Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Ad Age in Service To Wal Mart
A priceless little gem popped up in my mailbox today, titled: "MOVIE ATTACKING WAL-MART OPENS
Grim, Humorless Film Paints Giant Retailer as Destructive Force". I thought that it might be a even handed analysis of the films thesis, Wal Mart is bad for America, but no, it was a ad hominim attack on the film maker and those of us who are aware of the destructive nature of this retailing giant. Granted, the filmmaker Robert Greenwald is not working with big budgets, but the main points of the film have been born out in the facts presented by the myriad of past court cases and continuing court cases against Wal Mart. The author of the article deems the cases settled, yet fails to aprise the reader of the continuing cases against them. She tells us that this is old hat and my question is to whom? Many folks who shop at these stores do not realize that it is not a friendly competitor, it is out to destroy any and all competition, leaving many lost jobs in its wake. It extracts tax breaks from the communities it enters into, while sending the profits back to Arkansas. The Nation online, is currently carrying a story on the "Charitable Giving" of the Wal Mart company and its heirs, while being trumpeted in the mainstream press as a change of heart, the records show that it is a mere pittance in contrast to the low wages and nearly non existent health care coverage that the company provides. Most of its giving is to right wing organizations that are clearly against any gains that we have made as a county in the last 40 years.
Another gem that does not endear most of us to Wal Mart, is the surfacing of a memo that urges cost savings by not hiring those who may incur higher health care costs. Make all jobs have some component of lifting or other mild labor, it will filter out those who may not be able to perform the task. In theory it makes sense, yet discriminates against those who may be able to perform the basic role, such as cashier, greeter, security, etc... Or its many violations of hiring of illegal immigrants, though they say that it is the subcontractors who are in violation and that they have had no knowledge of the hiring practices of said subcontractors. Unlikely is my thought.
I do agree that shaming customers, many who have no other choice but to shop at Wal Mart, is not the way to approach the problem that this retail behemoth has created. Costco is a prime example of a retail corporation that rewards the loyalty of its employees. High wages and great health care plans. Their employee retention is much higher than Wal Mart and they are still highly competitive with Wal Mart. Costs are low, as they keep dead stock from the shelves. They focus on products that consumers buy regularly. Instead, large retailers like Wal Mart stock everything, and selling little of each. This causes costs to soar. Why can't Wal Mart be a friendly competitor? Well, GREED. Funny how they brag about their low prices, when many consumers complain that once the competition was destroyed, prices rose in their areas. It is when a Costco, or other similar competitor is able to withstand the assault, that Wal Mart keeps their prices down.
Wal Mart is bad for America in many ways. Yes, they provide jobs, but none that allows folks a living wage. None that provides a worker with pride in their job. It is bad for the American worker. Low price is not a panacea to a lost job. Low prices will not bring back the job that has been shipped out of the country, due to our thirst for low price crap. Wal Mart is destroying our economy. Wal Mart is destroying our pride.
Grim, Humorless Film Paints Giant Retailer as Destructive Force". I thought that it might be a even handed analysis of the films thesis, Wal Mart is bad for America, but no, it was a ad hominim attack on the film maker and those of us who are aware of the destructive nature of this retailing giant. Granted, the filmmaker Robert Greenwald is not working with big budgets, but the main points of the film have been born out in the facts presented by the myriad of past court cases and continuing court cases against Wal Mart. The author of the article deems the cases settled, yet fails to aprise the reader of the continuing cases against them. She tells us that this is old hat and my question is to whom? Many folks who shop at these stores do not realize that it is not a friendly competitor, it is out to destroy any and all competition, leaving many lost jobs in its wake. It extracts tax breaks from the communities it enters into, while sending the profits back to Arkansas. The Nation online, is currently carrying a story on the "Charitable Giving" of the Wal Mart company and its heirs, while being trumpeted in the mainstream press as a change of heart, the records show that it is a mere pittance in contrast to the low wages and nearly non existent health care coverage that the company provides. Most of its giving is to right wing organizations that are clearly against any gains that we have made as a county in the last 40 years.
Another gem that does not endear most of us to Wal Mart, is the surfacing of a memo that urges cost savings by not hiring those who may incur higher health care costs. Make all jobs have some component of lifting or other mild labor, it will filter out those who may not be able to perform the task. In theory it makes sense, yet discriminates against those who may be able to perform the basic role, such as cashier, greeter, security, etc... Or its many violations of hiring of illegal immigrants, though they say that it is the subcontractors who are in violation and that they have had no knowledge of the hiring practices of said subcontractors. Unlikely is my thought.
I do agree that shaming customers, many who have no other choice but to shop at Wal Mart, is not the way to approach the problem that this retail behemoth has created. Costco is a prime example of a retail corporation that rewards the loyalty of its employees. High wages and great health care plans. Their employee retention is much higher than Wal Mart and they are still highly competitive with Wal Mart. Costs are low, as they keep dead stock from the shelves. They focus on products that consumers buy regularly. Instead, large retailers like Wal Mart stock everything, and selling little of each. This causes costs to soar. Why can't Wal Mart be a friendly competitor? Well, GREED. Funny how they brag about their low prices, when many consumers complain that once the competition was destroyed, prices rose in their areas. It is when a Costco, or other similar competitor is able to withstand the assault, that Wal Mart keeps their prices down.
Wal Mart is bad for America in many ways. Yes, they provide jobs, but none that allows folks a living wage. None that provides a worker with pride in their job. It is bad for the American worker. Low price is not a panacea to a lost job. Low prices will not bring back the job that has been shipped out of the country, due to our thirst for low price crap. Wal Mart is destroying our economy. Wal Mart is destroying our pride.
