There is a need for part-time jobs. There is a need for part-time employment opportunities for older workers. Walmart fulfils these needs, and union-controlled businesses cannot.

But no, the Left’s narrative obtains and we foolishly argue THEIR arguments for them. Instead of plotting the unions’ and marxists’ demise.

Another is that low prices come on the backs of lower wages. That’s something that society needs decide whether it’s important or not. It’s like a $2 apple, which would be the cost if it weren’t picked by migrant workers.

kim roy on November 23, 2012 at 5:35 PM

Actually that isn’t true. The majority of the cost in food that is labor intensive to harvest is in packaging, middlemen and transportation.

chemman on November 23, 2012 at 8:02 PM

Sure the major costs are other things because the labor is so cheap. If it costs 25 cents to package/transport/middlemen an apple and 5 cents to pick it with migrants, then bring in a “walmart worker” who would get 25 cents to pick the apple and then add in the other costs and you’ve gone from 30 cents to 50 cents for that apple. Rough numbers, but you get the idea.

That’s why the migrants do the work – most people wouldn’t – they’d want more money, possibly benefits and would refuse to do the work otherwise.

If a particular township doesn’t want a mega store, then that’s the community’s choice, especially if they have a vote. Those who feel strongly about it one way or another will show up.
….

kim roy on November 23, 2012 at 6:04 PM

Weird how all of a sudden property rights go out the window.

The nimbys kill me as they come over here to the Walmart to do their shopping while fighting it in their township.

CW on November 23, 2012 at 6:34 PM

What I meant by that comment and it seems that it was misinterpeted by some and that’s probably my fault is that sometimes there are zoning issues, perhaps the land is owned by government or “the public” or what have you.

I know in the case of zoning, yes there is nimbyism because there are traffic concerns, population issues, possible other uses for that land (if it is a government/public land), etc. Quite often a lot of homeowners don’t want a 24 hour Walmart across the street from them. Or down the block. Then the ensuing construction, road work, massive increase in traffic, noise.

That’s what I meant. There’s a lot more than just plunking down a Walmart. Neighborhoods change. Not all Walmarts are in the boonies by a freeway. Some are in the middle of residential areas.

I’m generally neutral on Wal-Mart as there are no stores near me.

I love Wal-Mart. My husband and I buy our medical prescriptions there for $4 bucks a month.

chemman on November 23, 2012 at 8:02 PM

Yeah I understand if it was a legal worker that cost for produce would only go up 10-20 cents per pound. To me that is not too bad. Then again you get rid of some of the over regulation and then that would help lower the price.

Another is that low prices come on the backs of lower wages. That’s something that society needs decide whether it’s important or not. It’s like a $2 apple, which would be the cost if it weren’t picked by migrant workers.

kim roy on November 23, 2012 at 5:35 PM

Actually that isn’t true. The majority of the cost in food that is labor intensive to harvest is in packaging, middlemen and transportation.

As for the small stores being put out of business, that’s the way retail has always been…competition. They could adapt by offering different products and utilizing the internet, and many do. Retail is about the customer and what they want. Companies come and go, it’s nothing new.

True. I remember in the late 80s early 90s when blockbuster video came into town. All if the mom and pop, local video stores got closed down. People were pissed and upset. Now with Netflix and the Redbox those same Blockbusters are gettin pushed out, and closing. It’s called the market place.

I crossed the parking lot to the door she was standing near and told the union hacks that I’d just gone out of my way in order to cross their line.

The hacks were stony faced. The poor girl thanked me for shopping at Wal-Mart, and added that she was trying to move around a lot to keep out of anyone’s way.

HTL on November 23, 2012 at 6:42 PM

I never really shopped much at Walmart until these last couple years. I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised with many of the products in their groceries, especially some of the more unusual items such as almond butter or a certain brand of long grain wild rice that I also see in our local UFCW grocery chain at double the price. Whereas I’d walk right by them in the UFCW grocery, I will almost always buy those same products at Walmart because of their lower prices.

She would be preferable to Barbara Blockhead, Whinestein and Governor Moonbeam…. but not by much. Too bad Meg Whitman is bearing the HP legacy of Mark whatshisname and several others of the turmoil three or so years ago. Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard would not be amused.

If there’s a Wal-Mart division which could use improvement it’s Sam’s Club…. which at it’s start (1980s) was called Sam’s Wholesale Club before the “wholesale” part became non-applicable. From the business standpoint one would get used to buying a particular line or brand of products there only to see it discontinued. Nowadays it’s cheaper to get half as much at as good or better the price at the WalMart next door with no membership fees necessary. For items like dairy products Aldi has bested them both.

That’s the beauty of the free market…

This is a company where it’s still possible to rise from part-time cashier to senior vice president based on actual merit. A quaint notion, I know.

NoLeftTurn on November 23, 2012 at 6:50 PM

I’ve had it with you haters.

And don’t give me that ‘But Carly Fiorina went from admin assistant to CEO of HP’ line.

She was recruited by the vast right wing conspiracy / illuminati / Zionists.

Save your LBE and plates. Live Better and shop somewhere else.

The other day on The Five” Bob Beckel grumbled that Wal-Mart employees making 11 bucks and change an hour “can’t live on that.” That’s the problem with having NY-DC corridor people commenting on national programs: they have no clue what life is life outside of that corridor. For your information, Mr. Beckel, there are millions of Americans who CAN live on that because they don’t reside in that stupid city with the 25 dollar hamburgers you call home.

radjah shelduck on November 23, 2012 at 5:46 PM

^^THIS!

Out here in Flyover Country, $10/hr is a pretty good wage. A family of three or four living in a small town and making a combined income of $40,000 is middle class.

Walmart actually treats its associates pretty well and rather than keeping them locked into some rigid hierarchy where they have no control over their jobs or futures (as is the case with unions), Walmart associates actually have opportunity for career advancement — and the potential to earn lots more money. That’s probably why you don’t see them walking off the job in protest. This is a company where it’s still possible to rise from part-time cashier to senior vice president based on actual merit. A quaint notion, I know.

The Walmart price match guarantee? Pretty much worthless, because they insist on products being delivered in odd sizes that no one else carries, or with features missing that a casual, or even moderately diligent consumer would not notice.

I don’t like being played. Used to be that Walmart was like Costco — I couldn’t get out of the store paying less than $200. Now, I shop at the big store across the street instead, and only occasionally drop by Walmart for the one or two items that they carry that I know are still a good deal. Although what is funny is that they are frequently out of them when I do stop by — I thought one of their strengths was supposed to be distribution?