Dumb And Dumber

Is drug addict Rush Limbaugh still on the air?  I thought he was in rehab.

I agree with Rush.  If a pharmacy is going to be mandated to stock a particular medication that the corperation may have a moral opposition to dispensing, the pharmacy should be able to set the price at whatever they please, Then capitalism will take over, and the consumer will choose either to purchase the product at an inflated price or purchase it at another pharmacy at a discounted price. 

What’s next....if I find out that my local 7-11 doesn’t stock 3-packs of Ho-Hos I complain to the state’s food licensing board to mandate that all 7-11’s carry the product. 

It all comes down to people having a lack of personal responsibility.  If you are going to have sex, there is a distinct probability that a pregnancy may result from having sex.  Take the appropriate measures to prevent the pregnancy or keep your pants on.

I see we have another Wacked Out Wal-Mart defender in our midst!  Ummm...let’s see now, we have Kirby in Canton comparing emmergency contraception at Wal-Mart to “3 packs of Ho-Hos” and yesteday another poster made the suggestion that we might next be “forcing WM to stock a favorite flavor of ice cream.” Is it any wonder the rest of us just laugh at you?  You guys are brilliant!

Walmart stocks whatever inventory it chooses. Customer shops at Walmart based on the stores selection of merchandise.  Who is responsible for the result? Sales are up or down based on the merchandise offered.  Shall the government help select their merchandise?

I think this is really a ridiculous line of attack.

It’s really unbelievable that on the one hand Wal-Mart is the devil incarnated because their unfair tactics, low prices, and massive stores crush small business out of existence and on the other hand they are anti-woman because they are not stocking a class of products that you say women need.

Wal-Mart is a terrible company in many ways but this is not one of them.  If they don’t want to stock these products then this is an opportunity for small business to fill in the gaps of their inventory.

Attack Wal-Mart where they pose real threats not pose a minor inconvenience.

My biggest problem with Wal-Mart is their close relationship with Communist China.  I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t want my cheap vcr to pay for bullets which will one day target americans.  Beyond that, their anti-american business model in which they encourage the movement of american manufacturing overseas will have tremendous negative effects in the future.  Not only are our people sacrificing the long-term economic stability we’ve had since WWII for short-term relative low prices (relative because the wages are gradually coming down to meet them) but the movement of manufacturing overseas will eliminate the possibility of a quick “Rosie the Riveter” mobilization of american industry in the event of war with China.

Wal-Mart’s low prices lead to working conditions which are only slightly above chattel slavery, an institution which Rush speaks often in glowing terms about America’s abolition by Lincoln’s Emmancipation Proclamation.  How can we claim to have abolished it when our underpriced sweaters are made by virtual slave labor?  If we really oppose slavery then we must oppose Wal-Mart.

Add to this my strong suspicion of dirty deals somewhere between Clinton and Wal-Mart (both being powerful Arkansas institutions) to open China, given all of the Clinton scandals directly involving Chinese.  My belief is that these dirty deals are directly responsible for Clinton’s recommendation that China be admitted to the WTO and be granted “Most Favored” trading partner status by the US Government.

Finally, add Wal-Mart’s complete arrogance before the law and this is a company which needs to be brought back down to size.

Birth-Control pills are not the front on which they need to be defeated.  They pose much more real threats than this.

Now that’s just silly.  We are not at all likely to go to war with China, as they are--admittedly slowly--making capitalist reforms that will eventually help them morph into their own brand of Democracy.  It may take decades, but it will happen.

Back to the subject at hand: In many American small towns, Wal-Mart IS the only drugstore.  By that drugstore not carrying a LEGAL drug, they are limiting contraceptive liberties to women by geography.  In this case, Wal-Mart’s inventory choices can indeed limit personal freedoms and that may need to be balanced by government. 

I’m for small, efficient government just the same as the next guy, but this is a case for the Feds to intercede.

Different item:

at the Johnson’s Ferry Store...scheduling is being changed to force all those employees who are not available to work 24/7 for Wal-Mart out.
folks with other jobs, families - must choose family vs Wal-Mart.

All because the local management could not control payroll cost - home office is dictating schedules.

Note to Rush Limbaugh - I’d feel a lot safer standing between a “liberal” woman and her morning-after pill than being caught in the path of one of your listeners on his way to the gun store.
Sorry I’m off topic here - couldn’t resist!

George, it may not make or break the company, but it is a SIMPLE thing for them to do for the benefit of the consumer. Really simple.

my $ .02....

What a (man’s) world, replete with double standards.

Ever wonder what the world would be like if both women AND men bore children? 

I dunno....something tells me that if the sanctimonious blowhards with the 46 XY chromosomes who believe that a mass of goo constitutes a living, breathing life were FORCED to carry an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy to term, they might be singing a different tune with regard to Plan B and any of its contraceptive ilk.

LOL...as if Rush Limbaugh’s bloviations have any true bearing on this matter.  I really don’t understand the attraction to Limbaugh.  The guy is a drug-addict, a waste of radio waves who loves the sound of his own voice and whose only talent is riling up the ignorant masses while he walks laughing into the sunset, counting hi$ million$. 

Contrary to what a surprising number of folks think (including, unfortunately, my father), it’s not as if Rush is a “real” newsperson/journalist/whatever; he’s just an entertainer of sorts (much like old Mr. “I’m married-but-let-me-sexually-harrass-my-producer-with-my-perverted-fantasies” O’Reilly) who has some of the public fooled into thinking that his opinions actually constitute something meaningful.

Well, thank heavens I live in a place where I am able to exercise my rights as a consumer, can vote with my wallet, and can choose NOT to shop at Wal-Mart.  Believe me, it’s easier than you think.

Has anyone else noticed that Wal-Mart Watch has pulled all of Sickofspin’s posts?

I guess Wal-Mart Watch is intolerant of someone who exposes flaws in WM argument. 

So much for allowing a viewing audience to read opposing views and make up their own minds huh?

George-Your comments on China are interesting.  WMW is conflicted about China.  On one hand they hate that Walmart is getting part of their goods from China at a low price.  On the other hand, they talk about the trade deficit.  If Walmart payed more the trade deficit would go up.  Then they talk about the slave wages payed in China.  However, if it was not for Walmart, those same people would probably be paid even less by another buyer.

By the way.  Walmart only buys about 10% of their products from China.  In 2004, according the the Frontline story, Walmart bought about $20B from China while their total sales were about $275B.  Any way you compute it, that is a lot less than 10%.  Since then they have bought more from China, but their total sales have gone up also.

Screwed-A few days ago, you were bragging about a number of people who no longer debated you.  You implied it was because of your superior debating ability.  You have not demonstrated any debating ability whatsoever.  Your debating ability has been limited to criticizing.  Also, keep in mind that these people are no longer debating you because WMW no longer allows them to post. 

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE PROUD ABOUT.

Here’s a simple solution to the problem about Wal-Mart not stocking the Morning-After-Pill. Don’t shop there. If you’re in New England and you need to go to the pharmacy, don’t go to the one at Wal-Mart; Go to CVS or Brooks pharmacy. Go anywhere else, just don’t go to Wal-Mart.

In fact, the best way to solve the issue with Wal-Mart all together is to simply boycott it all together. “Forcing” them to carry a product isn’t going to get Wal-Mart to change any of it’s policies, it’s just going to get more people through their doors and buy more nonsense.

Be willing to be a little inconveinced, drive out of your way to other stores, and support your local retailers and THANK THEM for fighting the good fight by staying open!

Luckily, I live in a city and have no need to EVER step inside an accursed Walmart store. We would probably save money shopping there but we are acutely aware of “The High Cost Of Low Price” and prefer to buy Fair Trade.

Paul in GA:

Whatever it is you think you read, you better go back and read it again.  I have NEVER claimed that my debating skills were “superior” to anyone elses.  On the other hand, I have not conceded many points to others either.

You seem to be a new poster here so I will cut you some slack.  If you are referring to people like Sickofspin or Someone in USA, the only thing I have said is that I REFUSE to “debate” them or otherwise get in a “pissing match” with them.  Then Sickofspin claims that because I don’t refute some “argument” he thows out, it means that I CAN’T and therefore his position must be correct!  This pretty well sums it up as far as I’m concerned.

Just because someone posts something here...and even if I disagree with it, it does not OBLIGATE me, or anyone else to respond.  Just because I prefer to be silent at times, doesn’t mean that I’m unable to respond as SICKO is often fond of saying.  I simply choose NOT to “debate” with the likes of him.  If you’ve been reading this blog as long as I have, then you will know that hardly anyone has changed their views on anything.  What it comes to is opinions.  And like Clint Eastwood said once, “Opinions are like assholes...everybody’s got one!”

If you knew SICKO the way most of us know SICKO, you would see that he’s just a bag of air.  He’s got about 2 or 3 variations on a theme and he posts them endlessly.  If you agree with the statements SICKO has made over the past 4-5 months, then you too must be an Ultra Conservative Right Wing Anarcho-Capitalist.

Personally, I think this site is a waste of time.  You are all debating eachothers skills, knowledge, blah, blah, blah!  This is my 3rd and final visit.  I thought things would be enlightening but you people just spew the same crap over and over.  You probably work for the site and use different names to make it seem like there are all these people out there who know all about WM.  Get a life.  Since I see Screwed on here so much, I think you have way too much time on your hands.  You must work for the site because you certainly can’t have a real job.  You post at all times and days.  This is America people!  Just as you have the right to “debate” on here, you have the right to work where you want.  Don’t work for WM if you hate it.  Nobody came to my house and took me to a store at gunpoint and said “work here”! It’s all about CHOICE!!!!CHOICE!!!!!!CHOICE!!!!!!!!
Duh!  Oh...ps… I’ve been to China on business many times and know that the AVERAGE labor worker in that country is paid BELOW what the factories that WM BUYS from (not owns).

George in Ft Wayne, IN.  You are absolutly correct about China and dead right about the Clintons.  Thank you for an excellent post!!!

And to anybody out there who somehow seems to think that Chinese success will give way to democracy and eternal peace - Remember, Hitler was elected.

As further proof that George in Ft Wayne, IN is correct regarding the link between the Clinton’s and Walmart, go to Walmartstores.com and click on Investors.  Then scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “more” button next to the 2005 annual report.  This will take you into all of Walmart’s past annual reports.

From there, look up the reports for the years 1987 through 1992 and you will find Hillary Rodham Clinton listed as a member of the Walmart Board of Directors.

Then, oddly enough, her husband, a Democrat, became President and began passing trade agreement after trade agreement.  All of these agreements, by the way, have been shown by events to be ruinous to working Americans and have left us an additional indebtedness of over $4 trillion dollars since their passage in addition to unsustainable trade deficits ($726 billion for 2005) and the deindustrialization of America.

While at the same time, Walmart’s revenues rose from $40 Billion to - at last count - some $300 Billion - the single greatest leap in corporate history.  All off the increased gross margins that came as a direct result of taking absolute advantage of NAFTA, GATT and - most of all - permanent Most Favored Nation trading status for the communist Peoples Republic of China

It’s amazing what you can do when you get your boy elected to the presidency of the United States. It’s amazing what can happen when the President of the United States changes the rules to favor your company and your business model.

I’ve always said that Sam Walton’s success (if you can call it that) lay in his ability to walk into a thriving commercial district in some little town in the South, look around at all the businesses therein and without any feeling whatsoever turn to the fellow next him and say: “See all this – I’m gonna wipe em all out and take every last cent I can for myself.”

That is exactly what he did.  That’s all he did.  And his sickening legacy continues to this day.

Hey Jonathan Jensen in Baltimore, MD. I think it would be funny if one of those Limbaugh listening gun buyers that you talked about pistol-whipped some sense into you.

It amazesme that many citizens of this country actually believe that the President of the United States makes the laws.  I look at the President as a powerful, political pawn.  he can do practically nothing without Congress.

“It amazesme that many citizens of this country actually believe that the President of the United States makes the laws.  I look at the President as a powerful, political pawn.  he can do practically nothing without Congress.”

Oh you mean like bypass a FISA court?

How is it that those in the rust belt continue to believe that everything is great, while their jobs disappear off shore and any new jobs created are at McDonalds or Wal Mart?  How do you continue to support this vivisection of the middle class?  Are you that blind?  Did the President’s 0% tax on profits from stock options, or 15% maximum tax rate on stock dividends really help you so much that you don’t need a job anymore?

It boggles the mind that you wholly accept this propaganda when the truth is so obvious.

When there is no job left in the rust belt, the dead will walk the earth.

Tommy L in Tyler Tx:

In regards to your brilliant statement directed towards Jonathan Jensen in Baltimore: “I think it would be funny if one of those Limbaugh listening gun buyers that you talked about pistol-whipped some sense into you,” it makes me wonder what is smaller--your IQ or your dick?

That sounded very intelligent, Screwed.  I’m so happy the people that worship this site and post over and over again are so well versed.  There are ways to get your point across without being vulgar.  Seems to me not many people pay attention to you so you have to be an idiot.  Grow up and get an edumacation.  Maybe then you can go out and get a REAL “much more payin’” job at KMart, Target or McDonald’s instead of the few cents you make posting here.  But then again, maybe that’s why you don’t have a real job???

Aww...poor Mary!  Offended by a “naughty” word!  Why don’t you stop coming here if it bothers you so much!

You are probably just another Wal-Mart troll who thinks like Tommy L in Tyler, TX.  What I find more offensive and disgusting than “naughty words” is Right Wing Wackos who pretend they are Pro-Life, but will continue to support George W and his ill-conceived war in Iraq, while talking about “pistol whipping some sense” into other posters on this web log.  I think Tommy L had it coming!  As for my level of education or my income, I think I’ve probably got you beat in both areas Mary.  Somebody was theorizing the other day as to why I post at so many different times of the day...and then accused me of “not having a life.” I would say that anyone that pays such close attention to the times of the day I post is the one who doesn’t have a life!  My days begin as early as 6AM and sometimes don’t end until midnight.  I am never far from a computer...hence my ability to post at different times of the day.  Now, run along Mary...don’t you have some shopping to do at Wal-Mart?

Screwed-

Mary has a point. Sometimes you can be a little...vulgar...in your posts. I don’t honestly think it helps you any. I admit I’m no saint on here, but I generally make a point, which is something you fail to do on most occasions. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you take a well supported stance or refute an opponent’s argument. You tend to attack or ignore, rather than discuss. I have said it before: If you can show me where you are right and I am wrong, I will gladly change my point of view. I don’t think that your refusal to explain yourself proves you wrong (that would be poor logic), but, at the same time, it does nothing to substantiate your claims.

This is not Someone’s opinion vs. Screwed’s or anything like that. We are arguing about serious problems with America, with capitalism, and, yes, even with Wal-Mart. These cannot be solved without appealing to facts and logic. That is the attitude I bring to the table in any argument like this. These problems cannot be solved by simply saying “Bad Wal-Mart” and insulting those that defend it. No one here even attempts to get at the real issues. That is why nothing is accomplished. These statements apply to posters on both sides of the debate.

On a side note, why do you equate supporting Wal-Mart with being a “right wing wacko”? I support Wal-Mart, within the bounds of capitalism, but I am pro-choice, I oppose the way the war in Iraq has been fought and Bush’s basis for the war, I don’t think of Rush Limbaugh as an authority on anything, and I believe that the second amendment is taken greatly out of context. That’s hardly being a right wing nut. You can’t just put everyone who opposes you in the same box as Sickofspin and pretend they don’t exist. My views differ radically from his in some areas, though we agree on a few points. I’m sure the same can be said of you and me and any other two posters on this blog.

Someone, attempting to use logic on this site is a waste of time.  As an hourly associate myself I came to this site with an open mind, wanting to see what the other side had to say about things.  I’ve noticed that when an associate stands up and states that we are offered insurance, or that we are not treated as badly as this site claims, they begin with insults like we are either too stupid to know what we are talking about or we are only paid posters from WM. If we defend WM or challenge them in any way, we must be nothing more than a “Right Wing Wacko”. 

I can say that I’ve had more than my fair share of disagreements with my management team but not once has an argument ended with me being terminated or with them making a statement such as “it makes me wonder what is smaller…”

I couldn’t care less as to what the ultimate motive of this site is.  If it is to unionize WM, a political agenda, or a combination of both, the lack of a willingness to calmly debate issues without insults causes me to form an opinion using the information from those who will.  If this union sponsored site is any indication as to how they would treat me as a member, I’ll have to pass. If the Democrats continue to feel that I NEED more insurance because a fellow associate has chosen to have internet access, big screen TV’s, children they cannot afford, etc. over opting for health insurance I think I will have to seek out a new political party.  This “Fair Share” will only equate into me loosing my annual pay raises.  You all think WM shouldn’t be subsidized which is fine, but I don’t feel that I should have to pay for others to have the things they cannot save up for while living responsibly.  Since working for WM, I have bought my house, two vehicles (used, but get me where I’m going), big screen and a few other things I felt I just had to have all while being covered by health insurance that I’ve used twice in 5 years.  I could have just as easily opted out of health insurance and use the VA hospital/clinics for free or very cheaply as I’m a disabled vet, but I’m not one to mooch off the system.  I admit that this is nothing more than my opinion but it is how this associate is seeing it from the information provided thus far. 

Now that I’ve wasted my time by attempting to use logic, go ahead Screwed, let the insults begin!

Daron and Someone:

I admire your desires for wanting to “use logic” and “facts” to “debate” the important issues of the day!  You may disagree...but I don’t think I’m always crude or vulgar!  Like I said, I think Tommy L had that coming.  If you don’t agree, then you probably think it’s OK to “pistol whip” someone too!

The most honest thing you said Daron is that “attempting to use logic on this site is a waste of time.” However, you erroneously think that either yourself or people like Someone in USA are the only ones who can think “logically.”

Let’s just get right down to it...your world views and Someone’s world views are drastically different from those of myself and others.  You are most likely a Republican...but that does not make me a Demorcrat.  You are most likely a “staunch conservative,” but that does not make me a “radical liberal.” You have a Capitalistic economic viewpoint, but that does not mean that I’m a “socialist.”

You will defend the interests of companies like Wal-Mart, Fruit of the Loom, or any ot the large dot com companies that I dare say probably have more power and influence than our government itself!  For these companies “government” is just an annoyance that needs to be lobbied and manipulated into doing things that are beneficial to the corporate “bottom line.”

So let’s just agree to disagree...PERIOD!  The problems that plague this country run deep and are part of the very “system” itself.  YOU defend the status quo and the “system"-- I DO NOT!

Until you can allow concepts like “moral obligation,” “obscene profits,” and “corporate corruption” into your vocabulary, we will never have anything to “debate.”

No, I did not say that only myself or other WM supporters could think or debate logically.  I also did not state that you were always rude or vulgar.  I said you normally insult anyone you do not agree with and looking back through the blog can prove this. As I said, I came to the site with an open mind, but when an associate that actually knows how they are treated states a “fact”, they are insulted in one way or another.  I clearly stated that my views above were my opinion.  I did not state anything as a fact except that I have the ability to live responsibly using the income I have and that you tend to insult anyone that doesn’t agree with you. 

You said “You are most likely a Republican...but that does not make me a Demorcrat.  You are most likely a “staunch conservative,” but that does not make me a “radical liberal.” You have a Capitalistic economic viewpoint, but that does not mean that I’m a “socialist.”.  Please remember these words when someone says something you do not agree with.  Just because they do not agree does not automatically throw them to the other end of the spectrum.  I may not agree with everything you say but it does not mean that we do not agree on some issues.

You are right, the system is broke, but we do disagree on how it needs to be fixed.  I feel that if healthcare is to be mandated to employers, it should be done like minimum wage and apply to all companies equally across the nation.  We as a nation have to start somewhere, but to pick out one company in one sector of business isn’t in my opinion the place to start.  Dividing the country into proWM vs antiWM or Dem vs Rep isn’t going to fix our healthcare system.  We are all going to have to work together and talk things out if we truly want to come up with a system that is going to work, otherwise we are only slinging mud at each other.

Daron in Sanger:

You stated your case well.  These are points for everyone to remember!

In the matter of healthcare reform, I would just like to reiterate that Wal-Mart IS NOT being “singled out.” I for one, would never say that Wal-Mart has to pay more towards healthcare while other companies get to go for a “free ride.” Fair Share is exactly that!  Because healthcare is such a complex issue, there isn’t an easy formula or answer to America’s healthcare crisis.  But we all recognize that something must be done.  Whatever the solution, I think a company’s responsibility towards the healthcare of its workers will be in direct proportion to the size of the company and its financial resources.  You obviously can’t expect a small “mom & pop” grocery store with 30-40 employees to pay the same amount or the same percentage of healthcare costs as Wal-Mart with its 1.2 million employees.

This is what makes the employer supplied healthcare such a complex issue.  I agree that mom and pop stores cannot pay the same amount or percentage of their payroll but that still does not mean that I feel they should get a free ride as well.

This push for employer healthcare may not be directed at one company but I don’t see it attempting to get the other large retailers to pay their fair share.  Target, K-Mart, etc. do not have any better benefits than does WM, yet because they fall below the magic 10k employee number per state they are immune to these proposed “fair share” laws.  I do think that everyone should have healthcare coverage no matter the size of the company they work for and these “fair share” laws are not doing a lot to cover the majority of uninsured people per state.  We all know that WM has 1.howevermany associates, but add up all the employees of the smaller retailers, fast food, and unemployed of this country and that 1.? is a rather small number.  With that number, the ‘fair share’ laws will not put a dent in the cost on taxpayers covering the uninsured/underinsured per state as it only affects a few (if not only one) companies.  It isn’t fair share if it will only cover less than 5% of those on government funded healthcare.

I agree there is no simple answer.  Maybe base a company’s contribution to healthcare on a percent of the profit per employee?  The problem would be in the inefficient government attempt at spreading out the funds instead of using it for everything other than healthcare.

Absolutely Dave in Sanger...I agree!  Companies like Target, K-Mart, or McDonald’s should not be exempt from paying a “Fair Share” towards healthcare.  I also agree that there would need to be very strict controls on any funds collected by the government to make sure they went towards healthcare and didn’t get diverted to other things like say....an ill-advised war in Iraq.

You guys are on the right track…

Small businesses certainly cannot pay the same total amount as Wal-Mart and the others, but I legislation to make them pay the same percentage of wages would be appropriate. I think that if you want to do “Fair Share Health Care,” that it should be a federal law mandating that an employer spend at least 7%-8% of employees’ compensation on health care just like the Maryland law. The only difference would be that it applies to all employers in the same manner as minimum wage.

This is fair to all businesses as it prevents smaller ones from paying out some huge sum they can’t afford and no one loses a competitive edge. It is fair to the employees because everywhere they go to work they have a guaranteed minimum. It should not hurt the system greatly since this amount is evidently not far above the market equilibrium The cost of labor would temporarily exceed equilibrium, but the small amount should allow a quick correction, while, at the same time, ending “exploitation” by those that spend none or below market value.

No, I don’t think this is the best solution. It is better than the “Fair Share” bills out there now because it is equitable to both employers and employees. It addresses the problem in all areas. Obviously it does nothing to fix the majority of problems with the system, but I suppose it’s a decent first step, and worlds better than twiddling our thumbs.

Sometimes I wish this had an edit function…

Meh...I’ll let Screwed comment and then explain what I’m trying to say if he brings up the mistake. That’s a bad post…

Tired…