Walmart critics launch ad campaign

[innerSpaceman]

I have never in my life set foot in a Walmart, and I intend to keep it that way.

That's pretty easy for me to do, since I've never so much as seen one ... and there isn't one within 30 square miles of me.

[Kevy Baby]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An organization opposed to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. took out a full-page newspaper advertisement on Wednesday that accuses the world's biggest retailer of costing U.S. taxpayers some $1.6 billion a year.

I would love to see their rationalization on this one. While I by not means support Wal Mart, claims like this do an injustice to the fight. If they are using the government aid issue, they base their assumption that every single Wal Mart employee IS on government assistance and it is solely Wal Mart's fault.

If it were up to me, we would never shop at Wal Mart. Unfortunately, GusGus keeps going there depite my repeated requests that she not. *sigh* Maybe I need to step up my campaign with her...

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

If it were up to me, we would never shop at Wal Mart. Unfortunately, GusGus keeps going there depite my repeated requests that she not. *sigh* Maybe I need to step up my campaign with her...

Or maybe you should move across the street from a Target...

[MickeyD]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I would love to see their rationalization on this one. While I by not means support Wal Mart, claims like this do an injustice to the fight. If they are using the government aid issue, they base their assumption that every single Wal Mart employee IS on government assistance and it is solely Wal Mart's fault.

According to http://www.responsibleshopper.org:

In May, 2004, Good Jobs First showed that Wal-Mart has received more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from states for its stores. The subsidies have come as many states are forced by White House tax cuts and reductions in federal grants to make tough budget decisions. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows states are cutting subsidies for publicly funded health insurance, child care, federal employment, both higher and lower education, and programs aimed at public safety and people with disabilities. Taxpayer dollars continue to subsidize Wal-Mart, who took in more than $200 billion in revenue and netted nearly $9 billion in profits last year, while paying worker near-poverty wages, and violating environmental regulations Source: The Progress Report, May 28, 2004

I have no idea...but this could be what they are referring to.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I would love to see their rationalization on this one. While I by not means support Wal Mart, claims like this do an injustice to the fight. If they are using the government aid issue, they base their assumption that every single Wal Mart employee IS on government assistance and it is solely Wal Mart's fault.

We had a minor kerfluffle up here with WalMart. The argument was that WalMart restricted the number of employees eligible for benefits by mostly hiring part time employees. (And not because no one wanted to work full time.) This allowed WalMart to offer its customers lower prices than competitors, who provide benefits to a larger percentage of their employees. The hidden costs come from taxpayers, who support the state's Basic Health insurance program (not to mention Medicaid) for people who don't have employer-provided health insurance and can't afford private coverage.

[€uroMeinke]

A Coworker once tried to take me to a Walmart. Fortunately, she has a a peculiar fear of zombies and the greeter that day was particularly zombie like - a few choice borrowed lines from Night of the Living Dead and we blew out of that parking lot.

I have yet to set foot in one.