The Price of Wal-Mart’s Cheapness

Wal-Mart has made their business by selling “cheap goods.” A documentary by PBS titled “Is Wal-Mart good for America?” explains how they got into cheap Chinese goods. Apparently, at one point in time (I don’t remember what decade it was, the 1980’s or 1990’s) Wal-Mart’s stock was in danger of going below twenty dollars a share. The doctumentary interviews Jon who used to be a Wal-Mart manager at the time.
One day during this time Jon said they began receiving boatloads of cheap Chinese goods to his store. He said in his interview that they received so much they didn’t know what to do with it. When he called Bentonville, he was told by the head office that “This is what we’re selling now Jon.”
Well, it was all this cheap Chinese stuff that got Wal-Mart out of the hole they had gotten in. Business picked up for them, and apparently, so did their stock.
Today, Wal-Mart would be lost if it weren’t for this cheap stuff. But it is the customer who is the real loser. We buy cheap stuff that doesn’t last long. And look at what they do to the economy in a community. When Wal-Mart moves in, everybody loses! Quality is not something most of us value anymore. The pocket book dictates--and we go after the cheapest things we can find. The old saying “You get what you paid for” is no longer important to most. What a sad state of affairs!

I think in blaming Walmart we’re letting ourselves off the hook.  No one forces us to shop there.  When they open in a new town people abandon local businesses in droves. And as far as I’ve noticed, all retail business treat their employees poorly and pay them incredibly low wages.  I’m not sure anyone ever made a decent living working retail, but those days are long gone if they ever existed.  Walmart reflects the values of the consumers that shop there, God help us.

Kathleen :Perhaps lack of value equates with lack of values?

"It’s our job to worry about standards here at home. But that sort of thinking doesn’t work well in an era of globalization. We are, like it or not, profoundly affected by the labor standards of our trading partners. If their standards are low, they exert a downward pressure on our own. That’s why monitoring and enforcement have such an important role to play. We don’t expect developing nations to match us in what their workers earn. (A few dollars a day is a fortune in many nations.) But when a Chinese factory saves money by making its employees breathe hazardous fumes and, by doing so, closes down a U.S. factory that spends money on proper ventilation and masks, that’s wrong. It’s wrong by any measure. And that’s what we can do something about if we try. It’s the challenge we face as the walls come down, the dolls, pajamas, and televisions come in, and, increasingly, the future of our workers here is tied to that of workers who are oceans away. ~~~~"Is There Any Way To Stop WalMart and Co. From Sweatshop Profiteering?,” T.A. Frank, “Washington Monthly “,April 29,2008.

Wal-mart has never killed other businesses in any town.  That blow has been dealt time and again by uncompetitive retailers.  This is free-market capitalism, people...you compete or die.  The business that Walmart generates is a boon to many a city’s tax coffers.  Wages paid are wages employees have agreed to.  No-one in this country since 1865 has been forced to work in any legitimate business without choice.  And, yes, my shopping at Walmart does indeed reflect my values, as a husband and father who makes decisions to provide for my family.

” Wages paid are wages employees have agreed to.  No-one in this country since 1865 has been forced to work in any legitimate business without choice."~Robert J. Trenwick

We also have in Canada/United States something called labour laws and the right to collective bargaining.
This has been around for over a hundred years also. No business is forced to set up shop here so if it doesn’t like the rules than it shouldn’t come here. We have 3 choices, not just the like it or lump it choice that you say.

“my shopping at Walmart does indeed reflect my values, as a husband and father who makes decisions to provide for my family."~Robert J. Trenwick

Others from factory floor to sales floor have values also to provide for their families. I wonder if you care?

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” Wages paid are wages employees have agreed to.  No-one in this country since 1865 has been forced to work in any legitimate business without choice."~Robert J. Trenwick

We also have in Canada/United States something called labour laws and the right to collective bargaining.
This has been around for over a hundred years also. No business is forced to set up shop here so if it doesn’t like the rules than it shouldn’t come here. We have 3 choices, not just the like it or lump it choice that you say.

“my shopping at Walmart does indeed reflect my values, as a husband and father who makes decisions to provide for my family."~Robert J. Trenwick

Others from factory floor to sales floor have values also to provide for their families. I wonder if you care?

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And What Are Your Values, Robert?

“...my shopping at Walmart does indeed reflect my values...”

I bet you wear one of those American flag pins too, and you believe the war in Iraq really was about weapons of mass destruction.

Let me guess, you’re also prone to using the expression “America--Love it or leave it” and you think we need to fight communism whenever and wherever it manifests itself!

Another port deal: Mexico, China, Wal-Mart
New American, The, March 20, 2006
The Hong Kong-based shipping company Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are partners in a new $300 million expansion of Mexico’s Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas, according to a February 12 report from Reuters news service. Since U.S. west coast ports are becoming clogged with container ships filled with made-in-China goods, Wal-Mart and its Chinese suppliers are looking for new ports to bring their wares into the United States. The expansion project, reportedly, would increase Lazaro Cardenas’ current annual handling capacity of 100,000 containers to 700,000 containers over the next couple years, with possible expansion to two million containers.

Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. is run by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, whose business empire is intertwined with companies that front for the communist intelligence and military arms of the People’s Republic of China, such as the China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), China Telecom, and the China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC). Li Ka-shing, a key agent in China’s global agenda, controls key ports around the world, including the ports at both ends of the Panama Canal.________________________________________________________________________________________________Speaking of American values and Communism,I thought this was appropriate and informative.

Thanks For Sharing, ddrb!

It was informative.  That was my point.  It’s people like Robert J. Trenwick who tout those old-time “values” and who worship the flag and get themselves worked up into a jingoistic frenzy, as they speak of spreading democractic ideals and values around the world. At the same time, they have no problem rushing to Wal-Mart with their tax rebate check in hand, helping to support the world’s largest communist regime--China!

It’s been a LONG time since the US was a truly free-market capitalist society; the moment subsidies, labor laws, environmental regs or any type of regulation and rules are instated, it’s no longer free-market, laissez-faire capitalism.

My AP Human Geography teacher touched on this, she was talking about urban structure but the idea holds, we are a very transient society. When something breaks, or we don’t like it we just get a new one. When the neighborhood starts to go downhill, rather than work with other residents to fix it up, we move to a new house across town. When our computers break, we get new ones, we don’t fix them.

We use cost as a way of rationalizing what we do, saying that it would cost nearly as much to fix the “old” computer as it would to get a new one, so why bother. (Plus, we get a nice, shiny new computer out of the deal.) The problem is that this is wasteful, buying new things costs more and uses more resources than fixing old things. The whole idea makes no sense.

I was watching the Colbert Report this past week and I heard this, that if everyone on Earth consumed at the rate of Americans, we would need 5 Earths. We’ve got to stop.

We also have in Canada/United States something called labour laws and the right to collective bargaining. ~Alex in Ontario, Canada

The scourge of business, organized labor, is good for only one thing, raising the cost of doing business.  B yextension, that inevitably leads to higher prices for consumers.

Others from factory floor to sales floor have values also to provide for their families. I wonder if you care? ~Alex in Ontario, Canada

Do I care about other people?  Yes.  Am I directly responsible for their lives?  No.  I make my shopping decisions as other people make their employment decisons.  We are responsible for ourselves, and cannot blame our woes on others.  If one does not like one’s job, one should find another.  I knew years ago that I wanted a certain path in life and went to school to earn a sufficient degree.  I am no more to blame for any Walmart employee’s wages than I am the color of the Pope’s underwear.  We make our own beds…

I bet you wear one of those American flag pins too, and you believe the war in Iraq really was about weapons of mass destruction.  Let me guess, you’re also prone to using the expression “America--Love it or leave it” and you think we need to fight communism whenever and wherever it manifests itself! ~ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America

Wow, Screwed, I thought this forum was for discussion of Walmart, not personal attacks.  You know nothing about me, yet you attribute to me certain characteristics.  Have I ever worn one of those American flag pins?  No.  Do I believe the war in Iraq really was about weapons of mass destruction?  No.  Am I prone to using the expression “America--Love it or leave it?” Never.  I do, though, believe communism is manifest evil.  But very little ideology is defeated by brute force.

Should I blindly assign traits to you?

...who tout those old-time “values” and who worship the flag and get themselves worked up into a jingoistic frenzy, as they speak of spreading democractic ideals and values around the world. At the same time, they have no problem rushing to Wal-Mart with their tax rebate check in hand, helping to support the world’s largest communist regime--China! ~ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America

Screwed, my friend, you have no idea what values I tout, nor do you know who I worship, which by the way is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

A frenzy?  Your description above sounds a bit more frenzied than anying in this discussion.

Walmart is by no means the only retailer to buy from Chinese manufacturers, which has been going on for decades.  And I hardly call shopping at Walmart supporting a communist regime.

Would everyone in America first be responsible for themselves, then also care for others, we would be in far better shape as a society than we are now.  But I am regressing into personal comments and not Walmart dialogue…

"And, yes, my shopping at Walmart does indeed reflect my values, as a husband and father who makes decisions to provide for my family.”

Robert J. Trenwick in Dothan, Alabama
Friday, May 02 at 02:10 PM
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“As a college-educated professional engineer, I understand why I am paid well, and provided with good benefits.  For the love of God, will someone please explain to me why high salaries and cheap health insurance (expensive for the employer) are due workers whose sole responsibility is to stock shelves”?!?!

Robert J. Trenwick in Dothan, Alabama
Wednesday, April 02 at 04:13 PM

So Robert J. Trenwick one moment suggests that he must make decisions to provide for his family, yet earlier he announces that he is paid well, and provided with good benefits. The real reason in my opinion he wants to hold others as low as possible when it comes to their income is to make himself feal like the king on the hill. Truly he cares little about others because he is trying to elevate himself.
It is you Robert J. Trenwick, that is the scourge.

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"The scourge of business, organized labor, is good for only one thing, raising the cost of doing business.  B yextension, that inevitably leads to higher prices for consumers.”

Robert J. Trenwick in Dothan, AL

“.....organized labor, is good for only one thing, raising the cost of doing business.”
This is from a man that is a college-educated professional engineer?
Organized labour has been responsible for providing a more fair distribution of wealth, providing opportunities to create the middle class, encouraging education, and strengthening health & safety standards. Are you sure you went to school?

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Alex,

“We also have in Canada/United States something called labour laws and the right to collective bargaining.”

This is very true, but, first, people have to make the CHOICE to join a union to do that “Collective bargaining” thing!!  But, believe it or not, most people prefer “Individual bargaining”!!

Robert J. Trenwick,

There are a few things you need to know to post here, first, Screwedby, thinks ‘personal responsibility’ is a WACKO CONCEPT and second, Alex in Ontario, thinks that anybody who has more than others is greedy!!  He believes that everyone should have the same as the next guy, no matter what they do, they refer it as the ‘Living Wage” concept, that is why he put you down for saying you made good wages!!  He is also very big on socialized government run programs, but, against dealing with communists (he’s a protectionist)!!

Nice to have you come to this site, WELCOME!!

Some More Things You Should Know, Robert J. Trenwick!

Before you decide to saddle up your pony and ride next to RDS, you should know a few things he conveniently left out!

First of all… anyone who comes here to defend Wal-Mart for any reason, can expect to be “flamed” mercilessly!

RDS is the kind of guy who will cite TV programs like “Green Acres” or “Sanford and Son” when he really wants to drive home a point!

EXAMPLE:
“I also get a charge out of ‘Sanford and Son”, “Green Acres” and ‘Good times” as well, because they show how people accept ‘poverty’ as being the best way of life.”

Huh?  You can draw your own conclusion on that one!

This is just some of the “wit and wisdom” of RDS that we’ve laughed at the past two years:

“I do not answer YES/NO questions…” (We’ve noticed!)

“...‘poor’ people today, live much better than ‘poor’ people of the past!!” (I tried to point out to RDS that the “poor” people of the past had it so much better than the average cave man.  Still not sure what his point is!)

“ “And, what does that have to do with Quality of Life and Cost of Living?” (Here RDS is questionning the value of a higher education.)

“…smoking does not CAUSE cancer, but can PROMOTE it…” (Thanks, Dr. RDS!)

“MOST medical problems are self inflicted, not inherent!!” (Yeah, it’s pretty well been proven.  Life is 100% fatal!)

“ “Listen, if you can’t post something with reality substance, how do you expect anybody to believe anything you say?” (TRANSLATION: Do as I say, not as I do!)

“Boy, this ignorant spammer sure has a lot of free time on his hands and nothing much to say!!” (Still trying to figure out how this is any different from what RDS brings to the blog?)

“As my daughter and grandkids used to say to me, ‘Move into the 21st Century, will ya.’!!” ("used to say?” I bet they still do!)

“ And just because…my grandkids made the statement that I should ‘Get with the 21st century’, doesn’t mean that I am intellectually inferior to you.” (Yeah, whatever you say, RDS!)

“Wal-Mart is a “For Profit” business and every loaf of bread that is given away, is 2 loaves of bread NOT SOLD!” (If anyone can explain this, please get back to us!)

Every once in a while though, RDS manages to get it right:

“Always Low Prices”… yeah sometimes, but I think Wal-Mart has duped most consumers into “believing everything” Wal-Mart tells them when it comes to “low prices.”

No argument on the last one!

"The real reason in my opinion he wants to hold others as low as possible when it comes to their income is to make himself feal like the king on the hill.”

I see ABSOLUTELY NO WHERE does Robert J say “hold others low”.  I see just the opposite and a perfect example of why you want a better education.

But coming from someone who lives in a socialist society where they have rationed, albeit free, healthcare and government handouts… I get it… why do anything like get a better education in order to find a better and well paying job when you can just live off of the government dole.  Your glass is certainly half empty isn’t it Alex.

Nice Alex… very nice!

RDS in and mary in, thank you.  I have a bit more to say on the concept of redistribution of wealth and Marxism.  I do, however, have responsibilities of home and family and only the weekend to take care of such.  I’ll rejoin discussions Monday.  Screwedby and Alex...have a nice weekend! :^)

"But coming from someone who lives in a socialist society where they have rationed, albeit free, healthcare and government handouts…"~Mary

Tell me more about so called free (Mary doesn’t realize we pay taxes) healthcare. Are there any other countries that have healthcare (such as your new friend and ally Britian)?
Also tell me about the government handouts. What handouts in particular Mary? I will go down and get them as soon as you tell me what they are.
In conclusion please explain your For Profit non-socialist military and defence systems, police protection, fire protection, public education, libraries etc. Certainly these can’t be government run since that would make the good old U.S. OF A, a socialist country. That’s funny. Last time I was in Washington I saw government building after government building. Why aren’t these being run by private sector corporations? Maybe one could be called the McDonald building and another the Walmart centre.

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First of all… anyone who comes here to defend Wal-Mart for any reason, can expect to be “flamed” mercilessly! ~ScrewedbyWal-Mart in Anytown, America

Oh, by the way, Screwedby, I have not defended Walmart, only my CHOICE to shop there.

A tip of the Anti Wal-Mart Movement tin foil hat to Heather Mallick. She gets it!

Whatever happened to “well-made” or “worthwhile”?

Since most of your arguments have already been debunked, Robert J. Trenwick, let me throw in my 2¢.

Walmart is by no means the only retailer to buy from Chinese manufacturers...

Not the only, but the largest. Wal-Mart is estimated to be China’s 7th-8th leading trading partner, ahead of countries like Isreal and Belgium.

By extension, that inevitably leads to higher prices for consumers.

And Lee Scott’s estimated compensation of roughly $14,279 an hour doesn’t lead “to higher prices for consumers”?

P.S. Here’s one to add to your collection, Screwed:

Did you notice that Paul, moved from Long Island, NY. to Huntington, NY. in less than a minute? RDS

(Long Island is just that, an island. Huntington is a town on Long Island. Paul didn’t move an inch!:o)

"This is very true, but, first, people have to make the CHOICE to join a union to do that “Collective bargaining” thing!!  But, believe it or not, most people prefer “Individual bargaining”!!"~Bob(RDS)

So there is a third choice. Better not let Robert J. Trenwick know that. He thinks the only two choices are ‘like it or leave’.
Please tell us more about “Individual bargaining”. I am sure Walmart for an example wishes it could bargain individual store by store with the suppliers. Imagine the power of ONE store!!!  What a position to be in!!!  Not 6,000 stores.

You talk silly Bob.

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”.....McDonald building and another the Walmart centre.”

Centre vs. Center
Just so you don’t get confused again Bob(RDS), centre is how we spell it. It is not a typo.

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The Hong Kong-based shipping company Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are partners in a new $300 million expansion of Mexico’s Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas, according to a February 12 report from Reuters news service. Since U.S. west coast ports are becoming clogged with container ships filled with made-in-China goods, Wal-Mart and its Chinese suppliers are looking for new ports to bring their wares into the United States. The expansion project, reportedly, would increase Lazaro Cardenas’ current annual handling capacity of 100,000 containers to 700,000 containers over the next couple years, with possible expansion to two million containers.

Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. is run by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, whose business empire is intertwined with companies that front for the communist intelligence and military arms of the People’s Republic of China, such as the China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), China Telecom, and the China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC). Li Ka-shing, a key agent in China’s global agenda, controls key ports around the world, including the ports at both ends of the Panama Canal.________________________________________________________________________________________________Speaking of American values and Communism,I thought this was appropriate and informative---------------------------I thought it ight merit posting again,necause for me what sttod out in this post is that WalMart IS PARTNERING with this Communist Chinese company to bypass AMERICAN ports(AND American jobs) to bring in millions of Comunist Chinese made goods,trucked in by non American truckers up the Nafta corridor.Now, I know people will say-"But EVERYBODY sells Chinese goods,now!” Sadly,this is for the most part true, BUT I haven’t seen Target or Costco or Sears TEAM up with the Communist Chinese and Chinese companies affiliated with their Chinese intelligence community to purposely create a port to bypass an American port and thereby destroy American port jobs. This is in great disservice to our country,and unpatriotic beyond reproach,IMHO.

Correction:I thought it might merit posting again,because for me what stood out in this post.......

Wal*mart and Communism
Together a united front.
Together they shall prosper.
Working for the good of each other.
If you lay down with dogs you get fleas.

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Alex: To further underscore the meme of seeming even further “ UnAmerican” is what occured in Massachusetts recently. Much has been written here about the tax dodge of using REITS to avoid paying states their rightful sales tax due. Well,I suggest you read this latest gambit :~~~~~~~~"But this week, when the Massachusetts General Court went to close the “separate reporting” tax loophole by adopting combined reporting, Wal-Mart offered a last-minute amendment on the House floor, which was adopted with no roll call vote, and no real debate. “It was somewhat embarrassing,” one Baystate lawmaker told The Boston Globe. “The 2,300 word amendment allows a corporation to avoid taxes if they maintain a major portion of their business overseas.”

This is the same Whac-A-Mole game being played in Illinois—a story that was narrated by the Wall Street Journal last November. Wal-Mart opened up an office in Florence, Italy—a country where it has no stores—and because Illinois tax rules only apply to profits made in Illinois---Wal-Mart avoided taxes by using its office in Italy as a tax Whac-A-Mole. The retailer put all its Illinois stores under the control of its own REIT.

The stores paid “rent” to the REIT, and deducted those rent payments as an expense from its taxable income. The REIT paid its money to a Delaware subsidiary. To get around combined reporting—which Illinois has—Wal-Mart created yet another Delaware company called WMGS Services, with an office in Florence. WMGS is owned by Wal-Mart Property Company.” Because Wal-Mart Property is just a shell, owning no stores and having no employees, Wal-Mart can claim it’s a “80/20” company---that 80% of its workers and property are overseas. “

When the Wall Street Journal paid the Florence Wal-Mart operation a visit, a worker there said the company had 22 employees in Florence.” By APPEARING to be a foreign company, the Arkansas-based Wal-Mart tries to shelter its profits from taxation. La Dolce Vita—Walton style. “~~~~~~~~~~Al Norman,Huffington Post

The WACKY World of RDS, Part 2

Thanks Ken!  That one’s definitely going into “The Collection.”

“I have a bit more to say on the concept of redistribution of wealth and Marxism.” Robert J. Trenwick

I can’t wait!

Am I the only one who thinks RDS is a bit confused?  You be the judge.  Here’s some more gems from “The Collection.”

“Remember, they could always get a better education and get a better job somewhere else, that’s what schools are for!” (Sounds good right?  But wait for the gunshot.  That would be RDS shooting himself in the foot!)

Just moments later RDS said:

“If college students are so knowledgable, why do they have to go to school?” (Ummm....would that be to get a better education and get a better job?)

“And, savings and investing aren’t ‘good’ for the economy?”
(What planet are you from RDS?  So what you’re trying to tell us is that George “W” is trying to “stimulate” the economy by giving everyone a rebate check so they will “save it and invest it?” NO! He’s counting on people like you and Robert J. Trenwick to beat cleats to your nearest Wal-Mart!)

“Read about it, before you speak about it!!” (This is another example of “Do as I say, not as I do!")

“To them, you either must “HATE” Wal-Mart or you must “LOVE” Wal-Mart, there is no place for Wal-Mart to be just a retail chain that serves the customers…”
(Note to RDS: This needs to be repeated for your benefit.  To call Wal-Mart “just a retail chain that serves customers,” is like saying Jeffrey Dahmer had an eating disorder.)

“We don’t believe that healthcare is the problem, it’s the method of paying for it, that is the problem!!” (Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t that make healthcare a PROBLEM?)

OK.  Now we have to give one to RDS!

“I would never call Bret Favre ‘stupid or arrogant’…”

There’s hope for you RDS!! (notice the double exclamation marks) There’s only one person in the world that can make you look good in comparison...Fox commentator Laura Ingraham.

Here’s what she had to say on his retirement:

“All these years, and I didn’t know there was a woman quarterback in the NFL. ...

“Brett Favre...we’re watching this in the studio, obviously retiring from the NFL, great quarterback, handsome 38-year-old man, he gets up there and he does this press conference that was frankly one of the most embarrassing things I have ever seen.”

“That’s a great message for young boys. ‘Get up there and act like a girl and start blubbering like a baby.”

She must get paid by the number of insults she hurls!  I’d like to see her say that to Brett’s face, and then watch as he picked her up with one hand and spiked her head first into the ground.

Nah...that would never happen!  Brett Farve has too much class and he wouldn’t waste his time on a Big-Mouthed Dumb Broad like Laura Ingraham.

Thanks Again for the reposts, ddrb!

You obviously discovered a long time ago that things need to be repeated for certain members of the “Pro Wal-Mart” crowd.

I can’t wait to see how Robert J. Trenwick is going to try and spin the information you posted.

”.....written here about the tax dodge of using REITS to avoid paying states their rightful sales tax due."~ddrb

Thanks also ddrb.
I am not sure what the acronym REITS stands for but I do understand what is happening. Walmart doesn’t want to pay its fair share of taxes.
So much for all the good Walmart brings to the community with tax dollars.

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Alex: REITS= Real Estate Investment Trust;If you will type in REIT into the WMW search engine in the upper right corner of this site,many choices for further info should be made available to you.

Screwed; Your welcome. I agree we are all entitled to INFORMED choice.

Alittle info relaative to my post a few cooents back about Hutchison Port Holdings and Lazaro Cardenas:~~~~~~:Bush-41 officials in Chinese cargo-monitor deal
Firm connected to communist regime setting up high-tech sensors in U.S.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: December 08, 2006

GlobeSecNine – a private equity firm composed largely of top-ranking government and military officials from President George H. W. Bush’s administration – has investment ties with the communist Chinese firm Hutchinson Ports Holdings that is joint-venturing to place cargo reading sensors on the planned North American superhighway.
The Interstate-35 Super-Corridor is to run from the Mexican port of Lazaro Cardenas on the Pacific, cross the border at Laredo, Texas, and continue on through Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and north into Canada.

On April 21, 2005, Savi Technology, Inc., then a private company, created Savi Networks LLC, a new joint venture company, with Hutchinson Ports Holdings to install active RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) equipment and software in participating ports around the world and to provide users with the information, identity location and status of their ocean cargo containers as they pass through such ports.

Tom Ridge, the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, joined the Savi Technology board April 5, 2005, just prior to the deal.

Savi Networks was capitalized at $50 million from the joint venture partners. Savi Technology holds a 51 percent interest in Savi Networks while HPH holds the remaining 49 percent.

On the same day, April 21, 2005, HPH made a concurrent $50 million investment in Infolink Systems, Inc., the parent company of Savi Technology, which provided HPH with 10 percent of Infolink on a fully diluted basis.

On May 4, 2005, GlobeSecNine, made a $2 million strategic investment in Infolink Systems, Inc., the parent company of Savi Technology.

On June 8 of this year, Lockheed Martin acquired Infolink Systems, Inc., thereby acquiring Savi Technology, Inc.

A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin confirmed to WND that the HPH interest in the joint venture subsidiary, Savi Networks, survived the acquisition of Infolink by Lockheed.

As WND previously reported, Savi Networks is currently negotiating a contract with North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition, Inc., NASCO, the Dallas-based trade organization that advocates developing continental trade corridors along Interstates 35, 29 and 94. The contract will allow Savi Networks to establish sensors along the super-corridor that would read RFID tags placed on containers transported by truck and train, including containers from China and the Far East which enter the North American continent at Mexican ports, including Lazaro C?rdenas on the Pacific.

GlobeSecNine’s chairman of the board is Brent Scowcroft, who served as national security adviser to Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He also was chairman of President George W. Bush’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 2001 to 2005. From 1982 to 1989, Scowcroft also served as vice chairman of Kissinger Associates. ~~WND Now exactly when did WalMart begin to demand RFID on ALL its vendors?

people shop where they can afford to shop ddrb,screwed by and all you antis on here.thats what you idiots still dont get.big deal stuff is made in china and walmart sells a lot of it.guess what so do your favorite high cost stores like target,costco and etc.i never see you railing on them.

Screwedby,

““Wal-Mart is a “For Profit” business and every loaf of bread that is given away, is 2 loaves of bread NOT SOLD!” (If anyone can explain this, please get back to us!)”

I realize that this might be hard for you to understand, as it is SIMPLE MATH!!  I’ll try to explain it to you in simple form, okay?

Wal-Mart has 1 loaf of bread, joe sixpack NEEDS 1 loaf of bread, follow so far?  Wal-Mart GIVES it’s loaf to Joe, so Wal-Mart now has 1 loaf less 1-1=0!!  Now, because Joe would have had to buy a loaf, but, now doesn’t have to, Wal-Mart loses the sale of 1 loaf of bread!!  Therefore, Wal-Mart loses the loaf of bread (the one they gave away), but also, they lose the sale of a loaf (the one Joe would have bought, had he not been given one), 1+1=2!!

““Listen, if you can’t post something with reality substance, how do you expect anybody to believe anything you say?” (TRANSLATION: Do as I say, not as I do!)”

No, the translation is, if you post B.S., people tend to think everything you post is B.S.!!

“Read about it, before you speak about it!!” (This is another example of “Do as I say, not as I do!")"

No, translation is, don’t just talk out of your butt, know of which you speak!!

I know you tried hard to take what I said OUT OF CONTEXT to make me look bad, but, I think most ‘intelligent’ people will be able to see through it!!

Robert J. Trenwick,

“Oh, by the way, Screwedby, I have not defended Walmart, only my CHOICE to shop there.”

By stating you CHOOSE to shop at Wal-Mart, is the same as defending Wal-Mart, to the anti Wal-Marter!!

Alex,

“I am not sure what the acronym REITS stands for but I do understand what is happening. Walmart doesn’t want to pay its fair share of taxes.”

You admit that you don’t know whay ddrb is talking about, but you understand it?  It’s not that Wal-Mart doesn’t want to pay their fair share of taxes, they just choose to pay it in states with lower tax rates!!

Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

A security that sells like a stock on the major exchanges and invests in real estate directly, either through properties or mortgages.

REITs receive special tax considerations and typically offer investors high yields, as well as a highly liquid method of investing in real estate.

Equity REITs: Equity REITs invest in and own properties (thus responsible for the equity or value of their real estate assets). Their revenues come principally from their properties’ rents.

Mortgage REITs: Mortgage REITs deal in investment and ownership of property mortgages. These REITs loan money for mortgages to owners of real estate, or purchase existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. Their revenues are generated primarily by the interest that they earn on the mortgage loans.

Hybrid REITs: Hybrid REITs combine the investment strategies of equity REITs and mortgage REITs by investing in both properties and mortgages. 

Individuals can invest in REITs either by purchasing their shares directly on an open exchange or by investing in a mutual fund that specializes in public real estate. An additional benefit to investing in REITs is the fact that many are accompanied by dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs). Among other things, REITs invest in shopping malls, office buildings, apartments, warehouses and hotels. Some REITs will invest specifically in one area of real estate - shopping malls, for example - or in one specific region, state or country. Investing in REITs is a liquid, dividend-paying means of participating in the real estate market.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities,Michael Mazerov,9/20/07~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Corporate Tax Shelters and the Need for Combined Reporting

Renewed discussion of combined reporting was sparked approximately five years ago by a rash of court cases in which non-combined reporting states sought to nullify an abusive corporate tax shelter to which they are vulnerable.  That tax shelter is frequently referred to as the “Delaware Holding Company” or “Passive Investment Company” (PIC).  It is based on a corporation’s transferring ownership of its trademarks and patents to a subsidiary corporation located in a state that does not tax royalties, interest, or similar types of “intangible income,” such as Delaware and Nevada.  Profits of the operational part of a business that otherwise would be taxable by the state(s) in which the company is located are siphoned out of such states by having the tax-haven subsidiary charge a royalty to the rest of the business for the use of the trademark or patent.  The royalty is a deductible expense for the corporation paying it, and so reduces the amount of profit such a corporation has in the states in which it does business and is taxable.  Moreover, the profits of the Passive Investment Company often are loaned back to the rest of the corporation, and a secondary siphoning of income occurs through the payment of deductible interest on the loan.  Of course, the royalties and interest received by the PIC are not taxed; Delaware has a special income tax exemption for corporations whose activities are limited to owning and collecting income from intangible assets, and Nevada does not have a corporate income tax at all. 

Combined reporting nullifies the PIC tax shelter because the profits of the subsidiary are added to the profits of the operational part(s) of the corporate group, eliminating any tax benefit of shifting profits on paper from the latter to the former.  Only Vermont, Texas, New York, and West Virginia chose to address the PIC problem through combined reporting, however.  All of the remaining states that enacted legislation to attack PICs chose limited, targeted approaches focusing on just this particular tax shelter.  Many of those bills were so watered-down in the legislative process by business objections that there is a real question as to whether they will be effective at all.  The answer to this won’t be known for several years until state corporate tax audits covering the years when the laws went into effect reveal whether corporations have, as the laws require, stopped deducting their royalty payments to their PICs.[4]

A recent front-page article in the Wall Street Journal underscores the need to take a comprehensive rather than piecemeal approach to the corporate tax avoidance strategies to which non-combined reporting states are vulnerable.  The article discusses a tax shelter established by Wal-Mart that is analogous to the PIC but that would not be nullified by the targeted anti-PIC legislation that some states enacted.  Indeed, the article revealed that Wal-Mart set up this shelter, known as a “captive Real Estate Investment Trust” (REIT), at approximately the same time it was liquidating its conventional PIC (perhaps because PICs had become a red flag for state auditors).  Wal-Mart transferred ownership of all its stores to its REIT subsidiary, and the stores paid tax-deductible rent to the REIT for use of the buildings they occupied.  As with royalty payments for the use of trademarks, the rent payments had the effect of reducing taxable profits of the stores and shifting the profits to the REIT.  Virtually all states effectively treat the REIT as a tax-exempt entity — just as the federal government does.  And the other Wal-Mart subsidiary that owned the REIT was only taxable in the state in which it was based, so the states where Wal-Mart’s stores were located couldn’t reach the REIT’s profits when those were passed on in the form of dividends to the REIT’s owner, either.

The Wal-Mart REIT example suggests that when the comprehensive solution of combined reporting is available, it is simply not optimal for states to seek to shore-up their corporate income taxes through targeted attacks on specific tax shelters.

GROWING NUMBER OF STATES CONSIDERING
A KEY CORPORATE TAX REFORM
By Michael Mazerov

A growing number of states are giving serious consideration to a major reform in their corporate income taxes long advocated by state tax experts.  The governors of six states — Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania — all recommended in 2007 that their states implement this policy, which is known as “combined reporting.” New York enacted combined reporting legislation retroactive to the beginning of 2007 as part of the state’s budget bill for FY2007-08.  Michigan included combined reporting in its newly-enacted “Michigan Business Tax,” which will take effect in 2008.  And West Virginia enacted combined reporting as well, effective with the 2009 tax year.

Most large multistate corporations are composed of a “parent” corporation and a number of “subsidiary” corporations owned by the parent.  Combined reporting essentially treats the parent and most subsidiaries as one corporation for state income tax purposes.  Their nationwide profits are combined — that is, added together — and the state then taxes a share of that combined income.  The share is calculated by a formula that takes into account the corporate group’s level of activity in the state as compared to its activity in other states. 

By requiring corporate parents and subsidiaries to add their profits together, combined reporting states are able to nullify a variety of tax-avoidance strategies large multistate corporations have devised to artificially move profits out of the states in which they are earned and into states in which they will be taxed at lower rates — or not at all.  These strategies cost the non-combined reporting states billions of dollars of lost corporate income tax revenue they need to finance essential public services, like education and health care.  Households and small businesses, which do not have the opportunities or resources to engage in interstate income-shifting, end up paying higher taxes than necessary to make up for the taxes that large corporations are able to avoid. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Indeed,much info and articles from The Wall Street Journal are extensively available right here ,at WMW,in the archives.WalMart REITS were developed by Ernst and Young specifically to avoid taxes paid by WalMart. (The emails and correspondence were produced recently in a lawsuit by North Carolina vs.WalMart,in an effort to retrieve its state sales tax revenue that had been diverted by WalMart. )

ddrb,

Don’t you know how to link to articles rather than posting the text on here?

Thanks for the cut and paste. I see that the article you provided is available on 137,000 webpages including the free dictionary.
Were you the author of that article or did you just type the letters REIT in google? 

Maybe when I have to do some tax planning you can give me help with these also Bob(RDS):
RRIF’s,LIRA’s,LRSP’s,LIF’s,LRIF’s,RESP’s,PRIF’s,and TFSA’s.

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

Wal-mart sells garbage at a decent price.
Is that supposed to be value?

Don’t you know how to link to articles rather than posting the text on here?

I tried to get her to pick up a few HTML tags but she’s...um...stubborn.

(And I mean that in the nicest possible way!:o)

“I don’t think someone getting a good deal on toilet paper at Walmart is, through their purchase, endorsing Walmart’s business practices.” ~ Greg Spotts

someone Since you want to be a wise ASS about it why

don’t you teach .

First of all… anyone who comes here to defend Wal-Mart for any reason, can expect to be “flamed” mercilessly!

Mr. Screwed speaking the truth??  Unbelievable!!

A person takes a weekend off, and you miscreants are ganging-up on someone else.

Next thing you know, someone will say Mr. Trenwick is from the WM HO...or maybe even moi?

(Note for Mr. Screwed, Alex the Union lap-log, and my gal ddrb—I have a flame or three custom-made for you...soon).

Mr. Trenwick,

Welcome aboard—I see you’ve already met “the pride of Wal-Mart Watch”. 

Some friendly advice—continue to stand your ground, and you’ll have more than enough support from the rest of us “in the rafters”.

I see ddrb is on the “Yawn Patrol”, again!

(Note to Someone in USA - ddrb thinks in posting all that worthless text, that she is doing a public service and being shrewd, when, in reality, she is just a shrew...)

bbrd,

The funny thing about ddrb, is she believes that if Wal-Mart pays MORE taxes, somehow she’ll somehow pay less taxes!!

Mr. Trenwick,

Welcome aboard—I see you’ve already met “the pride of Wal-Mart Watch”. 
“..... you’ll have more than enough support from the rest of us “in the rafters”.

bbrd in

You got that right. Some pr agency and Walmart Home Office staff.
Professional help.

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

Al,

So, how’s that theory working-out for you, anyway—you know, the one where you think I am some sort of a “manufactured character”?

Your paranoia is nothing short of amazing…

Since most of your arguments have already been debunked, Robert J. Trenwick, let me throw in my 2¢. ~Ken V

Ken V, debunked, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

So there is a third choice. Better not let Robert J. Trenwick know that. He thinks the only two choices are ‘like it or leave’. ~Alex

Alex, for me, there are only 2 choices.  I could never in good conscience join a collective bargaining unit.  The very idea that the management and/or owners of a company should be directed by the employees, or rather their union representatives, is fundamentally antithetical to the employer/employee concept and is legal extortion.

Of course labor unions had their day beginning in the Industrial Age when conditions and hours were deplorable, not to mention the exploitation of child workers.  Nowadays, though, unions are running us, as a manufacturing country, into the ground.  Why do foreign automakers out-sell U.S. car makers?  That is due in part to Detroit wages.  Employees cannot expect a company to both arbitrarily provide wages and benefits in excess of profit and to survive.

My distaste for unions was only heightened several years ago when the maintenance technicians in my company organized.  From day one, the power of the union has been abused consistently and repeatedly by grievances being filed for petty and vindictive reasons.  I am not in management nor involved directly with the technicians.  I am an outside observer merely disgusted with their actions.

I place much more faith in individual bargaining.  I am currently negotiating with my employees for a pay raise.  I expect such because of the projects I have successfully completed recently, something the union guys only complain about.

Like Your Buddy RDS Says: “Read About it Before You Comment on It!”

Perhaps you should inform yourself a little more about the conditions that still exist in many of Wal-Mart’s supplier factories in places like China and Bangladesh.

“...when conditions and hours were deplorable...”

It’s been well documented that Wal-Mart uses suppliers outside of this country were children, some as young as 12, are forced to work 12-14 hours a day.  They sometimes have to sit on backless stools, hunched over, while they sew those shirts and jeans that people like you and RDS like to scarf up for $9.96 at Wal-Mart.  Define “deplorable conditons” please!

A little closer to home, I have a friend who works for Kohls Department Store.  She told me last week that she was fearful of being “put on probation.” Her terrible crime?  She worked 44 hours in one week.  She did get a “stern warning” from some “muckety muck” white shirt, even though it was her manager that scheduled her for the hours.  They keep telling her she’s “such a good worker.”

..."hours were deplorable...”

Now I can’t speak for Kohl’s, but it’s also been documented that Wal-Mart is obsessed with keeping the hours of its “associates” under 28-30.  Why? So they don’t have to fork out money for health insurance benefits.  If you don’t believe me, go do some research on the Susan Chambers memo.  She’ll tell you a part-time employee is just as productive as a full time employee.

Likewise, I’d like to hear your definition of “deplorable hours,” Robert!

Screwedby, of course there are horrendous working conditions in other countries.  You can plainly see, if you care to look, that I was referring to companies and employees in the U.S.  When I was in high school and college, I worked part-time jobs for minimum wage, which was $3.35 at the time.  All three employers I had then liked to hire part-time workers in lieu of full-time folks to keep benefit costs down, just as you said.  What did I do?  Completed my education and got a better job.

Screwedby, since you claim to know me so well, tell me 3 things about you: how have you been personally screwed by Walmart, what type of job do you have, and what type of music do you enjoy?

Alex,

Here is the problem, that I see with unions!! And it has to do with the fact that some workers are hard working and some are slackers!!

In a non-union situation, hard workers will be rewarded for their work ethic, with higher pay and the ‘slackers’ stay at a lower pay rate or get fired!!  Sort of a ‘Pay for performance’ senerio!!

In a union situation, everybody is rewarded no matter what their work ethic is!!  Also, the ‘slackers’ tend to look at the hard workers, as some sort of ‘brown nosers’, as they are working hard, when they don’t have to, to get the raises!!  Also, because of this, price tends to rise, but, quality tends to go down!!  When people get the same reward, whether or not they produce quantity or a good product, the slackers tend ask other workers, “Why are you working so hard?  Are you trying to win ‘brownie points’, by making the rest of us look bad?”!!  This tends to make hard workers quit or slack off and soon the company becomes a bunch of ‘slackers’, running the company into the ground!!  It is also HARDER to fire or even discipline a ‘slacker’ as the union protects them!!

Take your ‘living wage’ thing, it says, just like the unions, that people should be paid the same, whether they produce something of value or not!!  And, given the CHOICE, people will tend to prefer working LESS over working MORE!!  This leads to the decline of the company and a ‘race towards the bottom’!!

I have a bit more to say on the concept of redistribution of wealth and Marxism. ~Robert J. Trenwick

I can’t wait! ~Screwedby

Ok...the fundamental flaw.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. ~Karl Marx

No-one need work to meet his needs.  If his needs are greater than his abilities, then he should be provided for by others who produce excess.  What wacky rationale!  Boiled down, that can be restated as...no-one need work, let someone else do it.

Robert J. Trenwick,

I’ll be suprised to see Screwedby answer your questions, he’s been asked them many times before and has never answered!!

Also, if you follow the growth of this country, the conditions he describes in foreign countries, were exactly the same in our country back then!!  Countries like China and India, are going through the same senerio as our country did!!  Also, other countries define an ‘adult’ differently than we do, in many countries, 12 is the age of change (puberty) from child to adult!!  Even in this country, we have ‘different’ degrees of adulthood, examples:  “children eat free”, means under 12, 18 year olds are ‘adults’, but can’t legally drink liquor, 16 year olds are ‘adult’ enough to drive a car, etc.!!

People here, tend to assess other countries, based on our country as the standard!!  But, in cases like Universal Healthcare, they claim that we should FOLLOW other countries lead!!

” this leads to to the decline of the company and a race towards the bottom”

I guess Warren Buffet (who is at the top of the most wealthiest) invested hunderds of Millions of dollars in a UNION company (BNSF-Railway) that is on the bottom? NOT

This companies work force is UNION, the company is a closed UNION shop. The stock has been in the high 90s to low hunderd dollar range. when Warren Buffet invested it was at $75. When I invested it was at $29.  This is a “climb to the TOP”

UNION Pacific Railroad has exceeded BNSF. they are also a closed UNION shop.

Both Railroads combined, have fewer employees than Walmart.  Compare the stock performances of these two Railroads with Walmart!

It seems in Walmarts case, the low wage earners, ("slackers") who out number the “living wage” earners have driven the company into the mediocre stock performance range.

I have never seen Walmart’s stock over the $65 range

Walmart’s slogan “Our employee’s our are most important asset”
Ask the MAJORITY of the employees if they feel that way!

It seems the two Railroads mentioned above and their UNION employees have driven the compaies to the TOP!
Could it be, in part, the UNION employees are continent with their wages and benefits thus giving their companies 100%, pushing them to the TOP! Their success has to be contributed to” their most important assets” their UNION EMPLOYEES!

More railroad posts???? 

Seriously, if I didn’t know better, Big D...I mean “Stock Watcher”, I would swear you’re trolling for more investors or something…

I have never seen Walmart’s stock over the $65 range

Your so-called credibility went out the window with that statement. 

Any true “stock watcher” that has been around the block for awhile knows that WMT has done a 2-for-1 stock split 11 times.

For those not familiar with the stock market, a split is a good thing—basically, your one share turns into two.

Although the following is a WM link, the info is still good—I would suggest you take a look at it, Big D...I mean “Stock Watcher”.

http://walmartstores.com/Investors/7644.aspx

For those too lazy to look, Wal-Mart stock reached an all-time high of $89.75 about 9 years ago, at which time it “split”, once again.

Give our regards to the Mrs. and your kids (dogs).

More dung from the “dung Beetle” bbrd. (aka-Nicks disciple)

bbrd.... the rat that crawled out of the sewer (out from under Lee Scotts desk) to feed on the waste (shi_) Walmart feeds him/her/it.

Tuck your tail back under your skirt & get back under Lee Scotts desk. Walmart will feed you some more waste to post on here later.

Give our best to Mrs Dung EATER and your kids (dung piles).

Defintions Please!

So far Robert you’ve been using a lot of meaningless terms.

“Deplorable hours?” “Deplorable conditions?”

Now you slip in the phrase, “according to his needs.”

Define “needs.” Would affordable housing be a “need?” How about food?  How about access to good health care? 

If you talk with your buddy RDS, he’ll tell you that “good heallth” is not a basic human right.  We’ve been down that road long before you got here.  We were “discussing” things like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  According to RDS, when the men who wrote the DOI said that all men were entitled to “life,” RDS thinks they just meant that someone is entitled “not to be killed.” Pretty sick huh?  Life, like his shopping habits at Wal-Mart, does not seem to include the concept of quality!

Just this morning there was a news piece on the local channel about a Habitat for Humnity house that’s being built in the area.  That’s what I’m talking about!

I have a lot more respect for former president Jimmy Carter, who has long been involved with Habitat for Humanity, than I do for that lying, cheating, scumbag Bill Clinton!

The comments from bbrd in about the stock prices most certainly is not dung.  My wife and I invested in Walmart stock in the mid-1990s when the price was about $25.  A few years later we sold after a 2-for-1 stock split when the price was about $53 and made a 300% profit.

And you, Screwedby, completely missed the point.  Of course adequate food, water, and shelter are basic human needs.  But should anyone believe such needs will be met by working as unskilled labor?

My quality of life is my responsibility.  Never have I believed it due me by others.

You Really Should Be Giving High 5’s to RDS!

My Libertarian alarm just went off again!

“My quality of life is my responsibility.”

How many times haven’t we seen RDS say this?

“made a 300% profit.”

So what you’re saying is that you don’t have a problem making a profit off the misfortunes of others...especially if they don’t live in this country.

“Conversation” over!

"My quality of life is my responsibility.”

Pray tell what is wrong with that statement?

Screwedby, do you have any investment in mutual funds?

The comments from bbrd in about the stock prices most certainly is not dung.  My wife and I invested in Walmart stock in the mid-1990s when the price was about $25.  A few years later we sold after a 2-for-1 stock split when the price was about $53 and made a 300% profit

Thank you, Robert—though it means little to these clowns, a little “validation” every now and then proves the point!

More dung...

Reckon I’d be hiding-out as “Stock Watcher”, too , given the recent melee between yourself, your Mrs., and her ex-hubby here on WMW.

Come to think about it, before she went into hiding, the former Mrs. Vantress was espousing the joys of now being married to a union railroad guy.

Whatever…

A few years later we sold after a 2-for-1 stock split when the price was about $53 and made a 300% profit.

That was then, this is now! The difference being that the last time WMT split was April 20, 1999.  WMT greeted the new century, when H. Lee Scoot took over as CEO, trading at $67, a number it has not been able to match in 8 years!

Just the facts, ma’am! ~ Sgt. Joe Friday

**bbrd, you need to find a nice, cozy chat room. Your obsession with geting personal will fit right in.

...the last time WMT split was April 20, 1999.

Ken, Ken, Ken...we know all this, already.

I thought you were savvy-enough to realize I posted all that only to refute Big D’s...I mean “Stock Watcher’s” claim.

Your obsession with geting personal...

My obsession??  Ha—that’s rich!

Don’t you mean the obsession of the trio of Al, Mr. Screwed, and my gal ddrb?

Between those three, you never know who I’ll be, next!

Stock Watcher,

“I guess Warren Buffet (who is at the top of the most wealthiest) invested hunderds of Millions of dollars in a UNION company (BNSF-Railway) that is on the bottom? NOT”

The main reason the railroads are doing ‘good’ has nothing to do with being union, it has to do with the rising price of OIL and high fuel prices!!  If they went back down again, the railroads would drop and trucking would be up again and Buffett, would drop the railroads in a minute!!

“I have never seen Walmart’s stock over the $65 range”

The reason for this, is because they usually SPLIT the stock (2 for 1), when it reached that level!!

Ken V,

“That was then, this is now! The difference being that the last time WMT split was April 20, 1999.  WMT greeted the new century, when H. Lee Scoot took over as CEO”

Hardly ANY stock has split since 1999, except some companies have made what is called a ‘reverse stock split’, in which, you end up with LESS stock at a lower price!!  I had one stock that split (1 for 82)!!  Name me one retailer that has split it’s stock since 1999!!

Blah, blah blah. Just look at the charts for WMT, you can rationalize it anyway you want, but this recent gain in stock price is merely an uptick in an ongoing downward trend.

Hardly ANY stock has split since 1999...

I guess having a Republican in the White House is bad for business and the market, huh?

There is more to life than “cheap underwear“. ~ The Peninsula Neighborhood Association

My quality of life is my responsibility.  Never have I believed it due me by others.

Robert J. Trenwick in Dothan, AL

So have you paid your parents back for the free room, board and post secondary education you took from them so willingly? After all, your life is your responsibility you said.
Did you sweep the floors and do chores around the house?
Probably not! After all who deserves any kind of help for doing unskilled labour?

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

So have you paid your parents back for the free room, board and post secondary education you took from them so willingly?

Al - What happens in Robert’s family stays in Robert’s family.

In other words, it’s none of anyone’s business—particualrly, yours!

"Al - What happens in Robert’s family stays in Robert’s family.
In other words, it’s none of anyone’s business—particualrly, yours!"~bbrd in

Why are you making it your business then bbrd’s?

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;

Have you paid back your parents for your free room and board and education?  If someone’s parents choose to help their child, it is their business.  If your parents didn’t do it for you, that is not Robert’s parents fault.

Charles
Where did I say that my parents did or didn’t help me?
Please show everyone so it gives you some credibility (which you don’t have right now).
I do believe that it was Robert J. Trenwick who said “My quality of life is my responsibility.  Never have I believed it due me by others.”

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

So have you paid your parents back for the free room, board and post secondary education you took from them so willingly? After all, your life is your responsibility you said.
Did you sweep the floors and do chores around the house?
Probably not! After all who deserves any kind of help for doing unskilled labour? ~Alex

Alex, the tuition was a gift.  Never have I said I felt it due me.  And, yes, I worked part-time to pay for my car and insurance, paid for my own life insurance, folded laundry, mowed the lawn, etc.

Have you had your poutine for breakfast yet?

Hillary and Bill: two slices, burnt and bitter!

“Clinton Toast”

How sweet it is!

Charles in Brighton, Tn.
Where did I say that my parents did or didn’t help me?
Please show everyone so it gives you some credibility (which you don’t have right now)~Alex

Anyone see Charles from Brighton Tn.?
Looks like he skipped town when he had to produce the goods.

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

Where did I say that my parents did or didn’t help me? ~Alex

That’s right, Alex.  You won’t answer questions.

Where did I say that my parents did or didn’t help me? ~Alex
That’s right, Alex.  You won’t answer questions.
Robert J. Trenwick in Dothan, AL
Thursday, May 08 at 08:32 AM

Al - What happens in Robert’s family stays in Robert’s family.
In other words, it’s none of anyone’s business—particualrly, yours!
bbrd in
Tuesday, May 06 at 07:56 PM

Wow guys.......make up your mind.

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

Robert and the rest…

You just gotta love Al’s “strategy”!

This is known as the old “turning like minds against one another with their own words” move to cause mass-confusion, everywhere.

Hadn’t seen it in a while, but definitely not surpirsed I’m seeing it, now.

You guys must be having some kind of effect!

This is known as the old “turning like minds against one another with their own words” move to cause mass-confusion, everywhere. ~bbrd

It is amusing.

This is known as the old “turning like minds against one another with their own words” move to cause mass-confusion, everywhere.~bbrd

Hey bbrd. I googled your ‘turning like minds against one another with their own words’.
This is what I got:
No results found for “turning like minds against one another with their own words”.

Now that is amusing.

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

bbrd & Robert,

Alex seems to think that if it can’t be googled, it can’t be true!!  Maybe he should have googled “Divide and Conquer”!!

BTW: Alex has NEVER been known to answer questions, he just asks them and then tells you what the answer should have been!!

Alex has NEVER been known to answer questions, he just asks them and then tells you what the answer should have been!!

Come to think of it, that is his M.O., isn’t it?

Come to think of it, that is his M.O., isn’t it? ~bbrd

And ddrb “answers” questions with more questions.

BTW: Alex has NEVER been known to answer questions, he just asks them and then tells you what the answer should have been!!~RDS in

Most of them are not really worth answering.

You know children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers.~John J. Plomp

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

And ddrb “answers” questions with more questions.

By George, I think he’s got it! :o)

Alex,

“Most of them are not really worth answering.”

As the questions are usually clarifying what YOU said, and aren’t worth answering, why did you bother to say it in the first place?  That would mean your original statement wasn’t worth an answer!!

Here’s how it goes:

You make a statement, someone replies and answers, then asks you for clarification and they expect more than just “Nonsense” as an answer!!  Saying “Nonsense’, shows that you really DON’T have a VALID answer that can be elaborated upon!!

Alex’s “M.O.” is to single-handedly keep all you pro Wal-Marters dancing like puppets.

Why should the profits of multinational corporations take precedence over the quality of life for so many of the world’s poor? ~ Jill A. Bolstridge

3 Puppets on strings!

“...pro Wal-Marters dancing like puppets.”

Judging by the frenetic back and forth posting by our three resident puppets, RDS, bbrd, and Robert J, Alex is a Puppet Master, Ken!

Screwedby,

And, just who’s pulling your strings?  We get Wal-Mart to stay in business, what do you get out of all you postings, what the gain to you?

We get Wal-Mart to stay in business...

Whoa! I had no idea who we were dealing with. If your blogging skills are what’s keeping Wal-Mart “in business”, you might consider a little profit taking on all those WMT shares you own.

“As a college-educated professional engineer, I understand why I am paid well, and provided with good benefits.  For the love of God, will someone please explain to me why high salaries and cheap health insurance (expensive for the employer) are due workers whose sole responsibility is to stock shelves”?!?!

Robert J. Trenwick in Dothan, Alabama
Wednesday, April 02 at 04:13 PM

I came here and was reading some of your comments and was so blown away by this one I had to comment.  I am 25 years old and have 2 college degrees in education.  I am currently working on my masters and cannot move from my area at the moment due to taking care of a sick aging grandmother with dementia and Alzheimer’s.  I have a house and a car and would love to have a family someday when I marry the love of my life.  I would say I have very marketable skills.  I am currently all but forced to work at walmart on third shift to pay off my loans, pay to live, and feed my family.  Unfortunately they offer the best pay in the area for someone with a college degree that can’t find work in their field.  I pay 80 dollars a month for health insurance that doesn’t cover a yearly physical, vision, or basically anything else you would need to maintain your health.  I am epileptic and can’t afford to go to my neurologist every three months, so I hope everyday that it just isn’t getting any worse.  I am not here to paint a sob story because honestly I don’t care for sympathy.  But don’t sit there and make us all look like worthless brainless members of society, when many of us have had to make very difficult decisions to swallow our pride and take a job where our sole responsibility is stocking the shelves that you yourself shop at everyday.  So next time you are in the 8th ring of hell shopping for your cheap, crap.  Look around at the miserable faces of the people that work there.  Next time you ask a question like they are some frigging servant on your payroll, think about the fact that they are probably really down on their luck and hate their job but can’t leave it just yet.  You are not better than they because you have a college degree because you are obviously without a soul or conscience.  This company has no morals, cares not even a little for the wheels that keep their billions pouring in.  Lee Scott makes 14,000 an hour… most of us have to be there for years to make that.  And at any time you can find yourself where I have, new hires making a dollar more than you when you have spent 3 years to make it.  Do they compensate? NO!  This company is soulless.  They have no heart and their end is coming soon.  I will dance with joy in their parking lot when they close, because it will be a cause for celebration. 
Sincerely.
Your local shelf stocker don’t mind me

Excellent post, Cww!

“As a college-educated professional engineer...”

I suppose you tell us that to prove you are intelligent. If you’re so smart why can you wrap you mind around the concept of the race to the bottom?

There are no limits on how high the upper rungs of the socio-economic ladder can go, to wit, Lee Scott makes $14,000 an hour while the lower rungs are being forced downward by greed and globalization.

The fact that even supposedly intelligent people miss is that it’s all arbitrary. We could ‘set’ the minimum wage anywhere we want and the rest of the ‘economy’ would adjust.

An Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy report estimates that if “minimum wage had risen at the same pace as CEO pay since 1990, it would be worth $22.61 today”