How do you feel about Wal-Mart?
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| Wed, 11-26-2008 - 6:23pm |
I read this op/ed (it's tied in with the automotive industry issues) http://www.indystar.com/article/20081119/OPINION12/811190304/1301/ARCHIVE the other day and it got me thinking. I've always heard about the lousy way they treat their employees but...it's their prices that keep me going back. Since I've moved to the South it's been even worse. They have Super Wal-Marts here where there is a grocery store in the Wal-Mart.
Now, there was an article the other day in my local newspaper with the mayor asking people to do their Christmas shopping downtown and buy local to support our mom & pop stores. Now, I'd love to do that but I have three kids and you know where I'm going.
Part of me really doesn't like what Wal-Mart stands for but the other part of me feels like "why should I pay more when I know I can get it cheaper there?"
Any thoughts?

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Well, I find it disgusting to see where our clothes are made. Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, and many many other third world countries. That Pennsylvania House furniture is made in China! there are still places you can go and buy quality made furniture in the US though. Martin Guitar is still made in Nazereth,PA. There are places in Lancaster, Pa who make really nice furniture, also.
The problem with Wal-Mart was the unrully crowd. The fact people will camp out overnight to get a few good deals. I was never that freaken desperate to do that, EVER.
I have heard that places like Good will will let you make fair exchanges for clothing you child outgrows, meaning size for larger size in things like shirts and jeans. Obviously if they are in the same good condition. I have donated tons of my own clothes to good will.
When we were still itemizing on our income tax, we used to get recipts and you could claim that on your tax return
"I think it is an eco-friendly alternative to disposing of them."
Reigning in Wal-Mart's Asia orgy and rebuilding our manufacturing base would be far preferable. Then we could use the shipping containers for what they are intended to do - ship, ship American goods abroad again.
As for the price, get ready for shanty towns due to our gutted work force. And if one of those auto makers goes belly up and millions more are out of work . . .
I believe America doesn't have a lot of time left to face reality and wake up from this Fox Republican fantasy/nightmare we have been dragged into over the past 8 years.
Yes, it would be better to have something to fill them up with and send them back to China or where ever, I agree. However, in the mean time, they can be used in away to build low cost housing. It could be attractive housing as well. I started doing some reading on the internet on container houses and was amazed at some of the pics I saw. There are places around the world that make offices, shops, hotels, hostels, temporary housing and even very elegant homes. It is an intriguing idea. I could see a return of diners, temporary shelters after natural disasters, homeless shelters....
It's not such a big problem to me that things are made overseas, as the conditions that exist for workers.
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