David Nassar On The Huffington Post

This article appeared originally on The Huffington Post:


Wal-Mart’s Dog and Pony Show

It’s Wal-Mart Week in Bentonville, Arkansas and the retail giant is throwing its annual celebration for 20,000 of its workers and shareholders, complete with concerts by stars like Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, and Journey. All this serves to distract shareholders from Wal-Mart’s failure to address the chronic problems that negatively affect their image and result in obstacles to growth into new geographic and demographic markets A Handshake with Sam [PDF], an agreement of common principles with Wal-Mart first released in 2006, offers a roadmap out of this crisis.

Polling that we conducted last fall shows that 28 percent of all consumers developed a more negative opinion of the company over the previous twelve months. And there are plenty of real examples to demonstrate this. Just in the past 12 months, Wal-Mart has had to back out of 69 communities, including Chicago, where their poor business and labor practices were front and center.

It’s a problem that gets lost in all the noise and pretty lights. The one part of the shareholders meeting designed to address the situation—eight shareholder resolutions [PDF] -gets ignored. At last year’s shareholders meeting the company rejected every single proposal. And this year, each one will receive about two minutes of consideration—compared to the four days of concerts and parties going on this week.

The resolutions Wal-Mart will quickly reject tomorrow have clearly failed to get their attention, including the following examples:

Human Rights Committee: Proposes the establishment of a human rights committee at Wal-Mart to “review the implications of company policies...for human rights of individuals in the U.S. and worldwide.”

Amend Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:
Proposes amending Wal-Mart’s equal opportunity employment policy to include protection for gender-identity-based discrimination.

Social and Reputation Impact Report:
Proposes to require Wal-Mart to issue a report to shareholders on the negative social and reputational impacts of the company’s non-compliance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions and standards on workers’ rights.

Political Contributions Report: Proposes to increase transparency about “direct and indirect political contributions to candidates, political parties or political organizations; independent expenditures; or electioneering communications on behalf of a federal, state or local candidate.”

These seem like reasonable proposals that would go a long way toward making Wal-Mart a more responsible, more humane company. But by tomorrow they’ll end up in the dustbin, and Wal-Mart will plow ahead with its greedy and unsustainable practices.

That is why Wal-Mart Watch has re-introduced “A Handshake with Sam,” a set of seven principles that challenge Wal-Mart to be the fair, honest business Sam Walton intended it to be. We’re asking our supporters to sign the “Handshake with Sam” and urge Wal-Mart to commit to these important principles.

We rooted these principles in Sam Walton’s own beliefs in the hopes that they might be more palatable to Wal-Mart than if they were just written by their critics. It is Wal-Mart’s abandonment of these beliefs that have led them to become such a distasteful presence to an increasing number of communities and shoppers.

After all, the one thing Wal-Mart’s leaders care about is the company’s bottom line. When the public outrage over its treatment of brain-damaged former employee Deborah Shank became overwhelming, Wal-Mart gave in and returned her medical funds. We will continue to apply that kind of pressure until Wal-Mart recognizes that it can no longer afford to be stubborn—the same way it realized it could no longer afford to avoid doing the right thing for Ms. Shank.

Tomorrow’s shareholders’ meeting may not make Wal-Mart reform its practices, but Wal-Mart Watch will continue making sure the public knows the truth about Wal-Mart, whether it takes another year, five years or ten.

Posted by David Nassar, Executive Director on Friday, June 06, 2008

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COMMENTS

You didn’t really think that they would address the issues at hand.  The only way, they could avoid such matters is too have stars come out and help them distract others from what was really going on.  Whether or not, the stars knew about it or not.
This company is nothing but a joke to consumers and employees.  They are more worried about the ol’ mighty dollar and nothing else.

Christine Russell in Petawawa, Ontario
Friday, June 06 at 03:22 PM

Right on Christine Russell!!!
Walmart is a big joke that is as phony as they come.
We as Canadians and all fair minded people need to remember the track record of this company. Truely Walmart is a cancer to workers everywhere.

R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

Alex in Ontario, Canada
Friday, June 06 at 04:08 PM

You go Alex and Christine.  Absolutely Walmart is a joke to its consumers and employees.  From the hundreds of cars in the average Walmart parking lot every day to the 400+ BILLION dollars in revenue every year as the largest company in the world.

Absolutely they are a “joke” to their consumers and employees!

mary in
Friday, June 06 at 04:43 PM

will never buy tires again from walmarts. They have had every excuse in the book to not honer the replacement of tires that have went bad in less then 6 months and are trying to tell me something is wrong with the suspenion of the car. hog warsh I took it this morning to a dependable mechanic who told me that there was nothing wrong with the front or back of the car it is not the front end alighnment or nothing like that they lie steal your money then don;t stand behind their tires NEVERNEVERNEVERNEVER again will I buy from them

Wanda in ohio
Friday, June 06 at 05:18 PM

Alex;

[Walmart is a big joke that is as phony as they come.]

I think the joke is on you and Wal-Mart keeps laughing at your ignorance, all the way to the bank.

Charles in Brighton, Tn.
Saturday, June 07 at 12:38 AM

christine russell all of your favorite high cost stores that cater to your type are a hell of a lot more of a joke to consumers and society with their asinine high prices that cater to the elitist typesthan wm is maaam so zip your lip

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 03:33 AM

i bend over for walmart at the society meetings for the indigent and appreciative so take all your better life and living attitude some where else all you better paying job fools because there is nothing better in this world than wm and everybody knows that is the only truth besides thank you sir may i have another

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 04:59 AM

“...... to the 400+ BILLION dollars in revenue every year as the largest company in the world."~mary in

That is what makes your Walmart a joke mary.
You folks like the rant about how well Walmart is doing till it comes to fairly sharing the success with its workers.
Walmart will never be known as a great company. It’s legacy will forever be of greed and selfishness.

R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

Alex in Ontario, Canada
Saturday, June 07 at 05:03 AM

http://thetruthaboutgasprices.wordpress.com/

Read this.

I in
Saturday, June 07 at 05:10 AM

“I think the joke is on you and Wal-Mart keeps laughing at your ignorance, all the way to the bank."~Charles in Brighton, Tn.

You are right about Walmart laughing all the way to the bank.
But arrogance like that has a great fall. It will happen.

R E M E M B E R
J O N Q U I E R E
Q U E B E C
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

R E M E M B E R
J A C K S O N V I L L E
T E X A S
Home of Walmart Worker Abuse

Alex in Ontario, Canada
Saturday, June 07 at 05:11 AM

i love being poor and stupid but only if it helps wm to make 400 billion and if i have a 7 dollar hour job for 30 hours a week and 2000 dollar deductible for healthcare or no healthcare at all it is because wm has determined that is best for me and the rest of you are all elitist hypocrits

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 05:25 AM

For The Benefit of Newer Readers...”

Lest anyone wonder any longer what m att hew vantress’ major malfunction is...his own words tell the story:
“i love being poor and stupid...”

I have likened his posts to “flies at a picnic.” Just ignore him!

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Saturday, June 07 at 06:48 AM

if it wasnt for all you morality hypocrites wm could sell porn and crack and whores and cigarettes to your brat kids.you are ruining it for the rest of us with all your moral b.s. about minimum wages and healthcare so shut your pie hole about that you elitist affluent snobs.wm knows what is best for this country as demonstrated by how good the economy is now and anyone who thinks otherwise is a communist.wm should be allowed to make all the money they want any way they want and forget all that morality b.s. because who cares?

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 07:08 AM

Just in the past 12 months, Wal-Mart has had to back out of 69 communities, including Chicago...

Since the pro Wal-Mart bunch constantly claims the Anti Wal-Mart Movement is having little or no effect on the Beast, how do you explain this resistence?

....back out of 69...

Interesting choice of words.

Ken V in Texas
Saturday, June 07 at 07:13 AM

P.S. I realize we all could make a career out of correcting matthew’s posts, but this is one number that the pro bunch throws around alot and it’s misleading.

...wm to make 400 billion...

Wal-Mart didn’t “make” $400 billion. The Beast of Bentonville sold nearly $400 billion of cheap crap. They made about $13 billion, a profit margin of 3.6%.

Ken V in Texas
Saturday, June 07 at 07:24 AM

I’ve given billions in tax cuts to my billionaire friends at WM and of course at big oil and all my buds in Irving. As I trash the economy for my dearest friends the Waltons to profit in our understanding of how they benefit from my incompetent inactive mishandling etc on the economy as an economist...I am thinking of awarding the Medal of Freedom to Lee Scott for his personal help in recruiting all those kids in the WM stores that I sent off to an unnecessary war in Iraq again for big oil and record deficit spending of other people’s money. As I think about the future it encourages me to know that the American people can’t do shit about what I have done and will continue to do over the next 8 months. If I can just get another war started with those evil Iranian terrorists(can’t use the Iraqi, Russian or Chinese communist excuse anymore) then we can keep oil around $150 per barrel. AIPAC and the Hagee type crowd media suckers will beat the war drums, WM will benefit from increased poverty, ExxonMobil/Chevron and the whole oil industry will finally name me man of the century. Pops gave a gold Freedom Medal to Sam Walton for fucking people over...shit I’ve done 100 times better than that.

W in denial plausibility and executive immunity
Saturday, June 07 at 08:19 AM

everyone who doesnt shop at wm is a communist.telling the truth about those who wont support wm and all they stand for is my responsibilty at this b.s.

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 09:28 AM

Take a look at the comments posted on the Huffington Post version of this article.

You will see that the vast majority of them condemn Walmart for bad business practices. Walmart has given itself a black eye which it doesn’t know how to fix.

Standard Oil of NJ was the most hated company in the world for the first half of the 20th Century. It tried to change it’s image by branding itself as “Esso”, that didn’t help. Now it is Exxon and it still despised.

Putting lipstick on a pig, never fools anyone. Walmart has a big problem and the fact that it is temporarily benefiting from the downturn in the economy as people are forced to shop at lower quality stores doesn’t mean that its future is rosy.

As the stories have shown they are finding it difficult to open new stores in the US and have failed outright in Korea and Germany. They aren’t doing well in Japan or India either. The rule on Wall Street is “what have you done for me lately?”

As soon as the economy stabilizes and Walmart’s sales stop rising investors will dump it once again and we will see all the stories about how management just didn’t “get it”.

Just as Walmart is doing a propaganda campaign on its improved environmental and health efforts so are stock brokers who are pushing up the stock price so they can make a killing when enough suckers buy into the economic projections.

Corporations have “cultures”. Some are noted for their ethical behavior and some are known for the sharp dealing. This has been true of Standard Oil for 100 years and is true of Walmart as well.

If the tone in Washington changes with the next administration, those firms that have been benefiting by gaming the system will have the most to fear. That’s why Walmart has started to ramp up its lobbying efforts.

robertdfeinman in Long Island, NY
Saturday, June 07 at 10:03 AM

someone is imitating me on here and it aint funny.nassar zip your lip you are full of b.s. on here like always.

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 04:50 PM

All your posts are the same Matt. How can anyone tell the difference or care to do so?

bbrd in
Saturday, June 07 at 06:37 PM

so what if wm does make people poor anyway you arrogant elitist hypocrties.making money is what is important not people or their jobs.because wm is the biggest shit of them all means blaming other companys first and lying to make wm look better than what it is so shut up you wm haters and stop imitating me

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 06:58 PM

well you should be able to to read the real me bbrd compared to the people imitating me.my posts are always truthful unlike screwed by and any of the garbage ken v sdv and etc post on here.bbrd i have previous ufcw union exp and big box retail exp unlike all of the anti walmarters on here who think they know it all.the ufcw spopnsors this site so i know how that union is and treats their members.i do know what i am talking about.dont believe and take everything you hear and read on the internet as factual.govt and unions lie all the time.the anti can never answer any of my questions on here that i pose.they stoop to the name calling level.

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Saturday, June 07 at 07:12 PM

Sorry Matt. I think your full of shit even as a pro Walmart poster child train wreck. Stop hurting our cause will this endless bullshit you call the truth. Everybody knows union pay is better and benefits are higher. We have lost and conceded that point long ago. We need to try and convince consumers that Walmart is good for the family and family values even though that is not true either. Stop craping on our parade m att hew you dumb fuck.

Dave in
Sunday, June 08 at 12:38 AM

not in the ufcw union dave is the pay that much greater. trust me i have exp in ufcw union grocery and witnesed this myself.the ufcw union grocers and the union screw workers out of full time work living wages and enough hrs to make a decent living and they treat their workers much worse than wm ever has.keep in mind dave i have worked ufcw union grocery and retail and you obviously have not.keep on bitching about wm all you want.they are not going out of busines dave how is costcos and all the expensive ufcw union grocers you shop at with their assinine high prices better for us and the economy instead of wms lower prices?answer that one dave without name calling.

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Sunday, June 08 at 03:27 AM

All your posts are the same Matt. How can anyone tell the difference or care to do so?

bbrd in
Saturday, June 07 at 06:37 PM

Though I know it can be hard to tell, I can assure Matt that he was dealing with a “WMW Doppelganger”, and not the real bbrd.

Only cowards and losers do things like that…

bbrd in
Sunday, June 08 at 09:35 AM

Dave in
Sunday, June 08 at 12:38 AM

I’ll even go out on a limb and say that this incarnation of “Dave” is about as genuine as a 3 dollar bill…

That’s when you know “the other side” is fighting a no-win battle!

bbrd in
Sunday, June 08 at 09:37 AM

Will the “REAL” bbrd Please Stand Out!

“Though I know it can be hard to tell...” (ain’t that the truth)

“not the real bbrd.”

Please!  Do tell us bbrd!  Who are you? Really!

I’m sure you’ll recall your earlier days of posting here.  I remember calling you a “cardboard cutout” because you were so non-descript. (you still are) You have all the personality of one of those cutouts.  You never say anything. You just drop by, taking a pot shot or two.

Lately you seem to have gotten a little more “fiesty” because you think we’ve accepted you.... (tolerate you is closer to the truth)

So tell us...what’s your connection to Wal-Mart?  Why your ardent interest in defending “The Beast?” What’s your “expertise?” What part of the country do you live in?  Major city or small rural town?  Did you, or do you work for Wal-Mart, did you, or do you work for a major supplier of Wal-Mart, or are you just into cheap toilet paper like “mary?”

I think I can safely speak for the others; we’re not really that interested in you, but at least it might give you a modicum of legitimacy.

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Sunday, June 08 at 12:36 PM

I’d like to know what bbrd finds so attractive yet terrifying about ddrb. She’s a sweet, smart woman and if you look back at some of her first posts you will see her writing has improved immensely.

I’ve always said the pro Wal-Mart side was too self-involved and ego oriented. Perhaps when you lie down with the Beast you get up with arrogance.

Walmart is not the same store it use to be.  ~ <a >temple r.</a>

Ken V in Texas
Sunday, June 08 at 07:50 PM

Walmart is not the same store it used to be. ~ temple r.

Forget the link....

Ken V in Texas
Sunday, June 08 at 07:52 PM

Screwedby,

“So tell us...what’s your connection to Wal-Mart?  Why your ardent interest in defending “The Beast?” What’s your “expertise?” What part of the country do you live in?  Major city or small rural town?  Did you, or do you work for Wal-Mart, did you, or do you work for a major supplier of Wal-Mart”

This is so funny, because YOU have been asked these same questions many, many times and have NOT answered, yet, you demand that others answer them!!  So, I’ll ask YOU again, “What’s your connection to Wal-Mart?  Why your ardent interest in persecuting Wal-Mart?” What’s your “expertise?” Did you, work for Wal-Mart, did you, or do you work for a major supplier of Wal-Mart” How were you SCREWEDBY Wal-Mart?”!!

RDS in
Sunday, June 08 at 11:16 PM

Somebody is pissing on my fake Dave pro Walmart internet creation, please stop?? Matt (my trusty yet insane smell) do not worry, I can repackage you as another elderly libertarian halfwit slimeball.

bbrd in cahoots
Monday, June 09 at 02:22 AM

W in Denial: Bush gave no one one cent in tax breaks. Know why? It is not his money to give. It is Wal-Mart’s. They earned it. Letting them keep what they earn is not a gift. Not stealing from someone is not a gift.

Nice mention of AIPAC. You must be antisemitic too.

@alex: “You folks like the rant about how well Walmart is doing till it comes to fairly sharing the success with its workers.”

It already pays its workers a fair (real world value) wage for the work they do. No more, no less. Even if it is less than what unions demand, which is a pie in the sky amount that has nothing to do with economic reality. That’s fairly sharing.

realist in n.n
Monday, June 09 at 04:48 AM

“I think it’s very important that we make the Bush tax cuts permanent. I voted to make them permanent twice already...” [John McCain- Republican Presidential Debate, MSNBC, 1/24/08]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 19, 2004

President Bush called on Congress to make “his” tax cuts permanent and discussed with taxpayers his plan to create jobs in America and to continue to grow and strengthen the economy.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040219-2.html

President Bush Discusses Economy in Chicago, Illinois
Union League Club of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 7, 2008

“It turns out tax cuts have helped our economy overcome uncertainties. Economic growth yielded more revenues for our federal treasury. When you combine that with spending discipline, then that deficit is beginning to shrink, particularly as a percentage of GDP. Our deficit percent of GDP is low, relative to historic averages. It’s possible to keep taxes low, grow your economy, and deal with your deficit, is what I’m trying to explain to you.

In times of uncertainty it’s very important to make sure that the people on the front lines of job growth—that would be the entrepreneur—knows taxes are going to remain low. And so one of the first basic principles that I’ll be talking to Congress about is this administration will use ‘its authorities’ to keep taxes low.”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080107-7.html

Note “...this administration will use its authorities...”

realist in n.n-Your another lying libertarian asshole that bites the dust.

reality in Whitehouse facts
Monday, June 09 at 06:04 AM

It is Wal-Mart’s.

That is the stupidest argument right wing-nuts make. By that logic, all $400 billion for what Wal-Mart sells belongs to them. No debt to suppliers, no cost for overhead, no labor costs, it’s ALL theirs.

Taxes are a cost of doing business and it is known going in. If Wal-Mart doesn’t want to pay taxes, they can stop doing business.

As is, you (Wal-Mart) have lost my business with the purchase of this product, and I will be notifying all of my friends and family who frequently use printed coupons (as this is the way the industry is moving because of the internet, and the age we are in), to not purchase items at this store and to go elseware. ~ Jenelle M.

Ken V in Texas
Monday, June 09 at 06:51 AM

everyone who does not love and worship wm is a communist but not like the chinese kind that wm supports more than anybody else you hypocrites

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Monday, June 09 at 07:29 AM

Hey Matt, stop playing lonely naked twister with a bong. You’re giving everyone a headache.

bbrd in
Monday, June 09 at 07:40 AM

Just to note that the “communist” Chinese unions are giving Walmart more of a hard time then those in the US. Unlike here, the stores in China are unionized (by law) and what was expected to be a sham company-style union is turning into some else.

Workers have demanded improved working conditions and other changes. Try learning something about the world instead of hiding on your rock.

robertdfeinman in Long Island, NY
Monday, June 09 at 08:22 AM

Please!  Do tell us bbrd!  Who are you? Really!

Now that the end is near for everyone, I really wish I could tell you—but given the recent rash of name-calling under the “bbrd” moniker over the weekend, I’ll have to pass on that one…

Plus, I’m certain you, youself wished you had never shared your real name with all the “gang”, as I can plainly see it’s caused you a few headaches here and there.

I’m sure you’ll recall your earlier days of posting here.  I remember calling you a “cardboard cutout” because you were so non-descript. (you still are) You have all the personality of one of those cutouts.  You never say anything.

Really?  I guess that’s a matter of opinion—I suppose I could get all emotional about the issues like you, RDS, and all the rest, but in the end, that does nothing. 

On the other hand, if I truly am as “non-descript” as you claim, then I must doing things right (IMHO).

You just drop by, taking a pot shot or two.

No argument, there—kind of like that disgruntled WM associate “JOE”, who posts here every now and again…

Lately you seem to have gotten a little more “fiesty” because you think we’ve accepted you.... (tolerate you is closer to the truth)

Let me get this straight—my goal in life was to be accepted by some internet fringe group who has nothing better to do than to bitch about Wal-Mart?  That’s pretty funny!

So tell us...what’s your connection to Wal-Mart?

I shop there a couple times a week.

Why your ardent interest in defending “The Beast?”

Wal-Mart is big enough not to need “defending” from the likes of me—however, if I see/smell some internet B.S., I’m not afraid to call it as I see it.

What’s your “expertise?”

That might be...telling?

What part of the country do you live in?  Major city or small rural town?

One of those “Pop. 50K” towns stuck somewhere other than the east/west coasts (been there, done that, already)—my home is definitely not one of those “one horse” towns where WM is the only game.

Did you, or do you work for Wal-Mart, did you, or do you work for a major supplier of Wal-Mart, or are you just into cheap toilet paper like “mary?”

Never punched a clock for WM (or anyone connected)—it’s far more than just TP, if you’ll just open your eyes and look-around at the world around you.

Sadly, your disdain for WM has consumed you people to the point where you can’t see the bigger picture.

I think I can safely speak for the others; we’re not really that interested in you, but at least it might give you a modicum of legitimacy.

Oh, you mean like your spilling the beans about being “Tom” has done for you??

Thanks, but I’m quite happy with the status quo—maybe if we get advance notice on when the plug gets pulled on the blog portion of WMW, maybe then I’ll share…

bbrd in
Monday, June 09 at 08:43 AM

Ken V: “Wal-Mart didn’t “make” $400 billion. The Beast of Bentonville sold nearly $400 billion of cheap crap. They made about $13 billion, a profit margin of 3.6%. “

Walmart watch uses the same $400 billion number when they talk about how Walmart should give someone money, and while I agree that using that number is misleading I didn’t see you pointing that out when Walmart watch used it.  Also I see you still don’t understand Walmart’s business model which involves keeping their prices low which leads to a lower margin, but more profit because of higher sales.  Some day maybe you will understand simple business models.  I’m pretty sure that you are the same Ken that I saw a couple years ago on another site saying that SHLD was a great stock at $200 because of how well the stock had been doing and that everyone should sell their $43 Walmart stock because it was going into the 30’s.  I think you missed on both of those, and it’s clear you still have no understanding of business.

Dave in
Monday, June 09 at 09:35 AM

“Sorry Matt. I think your full of shit even as a pro Walmart poster child train wreck. Stop hurting our cause will this endless bullshit you call the truth. Everybody knows union pay is better and benefits are higher. We have lost and conceded that point long ago. We need to try and convince consumers that Walmart is good for the family and family values even though that is not true either. Stop craping on our parade m att hew you dumb fuck.

Dave in “

I’m so flattered that some idiot tried to pretend to be me.  Of course I have never sworn on here and this person swore several times in one post which proves that whoever it was isn’t very intelligent.  This is the down side of sites that require no login to post, but oh well.

Dave in
Monday, June 09 at 09:43 AM

Realist in n.n.

“W in Denial: Bush gave no one one cent in tax breaks. Know why? It is not his money to give. It is Wal-Mart’s. They earned it. Letting them keep what they earn is not a gift. Not stealing from someone is not a gift.”

Just like Ken, doesn’t understand the Wal-Mart business model, Democrats have their people believing that ALL your money belongs to the government and they are NICE enough to let you keep some of it!!  So, when you get a ‘tax break’ the government is being even nicer by letting you keep MORE of your their money!!  Look what Ken said, “Taxes are a cost of doing business and it is known going in. If Wal-Mart doesn’t want to pay taxes, they can stop doing business.”, this shows how they believe that TAXES are automatically, money that belongs to the government and that they are giving you something, when they let you pay LESS than you OWE them!!  That is much the same as their thinking that a “FAIR tax policy” is charging one person 18% of their income and another person 80% of their income!!  Whatever happened to ‘all men are created equal’, seems in tax policy, all men aren’t charged taxes equally!!

I heard a protest song recently, that said:

Tax the rich to feed the poor,
tax them til they have no more!

My question is, who do you tax to feed the poor, when all the rich have NO MORE and are poor themselves?

RDS in
Monday, June 09 at 10:35 AM

I’m pretty sure that you are the same Ken that I saw a couple years ago on another site saying that SHLD was a great stock at $200 because of how well the stock had been doing and that everyone should sell their $43 Walmart stock because it was going into the 30’s.

Hmmmm...the plot thickens…

It would appear Kenbo had a little trouble with his WMT holdings, which explains his one-man vendetta against WM.

I think you missed on both of those, and it’s clear you still have no understanding of business.

If I were Kenbo, I cetainly wouldn’t want to be locked in a room with those shareholders he “converted” from Wal-Mart to Sears Holdings…

bbrd in
Monday, June 09 at 12:01 PM

...saying that SHLD was a great stock at $200...

Your memory is faulty, Dave. What I said then was SHLD would be a better stock to specualte on if you’re a day trader because of it’s volatility.  WMT was stagnant at the time.

...it’s clear you still have no understanding of business.

Me and every banker in the country. Take any business plan you want that promises a 3.6% profit margin and see how much money you can borrow. Or incorporate and try to sell your stock with that same promise.

If you have to grub for a measly 3.6% profit, your business ‘idea’ sucks to start with. I wouldn’t get out of bed for such a pitiful profit but that was my choice. The result has been I don’t have to settle for poor quality toilet paper, even in the midst of a Republican recession. Or did this recession start when Clinton was president also?

Wal-Mart was named #1 on the Fortune 500 list but that is a size metric that has no real bearing or relation to current shareholders. ~ Jon Ogg

Ken V in Texas
Monday, June 09 at 12:17 PM

Umm good effort, but that is not what you said.  You said nothing about it being for daytrading or it’s volatility.  What you said was that Sears had increased to $190 or whatever it was at that point, and that because of that it was likely to continue, and that Walmart had dropped and was going to continue to drop into the 30’s. 

As far as the margin goes, that explains why Walmart and nearly every other discount retailer has such a hard time finding investors.  Like I have said before you’re an idiot if you wouldn’t get out of bed for $13 billion, or are you really just that wealthy.  Since I didn’t see your name on the Forbes wealthiest person list, I’m guessing you’re just an idiot.  Since low margin was the company plan from the beginning, you wouldn’t have jumped on the IPO for Walmart. if you had the chance, and would have missed out on a making about $1000 for every dollar you invested.  Good business sense.

Dave in
Monday, June 09 at 03:18 PM

You’re living in the past, Dave. Just as Polaroid or Xerox was a stock market darling for awhile, so Wal-Mart peaked long ago. The days of making “$1000 for every dollar you invested” are only a fading memory. 

Any associates reading this that have been part of Wal-Mart’s stock purchase plan care to comment? If you have been buying in for the last eight years you might be at the break-even stage.

Ken V in Texas
Monday, June 09 at 04:15 PM

I wasn’t living in the past,I was simply showing your lack of business knowledge.  Obviously the business practice of a low profit margin works and has returned some massive profits in the past and is continuing to do so in the present.  Also according to Merril Lynch the average annual return for Walmart for the past 10 years is 9.63% slightly above the “break-even stage.” Also I have been buying stock on the associate plan and have a 16% return on my stock not including the 15% that Walmart contibutes.  I think that is above break even as well.

Dave in
Monday, June 09 at 04:48 PM

Ken, do you think Cottonelle is a “poor quality toilet paper”?  What brand do you buy? 

I have to stop by Walmart sometime this week to pick up some house cleaning products that are ALWAYS cheaper than any other store as well as Safeway to see what loss-leaders I can stock up on from their weekly flyer which starts on Wednesday.  I will be more than happy to compare brand prices of your brand toilet paper just to see how much cheaper Walmart is than Safeway.

mary in
Monday, June 09 at 07:25 PM

“This is so funny...”

NO...Really!  The pleasures been all mine.  I can’t count how many ways you’ve made us all laugh RDS.

In fact, you just did it again.  Example?  “yet, you demand that others answer...”

I think you’re confusing me with you and some of your counterparts, i.e. “Someone in USA,” “Nick” “mary"… need I go on?  How many times haven’t we had to read the whining of the “Pro Wal-Mart” crowd how we on “the other side” refuse to “debate” or use “logic?” Waaaah Wa-a-ah!  Did you see me “demand” an answer from bbrd?  I put the questions out there...that’s it.

As you can see, bbrd chose not to answer.  I fully expected that too!

And you can be so dramatic too, RDS.  “ Tax the rich to feed the poor, tax them til they have no more!”

Joni Mitchell?  No!  Joan Baez?  No!  Bob Dylan?  Doh!

I know, that must be a “protest” song you sing around the campfire when you go roughing it with all your libertarian buddies, right?

“So, I’ll ask YOU again”

Oh! Oh! It sounds like somebody’s “demanding!” What was it Ken said about choosing not to answer the phone?  Or, was it anwering the door?  Knock!  Knock!  Who’s there?  RDS.  RDS who?

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Monday, June 09 at 09:20 PM

“some house cleaning products that are ALWAYS cheaper than any other store”

If “cheap” is the quality you look for, “mary” I’ll bet you haven’t tried Aldi’s or Dollar General.  They sell all kinds of cleaning products… some are even made with a “real pine scent.”

I even hear they sell toilet paper pretty cheap as well.  Why buy name brand products at Wal-Mart when you can get something cheaper elsewhere?

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Monday, June 09 at 09:38 PM

Screwedby.

“Did you see me “demand” an answer from bbrd?  I put the questions out there...that’s it.”

Why would you put out questions, if you didn’t expect answers, unless you’re just goofy?

“As you can see, bbrd chose not to answer.”

No, I saw a long post from bbrd, answering ALL of the questions he chose to answer!!

RDS in
Monday, June 09 at 11:03 PM

That’s What You Do Best, RDS!

Take this as a criticism...NOT a compliment.

More of your twisted double-talk RDS?

You might have had it entirely correct if you hadn’t omitted one little word…

“No, I saw a long post from bbrd, answering ALL of the questions he chose [not] to answer!!

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Tuesday, June 10 at 05:37 AM

NO!  Let Me Get It Straight!

“Let me get this straight—my goal in life was to be accepted by some internet fringe group who has nothing better to do than to bitch about Wal-Mart?  That’s pretty funny!”

Let’s see if I have it straight, bbrd. We all join groups that we fundamentally disagree with, whether it’s a Friday night bowling league or MENSA, because we don’t want to feel accepted as a part of the group, or because we believe there are far better things we could be doing with our time?  Even RDS couldn’t come up with something that twisted.

Now that’s funny!

ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America
Tuesday, June 10 at 05:59 AM

No, I saw a long post from bbrd, answering ALL of the questions he chose to answer!!

Like Sinatra, I did answer them, RDS...in fact, I did it my way!

bbrd in
Tuesday, June 10 at 08:22 AM

We all join groups that we fundamentally disagree with, whether it’s a Friday night bowling league or MENSA, because we don’t want to feel accepted as a part of the group, or because we believe there are far better things we could be doing with our time?

Who said anything about “joining”?

According to you, yourself, I (along with RDS, mary, and the rest) are likened to “party crashers"…

bbrd in
Tuesday, June 10 at 08:24 AM

Let’s face it bbrd, we are Walmart trolls, shills, internet fakes that will say anything to promote Walmart no matter how untrue it is. We go around lying on behalf of Walmart. I have already admitted my part in this deceptive fakery, why can’t you finally admit yours?

Dave in
Tuesday, June 10 at 09:03 AM

We go around lying on behalf of Walmart.

Really?

According to Mr. Screwed, I say “nothing”.

How one is able to glean “lies” from “nothing” is a strange concept, isn’t it?

bbrd in
Tuesday, June 10 at 10:53 AM

“Let’s face it bbrd, we are Walmart trolls, shills, internet fakes that will say anything to promote Walmart no matter how untrue it is. We go around lying on behalf of Walmart. I have already admitted my part in this deceptive fakery, why can’t you finally admit yours?

Dave in “

It’s interesting that this person used the term “deceptive fakery” in a post where they were trying to convince people that they were me.  Ironic isn’t it.  The Anti’s continue to sink to new lows.  I guess they must be getting desperate since Walmart is growing as fast as ever, and their leaders in the antimovement seem to be giving up and getting in bed with Walmart.

Dave in
Tuesday, June 10 at 01:13 PM

...and their leaders in the antimovement seem to be giving up and getting in bed with Walmart.

Enough said :o)

bbrd in
Tuesday, June 10 at 04:24 PM

Although I can’t name any. But it sounds good in a blog.

bbrd in
Tuesday, June 10 at 07:34 PM

bbrd,

“Although I can’t name any. But it sounds good in a blog.”

How about Mr. Stern with the SEIU and his collaboration with Lee Scott on the healthcare issue?

RDS in
Wednesday, June 11 at 12:29 PM

RDS,

I can’t believe you are addressing the fake as “bbrd”—tsk, tsk…

Actually, the Stern/Scott collaboration is at the very heart of the recent news of the two unions taking a different stance towards WM.

bbrd in
Wednesday, June 11 at 03:49 PM

bbrd,

“I can’t believe you are addressing the fake as “bbrd”—tsk, tsk…”

I know, I’m sorry, I should have addressed that post to, bbrd (imposter), I just wanted to re-emphasize the point about Andy Stern and Lee Scott!!

RDS in
Wednesday, June 11 at 05:08 PM

“How about Mr. Stern with the SEIU and his collaboration with Lee Scott on the healthcare issue?”

And the healthcare accomplishments if any? Zero.

Going to bed with Lee Scott is a fantasy world for us pro Walmart trolls. But it looks good in public relations.

bbrd aka RDS in fantasyland
Wednesday, June 11 at 07:09 PM

“And the healthcare accomplishments if any? Zero”

So, you are saying that the SEIU (Andy Stren) and WMW have produced ZERO accomplishments in the last 3 years, right?

RDS in
Thursday, June 12 at 09:37 AM

Yep. Walmart obstructs any positive gains for employees when it will cost Walmart money. That is why everybody knows Walmart is a shitty company to work for. As you say yourself RDS, why should Walmart pay for any employee healthcare at all?

bbrd in
Monday, June 16 at 06:20 AM

Umm good effort, but that is not what you said.

By all means, Dave, refresh my memory with a quote! (and a link to this mystery messageboard).

Ken V in Texas
Monday, June 16 at 04:04 PM

Nothing, huh, Dave? Well let me help you out. Here is what I said back on September 8, ‘06 on this very blog:

The only thing I hear positive about WMT nowadays is that it may be at rock-bottom and the time to buy. Personally if I wanted to speculate in retail, I’d buy SHLD. At least it’s price moves UP and down…

Your memory is faulty.

Ken V in Texas
Tuesday, June 17 at 08:30 PM

oh bs wm is at rock bottom kenbo.if thats true they why in the hell are their parking lots regularly full then?got an answer on that?

m att hew vantress in gresham,oregon
Thursday, June 19 at 09:56 PM

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