A Wal-Mart Fourth of July

Walmart think in its brain it is American, but in its heart it is anything but.

Walmart and China. Company before country. Shop Walmart.

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

Edelman Is A Soulless, Wal-Mart Shilling Firm That Shouldn’t Lecture About Ethics

Excerpted-

Furthermore, you and your agency aren’t really the paragons of honesty and decency in communications that you present yourselves to be. You guys have run a political-style, multimillion-dollar campaign for years on behalf of Wal-Mart, one of the most objectionable companies in the world. In my opinion! Edelman also had the whole fake, undisclosed pro- Wal-Mart blog scandal, when it turned out that you arranged and paid for a guy to go around writing positive things about the company in a folksy, supposedly independent blog. Yea, you apologized for that one. But then there was that big article in the New Yorker about your work with Wal-Mart, where you lied and said that the 100% company-controlled Astroturf group “Working Families for Wal-Mart” was “A real group of people, as far as I know.” I made the case that that was a blatant lie when I was at PRWeek, and I still believe it.

I know that you disagree with that, because I had to have two separate sit-down meetings with you and your subordinate over that little blog post. Thank you again for breakfast at the Harvard Club. You do seem like a nice guy. The problem is that you take anything negative said about your agency, which consists of thousands of employees, as a personal insult to you. And honestly, we hear a fair amount of shitty things about your agency. How in the world could you possibly know that the story about telling executives to lie during media training is false? It’s perfectly plausible that some dumb, shady people work for you. It’s very likely, in fact. But it sounds bad for Edelman, and you take it personally.

Like I said, you’re a nice guy. So are many other people at Edelman (nice women as well, whatever the case may be). But much of your work— Wal-Mart being the best example— is just objectionable on philosophical grounds, like a lot of things in the PR industry. If every multinational PR firm crumbled to pieces tomorrow, the world would be a slightly better place. Just my opinion! If you wanna help the ethical state of the industry, that’s great. But when PR people who happen to work for your agency do bad things and the word gets out, people are gonna write about it. Lighten up!

If you resign that Wal-Mart account, though, we will buy you breakfast. You pick the place.

http://gawker.com/356731/edelman-is-a-soulless-wal+mart-shilling-firm-that-shouldnt-lecture-about-ethics

Send all complaints and suggestions to richard.edelman@edelman.com

Speaking of China,loss of American jobs,and the American economy in general,a few words to ponder about the state of the union,this Fourth of July weekend:__"Bush’s Dollar Drop Maps Loss of U.S. Clout at Final G-8 Summit “

By James G. Neuger

July 3 (Bloomberg)—When President George W. Bush went to his first Group of Eight summit in 2001, a dominant issue was the dollar—the strong dollar, that is. The U.S. currency was on a record-setting streak, and the free-marketeering president wasn’t going to stand in the way.

On the eve of Bush’s last G-8 appearance, the dollar’s gyrations are again in the crossfire. This time, it is a weak currency, upended by slumping growth, a housing recession and record gas prices, that is gnawing away at the world economy.

The dollar’s 41 percent drop against the euro during Bush’s term writes the economic epitaph of an administration that set out to restore American preeminence. Instead, Bush heads to Japan next week for his final international summit with diminished leverage as Russian and Chinese influence grows.

``Between the economic duress facing the United States and the global community at large and the fact that the clock is running out on the Bush administration, Bush does not hold a good hand,’’ said Charles Kupchan, an international-relations professor at Georgetown University in Washington. He called the summit a ``damage-limitation’’ exercise to show the world that governments are trying to contain food and oil prices.

Global economic-confidence building crowds the agenda at the three-day summit starting July 7 in Toyako, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, that was meant to tackle climate change, recommit the rich world to development aid for Africa and strengthen nuclear non-proliferation controls.

Growth Lags

Bush represents the worst-performing economy in the G-8 after Italy, with growth of 0.5 percent this year set to lag behind 1.6 percent in the U.K., 1.4 percent in the euro area, 1.4 percent in Japan and 1.3 percent in Canada, according to International Monetary Fund forecasts.

Russia, brought into the G-8 by Bill Clinton in 1998, will eclipse the rest of the club with growth of 6.8 percent this year, the IMF says. Russia’s oil and commodity wealth puts it at odds with the western goal of cutting reliance on fossil fuels. China, seen expanding 9.3 percent, has also frustrated the fight against global warming by locking up energy deals in Africa to slake its economic thirst. China will be among eight non-G-8 members that take part on the summit’s last day.

America’s economic woes with $4-a-gallon gasoline prices will stiffen Bush’s opposition to European and Japanese calls for binding, quantifiable targets for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, blamed by scientists for pushing up global temperatures.

Global Warming

Bush took a baby step at last year’s G-8 by acknowledging the need to do something about global warming, edging the U.S. away from the laissez-faire approach that he championed after pulling the U.S. out of the Kyoto climate-protection protocol in a move that met international condemnation in 2001.

With the countdown under way to the presidency of Barack Obama or John McCain, the most the summit can do is set up a framework for pollution-cutting agreements that replace Kyoto when it expires in 2012, said Reginald Dale, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

``Most of Bush’s partners are looking to the next president,’’ Dale said. European leaders will be trying to pin Bush further down on the nature of commitments that the United States might undertake to reduce emissions in the shorter term.(continued)--------------------------

(continued)

Europe’s Bind

Europe is caught in a bind of its own. Soaring fuel prices and a chorus of protests put pressure on leaders to offer relief instead of weaning consumers away from fossil fuels. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, holder of the 27-nation European Union’s six-month presidency, is pressing for fuel-tax cuts.

Oil prices continued climbing after pressure by European leaders including Britain’s Gordon Brown led Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, to announce for July the third straight monthly increase in production.

``There’s no hope for new achievements or concrete results regarding crude-oil prices or the shortage of food or global warming,’’ said Koichi Kato, a senior member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Spiraling food and fuel costs are hitting poorer countries the hardest, increasing the pressure on the G-8 to make good on a 2005 pledge to double development aid to Africa to $50 billion annually by 2010 and to implement last year’s promise to invest $60 billion worldwide to combat deadly diseases.

Price Surge

G-8 finance ministers last month identified surging commodities prices as a bigger threat than the credit squeeze to the world economy. Prices for 19 commodities in the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index rose 29 percent in the first half, the most since 1973. Rice, corn and wheat futures have all touched records this year.

Sagging faith in the dollar—it now makes up 63 percent of global currency reserves, down from 71 percent when Bush took office—complicates efforts to tame commodity prices because they are primarily denominated in the U.S. currency.

America’s dependence on imported capital to finance a $9.5 trillion debt—up from $5.7 trillion when Bush took office—has driven down the currency. The decline was accelerated by the subprime crisis that plunged the U.S. into an economic tailspin.

``If Bush could get others at the G-8 summit to demand a stronger dollar he’d have done a final good after a lot of negatives over the years,’’ said Uwe von Parpart, chief Asia strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald LP in Hong Kong. ``Dollar strengthening appears to be the only thing capable of containing or pushing back oil prices.’’

Speaking at the White House yesterday, Bush tried to give the markets a nudge: ``We’re strong dollar people in this administration and have always been for the strong dollar.’’~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~There is much of value to be learned from reading this ENTIRE article,IMHO,especially the two most glaring facts about the last eight years ,George W Bush administration: (1.) 41% drop of the U.S. Dollar against the Euro. (2.)America’s dependence on imported capital to finance a $9.5 trillion debt—up from $5.7 trillion when Bush took office .Is this the legacy of the Free Market? Don’t look “free” to me.Looks like it’s costing a helluva lot,and ,folks,it ain’t over with yet!

zip your lips ddrb and sdv .more bs on here as usual

th person who will psot here at 4:26 AM is an imposter.

just so nobody gets foold i want to set the record straight as to hoo the real m att hew vantress is i am the lonliest geek or nerd in whe world i come to this website and psot my gibberish nonsense because i know it will make some people mad and they will pay attention to me and respect me the little attention get here is more than i get in real life i.m used to being treated like little more than a piece of gooey gum on a hot sidewalk my life is so utterly boring and pathetic it gets a little tiring palying with myself all the time i have blisters on both of my hands and my favorite plastic blow up girlfriends all have leaks if the people i work with knew of my postings here they would probably beat the living shit out of me

Will You All Rise and Face Bentonville?

On this numero uno patriotic day in America, please rise for the singing of the Wal-Mart National Anthem.

The Wal-Mart National Anthem

O-oh say can you see,
by a small town’s sad blight?
Wal-Mart proudly still hails,
China’s freight ships streaming.
The wage earner’s blank stare,
good jobs vanished in air,
gives proof of the fight,
that “The Beast” is still there.
Oh say does that “Buy-American banner” yet wave,
o’er this land of discount stores?
Ask a Wal-Mart wage slave.

ScrewedbyWal-Mart
© January 31, 2008

DAMN THAT WAS FUNNY. ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE CHAIR.

How can we stop all of this though?(not stop, just prevent the walmartiness.)

The reason we pro-Walmart frauds did the above spam 8 times is simple.

“ Health care has become one of the largest concerns in American politics today, and Wal-Mart is part of the reason why.”

Really?  I would have thought the fact that many large corporations such as the big three are struggling financially because of rising health care costs was the reason why, but I guess in your guys’ opinion the problem is the whopping $10 a month that Walmart employees have to spend for health insurance.  How to afford it?  One less pack of cigarettes or two less beers?

I forgot to mention the $3000 deductible at $8/hr and 26-34 hours a week. Also that Walmart is the #1 corporate abuser of public subsidized healthcare in 23 states.

<a >Wal-Mart prohibits HIV prevention event</a>

Planned Parenthood of Central Washington was scheduled to hold an event at a local Wal-Mart on National HIV Testing Day where their Teen Council were simply going to stand outside of the store and hand out information about HIV prevention and testing. But the American Life League got a tip on the event, and urged their supporters to call and complain to the store, after which Wal-Mart succumbed and canceled the event.

If the American Life League would hold a seminar on spinning, I’d happily attend. Rds and bb look like rank amateurs compared to this bunch:

“They’re pushing pornography and contraception onto young children – beginning in kindergarten. Now parents aren’t even safe to go shopping without worrying Planned Parenthood will pressure their kids into promiscuous lifestyles that will increase their bloated birth control and abortion profits,” Hahnenberg said.

<a >LINK</a>

Arrrgh!
<a >LINK</a>

http://feministing.com/archives/009498.html

Anyone care to try to make that url work?

“The reason we pro-Walmart frauds did the above spam 8 times is simple.”

The reason(s) may be “simple” SDV.  I’ve had my suspicions for some time about the “spam.” on WMW.  For example, it may be designed to squelch the flow or interrupt the “conversation” or topic.  I’ve noticed these “spam” attacks often will follow a particiularly virulent post or negative comment about Wal-Mart.

If this is the case, I hope my little July 4th parody of the “Star Spangled Banner” was the trigger.

But in many other cases the “spam” seems to be random.

What I find not so simple is why the brilliant minds at WMW haven’t figured out a way to stop this, or worse, that they apparently don’t care.  This is no doubt what gives people like bbrd the impression this website is “in decline.”

oh bs wm workers have a 3000.00 deductible

Screwed: I noticed the same pattern about the spamming,and remarked on it a while back. It was apparent on the threads about WalMart and banking,especially. Also,re: WalMart and Mexico.

Screwed, ddrb-

I believe you have hit upon the matter correctly. They are intended interruptions to disrupt the flow of conversation. It speaks loudest to the reality of failures and fears within the WalMart/Edelman ‘war room’ as do other features of their failing interest here at this site. The e-dialogue distortions of ongoing internet propaganda from a Edelman managed image and reputation for WalMart show the continuation of the need for defrauding the American public. This dynamic says far more than meets the eye. It is not a matter of fighting back against WalMart’s critics, it is the action of defrauding the public at large that WalMart indulges in vastly elsewhere even without sites like this. Notice all the other well behaved companies of many sectors including retail that do not need to do this at all.

“For example, it may be designed to squelch the flow or interrupt the “conversation” or topic.  I’ve noticed these “spam” attacks often will follow a particiularly virulent post or negative comment about Wal-Mart. “

You’ve got that right Screwed.  I wonder what took you so long to notice that anytime something negative is said about Walmart the spammers just start up again.  I’m also glad that ddrb and SDV have joined in to your paranoria.  Nice catch! <g>

“If this is the case, I hope my little July 4th parody of the “Star Spangled Banner” was the trigger. “

Don’t flatter yourself.  We at the Edelman ‘war room’ have bigger fish to fry then a has been movie producer.

“What I find not so simple is why the brilliant minds at WMW haven’t figured out a way to stop this”

Maybe you answered your own question.  But just in case you missed it.... “brilliant minds” should be your clue

This is no doubt what gives people like bbrd the impression this website is “in decline.”

Exactly so, Mr. Screwed.

Though I think SVD’s pinning the spam problem on the pro side came-off as a little “extreme”, you are correct when you say WMW doesn’t care.

Either that, or WMW’s web gurus don’t have the needed know-how to ward-off unwanted spam.

Case in point - most modern age blogs/message boards (even some of the anti-WM sites) tend to sport some degree of anti-spam protection—this one, on the other hand, clearly does not.

It’s not a question of warding off unwanted spam, it’s a question of someone having to read the comments and delete the spam.

The trick is to separate the true spam from pro Wal-Mart comments. It’s all snake oil. :o)

Parting Comments Before This Topic is Buried in the Archives...

No disrespect Ken, but I have to disagree.  It IS about “warding off unwanted spam.” Reading the comments after the fact, and then deleting them is a pretty low-tech solution.  I had more hope for the people at WMW.

And now for “mary.” It’s obvious she’s a player on RDS’s “team.”

Yeah… you’ve “got bigger fish to fry.” Right!  Whatever you say, “mary.” I suppose that’s why Edelman, Wal-Mart, or some other other representative spent so much time “swiftboating” and counter-attacking the Robert Greenwald Wal-Mart film point-by-point.  They had “bigger fish to fry” too.

You and RDS make quite the pair.  RDS will make a claim that a “story is made up” or untrue, and then spend time refuting it.  Now that’s brilliant!

Or Screwed… there could just be a more simpler explaination as to the failure of your movie.... it sucked and no one wanted to see it.

I cannot beleive what I just saw in a documentary on Walmart.. I am appalled at thie practices.. they are in my opinion Un american.. it time everyone paid attention to what they are doing.Let me know when there will be a boycott I will be there.. time someone stepped up to the plate..

Screwedby,

“RDS will make a claim that a “story is made up” or untrue, and then spend time refuting it.”

If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, what is it?  According to ddrb, it’s probably a Swan!!

Mary Lukins,

“I cannot beleive what I just saw in a documentary on Walmart..”

And, just what DOCUMENTARY? was that?  Not all documentaries are really documentaries, some are ‘Hit Films’, sponcered by people who want to hurt the subject of the film!!

I can’t believe, that people will actually ignore, what they see with their own eyes and then believe what some book or film tells them to believe!!  If you want to see a REAL documentary on Wal-Mart, watch “The Age of Wal-Mart” on CNBC, it airs on most holidays, some evenings and some weekends, it has won 7 awards for journalism, how many awards has the movie you watched won?  And, unlike the movie, “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices”, it wasn’t funded by a union and shown underground!!  And more importantly, it didn’t have ‘ScrewedbyWal-Mart’ as a field producer!!

“some are ‘Hit Films’” ~RDS

That’s right RDS.  You tell ‘em.  I’m sure all the producers of Dateline and Frontline are out “to get” Wal-Mart.

I haven’t heard anyone mention the WalMart funded film:~~~~Why Wal-Mart Works; and Why That Drives Some People C-R-A-Z-Y is a documentary funded by the Wal-Mart Company as a rebuttal to the controversial documentary Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. In the documentary it states its case that many of the criticisms are born out of jealousy.

Ron Galloway, the director of the documentary, would later turn against the company following the implementation of wage caps for some workers. The documentary has been criticized for being biased and amateurish~~~Wikipedia

ddrb,

You made my point, any so called documentary, paid for by someone with an agenda, should be suspect!!  This also goes for books, written with an agenda or axe to grind!!

RDS
I have been chastised....
personally I have always enjoyed the low prices at wal mart even more so today..

RDS
I have been chastised....
personally I have always enjoyed the low prices at wal mart even more so today..

I always thought an axe blade had TWO sides -I suppose it could be said an axe can be ground from EITHER side and cut TWO ways....