Another call to raise the minimum wage

[charrison]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: EatSpam
This situation would also be helped if Wal-mart insisted that its goods were manufactured where its customers lived instead of in China.

Perhaps the blame is left to the American Consumer, as I've stated numerous times. Wal-Mart wouldn't be importing and selling all those chinese goods if people weren't buying them. Money talks, Americans are driven by the almighty dollar, an extra couple bucks for an American product just "isn't worth it" to most. (Sadly)

I agree with you somewhat, but its often that I cannot find an American made good, even if I look. If I absolutely need the product, there's no American made choice. For exmple, I used to exclusively buy SuperMicro motherboards because they were US-made. Not really an option any more.

The point I was trying to make, however, was that it is in Wal-mart's interest to have an American consumer with money in their pocket. If they were to pay Americans to make their goods, despite the cheaper Chinese alternative, more Americans would have money to spend in their stores. At some point, the downward spiral will even affect Wal-mart.

The only problem is that you cannot take away offshore manufacturing. It will exist and someone will take advantage of it, if not walmart someone else will.

True enough, but Wal-mart is currently the biggest fish in the retail sea. If they were to say "Make it in the USA", the companies would. As a bonus, you'd see a lot more American products at Target and K-Mart, as well. I think this would be good for America, far better than any magical economic theory about how losing millions of jobs is good for your average American citizen.

I dont think that would happen. Someone else would sell cheap good from overseas.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: charrison
I dont think that would happen. Someone else would sell cheap good from overseas.

Absolutely. But I think it'd be hard not to say Wal-Mart started (in a BIG way) that trend.

 

[sandorski]

Heard on the news today they have also announced a major environmental push. More energy efficient stores, cut fuel consumption of their Transport fleet(largest in North America) in half, decrease Greenhouse gas emmissions, and giving preference to Suppliers who decrease packaging.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Heard on the news today they have also announced a major environmental push. More energy efficient stores, cut fuel consumption of their Transport fleet(largest in North America) in half, decrease Greenhouse gas emmissions, and giving preference to Suppliers who decrease packaging.

Cutting the bottom line, this of course is where walmart excels.

 

[Pabster]

Squeezing its suppliers, putting American companies under, and bringing in the Chinese ships. That's where Wal-Mart excels.

 

[OFFascist]

Its a scam.

If walmart wants to it can increase the minimum pay for its own employees, but that isnt what walmart wants.

They want the minimum wage to be raised so that other businesses that cannot afford it will go out of business.

Alternately if they dont go out of business they will have to jack up the prices of thier goods to compensate which will in turn drive more people to shop at walmart.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Republicans have been against the lower class getting anymore so it doesn't have much chance even with Wally World's backing.

Look who Wally World donates money to in Arkansas...

Wow... talk about picking the winning horse!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Republicans have been against the lower class getting anymore so it doesn't have much chance even with Wally World's backing.

Look who Wally World donates money to in Arkansas...

I'm amazed you would highlight the corruption of your own :shocked:

Wally World contributions:

Democrat 19.1%

Republican 57.45%

Other 2.1%

 

[TNM93]

Originally posted by: judasmachine
Wally World Article

I'm flabergasted, and speechless. But the rules say I have to say something, so...

I guess if anyone can afford a new minimum wage it's WallyWorld.

Many of Wal-Mart's customers are low income. Therefore, the idea of raising the minimum wage, is purely for the self interest of increasing Wal-Mart's bottom line. I seriously doubt Wal-Mart would ask for a raise in the minimum wage out of the kindess of their hearts. They pay barely above the minimum wage themselves. In a nutshell, to hell with Wal-Mart.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: Engineer
While I agree with you on that one, a raise in minimum wage tends to drive others up as well. If you're making several dollars above minimum wage and suddenly, minimum wage is bumped to what you're currently making, usually you push (and mostly get) a wage increase too or you have the power to leave easier as you're on a even field again. I have seen this happen while working at Kroger where others that were making more than minimum wage had similar jumps in pay when minimum wage was increased.

I disagree I think the middle income workers get hurt the most by minimum wage increases. Minimum wage earners get a boost, but most others don't. Corporations then have to rasie prices to support the new cost of labor, which means the people who don't get a raise can't afford as much. The people getting the raise now have to pay more money to buy goods, so the effects of it are negated.

If anything, leaving the minimum wage alone should encourage people to strive for more.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: Engineer
While I agree with you on that one, a raise in minimum wage tends to drive others up as well. If you're making several dollars above minimum wage and suddenly, minimum wage is bumped to what you're currently making, usually you push (and mostly get) a wage increase too or you have the power to leave easier as you're on a even field again. I have seen this happen while working at Kroger where others that were making more than minimum wage had similar jumps in pay when minimum wage was increased.

I disagree I think the middle income workers get hurt the most by minimum wage increases. Minimum wage earners get a boost, but most others don't. Corporations then have to rasie prices to support the new cost of labor, which means the people who don't get a raise can't afford as much. The people getting the raise now have to pay more money to buy goods, so the effects of it are negated.

If anything, leaving the minimum wage alone should encourage people to strive for more.

Strive for more how when Wally World and the rest of the employers pay squat??? 😕

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Squeezing its suppliers, putting American companies under, and bringing in the Chinese ships. That's where Wal-Mart excels.

ALRIGHT, ENOUGH! WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DID YOU DO WITH PABSTER?

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
I'm amazed you would highlight the corruption of your own :shocked:

Wally World contributions:

Democrat 19.1%

Republican 57.45%

Other 2.1%

I'll highlight "corruption" wherever I see it.

I don't know the actual political affiliations of the Walton family or of Wal-Mart in general. Certainly in Arkansas they are giving a majority share to Republicans; I don't know if that holds true nationwide.

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
I'm amazed you would highlight the corruption of your own :shocked:

Wally World contributions:

Democrat 19.1%

Republican 57.45%

Other 2.1%

I'll highlight "corruption" wherever I see it.

I don't know the actual political affiliations of the Walton family or of Wal-Mart in general. Certainly in Arkansas they are giving a majority share to Republicans; I don't know if that holds true nationwide.

I live in Walton hotbed, Columbia, MO and yes, they give 100% to Republicans, including Rep. Kenny Hulshof.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
I live in Walton hotbed, Columbia, MO and yes, they give 100% to Republicans, including Rep. Kenny Hulshof.

I suppose that makes sense. Big Business is traditionally tied to Republicans (although there are plenty of BB donors to the DNC and candidates as well). I'd like to see contributions from the entire Walton clan over the last decade and exactly where they went. I've got a pretty good idea.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
I live in Walton hotbed, Columbia, MO and yes, they give 100% to Republicans, including Rep. Kenny Hulshof.

I suppose that makes sense. Big Business is traditionally tied to Republicans (although there are plenty of BB donors to the DNC and candidates as well). I'd like to see contributions from the entire Walton clan over the last decade and exactly where they went. I've got a pretty good idea.

Interesting admissions on your part.

So are you thrilled with your new found corruption of your heros???

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28
I live in Walton hotbed, Columbia, MO and yes, they give 100% to Republicans, including Rep. Kenny Hulshof.

I suppose that makes sense. Big Business is traditionally tied to Republicans (although there are plenty of BB donors to the DNC and candidates as well). I'd like to see contributions from the entire Walton clan over the last decade and exactly where they went. I've got a pretty good idea.

You may be thinking.. "Why Hulshof?" Check the names of the ones that are sponsoring the repeal of the estate tax.

 

[dmcowen674]

This whole charade was confirmed to be a PR stunt.

Memo got leaked out how they plan on lowering pay and health benefits.

See Wally world thread for details.

The Waltons should be brought up on the Patriot Act as traitors and enemies to the U.S.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Interesting admissions on your part.

So are you thrilled with your new found corruption of your heros???

Um, Wal-Mart could hardly be found on my "heroes" list, Dave.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
The Waltons should be brought up on the Patriot Act as traitors and enemies to the U.S.

The Patriot Act?!?!

That's beyond extreme 😀

Perhaps the American consumer should begin to speak with their wallet. That's what allows companies like Wal-Mart (a big fish in a big pond) to do what they do.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
The Waltons should be brought up on the Patriot Act as traitors and enemies to the U.S.

The Patriot Act?!?!

That's beyond extreme 😀

Perhaps the American consumer should begin to speak with their wallet. That's what allows companies like Wal-Mart (a big fish in a big pond) to do what they do.

Pretty hard for the Sheeple to do that when Wally World drove all others out of business with their unfair business practices.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Pretty hard for the Sheeple to do that when Wally World drove all others out of business with their unfair business practices.

But doesn't the blame lie heavily with the American consumer, who, instead of going a block away and purchasing an American-made item for $25, drove 10 miles to their Super Center and bought a chinese version for $9.99?

I know it is unrealistic to expect some sort of mass exodus from Wal-Mart, but, I've had no trouble shopping while avoiding them.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
The Waltons should be brought up on the Patriot Act as traitors and enemies to the U.S.

The Patriot Act?!?!

That's beyond extreme 😀

Perhaps the American consumer should begin to speak with their wallet. That's what allows companies like Wal-Mart (a big fish in a big pond) to do what they do.

They are, look at walmarts last quarter earnings, they missed projections hard, and blamed it on gas prices.

 

[Zanix]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Pretty hard for the Sheeple to do that when Wally World drove all others out of business with their unfair business practices.

But doesn't the blame lie heavily with the American consumer, who, instead of going a block away and purchasing an American-made item for $25, drove 10 miles to their Super Center and bought a chinese version for $9.99?

I know it is unrealistic to expect some sort of mass exodus from Wal-Mart, but, I've had no trouble shopping while avoiding them.

Moral responsibility. Does it lie in the people to not shop at companies with "questionable" practices? Or does it lie in the company to think about the people affected by what they do?

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
They are, look at walmarts last quarter earnings, they missed projections hard, and blamed it on gas prices.

Perhaps that's an achievement of the higher fuel prices? 😀

Sadly, I don't think anything short of $1000 a gallon fuel would put a dent in Wally's pocket.