Wal-Mart's everyday high costs

[Corn]

Sounds about as American as you cam get to me.

Sounds about as Californian as you can get to me.......... I won't dispute this is "democracy in action", the people chose their reps to make these decisions for them......if people are content to vote away their freedom of choice, so be it.....but really, if it ends up resembling Soviet Russia, does it really matter if they voted for it?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Corn

Sounds about as American as you cam get to me.

Sounds about as Californian as you can get to me.......... I won't dispute this is "democracy in action", the people chose their reps to make these decisions for them......if people are content to vote away their freedom of choice, so be it.....but really, if it ends up resembling Soviet Russia, does it really matter if they voted for it?

Californian? You mean the State who has had Republicans for Governors in 16 out of the last 20 years? Sounds more like Oakland where Jerry Brown is the Mayor. How does it resemble Soviet Russia? In Soviet Russia everything was property of the State.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: rufruf44

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Corn

What a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, if they prefer to preserve business diversity and quality, who are you to tell them they cannot? You sound like Soviet Russia. Oakland sounds like democracy.

Now that's a crock. If the people of Oakland prefer more locally-owned businesses, who could possibly stop them from patronizing those types of businesses? I'm for freedom of choice, Oakland is not. You tell me, which more resembles Soviet Russia?

The Elcted Officials of Oakland are acting in the best interest of their Constituents who they represent. Among those they represent are the Small Shop Owners who they are protecting by not letting Wally World Open Shop their. Sounds about as American as you cam get to me.

And for that they're obstructing the rest of the resident's right for access to a cheaper price (Walmart). I dunno, its not the first time the elected officials do something thats not in the best interest of the community.

Well I guess that's up to the Residents of Oakland to decide when the election for the City Concil comes up. Some how I doubt that their actions regarding Wally World we be looked at as not in the best interest of the Community.

 

[Corn]

You mean the State who has had Republicans for Governors in 16 out of the last 20 years?

Obviously that is a result of the citizens trying to balance out the legislative branch of their state government...........smart move on their part.

 

[dmcowen674]

10-24-2003 Politicians too eager to cater to area's Hispanic immigrants

I disagree with most of the statements made by Carlos Velez in his opinion piece, "If immigrants deserve no rights, why does our nation attract them?" (Oct. 10). In particular I disagree with his statement, "Hispanics are not with us to live at our expense."

Contrary to Mr. Velez's statement, the reality is that Hispanic immigrants are using welfare services at a much higher rate than native-born residents. In Hall County, Hispanics make up 20 percent of the population, but 68 percent of WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) recipients.

I was in Gainesville recently and stopped by the county health department. Of the 25 people at the center, 22 (88 percent) were Hispanic. Coweta County recently closed a prenatal clinic due to lack of funding. Ninety-nine percent of their patients were Hispanic. A local children's hospital treated 616 Hispanic children last year; 82 percent of those children were covered by Medicaid.

Hispanic lobbyists are pushing hard for status quo when it comes to our nonenforcement of immigration laws. Mexico has much to lose if the U.S. starts enforcing those laws.

President Fox recently reported that remittances sent from Mexican immigrants, most of them illegal, working in the United States are Mexico's biggest source of foreign income. They send their poor and uneducated workers to this country, where they lower the wages for native-born workers, receive medical treatment, their children receive free schooling, and they can send money to their home country. And the biggest bonus of all: children born while they're living here illegally are automatically citizens who are eligible for a bevy of welfare programs.

Most of our politicians have fallen under the spell of the Hispanic lobbyists and other special interest groups. In this battle to preserve and protect our country for future generations, U.S. citizens hold the greatest weapon: our vote. It's time for citizens to start demanding that our immigration laws be enforced.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Corn

You mean the State who has had Republicans for Governors in 16 out of the last 20 years?

Obviously that is a result of the citizens trying to balance out the legislative branch of their state government...........smart move on their part.

I agree. In fact I believe that we need to do that on the national level!

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Corn

If everyone in town gets together and says they don't want a WalMart within City limits - who are you to stop them? In a conflict like this, I will take the side of the people any day of the week.

Please provide me with a link to substantiate this claim? Did the people have a vote in this matter, or was it decided for them?

I said "IF," corn. As in hypothetical. So put away those blasters. However, I do feel that the Oakland mayor and city council are most likely acting in the manner in which their constituents desire. Oakland/Berkeley/East Bay SF are pretty progressive. Just like SF across the bay. And if not, I'm sure the voters will turn them out.

 

[Corn]

I said "IF," corn. As in hypothetical. So put away those blasters.

Phasers on stun and I've holstered my sabre........for now.

 

[DealMonkey]

FoxNews.com - Sources: Wal-Mart Knew of Illegal Workers

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
FoxNews.com - Sources: Wal-Mart Knew of Illegal Workers

Welcome to yesterday

CkG

 

[Jmman]

A couple of comments about Oakland. Most of the assertions here about Mom and Pop organizations being a good thing for the people of Oakland are generally wrong. If you are talking about low wages and no benefits, you are probably talking about smaller companies like Mom and Pop. Why? Because their sales are generally lower, and due to the "economy of scale" their profit margins are lower also. You are trying to convince me that this will lead to higher wages and benefits? From my experience this is almost never the case. Secondly, what effect does a super Walmart, etc have on the surrounding businesses? Well, if you are a business other than retail or grocery, having a Walmart in the neighborhood is a great thing. Why? Traffic generated by Walmart help almost all of the surrounding businesses. As a former consultant for a large international restaurant chain, one of the metrics we looked for was a Walmart nearby because you are almost guaranteed a certain amount of sales if you are located close to one. I find it interesting to speculate why the city council is against something that is almost certainly going to generate higher tax revenue for the city and spur business growth.......

 

[rjain]

Jmman: Well put.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Jmman
A couple of comments about Oakland. Most of the assertions here about Mom and Pop organizations being a good thing for the people of Oakland are generally wrong. If you are talking about low wages and no benefits, you are probably talking about smaller companies like Mom and Pop. Why? Because their sales are generally lower, and due to the "economy of scale" their profit margins are lower also. You are trying to convince me that this will lead to higher wages and benefits? From my experience this is almost never the case. Secondly, what effect does a super Walmart, etc have on the surrounding businesses? Well, if you are a business other than retail or grocery, having a Walmart in the neighborhood is a great thing. Why? Traffic generated by Walmart help almost all of the surrounding businesses. As a former consultant for a large international restaurant chain, one of the metrics we looked for was a Walmart nearby because you are almost guaranteed a certain amount of sales if you are located close to one. I find it interesting to speculate why the city council is against something that is almost certainly going to generate higher tax revenue for the city and spur business growth.......

Perhaps they feel there are more important societal issues than higher tax revenue and business growth. It gets back to that, "We, the people ..." thing.

 

[DealMonkey]

The beauty of a "mom and pop" store is that the mom & pop running it (I mean literally, the family running it), has a chance of making a decent living. Depends on the store, of course, but I have no doubt they're doing better financially than they would working for Wal-Mart. If they have employees, however, those individuals are probably getting min wage anyway...

 

[Jmman]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
A couple of comments about Oakland. Most of the assertions here about Mom and Pop organizations being a good thing for the people of Oakland are generally wrong. If you are talking about low wages and no benefits, you are probably talking about smaller companies like Mom and Pop. Why? Because their sales are generally lower, and due to the "economy of scale" their profit margins are lower also. You are trying to convince me that this will lead to higher wages and benefits? From my experience this is almost never the case. Secondly, what effect does a super Walmart, etc have on the surrounding businesses? Well, if you are a business other than retail or grocery, having a Walmart in the neighborhood is a great thing. Why? Traffic generated by Walmart help almost all of the surrounding businesses. As a former consultant for a large international restaurant chain, one of the metrics we looked for was a Walmart nearby because you are almost guaranteed a certain amount of sales if you are located close to one. I find it interesting to speculate why the city council is against something that is almost certainly going to generate higher tax revenue for the city and spur business growth.......

Perhaps they feel there are more important societal issues than higher tax revenue and business growth. It gets back to that, "We, the people ..." thing.

I guess they don't care about jobs either then. Maybe you should change your newfound mantra to "Of the unemployed people. By the unemployed people. For the unemployed people." And anyway, without tax revenue how are you going to pay for all of those wonderful social programs that the Liberals love so much?

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Jmman
I guess they don't care about jobs either then. Maybe you should change your newfound mantra to "Of the unemployed people. By the unemployed people. For the unemployed people." And anyway, without tax revenue how are you going to pay for all of those wonderful social programs that the Liberals love so much?

Typical gratutious partisan attack.

 

[Jmman]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
I guess they don't care about jobs either then. Maybe you should change your newfound mantra to "Of the unemployed people. By the unemployed people. For the unemployed people." And anyway, without tax revenue how are you going to pay for all of those wonderful social programs that the Liberals love so much?

Typical gratutious partisan attack.

I guess that means you don't have any intelligent reply to the issues at hand?? How is driving businesses away going to improve Oakland's economy or that of California as a whole?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Jmman

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
I guess they don't care about jobs either then. Maybe you should change your newfound mantra to "Of the unemployed people. By the unemployed people. For the unemployed people." And anyway, without tax revenue how are you going to pay for all of those wonderful social programs that the Liberals love so much?

Typical gratutious partisan attack.

I guess that means you don't have any intelligent reply to the issues at hand?? How is driving businesses away going to improve Oakland's economy or that of California as a whole?

Keep in mind that with the economic crisis in CA it's still better there that in most of the other States.....Living in Mass and wishing he was back in CA. California at it's worst is still better than most states at their best!

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Jmman

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Jmman
I guess they don't care about jobs either then. Maybe you should change your newfound mantra to "Of the unemployed people. By the unemployed people. For the unemployed people." And anyway, without tax revenue how are you going to pay for all of those wonderful social programs that the Liberals love so much?

Typical gratutious partisan attack.

I guess that means you don't have any intelligent reply to the issues at hand?? How is driving businesses away going to improve Oakland's economy or that of California as a whole?

You didn't say anything that warranted an intelligent reply. It's just more dishonest, knee-jerk, partisan attacking.

Oakland is not "driving away" business, it is preserving business. Wal-Mart doesn't increase business. It just shuffles it around to the detriment of local businesses. Bigger isn't always better.

 

[nowareman]

Leaving Oakland for a moment and getting back to WalMart's illegal use of illegal aliens and undocumented workers. This was WalMart's dirty little way to maintain their squeaky clean store image. Read this story and you decide. People making sure the WalMart you shop in is spotless who don't even know the name of the company they are working for or their immediate supervisor's name no less what they even look like. Requests for supplies or equipment maintenance left on answering machines. Paychecks left under the battery charger in the maintenance room. All to maintain WalMart's dirty little secret which WalMart's customers are blissfully unaware of as they scoop up those deals under the smiley face price cutter signs. You want to know how WalMart is able to cut those prices? This is partly how. I wonder what other dirty tricks WalMart uses to undercut the competition? Free overtime from their employees was one of the methods used in the past. How low can WalMart go? How low will their customers go for those pennies in savings?

Immigrants say they were Wal-Mart's secret

 

[AAjax]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: Corn
This "article" is a load of crap:

Wal-Mart likes to call its sales clerks "associates," but "serfs" would be more like it. The company paid its salespeople an average $8.23 an hour in 2001. At that wage, a full-time worker made only $13,861 a year.

Lesse for a moment: 8.23 * 40 hours * 52 weeks = $17,118, not $13,861.

Can I trust an article where creative multiplication is used to misrepresent its most basic premise. I dunno, but my sensibilities lead me to state that it is probably laced with a semblence of fact but spiced with bullshit.

And for the life of me, I'm curious how many "salespeople" Walmart really employs. Most of their workforce is stock/clerk/cashiers--hardly what I would call "salespeople".

How much does that mom and pop shop pay stock boys, clerks, and cashiers?

I also find it interesting how Walmart is being blamed for simply offering a service that, apparently, the public has a high demand for? If there were no demand, would Walmart even exist? Ah hah!!! I've got it! It's the stupid, uninformed, and ignorant masses who are simply shooting themselves in the foot!!!!

Looks like another elitist snob pointing out how stupid the poor are. Perhaps a benevolent liberal government should step in and make the proper decisions for these imbeciles. Ban Walmart, ban imported goods, hell, just go ahead and ban corporate entities. We should all live on minimum sustinance at communal farms (Moonie loves this idea).

Hmmmm, maybe you assume too much, Corn. I highly doubt Wal-Mart gives any of their "full time" employees 40 hrs/week. More likely, they get 24 hrs/week, or just under whatever cut-off offers benefits. Supermarkets do that too. Sure, some (a minority) supermarket clerks get $17/hr, but they only work 22 hrs/week. But hey, go on believing whatever you think is the "truth" Corn.

You are correct, the "average" full time worker at wally world gets 33 hours a week (I know a couple of the poor souls)
As with other companys such as Best Buy they class full time at 32 hours a week. This is a disturbing trend as it allows companys to list employee's at full-time status while denying them full time hours. In the case of wal-mart often without extending them any benifits whatsoever.
Folks you get what you pay for, you want crap and mediocore prices with zero service then by all means shop the discount chains (I do myself on occasion) but it never seces to amaze me that evry time I go in one there is some guy at the customer "service" counter complaining about the service. I wonder if these folks were born yesterday.

 

[Jmman]

Originally posted by: nowareman
Leaving Oakland for a moment and getting back to WalMart's illegal use of illegal aliens and undocumented workers. This was WalMart's dirty little way to maintain their squeaky clean store image. Read this story and you decide. People making sure the WalMart you shop in is spotless who don't even know the name of the company they are working for or their immediate supervisor's name no less what they even look like. Requests for supplies or equipment maintenance left on answering machines. Paychecks left under the battery charger in the maintenance room. All to maintain WalMart's dirty little secret which WalMart's customers are blissfully unaware of as they scoop up those deals under the smiley face price cutter signs. You want to know how WalMart is able to cut those prices? This is partly how. I wonder what other dirty tricks WalMart uses to undercut the competition? Free overtime from their employees was one of the methods used in the past. How low can WalMart go? How low will their customers go for those pennies in savings?

Immigrants say they were Wal-Mart's secret

Not to be too overly cynical, but illegal immigrants are a huge source of labor in many different industries. Next time you go to a restaurant, look back in the kitchen. Almost every restaurant like Chili's, Outback, etc will have at least 50% of their kitchen staff who are illegals. Also, I bet if you raided many other retail stores and examined their nightly cleaning crews, you would find huge amounts of illegals as well. This is not necessarily a Walmart problem, but a systemic problem........

 

[nowareman]

Originally posted by: Jmman

Originally posted by: nowareman
Leaving Oakland for a moment and getting back to WalMart's illegal use of illegal aliens and undocumented workers. This was WalMart's dirty little way to maintain their squeaky clean store image. Read this story and you decide. People making sure the WalMart you shop in is spotless who don't even know the name of the company they are working for or their immediate supervisor's name no less what they even look like. Requests for supplies or equipment maintenance left on answering machines. Paychecks left under the battery charger in the maintenance room. All to maintain WalMart's dirty little secret which WalMart's customers are blissfully unaware of as they scoop up those deals under the smiley face price cutter signs. You want to know how WalMart is able to cut those prices? This is partly how. I wonder what other dirty tricks WalMart uses to undercut the competition? Free overtime from their employees was one of the methods used in the past. How low can WalMart go? How low will their customers go for those pennies in savings?

Immigrants say they were Wal-Mart's secret

Not to be too overly cynical, but illegal immigrants are a huge source of labor in many different industries. Next time you go to a restaurant, look back in the kitchen. Almost every restaurant like Chili's, Outback, etc will have at least 50% of their kitchen staff who are illegals. Also, I bet if you raided many other retail stores and examined their nightly cleaning crews, you would find huge amounts of illegals as well. This is not necessarily a Walmart problem, but a systemic problem........

So that makes what WalMart is doing OK? The law is the law. If it needs changing then change it but as long as it's the law anyone who breaks it has to pay the price or we wind up with anarchy.

 

[Jmman]

I don't recall making a judgement one way or the other. The difficulty with illegal immigration and employment is that the problem is not just Walmart, it is probably 50% of all businesses in the US. Maybe we need to rethink our immigration policies, because the current system certainly is not working......

 

[nowareman]

Originally posted by: Jmman
I don't recall making a judgement one way or the other. The difficulty with illegal immigration and employment is that the problem is not just Walmart, it is probably 50% of all businesses in the US. Maybe we need to rethink our immigration policies, because the current system certainly is not working......

Several years ago I was pulled over for speeding. I was driving at the same speed as everyone else but the officer pulled me over. When I pointed this out the officer told me he would get the rest of them next time. That is what WalMart is facing now. They were caught this time. The rest of them will be caught next time.