Why I Shop At Wal-mart Despite My Progressive Politics (1 Viewer)

[Pancho Angry]

I realize there are problems in frequenting an establishment that is so corrosive to the workingman's wages that I may be shooting myself in the foot. The problem is, my salary is being held down with a vengeance. It just doesn't make sense for me to pay one red cent more for anything than I need to. If my reimbursement is under pressure, I want my retailer to be under pressure too. And probably no one is as ruthless a price reducer as Wal-Mart. What's missing is that I want my BANKER and my POLITICIANS to be included in this starvation diet.

INTEREST RATES SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED UP! THE DEFICIT SPENDING HAS TO STOP!

We have to allow the dollar to fall precipitously. That's the only thing that's going to allow our manufacturing sectors to come back. Once imports become expensive enough, we will start producing things here again. I understand that there are those in Asia who are blocking this move on our part. I think we can overcome that by holding course and taking our lumps.

 

[Ivan The Terrible]

I realize...It just doesn't make sense for me to pay one red cent more for anything than I need to. And... no one is as ruthless a price reducer as Wal-Mart.

This has been brought to you by you're friends at Wal-mart.

Always Low Prices.... Always!:lol:

 

[Pancho Angry]

I haven't worked retail since I was a kid. It's a difficult job with really lousy hours and pay. Nor am I invested in or dependent on Wal-Mart in any way.

 

[::Major_Baker::]

so you are just a poser, for the most part? Like the commercial forestry protestors that use cardboard signs to display their message?

thanks for the thread.

 

[Ivan The Terrible]

I... worked retail since I was a kid. It's a... job with really... hours and pay. I invested in... Wal-Mart in any way.

Always Low Prices.... Always!:lol:

 

[vexati0n]

I avoid shopping at WalMart because there are too many customers in there that remind me how apelike the human race is. And ratlike. Have you noticed what true human filth is attracted to WalMart? It's creepy.

And no I'm not talking about the 'poor.' I'm not rich, but I know what laundry detergent and toothpaste are for.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

I don't shop at Wal-Mart.

The morons in Inglewood listened to the poverty pimps like Jesse Love Child Jackson and Al Jew Baiter Sharpton, and voted against the development of a vacant lot and the introduction of hundreds of new jobs. In INGLEWOOD. You know, riot central.

So Wal-Mart, it's will to succeed shattered, has been closing stores in southern California ever since. Well actually, the evil unAmerican traitors in neighboring Gardena allowed some company to build on their vacant lot, and has been getting tax revenues and a few jobs, too.

But Gardena is out of my way, so I don't shop at Wal-Mart.

But hey! If they come around here, and their prices are lower than the overpriced union-made-in-America crap other stores offer, you can bet your tail that I'll be shopping at Wal-Mart.

If the unions don't like it, tell'em to work for what they're worth instead of what they're trying to extort.

 

[jamesrage]

I realize there are problems in frequenting an establishment that is so corrosive to the workingman's wages that I may be shooting myself in the foot. The problem is, my salary is being held down with a vengeance. It just doesn't make sense for me to pay one red cent more for anything than I need to. If my reimbursement is under pressure, I want my retailer to be under pressure too. And probably no one is as ruthless a price reducer as Wal-Mart. What's missing is that I want my BANKER and my POLITICIANS to be included in this starvation diet.

INTEREST RATES SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED UP! THE DEFICIT SPENDING HAS TO STOP!

We have to allow the dollar to fall precipitously. That's the only thing that's going to allow our manufacturing sectors to come back. Once imports become expensive enough, we will start producing things here again. I understand that there are those in Asia who are blocking this move on our part. I think we can overcome that by holding course and taking our lumps.

I do not really mess with WalMart.IF I need tools I go to home Depot or Lowes or a pawnshop,If I need a potted plant I go to a local nursery,If I need to buy dogfood for my dogs I go to a regular grocery store because they have more than just one brand of generic dogfood.If I need PC parts or writable media I go to PC CLUB or some local computer store for parts,If I need bird seed for the bird feeders ,worm medicine for my pets then I go to a feed store.The only thing I really go to walmart for is for special kitty clumping cat litter its around 5 bucks for a 28 pound box and it last for weeks compared to regular special kitty cat litter which is around 2 bucks.I also get alot of things at the Dollar tree/everythings a dollar store.As for grovery items I go to save-a-lot or ALDIs much cheaper than a walmart grocery store.JUst because it may be at Walmart does not mean it is the cheapest in town.

 

[Gardener]

So the "progressives" are supporting predatory capitalism these days?

Fascinating.

I guess I'll just keep on thinking of myself as just a person instead of one of these "progressives", "Libertarians", "conservatives" and whatnot, and as a person, I think I'll keep on avoiding Walmart. Walmart is not good for my fellow persons.

 

[Pancho Angry]

Whoa now. Are you the class police? Why should your sensibilities be any more infulential than mine? Not that I find the people at Wal-Mart repulsive. I actually find the people I see at the High-end retailers much more repulsive.

Whether you like it or not, your ancestors were swinging from tree branches not very long ago. The indignation you're mustering up is self-deception.

 

[Pancho Angry]

So the "progressives" are supporting predatory capitalism these days?

As long as you aren't out there fighting against our national obsession with high finance, it's YOU who's guilty of supporting predatory capitalism, not me.

 

[vexati0n]

Whoa now. Are you the class police? Why should your sensibilities be any more infulential than mine? Not that I find the people at Wal-Mart repulsive. I actually find the people I see at the High-end retailers much more repulsive.

Whether you like it or not, your ancestors were swinging from tree branches not very long ago. The indignation you're mustering up is self-deception.

I assume that's directed at me. Look man, I never said the human race is a pretty thing. Actually I quite feel the opposite is usually true.

But at WalMart, all illusions of the human race as noble creatures are completely dissolved. These are the potato-chip champions of the modern, disposable age. I am, as said in my post, not judging class. I am judging these people for a general lack of self-worth and their apparent inability to take any pride whatsoever in their appearance.

A century ago, even a lowly chimneysweep had the decency to dress like a civilized creature. Today, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from -- anyone can be a stained and slovenly reminder of the human race's humble beginnings as a pile of sticky green slime. All I am saying is that our fashion standards are embarassingly low these days.

 

[Pancho Angry]

So the "progressives" are supporting predatory capitalism these days?

As long as you aren't out there fighting against our national obsession with high finance, it's YOU who's guilty of supporting predatory capitalism, not me. The source is The Greed we've pretty much institutionalized in our financial markets. It's actually allowed us to kill people while seeming to keep our hands clean.

 

[Pancho Angry]

All I am saying is that our fashion standards are embarassingly low these days.

This reminds me of a previous argument. When you work on designing a car, for example, if you're doing it right, you ought to work on its engine and drive train and suspension, etc. before you start worrying your little head about its looks. Now I like a great body as much as anyone, but this is just the old substance versus appearence argument rearing its ugly head.

I look for people who aren't narcissistic jerks. In today's world achieving that, and holding onto that, is practically a miracle, and I'll take it wherever I find it. I've NEVER found it in some upper-class establishment. Have you?
I have seen it among 'common people' though. And, yeah, even at Wal-Mart.

 

[Tashah]

All I am saying is that our fashion standards are embarassingly low these days.

I agree. That bold red font is simply horrid lol

 

[Ivan The Terrible]

assume that's directed at me. Look man, I never said the human race is a pretty thing. Actually I quite feel the opposite is usually true.

When you say human and opposite of pretty you are reffering to yourself right?

 

[Pancho Angry]

I don't shop at Wal-Mart. But hey! If they come around here, and their prices are lower than the overpriced union-made-in-America crap other stores offer, you can bet your tail that I'll be shopping at Wal-Mart.

If the unions don't like it, tell'em to work for what they're worth instead of what they're trying to extort.

You realize this 'work what they're worth' thing is exactly what is NOT being applied to bankers, politicians, CEOs, etc. Don't leave them out.

 

[jamesrage]

You realize this 'work what they're worth' thing is exactly what is NOT being applied to bankers, politicians, CEOs, etc. Don't leave them out.

I think if we paid politicians what they are worth they would not be getting paid anything.

 

[hipsterdufus]

Always Low Prices.... Always!:lol:

I like the slogan - Always Low Wages - Always.

 

[WW3Politician]

This is going to sound crazy, and a little off-kilter, but I shop at wal-mart because... it is cheaper. They manage to reduce prices because of the size of the operation, fine. I have no problem with taking my business to the business that can get me the best deal.

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

Wal-Mart pays my bro-in-law more than he was paid when in the military. He served 22 years in the USAF & was an E-6 upon retirement. He started at Wal-Mart at around $10.00 per hour as a regular employee. After 6 months he was offered to be in the management trainee program. Now, he's a shift manager. (by the way --- he got out [retired] since the start of the Iraq War --- shatters the illusion of a backdoor draft).

My mother just got a job at Wal-Mart --- personnel director --- she is a retired English teacher & wanted something to supplement her retirement. Her previous job (with a local company --- not sure of her job title but she basically edited company proposals, etc.) paid considerably less than what she makes at Wal-Mart.

My mother-in-law worked at Meijer for 16 years. After 5 years at Wal-Mart she was making more than she ever had before. The medical benefits were almost identical. (by the way --- Meijer is unionized).

1 gallon of MinuteMaid OJ
Wal-Mart --- about $4.00
Meijer --- about $6.00
Kroger --- about $8.00
Aldi --- doesn't sell MinuteMaid OJ (Albrecht-Discount is a German company)

funny thing is that they all get the OJ from the same company...

I buy my fresh produce (fruits & veggies) at Meijer because the quality is best there. I buy most other groceries at Wal-Mart. It's convenient & usually cheaper than most other stores. Unless, of course, there's a sale somewhere else. As for other products I shop at various places --- Lowe's - Home Depot - Best Buy - ABC Warehouse - Sears - JC Penny's - Kohl's - Speedway - Great Scot (usually good steaks & roasts) - MC Sporting Goods - Dunham Sports --- just depends upon the need, the price & the quality.

I stick with Whirlpool products because we have a local Whirlpool factory. I buy Cooper Tires because it's also a local company. I buy Marathon gas because it's local as well. We occasionally buy from local farm markets too. It's best to shop around for price & quality. And, try to support American companies & especially local companies when possible.

 

[talloulou]

I was at wallmart this weekend.....got new curtains for the kitchen $12.00, a spring loaded curtain rod $2.88, new plates for all the light switches $.19 each, and new cushions for the kitchen chairs 4.99 each. For some stuff you can't beat wallmart and the way my kids wreck stuff (like kitchen chair cushions) there is no way in hell I'm gonna go to the local store and pay like $14.99 for something that can be bought for $4.99. That's just common sense.

The only thing that has ever bothered me about wallmart is the crappy care given to the fish tanks. Not sure they should be in the "fish" selling business and I have never bought a fish from them. But other than that I'll shop at wallmart any and everytime I believe it will get me the best deal.

 

[WW3Politician]

I guess, at least concerning the fish, that Walmart can use some work in some areas. For example: they are starting to lose market share in a lot of the Southeast to Target stores. However, as long as Walmart is the cheapest store, I will order things from them. On the other hand, many items are cheaper on line, so I will order those. There is no real sense in getting emotionally attatched to small business, unless that business is unique and does something better than all the other businesses.

 

[LeftyHenry]

Walmart sucks. Their employees are paid next to nothing and many products they sell are total crap. Although I can't say I've never shopped there...

 

[Pancho Angry]

I think if we paid politicians what they are worth they would not be getting paid anything.

The sad truth is that in any large crowd there's always enough people willing to do it for FREE. Instead those people are hounded out and we've got GOVERNMENT BY AND FOR THE RICH.