Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

ahem... what i meant to say was "that Idiot up in canada",

for one, what was his belief? "ohh we dont want anything that is owned by a major corperation in this town. hey look, McDonalds, lets have a big mac"

_________________

I don't know which "guy" you're talking about. But I'm-a try to address it anyway. I don't know they guy, so this is only a guess, but I'd say, like many misguided and correctly guided individuals, he didn't want WalMart in his town. He probably disagreed with their business practices and/or their sharply ANTI-UNION sentiments. (I still remember that "At WalMart we're not anti-union, we're pro-associate. You shouldn't give your hard earned money to a bunch of union fat cats that might choose to help you if it's convenient" video from orientation).
I'm not even going to get into the union thing... They are the best and worst thing to ever happen to the American blue collar worker. (Keep your head, and mine, from A'Sploding... Don't ask me to explain that.)

_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Just a friendly reminder that Mcy D's are a franchise and as such are locally owned and opperated.

_________________

All of the McDonald's franchises around here (There's like 5 or 6 of them) are owned by 2 guys, named, strangely enough, Bob and Tom. (But not this Bob and Tom)

But, yeah, you're right, McDonald's, as well as most eateries are franchised.. A lot of people think WalMart is, too, but they're not, although some of the "store level" things, like locally produced items only sold at that store and stuff of that nature might make you believe they are.

_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Just a little tid bit I found today... for those of you who have the time, here is where I found it WalMart is Pure Evil


* This company runs ads featuring the United States flag and proclaims "We Buy American". In 2001 they moved their worldwide purchasing headquarters to China and are the largest importer of Chinese goods in the US, purchasing over $10 BILLION of Chinese-made products annually. Products made mostly by women and children working in the labor hell-holes China is famous for.
* Their average employee working in the US makes $15,000 a year, $7.22 per hour!
* These employees gross under $11,000 a year.
* The company brags that 70% of their employees are full time, but fails to disclose that they count anyone working 28 hours a week or more as full time.
* There are no health care benefits unless you have worked for the company for two years.
* With a turnover rate averaging above 50% per year, only 38% of their 1.3 million employees have health care coverage. -In California alone it's estimated that the taxpayers pay over $20 million annually to subsidize health care benefits for these employees who get none from this behemoth corporation.
* According to a report by PBS's "Now" with Bill Moyer, their managers are trained in what government social programs are available for these"employees" to take advantage of so that the company can pass on those costs to you and me. It allows them to not only keep their $7 BILLION in annual profits, but to do so by substituting benefits they refuse to provide with benefits paid for with taxpayer dollars.
* This company holds the record for the most suits filed against it by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A lawyer from "Business Week" (not exactly the bastion for supporting Labor) said, "I have never seen this kind of blatant disregard for the law." They had to pay $750,000.00 in Arizona for blatant discrimination against the disabled! The judge was so incensed that he also order them to run commercials admitting their guilt.
* The National Labor Relations Board has issued over 40 formal complaints against the corporation in 25 different states in just the past five years. The NLRB's top lawyer believed that their labor violations, such as Illegal spying on employees, fraudulent record keeping, falsifying time cards to avoid paying overtime, threats, illegal firings for union organizing etc., were so widespread that he was looking into filing a very rare national complaint against the company. (The company contributed $2,159,330.00 to GW Bush and the GOP in 2000 and 2002. The NLRB attorney was replaced when President Bush took office.).
* Nearly 1 MILLION women are involved in the largest class-action suit every filed against a corporation. Although women make up over 65% of this corporations work force only 10% of them are managers. The women who have become store managers make $16,400 a year LESS then the men.
* The corporation took out nearly 350,000 life insurance policies on their employees. They did not tell the employees and then named the corporation as the beneficiary. They are now being sued by numerous employees, and although the corporation has stopped this practice of purchasing what is known as "Dead Peasant Policy's", a company spokesperson stated, "The company feels it acted properly and legally in doing this."
* They force employees to work after ordering them to punch out. In Texas alone this practice of "wage theft" is estimated to have cost employees $30 million per year. Wage theft or "off-the-clock" lawsuits are pending in 25 states. In New Mexico they paid $400,000.00 in one suit and in Colorado they had to pay $50 MILLION to settle one class-action case brought against them. In Oregon a jury found them guilty of locking employees in the building and of forcing unpaid overtime.
* With 4,400 stores they practice "predatory pricing." They come into a community and sell their goods at below cost until they drive local businesses under. Once they have captured the market the prices go up.
* Locally owned and operated businesses put virtually all of their money back into the community which helps keep the local economies vibrant. This corporation sucks the money out of the local community, decreases wages and benefits and ships the profits out of state.
* This company doesn't buy locally or bank locally. They replace three decent paying jobs in a community with two poorly paid "part-timers".
* In Kirksville, Missouri when this company came to town, four clothing stores, four grocery stores, a stationary store, a fabric store and a lawn-and-garden store all went under. Eleven businesses are now gone.

(The above information can be found in "Thieves in High Places", James
Hightower, The Penguin Group, New York, NY, 2003 p. 166 - 193.)

_________________

Now, let me just say something about child labor in china and stuff: If we banend child labor, things would be worse. It's sad that the children have to work to provide, but if they didn;t, they'd be worse off. Just wnated to point that out.

Now, back on topic.



SO??? Then don't work there!!! No one's forcing you to!! If they opay you badly and don't give any benifits, why do people still work there?? E gad, if they're succeeding, then they're doing somehting right! Oh, they run small businesses out of business; Wal Mart started out as a small businees, and they went through hard times to get where they are! So giving low prices makes them evil?? Yeah, taht makes sense!

Sorry, I'm just really annoyed that people don't understand what me and choc are trying to say. If the pizza place near yoru hometown got big, would they be evil because the ran the pizza place near it out of business? It';s the same for Wal-Mart.



I'd liek to get some more info on this. I wouldn';t hire a disabled person in my company, becaus ethey can't do the work as well as an undisabled person can, I don't see that as a crime.



I'd also liek to hear more in this. It may say somewhere that emplyee benifits are subject to change at any time without notice, that isn;t uncommon.



Welcome to the business life. With lo prices they drive other companies out of business, then raise their prices. Is this wrong? I say no. This is the perfect time for a new company to join.



Yeah... so? Once again, that's business! Companies come and die because of bigger companies; if you didn;t know the risks of making a company, you shouldn;t have created a company. This part, and almost all of the "Wal-Mart is Evil!" "scam" is a victim of mass propaganda. Don't beleive everything you hear, and remmeber, those business knew what tehy were getting into when they went into the "real world" ANd it,s true, this is the real world for ya'. Deal.

No, its sad that people like you think that child labor is acceptable. Obviously, you have no empathy for them.




You don't understand. Because Walmart drives out small business, there are no other places to work. They become the only place to get a job. You have no idea what you are talking about. "if they're succeeding, then they're doing something right!"?????? So basically you're saying to heck with ethical business. If they get rich through mistreatment of their employees then so what. That is sick. It doesn't matter what they started off as, it is what they've become.



Well the judge did see it as a crime, and he's the one with the law degree.



You don't understand... again. The insurance policies were not for the benefit of the employee. They took the insurance policy out on the employee, not for the employee.... so if the employee died, Walmart collected the benefits from the policy. That would make you all warm inside if you knew that you were worth more to your company dead than alive, wouldn't it?



Oh, ok. So according to you a monopoly is healthy... that is what your saying.



Real world... how old are you? Do you know what the "real world" is. How about this. For 30 years you put your heart and soul into a business. As you succeed, you put back into your community and help it to develop. Along comes Walmart and intentionally drives you out of business. They could market your goods at a loss for them, so that when you went under, they could charge whatever they wanted, and there wouldn't be another alternative for your community than to shop at Walmart. That’s the real world you are advocating.

You seriously have no idea what you are talking about.

_________________

fun little ad!

Thought yall might like this... or at least think that its funny.

_________________

Over here, if a company hires a disabled person, they get subsidized and usually get the extra costs this person will entail refunded.

But seeing as the US isn't Happyland... I assume you guys.. don't.. do that

No, its sad that people like you think that child labor is acceptable. Obviously, you have no empathy for them.

I did say I was saddened about what tehy have to go through everyday, and In would never want to be in their shoes, but banning child labor would make things much worse. It's not that I'm not empathetic (if it were a word) for them, it's that they're doing it because they have to do it to stay alive, which is saddening but true.

Now, back on topic,



The only place in the same feild that Wal-Mart is in. There are plemnty of other places that Wal-Mart can't run out of business, as they don't provide teh same services. if you dislike Wal-Mart, work at a store completely unrelated to Wal-Mart or the products it sells. Business will do that, it's not their fault that they worked very hard to get where they are today.



I never said i thought it was good, but I do say that that's how business works. I'm not even sure that Wal-Mart has raised their prices after driving companies otu of business, but I'm npot sure of this, because I rarely shop at Wal-Mart.

Now, I understand i probably don't understand all of this, maybe in a few years, but in my opinion, Wal-Mart has done nothing wrong.

I hope that when you are older than 12 you will understand the damage that organizations like Walmart are doing here. You are talking about things you can't possibly understand. For instance, if Child labor were banned, then there would be a greater demand for labor, thus the wages for other eligible workers (ie adults) would increase, and the quality of life for these people would increase. That is a simplified version of the effect that a ban would have, but the point is, is that Walmart is not good for a community, not good for you, not good for me. If people cared about their communities they would strive to shop at local stores, and encourage local compitition.

_________________

I disagree, I think it helps the people that don't have businesses that sell the same things as Wal-Mart, but for now, I think we'll have to agree to disagree.

Capitalism is all about allowing people to be as successful as they possibly can. This will, inevitably, cause disadvantages for the smaller businesses, but remember, Wal-Mart was the same way at one point. They didn't start out as a gigantic monopolizing juggernaut. They have been hugely successful since their creation, and I do not see why they should be penalized for it.

The bottom line is, they may be driving smaller businesses into the ground, but that's the way capitalism works. The same thing could easily have happened to Wal-Mart when it was first created.

_________________
beep beep I'm a Jeep

...and this is where someone will say something about Wal-Mart using dirty business practices to get ahead of their competitors...

_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Jitka: except that Capitalism is supposed to work for the best interest, not only of the businesses themselves, but also the workers who work for those businesses, and for the community. Wal-Mart's dirty business practices are essentially screwing over their employees and destroying communities. Why? Because Wal-Mart practices dirty, even illegal, business practices. So while Wal-Mart may be operating according to a good sound definition of Capitalism, if there's anything we've learned from the Robber Barons of the past centuries, it's that such behavior is not at all beneficial to consumers or workers.

Now, I'm no pinko commie, but I believe that businesses should practice benevolent capitalism. Businesses should be held responsible for the welfare of their employees and their customers. The fact that Wal-Mart is currently being sued by several states for improper business practices proves in my mind that this is not what they are doing.

_________________

Exactly, that's on of the things I've been trying to say. Jitka' is da man, foo's!

I mean well put, Jitka.

But then I will answer: is capitalism necessarily good even when those capitalistic practices hurt workers, consumers, and communities? The issue in question isn't whether or not they are adhering to the tenets of capitalism, but whether their business practices are harmful to others or not. And further, if those practices are harmful, whether or not they should be allowed to continue them unchecked.

_________________

I believe that they should be obligated to help the community in some way, perhaps offering the best jobs to those who they have driven out of business, but not penalized unless they are actively and flagrantly breaking the law.

The main flaw of capitalism is that it can't provide for everyone under it. It can provide for the people who know what they are doing, however, like Wal-Mart clearly does.

Whether something is morally right or wrong is immaterial, as long as it is legal. It may not be right, but this is how capitalism is meant to work.

_________________
beep beep I'm a Jeep

And as I belive you stated thus is the flaw of capitalsim, if somehow we could find ways to regulate companies like this without turning completely comunistic. If they aren't contained, the Walton's are going to be the new Rockafellers.(sp?)

_________________
TIRES TIRES TIRES

I once again agree completely, exactly what I've been trying to say, i just can't find the right words for it.

REALLY OVERDUE EDIT: And I can't spell them, either.

Again, though, much of what Wal-Mart does is illegal. That's why they're being sued in several states.

_________________

Guilty til proven innocent, eh Didy?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

Well, considering they've already lost some cases...

_________________

Yeah.. That too.

OJ was found not guilty but he still lost his civil suit. There isn't a "burden of proof" in civil suits. There can still be "reasonable doubt".

Just trying to hit all the angles, here.

_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.

I don't think they're evil, but I am a little bitter, because A Target was going to be built in walking distance from my house. Target has Jones soda. In a can. That's freaking awesome. But, that's just me.

_________________

A little ditty from The Onion a guy on another board shared.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33666

Well, Well, Well–If It Isn't A Family-Owned Retailer

By Wal-Mart Store #3297

September 10, 2003 | Issue 39•35


Well, well, well—lookee here. If it isn't a small, family-owned retailer. How quaint.

Pretty nice shop you got here. Okay if I take a look inside? Don't mind me. I won't be long. Neither will you, but that's a story for another day.

I'm sure you must be real busy, but if you have a minute to spare, I could use a bit of help. I was hoping to buy the new Alan Jackson CD, but I'm having trouble finding your music section. I'd also like to pick up a bottle of scented bath gel. What's that? Really? Just a hardware store, huh? Well, I'm sorry. I do apologize. Seems like it'd be a whole lot more convenient to go to a single store for all of my needs, but what do I know?

My, oh, my. I really like what you've done with the place. It's so old-fashioned. Kind of cramped, but I guess you did your best. Takes a lot of persistence and elbow grease to keep a place like this open for... 53 years, you say! My, my, that's impressive! It's too bad how things will end up. Real shame.

Bet you're real proud of your little store here, the way it's passed from one generation of your family to the next. Must mean a whole lot to you and your little lady and your two kids. How's high school going for those kids, anyway? Good to hear. Education is key. Incidentally, here's my number. When they graduate, have them call me. I'll see if I can't get them a job.

I love looking around these mom-and-pop places. It helps me get a feel for a town's local flavor. Just out of curiosity, what do you tell your greeters to say around these parts? Oh, you don't have greeters? Then who greets the customers? Interesting. That certainly is one way of going about it, I guess.

It's also very novel the way you meet your customers' parking needs. Your customers must really get a kick out of jockeying for available spots on the street. I'm sure none of them would be interested in the convenience of three football fields' worth of parking. Then again, what use would you have for all those spaces, anyway? This little store probably couldn't handle more than three or four customers at a time, now, could it?

I see you have some nice items on sale there. A Black And Decker two-speed power drill for $23.99? Lowest price in town. Bet you can hardly keep them in the store. Hmm, I wonder how well they'll sell when some other store in town starts offering the same drill for $19.98. I wonder. Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Say, why do you charge so much for your products? Silly me, how could I forget? You pay wholesale, then mark up from there. Have you ever considered buying everything at prices well below wholesale? Not the only way to do things, I admit, but it's what we do. Just one of the benefits of being the biggest retailer in the world.

But biggest isn't always best, they say. People probably love the character of this neighborhood store, how cozy it is. I just wonder if people will still want to scurry around this little shack after they've pushed a cart through our 48 spacious, well-lit, air-conditioned, perfectly organized, fully labeled aisles.

But you have a real nice line of goods in here, too. Very select. Probably picked it yourself, hmm? Must've been real tough deciding which handful of things to keep in stock. Now, just what are these handmade cards on the counter? The girl down the street made those, and she's selling them to make money for her cheerleading uniform! My goodness! And you get nothing out of the deal? How sweet. Do you think she could make 10,000 cards a month? Why don't you ask her and get back to me? If she can produce, I might know a retailer that could help her and her team out.

Yes, sure would be a shame if you lost the tiny, local customer base that's kept your store in business for half a century. I mean, how would you pay your mortgage? Where would that leave you and your family? Just what will you do to survive?

Loyal customers, you say? Loyalty is a funny thing. You never really know what people are going to do until they're tested. I guess we'll see soon enough. Personally, I don't know the people of this little hamlet too well. I'm new here. But if they're anything like the people of the 8,420 other small towns I've seen, I expect to see quite a few of them at our grand opening in four weeks. We'll be handing out free balloons and soda pop, you know. Hot dogs will be two for a dollar in the deli.

Well, I honestly hope everything turns out well for you. I like you. It'll pain me to see you out of work, but what can I do? I can't force people to keep patronizing your little shop. I can't convince people to slog from one specialty store to another when they can find everything they need conveniently located in one place. I can't make customers pay anything more than the lowest price.

If I could, believe me, I would.

_________________

I want to know the people that think the're to cool to answer either yees or no, anyway I think its a sucubus.

_________________
die spelling nazis!

_________________
Here comes the thnikaman!!!!!

well, we have found another spammer.

as for wal-mart, i drop all the things i said and go back to the middle of things. there not evil, but their not good.

_________________

Ya, it's not like I wear shirts promoting them but I dont talk down about wal-mart either. It's just an extremly successful store with lack of morals.

_________________