Forum Post: UPDATED NEWS ON WALMART STRIKE: Internal Walmart documents, video of mic check, CNN & CBS News Stories - MSM taking interest
Posted 11 years ago on Nov. 20, 2012, 7:58 a.m. EST by therising
(6643)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
New York Times article summing up what happened - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/business/wal-mart-dismisses-labor-protests-at-its-stores.html?_r=0
UPDATE 3:01 pm - Friday 11/23/12
- SHORT VIDEO impressive mic check inside Maryland store with security unable to stop it: http://qik.com/m/video/55834638
Per "The Nation":
Hundreds of protests at Walmarts in 46 states beginning Thursday evening have drawn attention to the retailer’s poor labor practices
Workers struck at stores in Dallas, Kenosha, Wis., San Leandro, Calif., and Clovis, N.M. At least one worker went out on strike at stores in Ocean City, Md., Orlando and Baton Rouge. Rep.-elect Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) joined a Walmart worker as she walked off her job in St. Cloud.
Dozens of protesters supported strikers in Miami when they walked off the job last night.
500 workers and supporters marched on a Walmart in Landover, MD.
Striking Chicago workers and their supporters marched on several Walmart stores in Illinois beginning at 5:30 a.m. Friday morning.
Striking workers in Duarte, Calif. formed a picket lined up in front of their store.
In Florida, U.S. Rep.-elect Alan Grayson walked a worker off her job Thursday night and then joined workers on the picket line Friday morning.
Dozens protested with striking workers in San Leandro, Calif. Workers in Clovis and Albuquerque in New Mexico, walked off the job.
In Lancaster, Texas, Dallas police ushered strikers off of Walmart property, but they continued their protest nearby.
The walkout in Kenosha, Wisc. was amplified by a light show last night. And workers are now on strike in Milwaukee, Wisc.
In Quincy, Mass. supporters projected a 30-foot “Stand Up, Live Better” message on facade of a Walmart supercenter. They distributed 650 flyers, 500 sets of handwarmers, and 300 “I support Walmart workers’ rights!” stickers to customers waiting in line, along with thank you cards for Associates. Full story: http://www.salon.com/2012/11/23/1000_walmart_protests_across_the_us/
UPDATE 11:55 am - Friday 11/23/12:
Strikes underway in 7 states. Up to date info at https://twitter.com/search?q=%23walmartstrikers .
Here's a PDF of internal Walmart document that was only supposed to be shared with salaried managers. It tells them how they're supposed to handle walk outs, protests, etc. Fascinating reading: http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/Walmart-2.pdf
Article on Walmart getting welfare: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/10/1141724/-Walmart-fuels-inequality-epidemic-taking-advantage-of-our-safety-net
Short 1 min clip of CNN anchor confronting Walmart spokesman on low wages (pretty remarkable actually!): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/11/20/carol-costello-cnn-walmart_n_2167213.html?utm_hp_ref=business
FULL INTERVIEW WITH even more aggressive questioning of Walmart VP by CNN anchor: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/11/20/1221081/cnn-confronts-wal-mart-spokesperson-over-retailers-low-salaries-poor-working-conditions/?mobile=wt
- PS - Someone just tweeted that dialing *71 on any in store phone at Walmart gets you on the full public address system for entire building.
Visit your local Walmart and make your voice heard standing up for fairness and respect!
(News story links below)
When I think about the fact that 6 members of the Walton family have as much wealth as the poorest 40% of American citizens combined and then consider how they're STILL trying to squeeze a bit more out of employees, I'm baffled. It's just so weird. I realize that corporate leaders and their minions (and even shareholders in this "ownership society") suffer from the disease of compartmentalization. But is that disease so blinding that it prevents them from seeing that they're fucking with their OWN CUSTOMERS!
American citizens will need to make a decent wage in order to afford stuff (whether it's flat screen TV's or Harley Davidson motorcycles). So why the hell do corporate giants like Walmart. and Harley fight like hell to screw their employees, the very people who they need to buy their stuff. There must be a good metaphor for this in the animal kingdom, but I just can't think of it. Or wait, maybe no animal would be so stupid as to bite the hand that feeds it.
Walmart workers plan Black Friday protests November 19, 2012 by CBSNews.com
(CBS News) This Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. At Walmart, signs advertising sales may be competing this year with signs carried by unhappy employees on protest lines.
Dozens of Walmart workers protested outside a store near Washington, D.C., Monday. Hundreds of similar pickets are planned at Walmart stores and warehouses across the country.
Dan Hindman has worked at a Walmart near Los Angeles for four years. The former employee of the month, who makes $9.80 an hour, says he is scheduled to work on Black Friday but does not plan to show up.
"Walmart needs to learn that it's not fair how they treat us," Hindman says.
The protesters want minimum hourly pay raised to $13, more full-time work and less-costly health care. Next year, their insurance premiums will jump by as much as 36 percent, as Walmart scales back its contribution.
Labor board promises quick action on Walmart case Retailers hope for good start on Black Friday Walmart and Target: A tale of two discount chains "We don't want to walk out on Black Friday. We don't want to do this. It's just something we have to do, because it's the right thing to do," Hindman says.
He says his schedule was cut to 15 hours per week when he joined a group of Walmart employees who favor unionizing. He lost custody of his four-year-old son when he could no longer support him.
"So I lost my son and I'm kind of regretting working for Walmart, but I have to provide, you know?" says an emotional Hindman. "It's the biggest retailer in the world, and you can't help me provide for my son? It kills me, dude. It really tears me apart, big time."
Walmart tried to head off large-scale protests with a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board. The company says the demonstrations are being orchestrated by outside unions.
"This is just another union publicity stunt, and the numbers they are talking about are grossly exaggerated," says Walmart Vice President David Tovar. "If associates are scheduled to work on Black Friday, we expect them to show up and to do their job, and if they don't, depending on the circumstances, there could be consequences."
Walmart has successfully blocked several attempts by outside groups to unionize its 1.3 million workers in the U.S. It isn't clear whether the employees protesting this week are trying to form a union or simply shame Walmart on the biggest shopping day of the year. Here's the actual link: http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?catid=57552153&feed_id=29&videofeed=null
More news stories on Walmart strike:
The Nation: http://www.thenation.com/blog/171348/walmart-asks-judge-block-historic-strikes
CNN re strike: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/15/news/companies/walmart-black-friday/index.html?iid=EL
CNN re Walmart attempt to push back: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/18/news/walmart-strike-black-friday/
Business Week: http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-16/wal-mart-workers-black-friday-strike
Fox Business: http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2012/11/16/wal-mart-braces-for-black-friday-strikes/
Christian Science Monitor: http://m.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1119/Wal-Mart-fights-back-as-Black-Friday-strike-nears
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/dennis-trainor/stand-with-striking-walmart_b_2143947.html
ON A RELATED NOTE, please check out this post here on the OWS forum on the long proud tradition and the GREAT IDEA: http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/the-great-idea-walmart-strikers-occupiers-wto-prot/
Wal mart isn't just screwing employees - wake up America they are screwing you!! - Every time they put someone else out of business and there are less and less jobs in the country then more people are left with no where else to work. Every time their dollars bribe politicians to create laws that allow the trade model they set with China to go unfettered. And lastly when they drive everyone else out of business and there is no place else to buy goods they will jack up their prices - "where are you going to shop now - huh bitches?" Go ahead if you want keep building them up and limiting your own choices...buy a product at what the mark up from the actual cost it took for the slave or child worker in the Chinese factory to make for pennies? (probably like 400 percent) Especially if you ask: What is the cost of all the oil it takes to ship those products back here as it increases oil production and cost on us all? What is the cost of all those lights, and air conditioning, and roadways being built to accommodate them? What is the cost of all their tax loopholes and landscaping we probably pay for. What has their business model done for other American workers in all sorts of businesses that aren't even retail? Look around the damage is far and wide and then we all go running to them like lemmings because maybe they won't mark up that product by 400 percent (they might knock it down to 250 percent on one day of the year as people bash each other out of the way because their payrates caused by the Wal-Mart model aren't enough to afford the jacked up set monopoly price) - how generous!!!! - then we all also get to cover with our tax dollars the services their employees are taught to use so they can survive on the shit for pay wages they get paid. Boycott Wal Mart not just on Black Friday - if you love America - then boycott Wal-mart FOREVER!!!!
And finally to that I must add to the Waltons themselves - fuck yo you piece of shit horrifying wastes of human flesh - hope you all rot in hell - and pray karma comes to find you one day as you profit of the backs of American workers and civilians even while you spit in our faces and shit all over us and abuse human lives so you can sit by on your fat lazy asses collecting a check from what your daddy created and you deranged; saying nothing as it destroys our democracy and way of life. Your monopoly will end - the American people will end you for your sake I hope it's before the pitchforks and torches come out. Actually that's a lie I hope I get to see that.
You ever see Idiocracy?
That movie is essentially about a Wal-Mart world.
Sounds like a horror movie (it might be too scary for me to watch, but thanks I might check it out)
Good reason not to support walmart (or Kmart)
http://www.care2.com/causes/chinese-labor-camp-inmate-smuggles-out-plea-for-help-in-kmart-product.html
Great rant. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Questions. Serious ones...
How many of the products sold in your average WalMart store are imported from China? Got a number or percent for me?
Because I know for a FACT that a great number of the items I purchased at WalMart two days ago were made/grown in the US. (I actually got up and checked)
BUT-let's focus on China products for a second...
How many US jobs are involved in shipping/moving/freighting/stocking/selling/warehousing/insuring/etc the products that DO come from China once they arrive here in the US? (Include the oil industry jobs too please)
How many US jobs are involved in "all those lights, and air conditioning, and roadways" built to accommodate those "China" products once they get here?
How many US jobs are involved in taxes and accounting and landscaping? How many Americans have jobs in manufacturing, processing, packaging, farming, etc that "aren't even retail"?
Are all those jobs/services involving the "china products" offered for FREE to the WalMart corporation? Or do they COST money and are obviously factored INTO the price that imported items are sold for?????
How many of us actually end up PAYING the FEDERAL TAXES that provide the "services their employees are taught to use so they can survive on the shit for pay wages they get paid"????? Honestly. Let's examine some FACTS here:
According to the CBO-
"CBO looked at 2007 through 2009 and found the bottom 20 percent of American earners paid just three-tenths of a percent of the total tax burden, while the richest 20 percent paid 67.9 percent of taxes."
"CBO, the nonpartisan agency that serves as Congress’ official scorekeeper, said the current tax code is progressive chiefly because of the income-tax structure. On average, the lowest 40 percent of earners actually get money back through the income-tax code because of refundable tax credits."
Read more: CBO: The wealthy pay 70 percent of taxes - Washington Times http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/10/cbo-rich-pay-outsized-share-taxes/#ixzz2Cv6dtrl0 Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
Gnomunny is right about you ranting. But your emotional fit devoid of facts and rationality only cheapens what you're trying to say. But you go ahead and explain to all those people whose jobs depend on companies like WalMart staying in business how much you LOVE AMERICA when they come for you with their pitchforks and torches.
Unlike you, I hope I'm not around to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhCc6d4u1DM
50 percent of Americans make less than $26,000 per year. Jobs are fading away, pay is stagnant, the population is growing, housing is getting more expensive, and so is education. Just because people are working doesn't mean they aren't living in poverty (nor that they don't pay taxes) The wealth is not trickling down. What can it take to get this through the thick skulls of people like you (absolutely nothing because you will never ever see it) And so to that I must say - why are you so close minded that you refuse to put yourself into other shoes, to see another perspective but your own. Selfishness pure and simple; You're fine, and you want the rest of us to stop complaining, and to not upset your status quo because we might wreck things for you and you refuse to give an inch, not a thing, you have yours and that is what matters, so much so that you are willing to spend time perusing a site where a collective group of people who aren't doing well (proof in fact that we exist and are out here - and at that -hard working people who just can't get ahead no matter how much effort and output we produce) have gotten together to protest and say the system needs to change and we need to make our voices heard. But you spend time just fighting the fact that we need a voice, and have a voice. You won't even give us that. So my question is why? Why do you spend so much of your time just trying to take away the small voice we have? It makes no sense to me. You make no sense other than the fact that you are a representative of the status quo and a system that works for one percent. You are either in that one percent or you work for them or quite frankly you are just brainwashed. I don't care which it is I just wish you'd find something else to do with your time. I don't even care about your opinion, in fact this site isn't here for you... it's here for the people who have no voice. I think we've all had just about enough of the status quo and you - you have yours - so leave us be. I really don't want to know or hear about your mindless opinions - go join some website dedicated to absolute corporate power and corruption of government (the big money in politics group - because clearly Ms. Betsy Ross you have stumbled into the wrong website.)
Walmart exploits it's workers.
http://truth-out.org/news/item/12880-walmart-workers-workload-retalition-increase-in-illinois-warehouse-as-black-friday-looms
You state- "Walmart exploits it's workers" and then post a link that I assumed demonstrated an example of Walmart doing something exploitative to Walmart employees. But it doesn't.
The people mentioned in the article who got fired, work for a sub-contract company Schneider Logistics (SL) that warehouses and transports products to/from Walmart stores. The article clearly demonstrates that the employees of Schneider Logistics have a problem with Schneider Logistics, not Walmart.
If SL is proven to be "exploiting" it's workers, THEN WalMart will need to decide whether or not to continue using SL as a means to move it's products.
IF SL is proven guilty, and Walmart continues to use them as a sub contractor-THEN you can ONLY honestly say that WalMart issues contracts to companies that have been proven to exploit their own workers.
So...if engaging in propaganda wasn't your purpose for this link, what was?
Betsy are you a Wal-Mart PR representative? (Or just a shareholder?)
Neither one. Are you a union representative? (Or just a person who thinks there are only two ways to look at everything?)
I'm a human representative, but what are you? (a corporate representative?) and if it looks like Ann Coulter and quacks like Ann Coulter (or a Wal-Mart PR agent) she may just be posting on Occupy? Merry Profits to you- money is the reason after all!
I don't look at all like Ann Coulter, nor do I believe that either she or I are ducks. I'm fairly certain that Ann Coulter probably has better things to do than read or post on this website, and I cannot imagine any company so worried about it's public image that it would feel it necessary to hire someone to represent it on a website with maybe 20-30 regular posters.
You may believe you represent humans, but you don't represent any with common sense or reasoning skills.
did you just imply I am retarded? hmmm sounding more and more suspicious (are you sure you aren't Ann Coulter) well you sure think like her at any rate except apparently don't have more to do since you enjoy quacking at us ever so much?- and - no but they would hire a PR agent and lawyers to go after us (some countries have libel) would they go so far as to sue people speaking out against them and the people organizing a massive protest and boycott against them? I would guess yes? Maybe you're a lawyer then... how many billions does Wal-Mart spend a year on PR - ? Do you know the answer to that? Probably a lot more than they pay their workers, you can see what is important to them. They are pretty delusional - I wouldn't put much past them you're talking about a family that built a massive bomb shelter under their compound. America, are they are scared of us?
You implied I was Ann Coulter, a PR agent, and a lawyer. All three are insults so if I implied that you are retarded, it's only fair.
I haven't heard anything about the Walton family owning a "compound" nor a bomb shelter. But I know plenty of people who have made, or are making, plans to protect themselves from certain catastrophes that could happen. I'd call it smart, not delusional.
I disagree with you. Walmart is well aware of the exploitative treatment of the workers at SL. Walmart benefits from the savings that Sl makes from that exploitative practices and so Walmart should be held accountable.
Wal mart IS responsible
I'm unaware of any court case or determination by an impartial court of law that SL is guilty of "exploitative treatment" of their workers.
If you are truly a fair and just person, then surely you must have required proof that the things you are posting are true-please share that proof with the rest of us.
I'm a great deal more fair than those criminals running walmart! You think I'm unfair. cite the case law.
LMFAO.
I have no idea how fair you are. I have no EVIDENCE of your fairness or lack thereof.
You're asking me and the world to agree that "criminals" are "running walmart"-without giving us ANY ACTUAL EVIDENCE that they have broken any laws.
This is why people are Laughing (Their) Fat Asses Off at this whole thing.
I KNOW that most decent hard working Americans are smart enough to see how greedy, selfish, exploitive the Walmart family has been to our fellow Americans.
We've watching theevidence for decades. You pretend not to and simply babble in their defense.
LOL Babble on babbleRoss
And I KNOW that all those "smart, decent, hard working Americans" voted with their wallets today by shopping at Walmart and other stores!
Greed and selfishness are not crimes punishable by civil law at the moment. Make it so and then you'll have a case.
Consumerism has a price to pay.
As a Christian western nation, you don't think it ironic that a Communist eastern nation owns your debt?
Greed and selfishness are crimes under the Christian doctrine that is used by your admins to invade other nations, under the premise of liberating people from despotism.
You don't see the hypocrisy there, Betsy, but everyone else does.
Well said!
Desperate exploited workers.
http://www.care2.com/causes/chinese-labor-camp-inmate-smuggles-out-plea-for-help-in-kmart-product.html
Just fyi.
If America was the actual Christian nation you claim to think it is, such a thing would never have happened. People call themselves whatever they wish to these days-they aren't actually held responsible for ACTING in the manner that goes with that title. Tolerance! Acceptance! Religious right wing zealots!
The American people weren't consulted, nor did they get to vote on WHERE or WHOM their government borrowed money from or what it gets spent on.
Greed and selfishness are crimes against Christian doctrine. So are coveting, lying, and bearing false witness along with judging the hearts of all by the behavior of a few.
That you can't see that going on here under the premise of liberating people from whatever evil "ruler" you or someone else accuses as exploiting someone else makes you as big a hypocrite as everyone else.
The point that you're missing, Betsy, is that I'm not claiming to be a Christian.
The hypocrisy is still focussed upon those who are claiming to have God on their side, while being greedy self-centred arsewipes with an agenda of murder and theft. That would be your managerial staff, Betsy.
And you're missing the point that one can CLAIM to be a Christian without really being one at all where it counts.
No one short of a "God" could possibly know the hearts and minds of all "managerial staff" everywhere-so your claims that they are all greedy, self centered arsewipes with an agenda of murder and theft makes you no better than someone who claims that all the poor are greedy, self centered arsewipes with an agenda of jealousy and laziness.
Judgmental assholes come in all stripes now don't they?
Sure, but the evidence of my claims are clear.
Your's are conjecture.
Or is this because ofthe union action against Walmart.?
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/black-friday-sales-slip-shoppers-opt-thursday-doorbusters-165525323--finance.html
I don't know. you decide.
VQkag2 below said: "Or is this because ofthe union action against Walmart.?
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/black-friday-sales-slip-shoppers-opt-thursday-doorbusters-165525323--finance.html
I don't know. you decide."
What exactly did you take from the article? It clearly shows that foot traffic to big box stores didn't decrease on Friday-in fact that increased by 3.5%.
And while in store purchases were down on Friday by 1.8 percent, they INCREASED online by 17% on Thursday and by 21-26% on Friday.
What I decide based on the facts is that the union action didn't affect foot traffic or sales in a negative way at all. I could also logically conclude that IF the union action had any impact at all, it might be that people stayed home and shopped at "Walmart online" because they didn't want to deal with or encounter strikers.
it takes a while for things like these to catch on - give it time. Wal -Mart has become that icky place that makes people feel morally dirty after shopping in it. People don't enjoy shopping there and the prices don't stay cheap either, also depends what part of the country you live in. In MA and CT and NY Wal-Mart prices cost what a boutique store costs in other states. They nickel and dime people according to cost of living, they also have a goal of driving out all competitors and then raising prices - because once is there no place else to shop you won't have a choice - you'll be reliant. That is the ultimate goal of Wal-Mart and all the fortune 500's (forced reliance and price setting via monopoly rule). People don't like that and they might put up with it for a while thinking it will pass - it's only when it becomes clear that it's happening for longer than expected that people will push back and begin to rebel and Black Magic Marker Wal-Mart and other companies who share their practices out of existence.
All we gotta do is inform enough people about walmarts abuse of workers, of it's destruction of mom & pop shops, of importing plastic crap from China.
That's the only way..
Kind of hard to break the law - when you paid lobbyists to change the laws so your criminal actions are no longer criminal (but merely immoral) But this is what happens when companies turn into monopolies and get too large - which is why the American public has the right to disband any corporation they see as too large or too immoral to continue operating under a corporate charter (they lose that charter) Except oh yes they changed the law to protect corporations as though they are persons, so they don't have to be granted charters. There is your example.
And what do you think of this?
http://www.nationofchange.org/organizing-mcdonalds-and-walmart-and-why-austerity-economics-hurts-low-wage-workers-most-1354373264
You must agree, No?
Why "must" I agree? And since the article mentioned several points, which ones are you saying I "must" agree with?
I actually agree with the reasoning mentioned in the two comments currently posted about the article. But I don't think you MUST agree with them.
"must"? not really. That was a rhetorical must.
You agree with what comments?
The first two comments posted after the article on the website you linked to. (more are being posted now)
One is regarding the education level/skill set required to perform the duties of the average McDonalds worker or WalMart associate.
One is regarding the fact that if you took the salary/bonuses/perks of the McDonald's CEO and divided them equally among McDonald's 400,000 employees worldwide, each person would receive $31 per year. That's $2.58 cents a MONTH pay raise for each employee.
If you had ten people at the top making $12,318,667 each (the salary/bonus/perks amount quoted in the article you used)- and that money was distributed equally among all of MeDonald's employees, it would result in a $25.80 a month raise for each of them.
WalMart has 2.1 million employees worldwide and paid it's CEO $18.1 million in compensation in 2011. If you took ALL of his money and redistributed it among all of the employees, it would net each employee $9 bucks more a year! If there are 10 executives who made that much and you did the same thing it would result in $90 bucks more per year (minus taxes of course) per employee.
You can "redistribute" all you want to, but the MORE employees a given company has, the LESS of an impact taking away all of the salaries from the top executives would make, and it wouldn't make the employees "rich" by any standard.
So you like the comments that are offensive to the decent hard working Americans? Wow. I can't say I'm not surprised. I pay no mind to that type of negativity.
Just as I paid no mind to your babbling of un researched "distribution" of exec compensation. I believe as congressman elect Grayson believes all these big box retail/fast food corps can increase wages of these decent hard working Americans without increasing costs, or taking from higher paid workers. They can do it by just taking a little less profit.
here is a "real study" on wages of big box workers. When you take a breath from babbling you can educate yourself.
http://www.demos.org/publication/retails-hidden-potential-how-raising-wages-would-benefit-workers-industry-and-overall-ec
I find it offensive that you think you are a spokesperson for all decent hard working Americans! Wow. I can't say I'm not surprised. I pay not mind to that type of arrogance.
Most people pay no mind to the un researched babbling of Grayson or you or left wing bias groups.
Most people made there views known on Nov 6. And they agree with me, Grayson, Left wing groups and decent hard working Americans.
And I don't claim to be the spokesman for them. But I do attempt to speak up for them.
Why don't you?
Very good post and spot on
If individuals do not like Walmart then they should find another job. See how easy that is?? Do not work for walmart and then they will disappear.
"There is power in the Union"!
http://truth-out.org/news/item/12918-walkouts-protests-hit-walmart-nationwide-on-biggest-shopping-day-of-the-year
NLRB still evaluating Walmart complaint against protesters, as retailer calls Black Friday a success
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/23/walmart-calls-black-friday-success-despite-protests-about-worker-conditions/#ixzz2D5DA2GqO
Fox news?. Aaaaaah hahaha. Thats rich. Gimme a break.
Number one in the ratings for the past 15 years
Still full of shit though! And still the republican PR firm so who cares about the ignorant morons who watch it.
LMFAO
You are delusional. You have no idea what it is like to have no money, no job, and be forced to take such a shitty job.
To state what you have so cavalierly betrays an inconsideration for your fellow American.
Are you a Stooge for the 1% oligarchs?
wallyWorld is not the last employer on the Planet and these individuals can seek work else ware, if they are unhappy with their current job
There are no jobs! You have no idea what you are talkin about.
You have no soul. Walmart should be made to pay better, provide healthcare, and create safe working environment. Rather than ask people to find new jobs and leave these bad jobs in the job market.
"Walmart should be made to pay better, provide healthcare, and create safe working environment"
Who should do this "making"? Who do you believe is the ultimate authority to whom Walmart should be forced to answer?
Our society was founded and continues to operate on a system of civil laws. Those laws function to govern relationships between individuals as well as between individuals and corporations.
Walmart has no legal obligation to do anything other than operate within the current legal parameters (the law) established for conducting business. If, when Walmart breaches or breaks those rules, then Walmart can and should be held accountable in a court of law.
Now if you want to argue that Walmart should answer to some kind of "moral law", then you're opening a wormhole into a millenniums old territory.
Every business must get the permission of the peoples govt. "who should do this making"? Are you serious? The people will decide what the appropriate business practices should be. And the peoples govt will be the means by which the people "make" business adhere to reasonable rules.
This has to be explained to you? You don't know how we make business do things.?
I think you know full well. Why are you pretending not to know.?
Ok. So we seem to agree that "every business must get the permission of the people's govt" and that the people's govt is the voice through which the people declare their decisions about what appropriate business practices are.
Now, mayb you do NOT know, or are pretending not to know, or need it explained to you that the PEOPLE of this country have decided in the past, (and most likely will in the future) that it is virtually impossible to FORCE people or businesses or anything else to behave in what they consider to be "the appropriate manner". And so our current civil system relies upon establishing what the proper and appropriate behavior is, by LAW, and then punishing those who violate those laws WHEN AND IF there is sufficient evidence to prove they have done so.
Let me be more clear-we, the People of the United States of America DO NOT BELIEVE in "making" people or businesses do the right and proper things. We establish what we believe to be appropriate by law, according to the rights of ALL parties along with reasonable and equitable consequences to be enacted upon those found guilty-ACCORDING TO THOSE LAWS-of violating those laws.
SO, according to the people's laws CURRENTLY, the matter is to be settled in a court of law where both sides get to present evidence supporting their side. We, the people, feel that ALL are INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty.
This is why most peaceful, sensible, law abiding citizens resent/ignore/experience disgust when SOME people attempt to conduct matters in the "court of public opinion". It flies in the very face of everything they believe and they find it insulting. It is exploitative behavior to the highest degree and they would not more engage in it than they would want it engaged against them.
If you can't understand, grasp, or accept that concept, then prepare to continue to be frustrated and confused about why more people aren't supporting what you're doing.
Stop babbling. The people will decide that the laws dictating minimum wage, union busting, health care/benfits being provided and whatever else need to be dictated to the criminal corp 1% oligarchs.
And you can continue babbling in the corner.
LMFAO. What a fuckin blow hard.
:) thank you for saying this
I got a little too intense yesterday, but I was honest and meant what I said.
Thx
I'm so pleased with the results of yesterday. 1,000 actions in Walmart stores in 46 states. That is HUGE!!! Especially in a down economy. That is just amazing. Imagine how the Walton's and upper management feel waking up today...all their downplaying wearing off and waking up to the reality that this is their new normal and they (who employ 1% of Americans are destined to be forced to provide a living wage, fair benefits etc. I'm sure they already miss the old days of unchecked power. But those days are over.
I'm pleased too. It is historic. We'll see if Walmart tries reprisals against the brave strikers.
And there will probably by a need for more actions. In addition to the workers, there can be actions with people against the destruction of small businesses, And actions against exporting jobs to import plastic crap.
More pressure from all avenues.
So you agree then.
CURRENTLY the people have not dictated any such law.
Which means that Walmart and the 1% "oligarchs" have committed no criminal offense.
I'm all for the people changing/establishing laws expressing their feelings on such issues in the future!! We agree.
Oh....but establishing a law after the fact, and applying it retroactively is called "ex post facto law". Ex post facto laws are expressly forbidden by the United States Constitution. :-)
There are plenty of written laws and a few unwritten laws we should get them on.
Why are you defending the enemy of decent hard working Americans.
What is wrong with you?
CITE THE LAWS. And CITE the evidence that they broke those laws! or are you still too busy laughing your fat ass off?
You can't "get them" for criminal behavior for "unwritten laws".
Why are you defending accusations rather than proof and calling someone an enemy when the vast majority of decent, hard working Americans showed you today that they don't?
Not only were the protests today completely underwhelming, the record breaking sales at Walmart and other large companies today shows either your message doesn't resonate with the public or they simply don't care.
Like has been said here over and over again-the people voted with their wallets.
Please! babble on BabbleRoss. Right & wrong is not measured by the number of people brainwashed by consumerism. Morality is not measured by profit.
No body expected to stop black friday. Only to take the next step. That was the point, And that was a resounding success.
Do you trust Robert Reich?
http://www.nationofchange.org/why-you-shouldn-t-shop-walmart-friday-1353573266
What are you talking about a safe working enviroment????
Workers deserve a safe working environment. Are you against that also you 1% criminal Stooge!
What is so unsafe about working at Wally World????
I watched more than one walmart warehouse worker complaint about unsafe working conditions.
Are you such a mindless Stooge for the 1% oligarchs that you've been shilling their position without knowing what you are talking about?
LOL. newShemp the Stooge!
And did you bother to go to any effort to find out if the worker's complaints WERE accurate or even REAL? Did you bother to find out if the company who EMPLOYS those workers (which is NOT WalMart) is guilty of the actual charges AND has done nothing about them?
Or did you just take the word of the workers because you believe that the only liars and manipulators in this country are evil rich people? That would make you the mindless stooge who is shilling for a position without even knowing what you are talking about wouldn't it?
I confirmed it, and as always, the decent hard working Ameicans being squeezed, exploited, underpaid & overworked were correct.
And the greedy, selfish, lazy, fat, overcompensated, do nothing, corp 1% oligarchs (who crashed the world economy and prey on our families were wrong).
So I am proud to stand with the decent hard working American families.
Who are you standing with?
I am not standing with the workers at wally World and do not feel sorry for them either. They are employed there by their own choice and no one else's. If you look on facebook or some other forums, the pics of some of these workers show that most of the are obese.
So? We still must fight for & demand a living wage, good benefits, the right to unionize for all workers. Fat ones, skinny ones, ALL workers.
Are you prejudiced against fat people as well as blacks, hispanics, gays, & muslims.
Do you ever stop drawing lines? Are you better than everyone else?
So? We still must fight for & demand a living wage, good benefits, the right to unionize for all workers. Fat ones, skinny ones, ALL workers.//////////////////////////////////////////////////////Unions are about toast and will never be revived. Unions destroyed millions of jobs and caused ruin, financial disasters to many States. Gov Walker rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are looney tunes. boss. Unions are the best thing for the workers of America. Corp greed has created the massive job loss, & business failures.
You confired it? What does that mean?
If you meant confirmed it-please share the evidence with which you confirmed it. So we can all confirm it.
Do your own research, I combed through investigation documents, Newspaper analysis, independent reviews.
I can't do your work for you. Don't be lazy! Besides we are clearly on opposite sides of the political spectrum & most issues.
We disagree. You would not believe my sources, you would simply disparage and seek to discredit them & my efforts.
No point in that. So I simply take the position that the worker is right! I stand with the decent hard working American people.You stand against them and with the corp1% oligarchs who exploit us, crashed the world economy, and continue to prey on our families.
You're asking me to BELIEVE that you did your own research and actually "combed through investigation documents, Newspaper analysis, independent reviews." and came to the conclusion that you have based on those activities.
I'm sorry, but in our society, people are believed to be "innocent until proven guilty", and the burden of proof lies with the person who is accusing someone else of guilt. This is why Americans in general and OWS specifically ridicules people as blind sheep, ignorant, naive etc when they believe that someone else's statements are true without asking that person provide the evidence they used to come to their conclusions.
In US society, we view people who expect others to believe in their statements without willingly offering up the evidence they used to formulate their statements with suspicion rather than acceptance because a person who truly WANTS to help society know what is true or not SHARES their knowledge and allows society to determine whether or not they would come to the same conclusion based on the same evidence.
You clearly think your sources aren't believable to anyone who doesn't share your political ideology. Which I can only assume means that your "facts" or "evidence" can or will only be accepted as TRUTH if they are viewed through the lens of your particular belief system. That means they aren't objective or independently truth-filled on their own. And any rational person would of course reject such as evidence.
So honestly, your position is that the worker is right based on subjective evidence and my position is that if no wrong has been established with objective, undeniable evidence there is no side to stand on at all.
No point in that. So I simply take the position that the worker is right! I stand with the decent hard working American people.You stand against them and with the corp1% oligarchs who exploit us, crashed the world economy, and continue to prey on our families.
These kinds of lawsuits are a good illustration of what walmarts and their subcontractors engage in.
http://www.nationofchange.org/warehouse-worker-lawsuit-targets-walmart-1354371936
The actual lawsuit mentioned in which a judgement was reached, was the fault of the employment agencies that placed the workers. THAT company was a sub-sub contracted company that was breaking actual labor laws. THAT company was forced to repay workers for lost wage etc. That was the "just" decision of the court operating under the law.
But this story is a good illustration of your inconsistency when it comes to your principles of honesty and integrity. In THIS instance you want to use the LAW to hold anyone and everyone accountable for the actions of the actual people who are breaking the law all the way up the chain.
If the logic holds that whoever is at the TOP of any chain of events is normally and naturally responsible for what happens at the bottom of that chain-no matter how many steps removed from the bottom they are-then YOU are a hypocrite every single time you refuse to apply that logic to EVERY OTHER situation to which it applies.
For example-Was the President and/or his top officials aware of the "conditions and abuses" that existed for the staff members working in Benghazi? We don't know. We're willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because he might not have. We HOPE that had he known he would have INSISTED on the staff being more secure and protected. But we can't honestly and rightly accuse him of, or attempt to prosecute him for, the immoral/illegal crime of knowing and NOT doing anything about it without PROOF that he's guilty of such a thing. RIGHT?
BUT you believe that YOU, and others, can HONESTLY and RIGHTLY accuse the CEO and other leaders of, or attempt to prosecute them for, the immoral/illegal crime of knowing about the "abuses and conditions that exist for the staff" in a warehouse in CA and NOT doing anything about it WITHOUT PROOF that they are guilty of such a thing. RIGHT?
It's called situational ethics and if YOU get to use them, then so does everyone else.
What "conditions and abuses" in Benghazi are you babbling about? I believe the Pres said that he WAS responsible as commander in chief.
But whatever, your babbling was just a distraction. In it however was a glimmer of evidence that in fact you know 2 things. 1 Workers are being exploited, & abused. 2- The corps at the top who benefit the most should be held accountable whether they know or not.
Those corps should not be able to hide behind layers of corp obfuscation. If they do not know they should be found negligent for not knowing. If they knew (& we know they knew) they should be punished for obvious reasons.
How you like them situationals. Aaaaaaaaah ha ha ha ha!
So stop ya babbling BabbleRoss and start supporting your fellow decent hard working Americans
So if the President knew-then he should be punished for the abuse. If he said he was responsible, then prosecute him immediately! RIght?
If he did not, then he should be found negligent for not knowing, and PROSECUTED immediately. RIGHT?
How do we "know that [Walmart] knew" exactly? How do we "know that the President knew"?
Babble babble. What are you accusing the President of knowing? That you are a desperate, right wing extremist, who must distract with unfounded accusations to protect the corp 1% oligarchs who are exploiting decent hard working Americans.
If you are falling back on the discredited FOX news Benghazi lies you are clearly avoiding thetruth of your failure BabbleRoss.
You just sound pathetic.
What are you accusing Walmart of knowing? That you are a desperate, left wing extremist, who must distract with unfounded accusations to protect the unincorporated 20% who are exploiting decent hard working Corporations.
That you have nothing to fall back on shows you are clearly avoiding the truth of your failure V Quack.
You just sound pathetic.
Imitative mockery? nothing original. I gotta do your work for you?
Truly desperate, and out of juice.
You've been beaten so soundly you don't even have the energy to engage in your regular meaningless disjointed babbling.
Take a rest. I don't want you to embarrass yourself any further.
LMFAO. BabbleRoss.
Support decent hard working Americans.
http://truth-out.org/news/item/13029-dumping-on-low-wage-workers-is-lousy-direct-action
Work action continues! Call Walmart!
Support your fellow decent hard working Americans!
http://act.credoaction.com/call/report/?r=6991451&cp_id=272&id=51178-3495156-2DMwa7x&tg=892
Are you against this too?
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/report/2012/11/20/45589/workers-deserve-equal-access-to-paid-leave-and-workplace-flexibility/
November 24 is Shop Small day, but the implications to me are much bigger. What if everyday were Shop Small day? What if people just stopped shopping in these huge megamonster stores and supported local small business shops instead? If you ask me, that's the way to kick the Walton's in the ass. There was a time when Walmart didn't exist. Let's try to make it that way again by supporting small business as close to 100% of the time as we can.
And of course this attitude that they have is crazy, because if you're not helping your employees move up toward the middle-class then you are destroying the customer base, as this video clearly shows.
2 questions: With the Walmart strike and other activities, are you getting the impression that after a lull, the movement / the great idea / consciousness about the corporate takeover of our democracy is picking up steam again?
Also, have you ever seen the film Manufacturing Consent? It speaks directly to one of the key aspects of the growth of the movement.
It is certainly an indicator that the spirit of the little man/woman to stand up to gigantic corporations is alive and well. Whether it is indicative of Occupy itself having a resurgence is hard to say. The cool thing about Occupy though is its ability to morph into other areas of effectiveness that are not always as readily apparent as street protest. I'm talking about how it has helped people from being evicted, hurricane Sandy, the recent telethon to pay off student debt, and things like that. But I do hope that Occupy doesn't stray too far from its core mission of keeping the world's focus on banking and government corruption and efforts to regain balance in an extremely imbalanced world that favors the (R)ich. The mind of man is geared toward balance and justice, otherwise there would be no laws that punish lawbreakers. We can see this great imbalance clearly now. It is up to us to re-establish the balance. We are making progress in spreading awareness, but it is a slow uphill struggle against enormous wealth forces that wish to suppress and kill the spirit of the little guy. We must never allow that to happen. That is why Occupy must survive at all costs. It is too precious and rare to have it defeated by the power of wealth...and it won't be as long as the spirit of resistance is preserved and even nurtured by a growing "voice in the wilderness" that always knows the difference between Right and Wrong and puts that ahead of Left and (R)ight.
I have not seen Manufacturing Consent but now that you have made me aware I'll see if I can find it on the Net and check it out. Thanks!
Excellent point. Buying local is so much better in so many ways.
What if you don't have a whole lotta "local" to choose from? The government won't let me purchase milk from my local dairy anymore. It has to be regulated. Or eggs. Or meat.
There aren't any clothing stores, or toy stores, or even bookstores near me. I guess I could by horse tack or cattle feed for my kids for Christmas...only we don't own any horses or cows. Or there's the auto parts store, the UPS store, a couple of banks, and some fast food places...Yep. Who needs groceries anyway!
Don't you have a farmers market nearby?
Not nearby no. And only in the summer and fall.
thanks for all the awesome posts lately!
It's nice to read legit forum posts!
Hey there - thanks so much for the encouragement. I truly appreciate it. It's good to be here. Hey, if you haven't seen the film Manufacturing Consent, check it out. I think it makes clear what we're up against and where we go from here. It's brilliant.
Good post, therising. Profits must be shared with workers so that they can live a decent life on the wages they work for. We need to redefine how we value labor. Labor is a tremendous factor in production that has been downplayed and degraded in recent years. No workers, no profit. So, employers, start paying up, and workers, start standing up.
It's just so weird. I realize that corporate leaders and their minions (and even shareholders in this "ownership society") suffer from the disease of compartmentalization, but is that disease so blinding that it prevents them from seeing that they're fucking with their OWN CUSTOMERS! American citizens will need to make a decent wage in order to afford stuff (whether it's a flat screen tv or a Harley Davidson motorcycle). So why the hell do corporate giants like Walmart and Harley fight like hell to screw their employees, the very people who they need to buy their stuff. There must be a good metaphor for this in the animal kingdom, but I just can't think of it. Or wait, maybe no animal would be so stupid as to bite the hand that feeds it.
That is all so true, it boggles the mind. And, unfortunately we are seeing the fall out in our economy from this narrow-minded greed.
Remember when you were in high school and a few goofballs in class did something stupid and the whole class got punished for it? Didn't those couple of goofballs feel the fallout afterwards from the other 99% of the class? And here we are...
No one NEEDS to buy "stuff" like flat screen TVs or Harley Davidson motorcycles. They NEED decent wages to purchase food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and insurance. Everything else is a WANT!
The stupid idiots who BUY STUFF they can't afford on credit or expect the American taxpayers to pay for their "necessities" so they can buy STUFF with THEIR money are what is ruining this country. You're essentially saying "HEY...Pay Americans more so they can consume more!!!"
WalMart employs approx 1.4 million people in the US. There are approx 118 million households in the US. Exactly how does WalMart "need" it's employees to "buy their stuff"?
Walmart bad for us. Death spiral. Should be boycotted.
Here are some facts:
In fact Wal-Mart is the perfect example of what is wrong with the new low-wage economy and its effects on our society.
Let's start with wages. Henry Ford wanted automobile workers to be able to buy the cars his company produced. Although profoundly anti-union, he made it a point to pay wages that were above the prevailing wage of the time.
Wal-Mart does precisely the opposite. Its wage and benefit programs are designed to keep costs down and, in the process, because of its economic influence and market share, it drives down prevailing wage rates in the communities in which it operates. Wal-Mart has recently demanded cost data from suppliers so it can show them how to reduce costs. For many of them, this means lowering labor costs to reduce prices of goods sold on Wal-Mart shelves. Wal-Mart's purchasing power even drives down manufacturing wages in the developing world.
Wal-Mart's strategy is to use part time workers to reduce its benefit costs. "Associates" - as the company workers are dubbed - are told that if they work 34 (recently increased from 28) hours a week then they are "full time workers". According to Forbes, the self-styled capitalist tool, employees at Wal-Mart currently earn an average hourly wage of $7.50-20% to 30% less than unionized workers at Target and Kmart. The typical Wal-Mart employee earns $18,000 and isn't eligible for or cannot afford health benefits.
Wal-Mart has employed large numbers of women associates that it has paid less than their male counterparts. By maintaining these discriminatory practices Wal-Mart has reinforced its low wage structure and improved its bottom line. In 2001 a class-action lawsuit was filed challenging Wal-Mart's gender discrimination. Up to 1.5 million women workers could win damages.
Unlike Henry Ford, Wal-Mart seems unconcerned that its own employees are unable to afford the products that it sells. A recent analysis shows that a family of three with a single-parent breadwinner making a representative wage at the local Wal-Mart could not provide the basic necessities for that family based on an "adequate but austere" standardized budget for central Kansas - even with the employee discount!
Unlike Henry Ford, Wal-Mart seems unconcerned that its own employees are unable to afford the products that it sells. A recent analysis shows that a family of three with a single-parent breadwinner making a representative wage at the local Wal-Mart could not provide the basic necessities for that family based on an "adequate but austere" standardized budget for central Kansas - even with the employee discount!
Wal-Mart uses a predatory business model based on securing a competitive advantage from the low wages it pays employees and from its larger inventory. Typically, Mom-and-Pop local businesses are forced from local markets first, soon followed by less efficient larger competitors. Once the competitors are driven out, Wal-Mart slowly raises prices over a twelve to eighteen month period so consumers won't really notice.
Opposition to Wal-Mart is often based on its anti-competitive business practices. Communities in which there is opposition to Wal-Mart or other large-scale retailers sometimes try to enact special zoning ordinances limiting the size of stores. These tactics can be effective, especially if the community is well organized. Increasingly, however, Wal-Mart's superior financial resources are the key factor. They outspent a highly organized citizens group in Portage, MI, by 10-1 on a referendum. Wal-Mart routinely overwhelms citizens groups or simply moves to the next town and gets a higher bid to have the store built there instead. Wal-Mart is most concerned with preventing the unionization of its employees precisely because that is what offers the most far-reaching challenge to its corporate practices.
Democratic Socialists of America believes that it is imperative to force Wal-Mart to change. We are working along with many others to challenge the low-wage economy that increasingly dominates the lives of most working people. Ultimately the American economy cannot be sustained when driven mainly by the purchasing power of a relatively small group of well-off consumers. Only an economy in which the vast majority of workers earn enough to do more than just get by can bring prosperity to all Americans. It is impossible to envision that kind of economy as long as Wal-Mart is able to engage in business-as-usual.
We have no illusions that we can remake the economy without Wal-Mart. Instead we, and the broad progressive community, must change the basic political and economic conditions that allow Wal-Mart to ignore the well-being of its workers and the communities in which it operates.
The key to real change is to drive up the wages of Wal-Mart workers. Unionizing Wal-Mart workers will lead to higher wages and better benefits for all employees, will drive up wages in local communities, and will change the culture of the institution.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union is engaged in a major campaign to organize Wal-Mart workers. We fully support that campaign and we support legislative efforts to level the playing field. Labor law reform requiring employers to recognize a union as soon as a majority of workers have signed cards and preventing employers from dragging out bargaining is necessary to enable workers to better secure their rights.
Government can also act to raise and enforce minimum wage legislation. Living wage legislation that forces employers to provide prevailing local wages that include the cost of health care can also be enacted. Living wage legislation in many communities is limited to the employers providing municipal services, but we believe such legislation can be expanded to cover the employees of companies like Wal-Mart that benefit from tax breaks provided in many economic development packages.
Employers have always resisted unionization. But in fact our economy has always provided more for most Americans when large portions of the work force were unionized and could buy what their neighbors produced. This is one of the reasons why the loss of so many union jobs in the manufacturing sector is distressing. All of us must work to change the labor laws, support unions and their campaigns, and get the government on our side in order to abolish the low wage economy. Wal-Mart is a good place, but by no means the only place, to start.
*Our factual references are from information provided in company filings and news articles as reported by United for a Fair Economy as well as Reuters, Forbes, Fortune and the World Bank. Wal-Mart workers interested in learning more about the UFCW should contact the union or visit its websites: www.walmartswaronworkers.com and www.ufcw.org. http://www.dsausa.org/lowwage/walmart/why_walmart.html
Help end poverty: reform Walmart or we boycott!
The decline in wages for ALL Americans (except the 1%, of course, whose wages have risen at extraordinary rates) over the past 40 years correlates directly with the decline in the percentage of unionization rates and the subsequent erosion of worker rights for ALL workers.
Right on gsw!
Check out this desperate worker for another "Mart". (K)
http://www.care2.com/causes/chinese-labor-camp-inmate-smuggles-out-plea-for-help-in-kmart-product.html
Different Mart, same exploitation.
We are slave sponsors. This is a crime against humanity. Blood is on our hands.
According to the Examiner, “it is illegal to import items produced or manufactured in a foreign country by forced labor under Title 19, section 1307 of U.S. Code.” The federal government is investigating and Sears Holdings, which controls Kmart, says it is conducting its own investigation.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/chinese-labor-camp-inmate-smuggles-out-plea-for-help-in-kmart-product.html#ixzz2Gfngn744
We have no regard for these laws. Profit over people. Always!!!
But I am convinced WE can improve work conditions for people all overthe world.
We did it here 100 years ago, and it will be more difficult but we will succeed.
Thank you for the propaganda from the Democratic Socialists of America. It also needs to be seriously updated as the data provided here was current in 2003!
And don't tell GypsyKing this part:
"Our factual references are from information provided in company filings and news articles as reported by United for a Fair Economy as well as Reuters, Forbes, Fortune and the World Bank."
He'll tell you that Reuters, Forbes, Fortune etc are NOT credible sources. :-)
More good stuff.
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=7b6eba9b-67f5-4d8f-bc75-ce63a07035d2
By your decree some of the worlds greatest thinkers must be categorically dismissed.
Einstein, MLK.
http://shellbackjack.hubpages.com/hub/Famous-Socialists-Fox-News-Doesnt-Want-You-To-Know-About
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/from-jesus-socialism-to-capitalistic-christianity/2011/08/12/gIQAziaQBJ_blog.html
I'm sorry, when did the world vote on who its greatest thinkers were and what was the voting criteria?
BBC News Online readers from across the world took part in the millennium poll.
Revolutionary writer Karl Marx has topped a BBC News Online poll to find the greatest thinker of the millennium. The nineteenth century writer won September's vote with a clear margin, pushing Albert Einstein, who had led for most of the month, into second place.
The top 10 included philosophers Immanuel Kant and Rene Descartes as well as twentieth century scientist Stephen Hawking.
The vote was the ninth of BBC News Online's monthly Your Millennium series. In October you can vote for the greatest explorer of the last thousand years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/461545.stm
http://www.livinglifefully.com/thinkers.html
I'm sorry.....where did any of those people contribute to the article you referenced from the Democratic Socialists of America? The article itself doesn't list Marx or Einstein or MLK among it's sources. Or are you trying to say that you consider "United for a Fair Economy, Reuters, Forbes, Fortune and World Bank" as some of the greatest thinkers of the world?
Get beyond labels of democratic socialist . Look at ideas and issues and veracity.
Not if you're going to ignore facts and reality.
Do you support the threats against strikers?
http://www.nationofchange.org/wal-mart-accused-threatening-workers-retaliation-ahead-black-friday-protests-1353688178
The reality is that about 99.9% of the strikers were not walmart associates but they were hired by SEIU
Nope! Vast majority Walmart workers. Sorry.
That is just anti worker right wing lies.
OurWalmart, the Huffington Post and the Nation are "right wing anti worker liars"???
From OUR WALMART's loading home page- http://forrespect.org/
"Support OUR Actions If you haven't worked at Walmart, but want to support OUR Walmart members as we take action, check out our community allies' page. Also check your area for events around Black Friday."
Huffington Post-11-23-2012-7:30 pm EST-
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/23/walmart-strike-black-friday_n_2177784.html
"At the Walmart in Paramount, Calif., near Los Angeles, about 600 protesters, including an estimated 100 Walmart workers, turned out Friday morning."
(600 people-100 actual Walmart workers=16% workers/84% non=vast majority not Walmart Associates)
http://www.thenation.com/blog/171430/black-friday-live-blog-400-picket-leaflet-mic-check-and-sing-maryland-updated-1230-pm#
7:05 PM: San Leandro, CA-2 employees (possible 3rd employee coming) with "50-60" supporters. (Vast majority NON employee)
12:30 pm: Hanover and Severn, MD
"Most of this morning’s protesters arrived on a half dozen buses that departed from the nearby United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 union hall."
(Vast majority bussed in)
And is there something wrong with buses? Or non walmart workers protesting and supporting the workers being exploited and threatened with reprisals.?
In any event most protesters were Walmart workers.
Nothing wrong with it at all if there's actual proof of exploitation and threats. Funny how there's no proof of that.
Everything I can find numbers in proves MOST of the protesters were NOT WalMart workers and I've posted evidence to support that.
Since you couldn't possibly have attended all the protests-either show me some actual numbers or admit you're hoping/guessing/lying again.
I reject you're contention and I believe the decent hard working Americans who have stated that most of the protesters were Walmart workers.
I'm certainly not gonna accept what walmart says.
You can reject my contentions all you want to. Your holy authority doesn't affect the facts. You DO know that....right....?
babble on babbleRoss!
You keep shilling for walmart and the corp 1% criminals exploiting the decent hard working Americans.
And I will continue standing with those decent hard working Americans!
"holy"? I'm an atheist.
You're an idiot.
Note-"Walmart ACCUSED of"-do I need to define the word accused for you as opposed to the word "proven"?
Do you support attempting to change public policies based on accusations?
Only when it come to corp 1% oligarchs.
Babble on, babbleRoss.
So then you aren't "fair" and "just" because you only support the action against one group of people and not everyone.
You believe that that a certain group of people are guilty of whatever you accuse them to be guilty of whether there is proof or not.
Thanks for clarifying that.
Please. Stop being so pedantic, and obtuse.
BabbleRoss. LOL
Pedantic and obtuse are almost opposites of each other. I cannot be both.
And yet you are! You are going back and forth in your desperate attempt to defend the worst employer, the destroyer of more small business, the most guilty at send manufacturing jobs to China.
As always your anti Americanism dishonors the login you chose. So you shall be known henceforth as BabbleRoss
I'm not desperate. There's nothing to defend because there is no case.
All deserve a fair trial no matter what they've been accused of. THAT is Americanism.
You may call me anything you wish to Oh Great Oz.. It couldn't matter less to me.
Aaaaah Ha ha ha ha. I don't need to convict walmart to identify them as wrong. We don't have to depend on the corp rigged laws to address these wrongs!
We the people have the power of protest. We must hit them in their pocketbook. This work action is only the beginning!
conviction? We don't need no stinkin convictions.!!
Yep. You keep up those powerful protests. You practically killed them yesterday.
Walmart!
the destroyer of more small businesses, the most guilty of sending manufacturing jobs to China. And pushing more plastic crap for our landfills.
You need a trial/conviction before you recognize how wrong that is?
Just a babbling corp apologist!
There are a lot of things WRONG with society that aren't illegal. We don't CONVICT people in this country just because they do stupid, wrong, often evil things. If we did, YOU would be serving a life sentence for lying, slander, annoying others, arrogance, judging, profanity, liable, etc.
Again, if you want to convict people for what amounts to "sins" against morality rather than criminal law breaking-then the far right wing nutjobs have a throne waiting for you.
"Exactly how does WalMart "need" it's employees to "buy their stuff"?"
Because at least 40% of American earn wages similar to what Walmart pays.
http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/netcomp.cgi?year=2011
What's the Walton siblings wealth in proportion to the american population again? Something really stupendous! Why aren't they sharing? Thanks for this encouraging post. Go Walmart Workers! Never Give Up! Go Occupy!
6 members of the Walton family have as much wealth as the poorest 40% of American citizens combined. And yet they keep squeezing.
6 people own more wealth than 120 million Americans! This is beyond outrageous! Corporations are killing America and the SCOTUS enabling them to be 'legal persons' is an outrage and makes US law an ass! Solidarity to Walmart Workers, Never Give Up! Go Occupy!
Skip to 2 min. 20 sec on this video and watch for a minute or two to see how all this "corporations as people" nonsense got started. It'll blow you away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SuUzmqBewg
Just another way to say it, thanks for the link, good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5kHACjrdEY
'The Story of Citizens United v. FEC (2011)' - This is an EXCELLENT animated video gem and everyone here should watch this less than 9 minute video. It perfectly encapsulates our corporation captured and controlled government. Thank you Very Much for posting this. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
You are very welcome, I try to fit this in as a comment wherever it fits, it has been posted I believe by a few here, I do like their work on several issues.
I'm glad of the chance to thank you again. I really enjoyed it and you can bet good money that I will make all and sundry who eat at my table tomorrow watch this when we assemble to eat far too much food for our own good, lol. I shall copy your link to my 'Inside Job' post now. Have a very good and peaceful Thanksgiving and again I give thanks for your gift. Solidarity!
Thx - Tweeted link as = Democracy in Distress. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5kHACjrdEY
Cool. Thanks. Will check it out.
these people break an number of things down for mass consumption
Here's the New York Times summing up Friday's activities across the country. It's the mainstream media so you can't expect much, but I'm actually surprised how much broke through: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/business/wal-mart-dismisses-labor-protests-at-its-stores.html?_r=0
some coverage of local action nothing by the majors here though
http://www.moderntimesmagazine.com/page16/Arizona_WalMart_Protest_121125/Arizona_WalMart_Protest_121125.php
Nice coverage!
One would think that the protests were "news" while people shopping the day after Thanksgiving was sort of routine, but not if you were watching the "news".Anyway here's something worth seeing in case you miss my post on this:
http://proudtobeafilthyliberalscum.com/2012/11/24/news-anchors-quit-live-over-right-wing-news-spin/
Good to know. Thanks.
'How the corporation came to be. Originally, corporations were set up to serve the public good. Corporation lawyers gained rights through the US Supreme Court using the 14th Amendment (set up to protect slaves) that gives them the rights of a person. In the last century, the corporation is given more and more rights while people are increasingly stripped of theirs.' Thank you for this very nice excerpt from the excellent longer documentary, 'The Corporation'. I have seen this documentary in full and encourage all here to try to watch this.
"The Corporation" - http://www.documentarytube.com/the-corporation-documentary-full-version from my post on 'Inside Job' ( http://occupywallst.org/forum/have-you-seen-the-film-inside-job-if-not-why-not-i/ & thanks to 'Underdog for the link).
Never Give up! Go Occupy! Happy Thanksgiving and yes, I do give thanks for OWS and this forum!
Me too!!!! PS - Inside Job is a great documentary. So is "Why We Fight."
Thanks for posting these links!
Going forward, this link - http://www.nationofchange.org/economy - may be of some interest to you. Thanks for your gracious replies, you are most welcome & 'The Corporation' doc. is very instructive.
Cool. I'll check that out.
Cheers to that!!
So, i see you all got the ows/soros approved talking points. todays topic is attack wal-mart and the walton family. demonize success.
Next time it comes on, watch the documentary "Wal-Mart; The High Price of Low Cost," then come back on this forum and post that bullshit.
i've seen it. so? why hasnt home depot been targeted?
Home depot's also on my boycott list.
They want to drain Waltons pockets first
seems that way. they hate success and demonize it whenever it suits their " cause" which in this case is class ( money + success) envy.
No, it's about how you might glorify it, even when it employs demonic business practices.
Greed knows no bounds for you then?
why not glorify success, would you glorify failure?
what's the goal of the success ?
to succed at your endevor.
change and hope are coming
it's so vague
Still waiting here for the "Hope & Change" that was supposed to come from the first term. The "Hope & Change" quickly turned into "Poverty & Despair"
such big words so little meaning
poverty and despair are exactly what obama nad his owners planned for the usa.
poverty and despair are exactly what obama nad his owners planned for the usa./////////////////////////////////////// Very true, obama hates America and he is a closet muslim. Notice how I do not use a capital letter for his first name? that is how much I dislike him
LOL. But Bush created the great recession and all the additional poverty. Pres Obama has improved the economy.
fake name, sealed records, fake SS number, barry is part of the " down low", a coke/pot head, , a phoney from the get go.
barry ,son of fank marshall davis
The idiot came from nowhere and was elected and re-elected Pres. Fake birth certificate and all
his name is barry. .whatever it is he's a fraud
Barry Soros
Pretty good miss the point.
Do you get a lot of practice?
They want to set back and have someone support them. They hate people that had to go out and make their own living
thats correct. obama hates the constitution and the principles upon which this contry was founded. obama wants everyone to be dependent on govt. so uch easier to control the people when the govt provides everything for them.what they give they can take away.
Nixon hated it worse and so did Reagan and Bush.
PS. This country was founded by career politicians.
How do you reconcile that with "term limits"?
i think there should be term limits,.....for every political office.
Then it's now obvious that you HATE the founders.
You also HATE those that do a good a job and want nothing more than to punish them for doing so.
You did not do the reconciliation process either.
Are you really this lazy?
the americans in benghazi asked for help. why was the military told to stand down? why was general ham replaced after he said he was going to help them? where is he now?
Is that the latest from Brietbart.com, or was that from Drudge?
There's no proof of any of that, and if there was, what makes you think you would be privvy to it.
I full well realize, that few things in this World occur as they are reported to us, but going off on tangents helps no one.
Just go back to hating the founding fathers.
It suits you well.
the americans at benghazi asked for help, they didnt get it, general ham ( the african command commander) was told to stand down. he tried to give help and was taken out by the white house. as for the founding fathers, i respect and admire them, obama hates them. www.americanthinker.com/2012/11/sacking-general-carter-ham.html
Oh look!!
A libe(R)tarian propaganda site.
You might as well ask the Kochs about it.
You might as well ask Ron Paul.
You might as well ask a (R)epelican't.
I noticed that you've used this to ignore certain truths about Reagan.
In fact, you got "right" on ignoring that.
Made every attempt to change the subject.....
Two faced indeed you are.
if your refering to fdr , we was elected 4 ( not 3 ) times . then the constitution was amended to a 2 term limit. fdr was a sociaist and would be dictator.
Thanks for the correction.
My question still stands, as you didn't answer it.
The rest of your statement is just plain as day lies, so why try and pass them off as anything else?
what elected office did tom pain hold? hancock? ben franklin ?adams was 1 term pres, washington, jefferson, madison and monroe, 2 terms
Wow. So you think that the only office is the Presidency.
The greatest President of the last century, was the only President to be elected for 3 terms.
How in the fuck is this one time occurrence, indicative of the need for term limits?
It's knee jerk bullshit. It's a lack of faith in the process. It's a pack lies.
Indeed, terms limits gives the incentive to sell out that much faster and more completely.
i repsect the fonders of this country. term limits mean that no one can become a career politican.
Many, if not most of the founders were career politicians, so you DO disrespect them by supporting term limits.
Indeed, it could be said that a lifelong dedication is a positive thing, and the throw away mentality of term limits is a very limiting and negative factor..
A firm backing and implementation of planned obsolescence in a human context..................That's just sick.
You sound like a right wing wacko. Spreading sad extremist lies.
You wanna opine on his birth certificate or his religion.?
LMFAO. Does anyone take you serious? Do you frequently have people laugh in your face?
stevens ws raped, tortured and murderd.
Have some respect for our brave diplomats who gave their lives. Stop playing politics. with this tragedy. You repubs tried to hurt the Pres and affect the election and you failed.
"In the end have you no decency sir?"
Unbelievable. You're disgusting.
stevens didnt give his life, it was forcibly taken from him. the man ws set up by the obama regime, stevens was raped , tortured and murdered.
You are a right wingnut extremist spreading lies. Looney tunes.
And you have no honor.
stimulus plan = failure. reagan loved the usa, obama hates it.
If Reagan loved the USA, then why did he commit treason to get elected?
Why did he express such hatred for our government, all the while he was destroying its ability to provide for the commons?
Reagan was no patriot, he was a traitor.
bengahzi was set up to have a hostage ( stevens) and for obama to negotiate his release, but the muslim s didnt get the memo. stevens was tortured, raped and murderd. obama is filth , thats why fraud had to be used to get him " elected".
Yeah, that's what Drudge and Alex say, but they aren't know for telling the truth.
Do you have any idea how many threats are made against American interests every singe day?
Very true
what treason? why was he a traitor?
Let's see.
He prolonged a hostage situation to aid his election and later, after his election, he caused the death of many innocent, unsuspecting American citizens on our own soil.
Yeppers, that's treason.
after the place was bombed in june why not extra protection? ? why no atuposty on stevens? why was stevens there , its not a consulate?
here is a repub being tripped up on your false benghazi scandal that no ones believed before theelection and fewer and fewer believe everyday.
http://www.upworthy.com/soledad-obrien-fact-checks-a-congressman-live-on-the-air-accidentally-ends-up-in?c=upw1
Perhaps more like Brietbart.
I have to admit though, that you're best talent is in ignoring facts, and refusing to answer questions.
I do believe it's a disease of the "right"..
if you going talk treason, talk about obama who set up the benghazi debacle. which reulted in the murders of 4 us citizens. obama got elected due to massive voter fraud. both times
The Benghazi thing is proven BS.
The rest? Speculation with NO support in reality
Get your head out of the Drudge hole.
Why don't you want to talk about Reagan's treason?
The fact that he caused the death of Americans on our own soil?
No, you won't. You spend far too much time listening to BS and believing it.
You are out of touch with reality. Reagan raised taxes, Pres Obama cut taxes!
The "success" of being born well?
if " born well" is a crime then you must hate jay rockefeller and all the kennedys, the children of gates, allen, buffet, ellison, bloomberg, mars, ballmer, icahn, dell, paulson, jack taylor etc.
When did I say it was a crime?
When will you people stop acting like paying a little tax is some kind of "punishment".
they pay more than a " little tax".
and it has nothing to do with "punishment"
as far as how much they pay well we've been cutting tax rates for 65 years, taxes on the wealthy are the lowest they have been in nearly a hundred years, so yeah the government has been cutting taxes and borrowing money and the rich have done great, I see no problem with telling them they got a bill to pay, after all they've been to the party
as far as the "amount' they pay it is quite a bit, but much less than the amount the own
If any of the rich you mentioned have (1) offshored their assets as a tax dodge, (2) participated in the current anti-tax increase jihad being waged by the Republicans to benefit the wealthy and super-wealthy, (3) abused and exploited human and natural resources all in the name of corporate capitalism, and (4) generally behaved like complete assholes as in this article, then your goddamn right it is a crime, even if it does not exist on the lawbooks as such. Anyone who behaves reprehensibly and even flaunts their arrogance regarding their wealth deserves to go straight to hell, and I will never apologize for saying that.
Careful how you judge others. Rumor has it that you'll be judged in the exact same manner, and with the exact same amount of compassion and grace that you afforded to others. In other words, people who would send others "straight to hell" just might beat them there themselves.
I already know I deserve it many times over, and if such is to be my lot then there will be no protest from me about it, although I have always questioned the sanity of the heaven/hell paradigm...it just reeks of the human touch conceptually, and I have increasing difficulty in craming a Deistic concept of "god" into anything as narrow and obviously flawed as any book religion. And who was it that talked about how easy it was for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God? Not exactly a glowing endorsement for wealth would you say? I agree with the spirit of that statement. The wealthy pursue more wealth...for them there is no such thing as "enough". How many of them use that wealth in an egalitarian way to help the poor and needy? A few perhaps, but damn few. As a class, they are certainly not pursuing egalitarianism. They believe in the greatest good for the smallest number, not the greatest good for the greatest number.
If I am to be judged for that then I am to be judged. Are people to put off forming opinions forever because they fear being thrown into hell by a wrathful god? I am absolutely nothing and am worthy of nothing and my personal survival, either here or in the hereafter, is nothing as I do not merit survival. I am lower than wormdung. Whatever happens to me will happen to me, and I can do nothing about it. The universe does not operate with my personal wishes in mind. I have accepted that fact and made peace with it.
" I am absolutely nothing and am worthy of nothing and my personal survival, either here or in the hereafter, is nothing as I do not merit survival"
Then neither does anyone else.
" I have always questioned the sanity of the heaven/hell paradigm"
You introduced it here. Do you question your own sanity?
"And who was it that talked about how easy it was for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God?"
The poor cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven without being willing to surrender everything to God either. The next verses in your camel/rich story says " Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
I am fascinated by the idea that you, someone who claims to be lower than "wormdung", seem to think you are a trustworthy and intelligent source for the discernment or determination of what the intentions and beliefs of an entire "class" of people except for a "damn few" are. Can you read hearts? Can someone else, and you believe that person's ability to do so? Or do you have some statistical facts upon which you base your "opinion" on what the rich "pursue" and desire?
I do not have to "read hearts" to reach the conclusions I have reached, mearly observe actions over the course of a lifetime. And here are all the statistics anyone needs, although none are actually required to reach the obvious conclusion that the super-wealthy class are not concerned about those on the opposite end of the wealth spectrum.
What? I'm talking to Betsy again? Huge mistake and waste of time. Shutting down again now.
dont leave out john kerry ( he married into it). tried to register his yacht in another state to avoid paying the taxes on it.
Party doesn't matter. Left or Right doesn't matter. It's right or wrong that matters. Even small children know and are taught right from wrong. Those that abuse their position either never learned right from wrong or, even worse, know the difference and willfully choose to ignore it. They believe morals are for suckers. They are worse than animals. They deserve to have all their wealth stripped from them and to be put to work cleaning toilets. They deserve worse than that actually, but that would hopefully be enough to open their eyes to what it is like to be on the receiving end of their exploitation and abuse.
Walmart are greedy criminals
http://truth-out.org/news/item/12876-walmart-organizing-comes-of-age-an-interview-with-ufcw-organizing-director-pat-oneill
Walmarts threats against workers?
http://www.nationofchange.org/wal-mart-accused-threatening-workers-retaliation-ahead-black-friday-protests-1353515423
If they don't like working for Wal-Mart, they can quit.
And go hungry? Lose their homes.? How about they continue working hard and they get a fair living wage? Nothing wrong with that!
Stand with the decent hard working Americans, not the greedy, selfish 1% corp oligarchs.
Right on!!
Thx. Solidarity with the workers!
dont want to go hungry? then do your job, dont like your job , look for another, oh thats right, there aren't many jobs out there in the obama economy.
Don't you mean the wallstreet criminal economic meltdown economy?
This worst unemployment crises in 75 years was created by the Bush great recession. And the treasonous repubs in congress have blocked all dem efforts to create jobs and strengthen the recovery.
As soon as your repubs get out of the way we will have better jobs, and maybe even higher min wage.
Walmart should stop exploiting workers regardless, pay them a living wage, provide healthcare & stop being greedy, selfish bastards
the worst unemployment has been under the obama administration. a low unemployment rate is the result of a healthy economy, NOT the govt creating phoney " jobs".
The unemployment crises was created by the Bush recession. Pres Obama has improved it from the high of almost 11% to the current 7+%.
The rate would be lower but traitorous repubs in congress blocked all jobs bills. They filibustered the 1 million+ vet jobs bills! Why? AND state repubs fired almost a million public workers.
That is the problem! Repubs!
umemployment under bush averaged at5%, obama , over 8%.obama owns this depression.
Bush great recession didn't stop destroying jobs until Pres Obamas stimulus plan took affect in June of 2009.
unemployment averaged less than 5% under g. bush. with obama its been well over 8%. stop blaming republicans for obamas failures. as for public workers being fired , GOOD, enough of bloated govt.
Reality is reality boss. The Bush recession started in 2007. And resulted in the worst unemployment crises in 75 years.
No need to PLACE blame. The blame is with Bush. The Recovery is with Pres Obamas policies. The weakness of the Obama recovery is a result of treasonous congressional repubs blocking all his proposals.
Bam! Pretend if you like. It is what it is!
Most of the ones that lost their homes, bought way more than they could afford
Well that is another subject not related to the exploited, underpaid, overworked Walmart employee, who absolutely can lose his home if he quit and couldn't find a new job.
In regards to your statement. I disagree. Most people did not buy more than they could afford, Most were given subprime mtgs when they qualified for prime, or lost their homes when the 1% banksters crashed the world economy and created the worst unemployment crises in 75 years. Some were foreclosed on illegally, but the vast majority were decent hard working Americans who were victimized by irresponsible unscrupulous, criminal banksters!
Solidarity, Support OWS.
How does an exploited, underpaid, overworked WalMart employee make a mortgage payment in the first place?
If WalMart employees can't work "full time" (because evil WalMart refuses to pay them benefits) then how are they overworked?
If you agree to be "underpaid" then you should expect to be underpaid. If you agree to work for a certain amount of money, and the company pays you that money, you're not exploited.
When you purchase a mortgage, you are informed, repeatedly, exactly what the cost of your monthly payment will be. If you can't subtract that amount from your current income and determine that you will be able to make that payment easily even if you change jobs or get laid off temporarily, then you have NO BUSINESS BUYING THE DAMN HOUSE!
How many homes are privately owned in the US? Approx 75 million as far as I can determine. How many lost their homes because of the recession? Approx 3 million as far as I can determine.
How DID the remaining 95% of homeowners manage to qualify for and keep their homes and escape being "victimized by irresponsible, unscrupulous, criminal banksters?
You can maintain a cheap mtg if you and your partner have 2 jobs.
You can absolutely be overworked in 20hours a week. You just don't want to understand.
You agree to be underpaid if it is the only job in town. The corp knows that and exploits it.
Of those who lost there homes they were mostly people who were unfairly given sub prime mtgs when the qualified for prime, and/or people who lost their jobs because of the bankster created Bush great recession.
Those homeowners who did not lose their home had better mtgs, and/or didn't lose their jobs. They hung on better.
It is inappropriate and without honor to "blame the victim"
There is little point telling you these things. You don't seem to care for people in need. You seem more comfortable kicking your fellow American when their down.
No honor
Facts-
The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.
Sam Walton-born in 1918, was not born well. Born dirt poor and raised during the Depression.
All of Sam's and his brother Bud's children were born in the 1940's and early 50's- during the very early years of Walton's retail businesses, none of which were WalMart.=they were also not well born.
According to The Journal of Business Leadership, Volume I, Number 1, Spring 1988. American National Business Hall of Fame, Sam Walton "launched a determined effort to market American-made products. Included in the effort was a willingness to find American manufacturers who could supply merchandise for the entire Wal-Mart chain at a price low enough to meet the foreign competition."
That BASTARD!
And here I thought Sam Walton was dead, yet we still pay Him tribute, what the hell was he anyway a King?
Everyone should have to earn their own way, even those that were lucky enough to be born Walton, that way capital don't end up in weak hands, just think if Sam had been born well he might have never done any of those things.
I owe my soul to the company store
my son'e lullaby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joo90ZWrUkU
a lot of irony here
Define that "wealth" in context? Does that INCLUDE all of their assets as in land, stores, stocks, branding, equipment,warehouses etc? Because poor people usually don't own or need such things so they don't tend to have them as assets?
And how much "wealth" has the Walton family poured back into the family business over time which helped them accumulate their current wealth?
And it seems to me that WalMart (aka the Walton siblings) "shares" MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of dollars in charitable giving and community programs and even disaster relief etc every year...how do those "proportions" compare to the American population?
Please give details...
"Today the Walton family of Walmart own more wealth than the bottom 40 percent of America" Bernie Sanders (I) VT
I have a real loathing for Wally world. I don't know if the the Walmart workers in my area are going to strike, but I don't plan on shopping anywhere on Friday.
I give out food for gifts: local beef, maple syrup and winter squash from my garden. I'll be damned if I'm going to spend my money to support black friday. edited for clarity
40%! That's enormous and incredible! Bernie Sanders rocks! Have a great Thanksgiving and solidarity.
Thank you and you too. ;)
The Walton family owns approx 48% of their MULTINATIONAL company in which only about HALF of it's annual profits come from it's US grocery business. It is the WORLD'S (that's right..WORLD) 3rd largest PUBLIC corporation, the WORLD's biggest private employer, and one of the WORLD's most valuable companies. Walmart has 8,500 stores in 15 countries, under 55 different names.
Sam Walton was born POOR and raised during the Great Depression. His children were born during his early retail years approx 20 years before Sam created "WalMart". They ARE the American dream come true.
I don't shop on Black Friday for all kinds of reasons, but it has nothing to do with WalMart or "the evil rich".
walmart donated millions in money and goods to the victims of hurrican sandy.
What was the amount? What was it as any kind of percentage of profits? How would it look if they didn't do something? Was it done for kindness and conscience or for PR purposes? Have you any links at all?
They didnt have to do anything, but they did.
Who are you representing here? Why not put up a link? You do know about 'janus2face' don't you?
i represent no one but myself. yes i know about " janus".
According to your rage at WalMart and it's "obvious" behavior towards it's employees, they couldn't care less about how they "look" to anyone. Right?
Who the hell cares what the motives were behind food and clothing etc when they're cold and hungry? My hell! Like Janus said, they didn't HAVE to do anything, and when people like you gripe and accuse no matter WHAT they do-there may come a day when they don't!
Here's some links for you- http://www.thecitywire.com/node/24897#.UK24r2fy3wc
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/nyregion/volunteers-and-donations-flock-to-areas-affected-by-hurricane-sandy.html?_r=0
http://news.walmart.com/disaster-response
Whose 'rage'? Lol, today is not a day for rage really is it? I do note your very impassioned defense of Walmart extractive practices but please reread what you wrote dear and observe your own rage and do try to have a happy holiday. Bless, getting all in a froth in defense of oligarchs, lol - calm down honey :)
"6 people own more wealth than 120 million Americans! This is beyond outrageous! Corporations are killing America and the SCOTUS enabling them to be 'legal persons' is an outrage and makes US law an ass! Solidarity to Walmart Workers, Never Give Up! Go Occupy!"
That rage. (You actually used the word "outrage")
My passion comes from questioning the motives behind whatever arrived in the form of money, aid, food and water instead of being "thankful" for it having arrived no matter who it came from or why. Be consistent in your gratitude could you?
I'll always defend goodness and charity offered freely. Making assumptions about the hearts and minds of the people or organization or company behind it is something only people like you are passionate about, and it extracts joy and compassion from everything it touches.
But don't worry. What you think really doesn't matter to me enough to ruin my holidays. :)
Dear oh dear, lol! I really feel no obligation at all to have gratitude for Walmart either for their extractive practices or for their PR/charity and 'outrage' and 'rage' is only conflated by you as have no idea about 'people like' me or really what may motivate Walmart's 'charity', but I am glad that you are reflecting on the the word 'extract'.
You clearly have an inclination to think well of this Corporation, whose 'goodness and charity' is not 'offered freely' - it is as a result of having made super-profits at the expense of their employees, suppliers, local businesses and their customers. I actually do worry about you and 'people like you' and, despite what you say - what I think does matter to you - because otherwise you would not have replied here! Hope your holidays were good though and don't shop too much for Christmas and remember to enjoy The Spirit of that occasion because all the stuff doesn't really doesn't matter.
I'm inclined to think that MOST people who are cold, wet, hungry, and/or displaced are THANKFUL for heat, food, dryness and shelter no matter where it comes from and that very FEW, if any, people in a crisis situation stop to ask "Who sent this?" first, because the who and why behind the offering matters a great deal to them. What matters to me FIRST in victim situations is taking care of the victims as quickly as possible and I AM thankful for ALL who step up to alleviate their misery.
Your first response after Walmarts donations to the victims of Sandy were introduced into the conversation was to respond-in your own words-
"What was the amount? What was it as any kind of percentage of profits? How would it look if they didn't do something? Was it done for kindness and conscience or for PR purposes? Have you any links at all?"
YOUR response is not the norm when compared to the vast majority of my experiences with charity, charitable work, and recipients of charity as a whole, and even less so in my experience with emergency situations.
But I don't feel that you are "obligated" to have any gratitude for Walmart just as I don't feel that Walmart was obligated to donate.
And let me clarify, I also see a difference between what I actually said: "What you think really doesn't matter to me enough to ruin my holidays" and what your implication that I said I didn't care about what you think at all. You may conflate the two, but I do not. I also do not shop too much or put emphases on "stuff" over the things that really matter, so you can cross your "worry" about me in those two areas off your list of concerns.
MSM------Excellent
I'm fascinated by how things reach a critical mass / tipping point and then break through. I'd love to go back to school and study this for 4 years and come back out into the realm of action armed and dangerous :)
Agree, fascinating.
Predicting an occurrence is easy. Predicting when it will happen is difficult.
And it's intriguing to consider how we can each play our own small roll in helping to spread an idea and provoke action out in the world.
In the scheme of things something like thousands of Americans boycotting Walmart on Friday in sympathy with strike is a small thing obviously. The important part is its newsworthiness because many Americans are going to see this and hear some of the reasons why workers are striking and it's going to plant a little seed.
Over time, these little seeds get watered and grow.... It's become more and more clear to me that deas and perceptions matter. Building consciousness matters. It's not the blip on the Walmart income statement on Friday that excited me. It's the news that comes from that and what then becomes possible. Every increase in consciousness, no matter how small or momentary matters.
Well Said
You don't have to go to college and study this for 4 years to understand the concepts and principles of critical mass/tipping points. The information is available on the internet if you can read and comprehend.
Your only excuse for being unarmed and undangerous and not taking action is yourself.
Ahh.. so you went to college on the Internet. Cool!
So you do believe that everyone requires a 4 year college degree to understand "how things reach a critical mass / tipping point and then break through". I find THAT "fascinating".
Who said anything about a degree? All I was talking about was studying. That's when you came in with a comment saying oddly that studying was unnecessary because everything is on the Internet. What I find fascinating is that you put words in people's mouths and then argue against them. Don't you have anything better to do? Or are you being paid for this?
She(?) loves to be contrary - and if she is paid to be so - well - that's a bonus.
I'm always amazed :)
" I'm fascinated by how things reach a critical mass / tipping point and then break through. I'd love to go back to school and study this for 4 years and come back out into the realm of action armed and dangerous :)"
From your OWN WORDS, I came to the conclusion that due to your allocation of a specific amount of time (4 years) being spent in a specific place (school) doing a specific thing (studying) a specific topic (critical mass/tipping points) that you had a more specific goal in mind.
My bad. Apparently "all you were talking about was studying" just in really specific terms.My apologies.
Let me just use the following to illustrate why using specifics in one breath and then saying you were being general in the next.
You said: "you came in with a comment saying oddly that studying was unnecessary because everything is on the Internet. "
When I actually said:
"You don't have to go to college and study this for 4 years to understand the concepts and principles of critical mass/tipping points. The information is available on the internet if you can read and comprehend."
I was being specific in my reply to the specifics YOU posted originally. I said you didn't have to "go to college and study it for 4 years". I didn't say that studying was unnecessary at all. Much less "oddly".
It's almost like you either have "nothing better to do" than "put words in people's mouths and then argue against them" or you're "being paid for this". WEIRD!
So where should the workers protest? Away from the store where no one will hear them?
IN COURT.
That's funny. Until there's something YOU want to protest. Then you'll be fighting for that right. You're clearly just here to annoy people because you make no logical sense. You're not speaking from the heart. You're just typing. Well, at least you're getting paid..
I don't protest things I don't have proof of. I also never said they have no right to protest. EVER. I'm saying that if they have evidence to back up what they are complaining about-hire a damn lawyer and MAKE the guilty pay.
I make more logical sense than you do, and THAT annoys you.
Since I know I'm not getting paid, I KNOW you're a liar and people who lie only speak from the depths of their cold, broken souls.
"Critical mass/tipping points"
In this context, you really missed the point/points on global warming.
You should also consider that the (R)epelican'ts hit such a tipping point and lost an election.
I love civil disobedience!
Here's a question.
Why are ReliOn products exclusively sold at Walmart?
Why would a company with the most affordable quality products limit people with medical needs to purchasing those products at a single store?
More outlets means more convenience for people in need of the products and therefore more profits from the sale of those products yet ReliOn products are restricted to only being sold at Walmart.
Why? Why would a company choose to do that?
Not sure but my guess is that either they didn't have a choice (Walmart had upper hand and said our way or highway) or Walmart incentivized to make them freely choose. Or maybe it's actually owned by Walmart...
Fuck Wal-Mart!
Happily continuing my boycott!
My thoughts exactly.
On another front - Target:
Target Not Backing Down On Thanksgiving, Despite Petition « CBS ... minnesota.cbslocal.com/.../target-not-backing-down-on-thanksgiving... 1 day ago – Target is not backing down from its decision to open at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, despite the opposition of some 340000 people who ...
This new shop on thanksgiving thing is the stupidest thing. Done have to be shopping every f'n moment of our lives? Will Walmart and Target begin to take ads out in cemeteries so as to keep people's minds focused on the important stuff (like big upcoming sales) during funerals? How about advertisements above the beds in maternity rooms so the husbands and wives (and the new baby for that matter) can keep their minds on consumerism?
When are people gonna wake up and stop drooling every time the sale bell is rung? Will the new hook be the daily sale? People don't miss out we are having a sale "daily" - only - you have to be there when it happens - Don't Miss Out.
Oooo look! A shiny object!...
Yep - exactly. People put on your sunglasses - and just say - NO.
K-Mart........Blue light special.
Yeah - Kinda - only next time it will be really hyped. Will it be jewelery will it be clothing - electronics(?) or store wide - Don't miss out. For 10 minutes an hour or more? Don't risk missing the start...............
Of course/ When George Soros speaks (remember money is speech)....the leftist MSM listens/
They do?
Mostly it's FLAKESnews and Alex Jones makin' stuff up about what he said.
How can you support these 1% oligarchs who prey on your family and mine?
http://www.nationofchange.org/cnn-confronts-walmart-spokesperson-over-retailer-s-low-wages-poor-working-conditions-1353506971
There people already camping out here in Tampa, been since Sunday. What a joke. All that energy and ambition spent for what?
Did you know that 6 members of the Walton family have as much wealth as the poorest 40% of American citizens combined? Hard to believe that family would keep squeezing when they and their gigantic corporation are already overflowing with money. I guess too much is never enough right?
confiscate all their money , and all the money from the " rich" you could run the govt for about 6 weeks. then what? they wont have any more money and the govt will still be in debt.
The federal budget is near $4 trillion. According to your numbers that means the rich only own roughly $450 billion? You need to check your figures.
i never gave you any specifc numbers.the only way to is to cut the spending.
You gave six weeks which is about one eighth of the $3.8 trillion dollar federal budget. If you want to make claims here be prepared to back them up with hard facts.
the national debt is over 16 trillion $. take all of the money from all of the people in the usa and it doesnt equal that. and by the way, the usa has not had a budget since obama has been in office.
The national debt of $16 trillion is pretty close to what the GDP of the U.S economy is, about $15 trillion.
Total U.S. wealth in 2009 reported as $54 trillion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_in_the_United_States
If we continue to blindly accept political party talking points without checking their accuracy, they will continue to lead us in circles as they brainwash us, and we won't cry out when they restrict our freedoms because we can't think for ourselves any more. Question everything you read and hear because much of it is BS.
yes, what you post is b.s.
Prove it with facts to back up your statement.
That is the type of stuff that happens when society throws in the towel in regards to self governance.
When the cat is away, the mice will play. We are the cat. It is up to us to recognize this and do what is necessary to stop it, whether its not shopping there, electing people who will actually do what we want, or organizing the labor against them.
Without numbers, nothing can really happen. And without people being pissed off and decided they have had enough, we dont get the numbers.
So I guess we still have too much to lose to get engaged? (not talking about those that do, but talking about the other 98% that doesnt).
So how do those that support the Walmart strike get the word to break through to mainstream America that this is their fight too?
Im not sure, its tough. When the people who are striking are going to be vastly outnumbered by the freaks kicking each other for a cheap Ipad, its an uphill battle.
OT went to Walmart last year with their megaphone and notified the current customers of just what they were contirbuting to. Im not sure if any of the customers left that moment, but hopefullly they went home and thought about it. Best case scenario, they started researching it.
I love the visual of that scene with the megaphone (plus the video posted in comment below...just watched it. Revolutionary..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMc8CR6dppc
Ya, it takes a lot of balls to do that stuff, and they took a lot of flack for it in the press, but back someone/something has to shake the people of this country back into coherency.
I couldn't agree more. That's EXACTLY the kind of free expression we need more of, especially when so much public space has been converted to private without full rights of expression. If the "town square" or commons are bought up, we just will have to express ourselves within the private sphere. Tough shit Walmart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMc8CR6dppc
If you look at the facebook link below you will see that some of these squatters are not hurting too bad, since all of them pictured are heifers. http://www.facebook.com/OURWMT
-11 points. You're comments sure are popular :). Come on man. Quit wasting your time and mine.
Looking at the protesters facebook page, it does not look like any of them are struggling as they all look obese https://www.facebook.com/MakingChangeWMT
That's right because most poor people can afford to live on whole organic foods on a Wal- Mart salary. Oh sorry there are only Mercedes parked in that lot... I forgot they relegate the polluted poisonous - gmo soy filled crap to the rest of society while they can afford to eat the stuff that isn't poisoned while supporting policies and politicians that doom the rest of us 99 percent to eat all this genetically modified unhealthy unregulated crap.
The book "Fast Food Nation" does a great job revealing this hidden attack on the poor.
I went to whole foods today and nearly choked on my tongue at the check out register when they gave me the price. The lot was filled with Mercedes, Lexus' and all manner of luxury vehicles. The elite anti-regulation attitude says "if you don't want to eat poisonous food then don't - why make the government regulate it"; Failing to realize that plain old non-chemical food only got more expensive when people were given the choice between food that will make people infertile within 3 generations and sick with cancer and have children with major birth defects (because animal studies have shown that GMO soy and corn and RBGH are coming back with devastating results). Food is universal to survival and we must all have the option of affordable healthy nonpoisonous. Round up ready seed was genetically screwed with so it will be resistant to round up herbicide so it will kill the weeds and not the corn. So not only is the food laden with round up herbicide, but the food itself causes infertility and birth defects in rats. Monsanto used us as the experiment and the government allowed it. This is not cross breeding - it's changing the genetic structure of the plants, so the food no longer reacts like normal food (nor is in symbiosis) within the cells of the human body.
Thanks for posting this. I completely agree. Trying to figure out how we get from A to B. can't recall what Fast Food Nation, Food Inc. say about short and long term progression of solutions