WM
I don't understand why some people get so bent out of shape about Wal-Mart.Here are some common arguments I've heard:
1) Wal-Mart's cheaper, foreign-made goods are putting local businesses to the curb,
2) the Waltons' make too much money while their employees are struggling.
Well....
1) While I still think it's a good idea to buy from local businesses when possible, Wal-Mart is genius. It supplies consumers with what they need. I'm not really for the whole mall-type setting of the store, but it is smart for their business. Plus, no one is making people not shop locally - that's the consumer's choice. Even more, those who are making the big fuss about the local business crap need to realize that in order to be consistent with their argument, they need to buy clothes that are made locally, buy food that was grown by a local farmer, etc. And also shouldn't buy anything from a grocery store or Target/Walgreen's and so on. Seriously, it's not that big of a deal.
2) Yes, they do make too much money, but it's something they have earned through their business. Not like Paris Hilton or some other billionaire celebrity. Or even sports players/coaches. Think about Bill Gates or Steve Jobs: their employees aren't "suffering" because it's skilled labor. Working at Wal-Mart is not skilled labor. Yes, it sucks that they aren't getting paid more, but then it kind of diminishes the value of the buck. If all Wal-Mart associates got paid the same as the current wages of a computer programmer at Google, then the programmer's would demand more money because the Wal-Mart employees were getting paid more and then the cycle would just repeat itself because a dollar wouldn't have as much value.
Just for the record, I'm not necessarily pro-Wal-Mart, but I just think that the excuses that everyone throws out are just ridiculous. Get a real basis, then start the talking.
posted by Unknown @ 12/08/2006 09:44:00 AM
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