This Is Like Talking To A Wall

That isn’t a blog—just more happy talk from Lee Scott’s public relations army in Bentonville. If Wal-Mart had real cojones, they’d open it up for uncensored comments from the general public like this blog does.

The Hotline’s comedy writers said it best today—talk about jumping the shark.

I WORKED FOR THIS GOD FOR SAKING COMPANY FOR SIX MONTHS AND THE THINGS THAT I SAW AND WENT THROUGH CAUSED ME TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAK DOWN CAUSE THEY ARE TOTALLY PLAY THE ROLE OF BULLIES. MR SAM WALTON MUST BE TURNING IN HIS GRAVE. I WORKED FOR THE ONE ON 27TH AVE IN OCALA. EVERYONE THAT I COMA ACROSS HAVE SAID NOTHING BUT BAD THINGS AND MY POOR FRIENDS WHO ARE STILL THERE RECEIVING THEIR ABUSE

Speaking of talking to a wall.  I have yet to hear about how much the unions or WM Watch have contributed to the hurricane relief.  I figured there would be a donation link set up somewhere, but I see none.

Harold: Check out the front page of this site. There’s a link that encourages readers just like you to contribute to the Katrina relief effort.

Thanks for the link Ben.  I have the blog section in my favorites.  I am suprised there is not Salvation Army link, but I am glad there is one.

I am still waiting on the dollar figure donated by the unions and WM Watch specifically.  If I have missed that let me know.

Ben, I think what Harold wants to know is how much the unions and Wal-Mart Watch have contributed to the relief efforts. It is a fair question since Wal-Mart Watch had the gall to question Wal-Mart’s commitment. It is also a fair question because unions are required to open their books up for examination and they have yet to do so. I will tell you that the UFCW has more than 30 executives earning more than $200,000 per year each and that some earn close to $500,000. Nice work, if you can get it.

Nick, you’re my new favorite blog goofball.

Um, unions do open their books as required by law. You can look it up on the DOL site.

...Hmmm. That’s funny. I just looked at the UFCW’s HQ filings, and at a glance saw a bunch of salaries with five digits in them. Where’d you get your numbers, Nick?

You can look up what unions are doing for the relief effort on probably just about all of their websites, I’m guessing.

I’m sure folks are doing whatever they can to help.

Lets look at this Nick, WalMart is demanding a $10 Mill tax abatment so they can move their store a mile down the road in Southern IL, this is just one of the stories.  So who is really funding the donation to the releif effort?

Please save some of your thank yous for the people in Southern IL and the other small towns getting raped by WalFart!

the postings for this site are very sad. a place to vent for former loosers who didn’t have what it took to work retail and probably couldn’t follow a simple direction or bother to show up for work. I would like this site if there weren’t so many lies. And the problem is if I have to sort through half truths and outright lies to find out whats going on, I can’t trust you at all. trust is like the old joke about being a little bit pregnent. its a all or nothing situation. the same thing is happening in the major media outlets, and yet they continue to believe they are smarter than everyone else and can say what they want.

Della Yenta,

This is for you. I found it through union reports filed with the federal government for 2003 and 2004. Of course, they don’t list political contributions or how much they spent on organizing or luxury offices but the salaries are reported. Keep in mind that the UFCW is non-profit and that every dime of its’ money comes from the hard working members who earn relatively low retail wages.

Salary Scales

UFCW National HQ

Salaries of Officers and Staff (these are base salaries and do not include benefits, reimbursements and expense money)

Number earning at least:

$600,000-2
$400,000-2
$300,000-2
$200,000-4
$100,000-47

At the local level, these are the base wages for the highest paid officers at the top 100 locals only

$400,000-2
$300,000-4
$200,000-12
$100,000-82

Now do you get it, Yenta? The information is right there for you to see. Retail/grocery workers, generally in the lower echelon of wage earners, have more than 150 union bosses and employees in the top 2% of US wage earners. I’ll bet that makes one want to vote the UFCW into their store. What do you think?

I think you should stop calling me “Yenta.”

Will Yenta ever respond to the facts? I had to dig up this information through a government website. The union reports are highly inaccurate and vague but they actually have to list their salaries and such. Non-Profit work is starting to look very appealing. You earn more money and cash payouts than you would in the private sector, along with excellent job security and great benefits. And here’s the best part: YOU DON’T HAVE TO PRODUCE ANYTHING!!! What a racket! You don’t have to plan, budget, develop, manufacture, market or stand behind anything! You don’t really have to worry about expenses because you can just raise dues. You can make a profit and say it is not profit by putting it into golf courses and luxury estates that are called “union training centers”. What a life.

nick you are the rudest person i have ever seen. is this all you do, just sit around on your computer and throw out facts that you spend countless hours on. i am guessing you are still single. get a life loser.

yenta means an old hag that just keeps talking and spewing nonsense

Nick the dick,
Did you happen to see my post, where is your comment on it?  Just a small thank you to the people of So.IL is all I am asking for.

Yenta schmenta.

He’s just trying to get a rise out of my old lefty behind.

I think he’s hot for me.

Either that or he’s really five fraternity brothers in a basement.

Still no union or WM donation numbers.  Kinda figures.  The numbers should be on this site and not others.  WM Watch is quick to criticize WM, but not tell us what they have done.  Shame on them if they have done nothing.

No Deleted, I am not rude. I am honest. Most people don’t like honest individuals because most Americans think with their emotions. People like me think with logic and fact. These facts are often inconsistant with a preconceived notion or belief held by someone. And they don’t want to hear it. So they spew filth and attack the messenger. You’ll notice nobody had the courage to challenge my argument. Why? Because you can’t argue with numbers. 2 + 2 is 4. unless you are Bill Clinton under oath. People want to believe that unions are represented by lowly paid Communist Party members, who are living in a hovel and eating Porridge at some greasy spoon all in the name of worker advancement. I am here to tell you the uncomfortable truth: many union leaders earn more than CEO’s. Strictly on base salary, union leaders are in the same earnings bracket as doctors and lawyers. That is a fact. Union workers are lucky to earn $20,000 per year. Their union pays more than 150 people more than $100,000 per year in base salary, not to mention perks, benefits, cash payments, cars and country club memberships. For what? Perhaps Yenta can explain it to me. If Lee Scott, who runs a 3,000 store, 1. 5 million employee, $288 billion operation, is overpaid, what about UFCW executives earning upwards of $200,000 per year? What do they run and what have they accomplished? If you can answer with logic, not emotion, please respond.

Ok Nick the dick, I am providing fact in regards to tax abatments for WM.  So please speak to them!!!  I am still waiting on the thank you to the people of SO IL.

Harold WW is a NONPROFIT Orginization unlike WM, wake up please.

Cape Crusader you need to wake up.  Doesn’t matter if they are non profit they can still donate.  Anyways, this site really isn’t non profit.  They are trying to get unions into Wal-Mart which will generate a huge revenue and profit stream for the unions.  Since this site is funded by the unions, I would think they would want to share what they donated vs what Wal-Mart has to show them up.

Cape Crusader,

I will respond to you, if you are mature enough to understand me. As for your name calling-try to be a little more creative, will you?  Okay, you mentioned a $10 million tax abatement for a Wal-Mart. If you posessed the ability to read, and had read my previous posts on a variety of different subjects, you would realize that I am no fan of tax abatements or tax gifts to ANYONE. Of course, that means New Orleans should be rebuilt with PRIVATE dollars. I don’t believe for one second that the taxpayers should throw good money away on that. I also don’t believe in Eminent Domain, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, free prescription drugs, financial aid, social service programs, welfare, the REA, the TVA, the Dept. of Commerce, the Dept. of Energy, the Dept. of Health & Human Services, the IRS, the SBA, the Dept. of Homeland Security (waste of money), FEMA, Dept. of Transportation, Dept.of Education, minimum wage, compulsory unionism and tax credits for home ownership and child bearing. I could go on and on but my point is, outside of national defense, legislative affairs, law enforcement, regulation of currency and trade and treaty making, I don’t believe the federal government has any rights. Apparently, someone decided somewhere along the way that the Supreme Court could interpret the Constitution as they see fit. Who cares what it actually says and what the Founders’ writings supported? We all need to read the 10th Amendment very carefully for it is the daily violation of the 10th Amendment that is destroying our country.

As to Wal-Mart receiving taxpayer money, I am absolutely opposed. In fact, it should be illegal for a dime of tax dollars at any level to be given to individuals or corporations for personal benefit. I don’t think Wal-Mart should get tax dollars but then again, neither should welfare moms, public schools, hospitals, colleges and universities, small businesses or foreign countries. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, no?

Nick the dick states; “I will respond to you, if you are mature enough to understand me. As for your name calling-try to be a little more creative, will you?”
this is after Nick the DICK stated “Will Yenta ever respond to the facts?” I guess whats good for the goose is not always what good for they gander, huh Nick.
By the way Malmart and every one else that is happy with their donation, please thank the people of small town America because they are funding it at the cost of their schools, roads and property taxes.

Harold as for WMW donation, I don’t know what to say for you to get the point.  In your way of thinking maybe the Cancer Society should donate also?

I have come and you will be glad I am going.

The failure to condemn an activity is indeed, an offer of tacit approval.
- Edmund Burke

Cape Crusader,

You really shouldn’t give out so much info about yourself if you are going to insult someone with my intelligence. A visit to the state sex offender website will tell everyone here all they need to know.

I don’t know that mom and pop ever paid more in taxes than Wal-Mart. I don’t know that mom and pop ever paid to fix roads. I don’t know if mom and pop ever paid for schools. The fact is, an average Wal-Mart does anywhere from $75 million-$125 million per year in sales. That is millions in sales taxes generated each year. When mom and pop were in your town, how much did they generate? And if the local yokels like yourself love mom and pop so much, why are their sales in the toilet, while Wal-Mart’s are so great? Did mom and pop ever bring 20-30 new businesses to town when they opened? Did they employ 300 people? Did they offer health benefits? Did they generate sales approaching $100 million? My guess is no. And don’t count the house of ill repute staffed by goats and some of your female relations.

Hint.

Nick Pasquale, Nick from Wheeling ...

Works for Mike Krempansky.

Always has - always will.

The only problem is - now they’re getting paid Big Time (not on a retention basis - money cash (green) flat out.  Explain “agenda” to me.

Not starving of late, not working for Walmart in the trenches, without caring one way or the other .. just getting paid to post post post.

Then again ... what do I know.

Sophistication.

The is the truth, reality, and one who works for Walmart (that’s me).

There is a ton of money, and one (many now) who have never worked for Walmart and now does (that’s you).

The truth . is the truth . is the truth.

I’m hardly paid to say it, you are greatly remunerated to deflect it.

But the truth . after all . is the truth.

We are all sophisticated on this board.

I’ve got the truth on my side (and that’s worth 100 million); $1 dollar to you (and millions for you); if you want to fight it.

I’ll qualify this statement, and revert to your level.  While I can do that - use profanity faster than you can ever think, I won’t and let this statement lie.

Nick - you are a liar.

An awfully smart, intelligent - liar.

You post post post, insult insult insult, and lie lie lie.

Est non veritae?

Nick.

Call your boss now.

Now I’m on what you thought was your board.

:).

Now I’m going to dissect a Nick Post - just for the hypocracy of it.  And to start - I never insult intelligence.

Don’t kow if mom and pop ever paid to fix roads. Don’t know if mom and pop ever paid for schools. Average Walmart generates 100 to 125 million in sales (paraphrased). times 3800.  Millions in state sales tax generated each year in revenue (paraphrased).  Yokels. Like yourself, and something about a toilet (not a beday).  Mom and pop ever bring 20-30 new businesses into town?  Emply 300 people?  Offer healthcare to 300 people?

I’d respond to your post Nick.

I won’t.

You’re your own worst enemy.

Anonymous 1

Of course you won’t respond to the facts of my post. That would be inconvenient because it would force you to address facts with facts. I don’t deal in hyperbole or spin-just the truth. If that is difficult to handle, too bad. This is the real world and in the real world, we have to deal with reality. Why can’t you address my points? How much business do 20 small mom and pop stores generate, how much do they pay, and how much tax revenue do they contribute? My answer, with absolute certainty, is MUCH less than the average Wal-Mart. Mom and Pop did not bring in business from 25 miles away. Mom and Pop did not pay more than minimum wage and did not offer benefits. Mom and Pop did not contribute greatly to the tax revenues of a given town. In fact, the people on here crying about the loss of Mom and Pop are the same people who put them out of business. How? By shopping elsewhere.

Let me share some history. At the end of WWII (1945) their were millions of returning veterans and an almost unlimited demand for new consumer goods. Because cities were crowded, suburbs sprang up almost overnight. Because the suburbs needed to be connected with the cities and each other, an interstate highway system was built. Because people living in the suburbs had cars and because it was difficult to get into the city to shop, suburban shopping centers opened to serve their suburban neighborhoods. People liked having shops near their homes. The small town and city Mom and Pops started losing customers because of the move to the suburbs. In 1962, Target, K-Mart and Wal-Mart were founded, Target and K-Mart being the offshoots or large parent companies, Dayton-Hudson and SS Kresage, respectively. Wal-Mart started independent of any large parent. How could Wal-Mart be responsible for the demise of Mom and Pop? Answer: They are not responsible. The only person responsible for a business going out is the business owner. I don’t know how Wal-Mart put your small town merchant out of business if they didn’t even come to your town until the 1980’s. More in the next post.

1962-Wal-Mart founded.
1967-Wal-Mart has 24 stores, all in Arkansas; $12.6 million in sales.
1971-Wal-Mart has stores in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoms and Missouri
1975-Wal-Mart has added 4 more states; Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas; has sales of $340 million with 125 stores.
1977-First Wal-Mart store in Illinois opened
1979-$1.248 billion in sales; 276 stores; entered Alabama for the first time
1981-Opens in Georgia and South Carolina
1982-Opens in Florida and Nebraska
1983-Opens in Indiana, North Carolina, Iowa and New Mexico
1984-Opens in Virginia
1985-Opens in Wisconsin and Colorado; sales of $8.4 billion with 882 stores
1986-Opens in Minnesota
1987-Sales of $15.9 billion with 1,198 stores
1989-Opens in Michigan, West Virginia and Wyoming
1990-Opens in California, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.
1991-Opens in Connectitut, Maine, Massachusettes, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York.
1992-Opens in Idaho, Montana and Oregon; is now open in 45 states
1992-Opens in Puerto Rico
1993-Opens in Alaska, Rhode Island, Hawaii and Washington
1995-Opens in Vermont-its’ 50th state
1995-Has sales of $93.6 billion in 2,943 total outlets
1997-Breaks $100 billion in sales; finishing with $105 billion
2004-Finishes with $285 billion in sales.

Given this timeline, including the gradual opening of stores in various states, how can Wal-Mart be blamed for the demise of small-town America? New England, for example, didn’t get its first Wal-Mart until 1991. Were Mom and Pop still going strong then? Vermont didn’t get a Wal-Mart until 1995. Were their Mom and Pop stores doing well until 1995? Wal-Mart didn’t even open outside of Arkansas until 1971. How could they have destroyed the mom and pop/small town combination when those things were doomed from the moment suburbs and interstates began opening in 1945/1946? I wish someone would comment on this WITH INTELLIGENCE.

That’s a long post Nick.  I have no animosity towards you, I’m not sure I have it in many, other than a passing thought.

Your’ post is completely digestable (understood) by me.  However, and I know the facts as well as you, in order to respond to your post - I would have to write 3 pages.  So I’ll pick just one item - semi-radomly, the one that caught my eye.  My printer is down, and I don’t have a hiliter handy.  P.S., don’t share history - I know it as well or better than you.

“How much business do 20 mom and pop stores generate”?
You’re quote.  My response - the same as a walmart generates.  People (consumers) shop - because that’s simply what they do.  Mom and pop are at the disadvantage of not getting tax abatement, etc.  Somehow - in an historical sense - roads always got built - homes always got built - taxes always got paid - and mom and pops’ kids always ended up with education, jobs, and a better life in all likelihood than the parents.  That’s reversed now - isn’t it.  My question to you -

Why?

P.S.S.  Do not condascendingly try to explain anything to me.  You can post your point for my consideration, but condascension is unwelcomed.

Also - 1 more question - A simple one.

Do you Nick:
1.  Work for on behalf of Walmart?
2.  Own Walmart Stock?
3.  Work a full-time job? (if so - in what capacity).
4.  What is your motivation for posting here?
(I don’t care what the reason you post here - you are obviously pro-walmart in the extreme no matter what they do - and I would continue reading your posts regardless - but why do you post).

You seem to post alot - I’m curious if you are capable of one simple answer to one simple question.

Anonymous,

Why do Wal-Mart Watch supporters post so much? I will tell you why I post in favor of Wal-Mart. It is because I admire Wal-Mart, because I am a satisfied customer, because I believe in the free market and in humanity’s ability to choose and I despise crybabies and protectionists. Does that satisfy you?

To answer your other questions:

1. No
2. No
3. Yes (HR/Operations/Accounting/Purchasing) I DO IT ALL!!!
4. My motivation is the same as yours, or anyone’s-to get my point across. I enjoy spirited debate and I sometimes get an intellectual challenge I can really sink my teeth into. I also have a very definite view of political economy and society in general and I am not shy about sharing my views, to any person, on any topic, in any forum.

Does that satisfy your curiosity?

As to your post about Mom and Pop-Please. Did Mom and Pop draw business from 25 miles away? And does your argument ever come up when the political morons are discussing legalized gambling? Mom and Pop NEVER brought in the revenue and taxes Wal-Mart does. And they never drew other stores like a magnet, as Wal-Mart does. Show me some local town that had sales similar to 1 super Wal-Mart. My hometown was a shopping mecca in its day. It had more than 100 stores. I guarantee you that in a given year, adjusted for inflation even, these stores never had the revenue or the tax generation of a single super Wal-Mart. If you have numbers to prove otherwise, please show me. Your argument assumes that there is one big pie that remains static and that Wal-Mart has eaten an ever growing piece of the pie, reducing Mom and Pop’s share. The fact is, Wal-Mart has helped to GROW the pie, which is growing faster than Wal-Mart’s individual piece of the pie is growing. Do you understand now? Good.

Nick.

I’ve never been in the real world.

Quote from you.

Holy shit mother fucker.

I’ve always been here.

Holy shit mother fucker - you leave me speechless.

Fuck you.

....

Live 1 year in my world of reality ...

If you survive it - I shall (proper english?); challenge you to a duel - just like John Jay.

I’d still be here.

If you were, you’d still be talking about it.

HOLE

Y

Shit.

1.2.3.

No, no, yes.

Human resources - accoutn8ng, purchasing.

Did you write the Chamber’s memo - the “White” paper?

Nick -

“why do walmart supporters post soo much.”?

Proper English?

I’m not a Walmart supporter.

I’m not a Walmartwatch dot com supporter.

What am I?

I am a Walmart worker.
A taxpaying American.
An American citizen.
An ex-caregiver for my grandparents beforehand.
A purchaser (skip that); a flag flying citizen after 9/11 with my grandfathers’ flag given to him before 1950.
The most honest, intelligent, and not so nice guy you ever met.

And unfortunately, unless Walmart changes (Lee Scott tells me I’m and associate just like him - so I’m allowed to say this); Walmart’s best friend -

And potentially -

Walmart’s worst enemy.

You decide.