Green Room

In defense of Wal-Mart

posted at 12:38 pm on November 24, 2012 by

Interesting stuff from Reason’s Peter Suderman, currently making the rounds in the conservative Twittersphere. As with America, so too with Wal-Mart: There’s simply not enough money held by the rich to pay for what progressives want. The money will have to come from the middle class. Or, in Wal-Mart’s case, the lower class.

Here’s Suderman on this morning’s “Up with Chris Hayes” trying to get a word in edgewise to make this same point.

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If the price of low prices is a workforce without health care, paid sick leave, or a livable wage, what is the point?

ernesto on November 24, 2012 at 12:41 PM

That bagging groceries isn’t a good career move.

Ronnie on November 25, 2012 at 8:41 PM

That bagging groceries isn’t a good career move.

Ronnie on November 25, 2012 at 8:41 PM

I’ll dare to assume that everyone here already knows that…

MelonCollie on November 25, 2012 at 10:18 PM

Fire Kills 112 Workers Making Clothes for US Brands

“The 100-plus workers who died in a fire late Saturday at a high-rise garment factory in Bangladesh were working overtime making clothes for major American retailers, including Wal-Mart, according to workers’ rights groups.”

I can’t wait to see how Trumka and his goons twist this.

BallisticBob on November 26, 2012 at 12:18 AM

If the price of low prices is a workforce without health care, paid sick leave, or a livable wage, what is the point?

ernesto on November 24, 2012 at 12:41 PM

No. You’re right.

It’s better for Walmart to provide benefits to unskilled workers. They’ll just hire fewer of them to offset the cost.

That way, your dependency class can continue to grow.

Washington Nearsider on November 26, 2012 at 7:08 AM

I can’t wait to see how Trumka and his goons twist this.

BallisticBob on November 26, 2012 at 12:18 AM

You must be one of his goons.

“It is a huge loss for my staff and my factory. This is the first time we have ever had a fire at one of my seven factories,” he said, confirming that the plant made clothes for C&A and Li & Fung.

Thorsten Rolfes, C&A spokesman in Berlin, said the company had commissioned the factory to make 220,000 sweaters to be delivered to Brazil.

“The victims and their families are in our thoughts and prayers,” he said.

Li & Fung was not immediately available for comment.

Tuba Group, the parent company of Tazreen Fashion, said on its website that the factory opened in 2009 and employed 1630 workers making polo shirts, T-shirts and jackets.

It also said its factories make clothes for Walmart, Carrefour and IKEA, and added that the Tazreen plant had 60 smoke detectors and more than 200 fire extinguishers.

Fallon on November 26, 2012 at 8:03 AM

Walmart has done more to improve the standard of living of poor and middle class people in this country than any gubmint program, non-profit or charitable organization.

WalMart will stop being a target for the Left five minutes after they unionize.

tbrosz on November 24, 2012 at 2:01 PM

Yes, the campaign against Walmart is driven mainly by the union issue. It’s also fueled by the left’s snobbishness and underlying disdain for the masses.

petefrt on November 26, 2012 at 9:51 AM

It’s sad that retailers have to go offshore to have clothes made, but the ILGWU (remember the “Look for the union label” TV commercials?) priced US factories out of the market.

Ward Cleaver on November 26, 2012 at 10:20 AM

If the price of low prices is a workforce without health care, paid sick leave, or a livable wage, what is the point?

ernesto on November 24, 2012 at 12:41 PM

The point is that you and I are not morally culpable for the life decisions of other individuals, even if it leads them to work at minimum wage jobs without benefits. There is a wage that the market has set for the task of sweeping floors and stocking shelves.

Feel free to start your own Wal-Mart competitor; pay higher wages, provide health care and advertise to your liberal friends that each overpriced purchase comes with the unshakably warm feeling that they’re providing inflated wages and benefits to undeserving morons. (pro tip; have each of your stores covered in solar panels and you can probably get DOE “loans” to get you started.) I’m sure Obama will at least have Sandra Fluke come to your grand opening.

TexasDan on November 26, 2012 at 11:52 AM

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