more for their money. The Big Three, on the other hand get by with huge salaries that most of us cannot even begin to keep up with and even larger payouts to CEO's and the press frets endlessly over their survival.

[Coldwater Creek]

Wal-Mart is good for my pocketbook. If the employees are unhappy, then they should look for employment elsewhere.

[Senator Goldwater]

The Barons of Big Labor on the Left will always sneer at the success of Walmart.

But they will alienate the rest of us if they keep avoiding the word "Christmas" as a matter of policy.

[not2worry]

Ditto! I don't know of any unhappy WalMart employees at our store. Of course, we have the claim that we sell more worms than any other WalMart in the USA....and not for sushi!

Why are people so mean-spirited over people that make their passion a success?

It also riles me that they are investigating the oil company's profits. What about Home Depot? They had a 20% jump in profits. The analogy would be that Home Depot took advantage of all the Hurricane Victims who needed home repair supplies! Uh oh, forget that statement, a lurker may just get the idea of doing an investigation on Home Depot and Lowes.

I am tired of our tax dollars going to pay attorney fees for something I frankly don't give a darn about!

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Walmart is good for the Peoples Republic of China.

[BadAndy]

The book should be titled "Is capitalism good for America?"

[narses]

"Walmart is good for the Peoples Republic of China."

What store do you shop in? Frankly, low prices are a good thing for the poor in America. The economic resurgence in China has helped spawn a huge and growing Christian sub-culture. The evil old rulers are near death and the the new China is emerging.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

That's your alarm clock going off.

(you're so dreaming)

[JustDoItAlways]

The Unions have been very good for General Motors.

Someone mentioned China. Despite all the claims about China, Walmart sells very little merchandise from China, far, far less than any other major retailer. "Made in the USA" used to be their motto. It is still 90% true, which is much better than their unionized rival CostCo can boast.

[1rudeboy]

Cringing Negativism Network is bad for capitalism.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I'll play.

Do you drive an American auto? Did you buy it new?

If you answered "no" to either of those questions, spare readers your lectures, please.

[narses]

So what stores do you shop in? What kind of car do you drive? What brand of batteries do you use?

[1rudeboy]

I don't own a car. The last one I owned was a Chevy Lumina built in Ontario. I bought it new. And I'll spare you lectures if you spare us stupid questions.

[Candor7]

Low Prices are only a part of why Wal MArt is good for America. John T. Waltom was a Vietnam Hero, son of Walmarts founder. I don't mind shopping at a store controlled by a family who produced a man like John T., a SOG soldier in Viet Nam whose medical expoertise was so good he could perform surgery, in the field. He won the Silver Star in Vietnam for saving and bringing back all of his men after an ambush. He mediced several of his men while under fire and firing back. Yet this humble man rarely spoke of his service and valor. I shop at Wal Mart for several reasons, and low prices are only one of them. http://www.nndb.com/people/279/000094994/ John T. Walton AKA John Thomas Walton Born: 8-Oct-1946 Died: 27-Jun-2005 Location of death: Jackson Hole, WY Cause of death: Accident - Airplane Gender: Male Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Relative Nationality: United States Executive summary: World's 11th richest man, 2005 Military service: US Army (Special Forces) Son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, John enlisted in the Army after college and served in Vietnam as a member of the Special Forces. When he returned home, John chose not to get involved with the management of the family business. Father: Sam Walton Mother: Helen Robson Walton Brother: Rob Walton (b. 1944) Brother: Jim Walton (b. 1948) Sister: Alice Walton (b. 1949) Wife: (div.) Wife: Christy (one son) Son: Luke University: College of Wooster Member of the Board of Wal-Mart 1992-2005 Silver Star Vietnam

[narses]

Shhhh, don't tell people the truth. It upsets them.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

You got a deal.

Buy American.

[narses]

I agree. The left HATES the values that Walmart represents. They celebrate Target and Costco while bashing Walmart. Me, I choose to shop where it is best for MY family.

[narses]

"Buy American."

You still haven't answered MY questions:

So what stores do you shop in? What kind of car do you drive? What brand of batteries do you use? How about your clothes, what brands and where do you buy them?