Is Walmart a Monopoly? | 78 comments (78 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

I completely agree that we should call out companies for their practices, when we, as a group, deem them unfair. Similarly, you should call them out, as you see fit, as should I, as I do -- that being in individual circumstances. But the term, "unfair," is subjective. What you consider unfair, I may not. How do we measure "fairness"? I submit to you that an objective analysis of what is and is not "fair" is nearly, if not firmly, impossible.

The process by which regulations are changed is determined by a democratically-elected state government and the administrative agencies it oversees. I'm completely in agreement with you, in that the state and local governments should not have offered tax breaks and subsidies to companies. But they chose to do so, and they can be voted out, if the people are sufficiently angered by it.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 02:27:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

Well, I just don't see people getting angered by it enough to do anything if no one's calling it out and people can't see what the problem is. You have to describe a problem before you can fix it. Elected officials represent our views -- they won't do anything for us if we don't tell them what our views are.

When they're mulling over whether to give tax breaks -- someone's gotta say it's unfair. Wal-mart isn't. They're saying it's unfair to have to pay for healthcare or pay to build a road to their store or whatever. They're presenting their side. Our job isn't to make excuses for them that that's just the climate and conditions we're in right now. Our job is to speak up for ourselves and other people and pressure our representatives to work in our interests, not for corporate interests.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 02:39:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

Well, I just don't see people getting angered by it enough to do anything if no one's calling it out and people can't see what the problem is. You have to describe a problem before you can fix it. Elected officials represent our views -- they won't do anything for us if we don't tell them what our views are.

And so the answer is to tell people about what is going on. If they see this, and care enough about it, they will act. Part of the reason Kerry lost the election was his failure to properly explain what has been happening in the economy -- e.g., how Bush's tax policies have hurt workers.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 03:18:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

According to you, what is going on is that Walmart is providing a public service by giving people crap jobs as an alternative to unemployment. Sorry, I just don't get your point.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 03:23:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

No. I'm saying Wal-Mart is moving into a market where it believes it can make money. It has nothing to do with public service and everything to do with bringing in money. There are potential consumers, so it assumes demand is present. There is a labor surplus, so supply is present at lower wages. I think you're engaging with the issues of what should be, while I'm simply trying to explain what is and why it is.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 03:57:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

giving people crap jobs as an alternative to unemployment

What do you base this opinion that Walmart gives people crap jobs on? It's the employees that decide if it's a good job or not. Have you talked to a lot of Walmart employees, and thus derived this opinion? Do you have some unbiased survey of Walmart employees that substantiates this? What is this based upon?

by wchurchill on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 07:25:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

Right. So we tell people that Wal-mart's business practices are unfair, just like we should say that Bush's tax cuts hurt. That's what I've been saying.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jan 25th, 2006 at 03:24:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Walmart a Monopoly? (none / 0)

Bush' tax cuts were supposed to be good for small buissinesses, right? Where are those small buissinesses, and where are the jobs they offer?

by das monde on Thu Jan 26th, 2006 at 12:50:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Is Walmart a Monopoly? | 78 comments (78 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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