RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ !

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Mercnbeth -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 7:44:19 AM)
*~ Fast Reply ~* Growing up, I remember the same things being said about GM as are now being said about Walmart. Cities were giving them 'special' RE deals. They were accused of bullying their workers. I wish I had some of the union propaganda my father used to bring home from the plant. Their network of dealers and their size put other 'mom & pop' auto companies, like Studebaker out of business. So, those Walmart bashers - have hope. Someday they too may fail, and you can raise your voice in harmony calling for their bailout and the saving of those 2 Million US jobs, as you have for GM. Maybe it just take failure to enamor many to 'love' a corporation; because success only creates envy.

lusciouslips19 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 7:57:23 AM)
I dont spend my time bashing Walmart. Just state my opinion here. I express my feelings by shopping elsewhere.

BlackPhx -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 8:18:23 AM)
I can't speak for everywhere, but the Wal-Marts here that I shop at employ a great many older Americans trying to stretch the inadequate or vanished pensions, and social security they receive after a lifetime of working. Many have been downsized from corporations and while too young for retirement benefits are too old/skilled for other corporations to hire. Over qualified is not a saying just heard by the 30 year olds. The average age of workers at my local store is 60, with a goodly number being in their late 60's and 70's. The bulk of the remainder are under 25 and holding down their first/second jobs, single parents who are working 2 jobs with Wal-Mart providing the healthcare they need for their children because their primary job offers no healthcare coverage or coverage at a rate they cannot afford, or coverage where there is another partner who is covered but whose employer only offers coverage for the employee at reduced rates. Flexible hours can help when you have a family member or UMs who need care and allow two parent homes to eliminate day care when parents can work opposite or overlapping shifts. Is Wal-Mart heartless? It's a corporation of course it is. But I have friends who work for Wal-Mart ranging from a young 25 year old general clerk to a 38 year old Produce Manager, a 55 year old warehouse supervisor, a 43 year old Security person and a 61 year old Greeter whose spouse has cancer and none of them complain about their working conditions, pay rates, health coverage (the PM has epilepsy, the clerk has had several surgeries post an accident on a motorcycle). Tattooed, multiply pierced, Turian Collared? Getting a Corporate Job can be extremely difficult unless you have unique skills, Wal-mart could care less. H.S. diploma or none..Wal-mart will still hire you. Haven't worked in years or just starting out? Welcome to Wal-mart. Can only work part time or just want to supplement your income? No Problem. That's an awful lot of people and an awful lot of jobs. Is it the ideal employer? Mom and Pop to Huge Corporation I suspect there are none that are ideal and please all of the people all of the time. Yes there are always going to be people who think they should get more, more hours, more money, more benefits and strikes are going to happen. Bad working conditions are going to happen. Mom and Pop stores are not going to thrive but then again they are not going to employ as many people as Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Whole Foods, Safeway, Piggly-Wiggly, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace or any other large store that can use a hundred or more stores to leverage better prices. That is a fact of life and of economy. The small hometown theaters folded when the Multiplex's came in, 16 screens and multiple movies beats a 1 screen 1 movie choice for most people any day. Now they are struggling against the influx of cable Channels and On Demand, along with the video stores. Watching the latest HellBoy at home when you want, with a cigar and a beer instantly is beating out going to the video store and returning it or theater. Don't worry it will be on cable soon lets not go to the theater to see it. Standalone small stores and downtown shopping began to vanish when Malls loomed on the horizon. Even new car dealers tend to follow the same pattern here in in Florida..Multiple Makers offered in one location. Better to carry more brands of cars and have the customer stay on the lot and find what he wants, than go to the guy down the road. Corner Drugstores folded into the national chains that now allow you to get your medications where ever you are that week. Corner Gas Stations branded out ages ago. Frankly if it had not been for Wal-marts leverage power there would be a great many American who could not afford even the Generic versions of their drugs. They were the leaders in the $4 (1 month supply), $10 (90 day supply) of generics that many places from Target to the Major Drug Stores are now offering. Is this all good? Probably not, but I suspect you will find just as many things made in china proportionately at the Mom and Pop store, and if Wal-mart folds..the unemployment numbers are going to spike from the current 6.7 official to a minimum of 9%. Not something I want to contemplate. poenkitten

blacksword404 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 9:49:01 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: pahunkboy When I was a kid, (I now regret this), we visited my great uncle and aunt in rural WI. To a suburban kid, it was dazzling to see how a farm family lived. Anyhow- we took a tour of his farm, and he got this bright idea, that we all would go "potato picking". I thought, not me. No way. So dad and my brothers and he went about collecting sacks of potatos. Now I wish I had. I stocked up on some things at the dollar store yesterday. I seen that the no name mouthwash went up to $3.00. How many gargles do you get for $3? It had been $1.75. For $0.42 I can get a box of baking soda. I pinch of it in the mouth is just as good, maybe healthier. Handsoap... the 7 bars of zest were $2.75. But like for liquid soap, which would be better, dish liquid or shampoo? Funny they sell more hair conditioner then shampoo. Anytime there is a package, you pay for it. We have forgotten what the basics are. So, the dish liquid that contains bleach,,, well duh, why not add a dip of it yourself? Window cleaner, why is a fancy formula needed? When I clean a fry pan, I start with crumpled newspaper. It gets the top layer of the grease out. WHy waste 4 paper towels, or trash a dish cloth?? What is your plan for the next 3 years, in regard to the recession? I own a city lot. I plan to expand the vegetables this year. I will try potatos. Any other crop I would want to try? We are in a trend to do things like the old OLD timers did. What hints do you have? Ill tell you what.. make this interesting. I challenge you to save me money. Take the challenge. :-) I'm moving from my 3 bedroom into a 2 bedroom. That will take me from $960 to about $700 a month. Continue to put away canned food and water. And exchange my dollars for "real money".

popeye1250 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 10:00:09 AM)
Sooner or later Americans are going to have to acknowledge that we are in a global economy. Those jobs are part of the world we all live in. And the sooned you and so many others realize it and get with the program, the better. manxcat Manx, and therein lies the problem! I can't, for the life of me ever remember voting for any type of "global economy!" This was all started by big business and people in our government exclusively! Not The People. There was no vote, there was no consultation, no feedback, no nothing! Our government is supposed to act with our permission. Did anyone hear The People crying out for a "global economy?" Ever? Yahoo News yesterday had a big article and pictures about S.Korea and a "free trade" Bill which many of them don't want with,............the U.S.! Has anyone in here or any of your friends or family petitioned our congress for a "free trade" Bill with,........S. Korea? Yesterday is the first time I've ever heard of this! My congressman and senators have not, as of yet consulted with any of us constituents about any "free trade" Bill with S. Korea! I'll be calling them this afternoon and asking them what the hell is going on. And everyone else should be doing that too. Our govt. evidently certainly in cahoots with big business is doing this without the permission of The People!

jlf1961 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 10:22:17 AM)
You folks do understand that this little economic problem is the first of what is to come right? When you stop to consider that the infrastructure in the civilized world is lacking, terrorists have access to all kinds of really neat toys... from nominal yield nuclear devices to large yield nuclear devices, bio and chemical weapons, etc. There is also the fact that there are new strains of flu, strep, measles, antibiotic resistant infections, anti biotic resistant pneumonia, even some antibiotic resistant flesh eating bacteria..... And the primary concern is the economic problems? Look, when the economic crash hits, the city infrastructure will fail, since a lot will be spent on social welfare programs, and with the exponential growth in the homeless....

variation30 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 12:28:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster It's not as black and white as you believe. No, it isn't a zero-sum game, but also humans do not exhibit rational economic behavior, as postulated by classical economics. People won't go to Walmart because Main Street has 1)inferior quality, or 2) inferior service, or 3) an inferior price. They may go for reasons entirely unrelated to those factors; i.e., social pressure to shop at WalMart, or a relative works there, or they meet friends there. oh boy, sociolology. ok, let's assume these social pressures exist...is this walmart's fault? nope. does meeting friends or relatives at a store force an individual to shop at a place...no. but let's say that for some individuals this is a fact. then the 'prestige' or social value of shopping at walmart is a desirable service that other stores cannot match. so why is this a bad thing? why is it bad that individuals want to go to an eponymous restaurant where their friends eat (that also has a lot of prestige) over horrid restaurants like the olive garden or red lobster? perhaps these bonuses for taking part of a particular service IS rational economic behavior. quote: WalMart is most certainly subsidized by local and state governments, which the mom and pops cannot compete with. A ten-year property tax abatemnt gives a distinct advantage over Joe's Hardware, who has to pay those property taxes, and thus has to build them into his price structure. mhm. end all government aid to individuals and organizations. I agree. quote: or ot could be because of "dumping"; that is, selling goods below cost to obtain market share, like many Japanese firms did in the 70s and 80s. You WILL get put out of business if that concerted effort is made. Your service, quality, and price are no longer factors. WalMart drove Tweeter out of business, indirectly. Of course, the story is much more complicated than that http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/07/lessons-from-the-tweeter-saga.html it's my understanding that WalMart deliberately priced certain flat-screen-TVs as "loss leaders" in a thrust to eliminate competition in consumer electronics. This is great if you think an unregulated monopoly is a good thing. I do not. Once a company has eliminated competition, they can slowly raise the prices (like slowly raising the temp in a pot of water to anaesthetize a lobster) so that their prices are higher than with that little bit of competition "minimum pricing" afforded. That's why we have anti-trust laws (for all the good they do under the repubs). why is undercutting a bad thing? let's say they are undercutting and 'forcing' people out of business. if they eliminate competition (which is impossible) what will they do next? will the price gouge? probably not. if they did, it would enable competitors to spring up and take their business. competition would ensure that this technique fails in the long run. walmart is far, far, far from a monopoly. in fact, I can't think of a single monopoly that has sprung up through an unregulated market...the only monopolies I can think of were given monopolies through government intervention (tarriffs, natural monopolies, other more invasive legislation). and anti-trust laws should be abolished. if an industry can gain a monopoly without government intervention...they deserve it. if they take advantage of that position to engage in practices that consumers do not like, they will quickly lose that monopoly. but let's be honest, there isn't an industry today that could be the sole providor of a service or product without government intervention. quote: BTW, your remark, "I doubt anything will change. my idealogies and beliefs don't change based upon what is beneficial to me - I'm more principled than that." I submit that you are no different than the vast majority of people, myself included... our behavior is mutable and changes with what we think will be advantageous. we engage in actions to better our positions, yes...but our thoughts and convictions are a completely different issue.

SilverMark -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 2:10:30 PM)
WalMart is simply put, a predatory retailer, the buy and sell goods below market value. In our economy people may shop where they wish, I choose not to shop there. They have no values aside from the dollar and will put a vendor under faster than I have ever seen any company do so. As the economy lags they will succeed, but not in the way Sam Walton envisioned them to do so. It is amusing to watch as they try to build in some areas and are totally rejected by the locals but, most places will ride them for whatever taxes they can collect and then WalMart will move and leave empty retail space that no longer has value and the tax revenues disappear. So it goes....if you ride a bull every now and again the horns will get you!

BlackPhx -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 3:10:54 PM)
Popeye; We did vote. We voted when we demanded cheaper goods. We voted when we demanded higher and higher wages no matter what the companies bottom line margin was. We voted when we priced ourselves out of the work market. We voted when we bought foreign automobiles at 16K rather than American made at 26K. Bought Prius's instead of Mustangs. We voted when we wanted clothing cheaper than it could be made here out of materials that couldn't be grown here. We voted when we wanted oil, cheaper computers and that came about because certain things were cheaper to produce elsewhere. We voted when we wanted rubber, spices, jewelry, gems and foods from other countries. We voted when we paid our farmers not to grow certain foods and sent our excess over seas, while importing their grains and gluten products. We voted when we imported their wood for our homes and furniture, collected their art and sent them ours. We voted when we imported BBC programming and export our movies and shows. We voted when we buy from designers around the world and ship our steel out to be turned into product that will be used in our products here. We voted when we demanded bigger, cheaper, faster, built cities and towns on farmland and said make it, and build it, but not in my backyard. Each and every one of these things was a vote for a global economy. can we really complain because they listened? We, the people created the demand. We the people bought with the money we the people earned here. We the people voted. Maybe we should have read the fine print. poenkitten

YourhandMyAss -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 3:16:04 PM)
They also used to have a great craft department, all though they downsized and it's not great any more, But you can still find good stuff, and much cheaper than otyher craft stores. Michaels for instances charges 11 bucks for one big paint brush, and at Walmart for 5 bucks you get that big paint brush and 4 others. Their baby department also funds my hunt for cute baby t shirts that are cheap to cut up for crafts. quote: ORIGINAL: LaTigresse I have no problem using the cheap whore that is Walmart. I need laundry detergent and toilet paper, they've got it.

blacksword404 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 4:27:36 PM)
Peiole shop at walmart because it's cheap. Over time you end up shopping at walmart because it's all you can afford.

popeye1250 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 4:31:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BlackPhx Popeye; We did vote. We voted when we demanded cheaper goods. We voted when we demanded higher and higher wages no matter what the companies bottom line margin was. We voted when we priced ourselves out of the work market. We voted when we bought foreign automobiles at 16K rather than American made at 26K. Bought Prius's instead of Mustangs. We voted when we wanted clothing cheaper than it could be made here out of materials that couldn't be grown here. We voted when we wanted oil, cheaper computers and that came about because certain things were cheaper to produce elsewhere. We voted when we wanted rubber, spices, jewelry, gems and foods from other countries. We voted when we paid our farmers not to grow certain foods and sent our excess over seas, while importing their grains and gluten products. We voted when we imported their wood for our homes and furniture, collected their art and sent them ours. We voted when we imported BBC programming and export our movies and shows. We voted when we buy from designers around the world and ship our steel out to be turned into product that will be used in our products here. We voted when we demanded bigger, cheaper, faster, built cities and towns on farmland and said make it, and build it, but not in my backyard. Each and every one of these things was a vote for a global economy. can we really complain because they listened? We, the people created the demand. We the people bought with the money we the people earned here. We the people voted. Maybe we should have read the fine print. poenkitten Well gee BlackPhx,I called my congressman's office in D.C. this afternoon to ask about what is going on with this "free trade" agreement with S. Korea and the staffer told me that she didn't know anything about it! A U.S. Congressman's staffer and she doesn't know anything about it! I haven't had anyone ringing my doorbell asking me to sign a petition to have "free trade" with .....S. Korea. And, I didn't vote for any of the things you mentioned either! Where did you vote? NONE of those things were on any ballots that I saw when I voted! It seems that they're doing a bunch of things in Washington and The People be damned. Does anyone know what the fuck is going on up in Washington? I mean who's managing the country, Bernie Medoff? I'm not making any money off of any of the above nor am I "benefiting" from any of them.

LaTigresse -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 4:32:05 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: blacksword404 Peiole shop at walmart because it's cheap. Over time you end up shopping at walmart because it's all you can afford. Uhmmm, just how long is this supposed to take for this effect to take place. I've been shopping there since we first got one nearby, over twenty years ago. I can still afford to shop other places, I just choose to be more frugal.

Aynne88 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 4:51:29 PM)
Good. I have no qualms with your understanding of me. Just for you, here is a little insight into my WalMart issue. Shop away. http://walmartwatch.com/ quote: ORIGINAL: variation30 quote: ORIGINAL: Aynne88 Agrees. WalMart is a dirty soulless corporate whore. Seriously. That place just sucks. I won't shop there. I'll never understand why people hate walmart. do you not like a dirty soulless corporation that employs over 2 million individuals (many of whom would have a hard time finding employment/income without walmart)? do you not like a dirty soulless corporation that enables poor families to acquire products that heighten the quality of their lives in a way that is not possible without walmart? and what corporations have souls? I'll never understand you people.

Aynne88 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 4:53:26 PM)
I love a man that gets it![:)] quote: ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster quote: ORIGINAL: variation30 quote: ORIGINAL: Aynne88 Agrees. WalMart is a dirty soulless corporate whore. Seriously. That place just sucks. I won't shop there. I'll never understand why people hate walmart. do you not like a dirty soulless corporation that employs over 2 million individuals (many of whom would have a hard time finding employment/income without walmart)? do you not like a dirty soulless corporation that enables poor families to acquire products that heighten the quality of their lives in a way that is not possible without walmart? and what corporations have souls? I'll never understand you people. Do you mean those 2 million jobs that used to belong to small business owners and their employees (also neighbors) where people could actually make a decent living at, so they could afford houses and cars and to send their kids to college? THOSE two million jobs? Those two million jobs that people used to go to on the Main Streets of Anytown USA? Those two million jobs that are subsidized by the taxpayers, who are paying for the healthcare and childcare of those two million Walllyworld employees nationwide? Did you even watch the film I put the link up too, or are you too ideologically pure to consider that something you might believe is true, is actually false? Wait until you get out of college and get into the real world.

LookieNoNookie -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 5:22:58 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: pahunkboy What is your plan for the next 3 years, in regard to the recession? Work harder, save more, spend less....come out on the other side stronger.

BlackPhx -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 9:39:32 PM)
People voted Popeye when they spent the money. If they didn't buy the goods made from foreign woods. the artwork, the diamonds from Africa and oil from Opec, the clothing, then Free trade would mean nothing. It wouldn't happen. Period. But Poeple do buy the lap tops, the cell phones, the clothing, the tires, the furniture..and therefore, trade continues. At least for now. Whether you cast a ballot or you spend the money, you are voting. Old saying I know you are old enough to remember..What if they held a war and no body came..Well the same thing goes for Free Trade. What if they had the goods to sell..but no body bought, until it was emtirely made in America. If you are not happy with free trade and a global economy, stop using the products of it. The components of your computer, telephone, internet technology, t'aint all made in America. At least 80% of it comes in from foreign manufactuers made for American companies. As for the Staffer not knowing about a free trade compact with S. Korea..I am not sure I expect the clerk or intern who answers the phone to be privy to everything that crosses the bosses desk or even if they do, to give potential sound bites to an unknown person who could be a reporter. poenkitten

YourhandMyAss -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 9:43:46 PM)
Correction, I would still shop at Walmart even if I was filthy rich, why? Because I like their store and I like their super center, and I really don't care about the behind the scenes of Walmart. quote: ORIGINAL: blacksword404 Peiole shop at walmart because it's cheap. Over time you end up shopping at walmart because it's all you can afford.

blacksword404 -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 10:01:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LaTigresse quote: ORIGINAL: blacksword404 Peiole shop at walmart because it's cheap. Over time you end up shopping at walmart because it's all you can afford. Uhmmm, just how long is this supposed to take for this effect to take place. I've been shopping there since we first got one nearby, over twenty years ago. I can still afford to shop other places, I just choose to be more frugal. Depends on the community you live in and the other jobs that are available. If your in a smaller community and walmart puts mom and pops out of business then you work and shop at walmart.

Hippiekinkster -> RE: What is your "plan" ? ~ ~ ! (12/19/2008 10:42:32 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: lusciouslips19 I dont spend my time bashing Walmart. Just state my opinion here. I express my feelings by shopping elsewhere. Dig it. [sm=hippie.gif]

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