MLM Directory

Wal-Mart and the Free Market System? [Sorry guys, computer glitch with first attempt]?

With the exception of groceries, many of which are shipped from Mexico, or are otherwise not local, depending on the location of the Wal-Mart store, about 97% of Wal-Mart's products are made in China. The majority of retailers in America, from Napa Auto Parts to Hot Topic, for example, also purchase products that are made outside of the United States, but since Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer, if not the largest when moving to first or second largest in competition with Exxon Mobil [profits may be better one day, than the next, and Wal-Mart may win first place, moving Exxon down to number two, etc...], we shall use them as the example. I'm sure that any place, including Wal-Mart, carries American-made products, but such a product is extremely difficult to find, if existent in a Wal-Mart or other shop. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a vest and tank top I recently bought at the mall [while searching for trousers to wear for work] are made in the USA. Not only is China a nation ruled under communism, but child labor is practically a trademark of their own. And China is not the only country to support or endorse child labor, many other countries condone this, but since China is our #1 partner in merchandise, you have most likely found that nearly everything you own was made in that country. Before I get to my point, I am aware that I also own and purchase many of these products. I have searched for American-made, but gave up long ago, for the reasons above. I'm not out to criticize anyone for "supporting" child labor. Nor do I get upset at Wal-Mart customers...I don't shop there myself, after a spurt of news stories recently revealing further abuse inflicted upon humanity by this company, I could not stomach the idea of spending another cent there. Can't blame anyone for shopping there, though. They do have the best deals around, especially for those of us who financially struggle, as it is, and I've been tempted MANY times to venture back in to shop for things I need. SO... We in America are living in a democracy, with a free-market capitalist economy. Yet we have thousands of America upset with the current administration for whatever -ism they decide to slap onto it....socialism, fascism, communism, Marxism....it's becoming a huge list, even though it's been extremely difficult throughout history for any nation to officially and accurately earn more than one or two of those titles.... Why has Wal-Mart, then, remained so successful? The smiley face may be our poster boy for the free market, supply and demand, and other American economics, but underneath, they are in one form or another, bankrolling the economy of a communist nation, one of these countries that our Tea Party is concerned we are on the road to becoming? Isn't Wal-Mart anti-American? Especially when you measure the way they have treated their workers, and often their customers [several complaints of discrimination, as well as Wal-Mart employees from all over the country currently taking part in the largest class-action suit, against this company, in American history]. As far as treating the workers of other businesses goes, while Sam Walton also started out small way back in the previous century, Wal-Mart is notorious for killing the profits of small businesses until they are eventually run into the ground, and forced to close for good. While Wal-Marts around the country are gaining more and more success, allowing them to afford to hire new employees, far more pharmacies, grocers, or any other store that is similar to an individual section of a Wal-Mart store, are either facing budget cuts and forced to implement layoffs, or closed forever because Wal-Mart simply beat them into financial submission. How does Wal-Mart feel about labor unions, organizations that are built to fight for the rights and fair treatment of hard working Americans, or anyone in another country who is interested in them? Ask the employees of the one in Canada, where the entire store, at request and authority of the management and store owner, was completely SHUT DOWN, after it was discovered that a handful of the employees attempted to unionize. The store had only been open for a few weeks! Every single worker there was associated with that Wal-Mart location was put out of a job. A friend of a friend was selected for promotion to management at the Wal-Mart where he worked. They drove him to another building nearby, separate from the store, led him into a room - all the while in a very hush-hush, top secret manner - and there he was told to watch a training video. They also made it clear to him that he was not, under any circumstances, to share with others what he had seen in this video. What he did see, in that video, he described as such blatant propaganda, specifically against labor unions, that he was instantly rendered unable to stomach the idea of management, period. H Continued here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aujh70fSpAysip7V0w4E183ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100810085634AA5U2f0 It IS a question, folks, it just happened to be way too long for one post. I wanted to include as much as I knew about the issue, to make it the best I could. The link included leads to the end of the question.

Public Comments

1. Nowhere in that incredibly long rant was a question asked, unless you are asking why Walmart remains so successful. The answer to that is their business model. They prices their goods at or below market value. To do this, they use a 'power buying' system to purchase good at far below market rate. It's a brilliant system that works. Good for Walmart for making profits, employing Americans, and expanding in these troubled times.
2. Try asking small questions, Nobody will read that. Actually i read it and cant figure out what is the question. Yes, i agree there should be anti-trust laws to protect the small and medium business.
3. We live in a society that is fractured. But, not as many fractures exist in it as we think. There are basically divides separating most Americans. One economic and the other religious. On the economic side we have the haves and the have-nots. Sorry, there really is no middle class anymore, if there ever was. The haves found a way to nickel and dime the rest of us out of what our past generations fought for: pensions, unions, local retail, quality libraries, parks and schools. How, by basically "paying us off." They have found a way to use cheap foreign products to take all of our money buying crap we think will make us better off.