Wal-Mart Makes Bold New Promises, Ignores Old Ones

If you will permit a bit of self-promotion, we at The Writing on the Wal are trying something new today. We will all be addressing this speech individually. If it all works out as planned we should have a variety of points being covered this way.

http://thewritingonthewal.net

“Scott placed the bulk of the responsibility for environmental and health care change on Wal-Mart’s suppliers. While Wal-Mart continues to take credit for these sustainability initiatives, it’s actually the company’s suppliers that have made the bulk of the changes.”

As suppliers are the ones who ‘Produce’ the products, where should the responsibility be placed? 

This is similar to the UNION’S playbook, put the burdon of paying for wages and benefits on the company, use the workers to make the sacrifices (strikes), and then claim that the UNION was successful in making the changes!!  Then, if it all falls apart, blame the company’s management for the failure!!

Interesting. Many of the folk south of the border don’t like their government to meddle in the affairs of business, but when Walmart plays big brother to the suppliers, it is ok.
I think these so called “Libertarians” would be better called Fibertarians.

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Alex,

“but when Walmart plays big brother to the suppliers, it is ok.”

And, just how is Wal-Mart playing “Big Brother” to it’s suppliers?  It’s very simple, they tell a supplier what they want and then it’s up to the supplier to decide whether they want to deliver or walk away!!  Look at it this way, if you went to a store looking to buy a 32” HD T.V., would you expect to get exactly what you wanted or be willing to take anything they wanted to sell you, and at the price THEY wanted to charge?  If they don’t have what you want at the price you are willing to pay, you leave and go to a store that’s willing to sell you a product on your terms!!  It’s your money and you have control on how it’s spent!!  It’s just that simple and not called “Big Brother”, it’s called “Supply and Demand”?

It’s called Big Brother. Walmart is in a position of power over the suppliers. Because it does it can overextend its demands into the daily operations of these companies. Walmart is acting like government here Bob. Government has power over organizations. There doesn’t seem to be much difference here.

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Oh Alex how simple minded an analysis.  You miss one HUGE FACT in your equation.  When the government speaks legally you must listen.  When a customer or supplier speaks you don’t have to listen and can walk away.  The two scenerios are ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

Sure thing mary. Walk away and lose the business due to Walmarts share of the market.
I find these so called Libertarians that you folks have down there to be a joke. They want as little government (and taxes) because the government can’t do anything right.
Yet when you point out the so much infrastructure is government run (such as your military) then they start to choke up. Face the facts. Your Walmart is acting like government. Extending its nose into other companies business while trying to make it look like it is the saviour of the environmental world. All you Libertarians should tell your Walmart to mind its own business, not other companies.
That is if you truely hold so called Libertarian values.

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Alex,

Except for the first one, the language of your posts seems slightly different since our last encounter. Are you really the same Alex?

“Extending its nose into other companies business while trying to make it look like it is the saviour of the environmental world”

You mean like everyone else tyring to “extend” their nose into Walmart’s business?  Who are you kidding.  Last time I checked I could find alot of the same items at my local Safeway, Target, KMart and Giant store that I find at Walmart.  I hardly think Walmart’s “share of business” keeps barriers to entry and sale for companies and Walmart’s competitors.  Heck if you listen to SDV Costco will soon rule the world so they certainly aren’t hurt by Walmart.

I think you need to take your own advice and “mind your own business and not other companies such as Walmart”

Mary: Doesn’t the “everyone else” extending their nose into WalMart’s business also include you?

ddrb

Haven’t you figured it out yet? Wal-Mart IS Mary’s business. WM is her lord and master. She is on their payroll; she’s bought and paid for. So in essence we are sticking our nose in her business (so to speak).

Big D,

“She is on their payroll”

Oh No, not the old ‘On the payroll’ ploy!!  All Wal-Mart (capitalism) supporters are ‘on the payroll’, while the anti people are all just ‘concerned citizens”, right?  After all, if someone disagrees with your point of view, they MUST be “On the Wal-Mart payroll”, right?

I see we’re back around to the old ‘defenders of capitalism’ stance again. That’s fine but anyone choosing Wal-Mart as the standard bearer surely is “blinded by unshakeable faith in market ideology”.

Come on, boys and girls, retail is so last century. Can’t you find a better champion from Wall Street’s 21st Century stars?
The list of capitalists that are able to convert revenue into profit more efficently than Wal-Mart is a long one.

Buying from slaves to sell to poor people. Admirable....not!

who cares ken?

Personally I don’t care if Walmart trys to control other companies. I do care when you have these Libertarians telling us that government should be almost invisible and at the same time support Walmarts Big Brother relationship with its suppliers by dictating how they should run their business. These Libertarians seem to be talking out of both sides of their mouths. Lets see....govenment can’t do anything, keep them out of everything. Then at the same time the American military can not go private because the government is doing a good job running it. Makes zero sense.

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“Doesn’t the “everyone else” extending their nose into WalMart’s business also include you? “

You are absolutely correct ddrb, that’s why I’m one of the few people around here that HAS NOT told Walmart what they should do because truly..... I don’t care what happens to them.

Ken V: “ Anyone choosing WalMart as the standard bearer surely is “blinded by unshakeable faith in market ideology”. Perhaps they are blinded by “the beauty of capitalism”? In this case,beauty,is in the eye of the beholder.

P.S. If Bill Gates gets his way,"capitalism" will be getting a facelift. According to an AP news report this a.m., Bill Gates has announced today ,at a World Economic Forum in Davos,that his foundation will give $306 million for green technology and farming techniques to boost millions out of junger and poverty.Gates is expected to focus more on philanthropy.On Thursday,Gates urged business to work with governments and non profit groups in a NEW kind of Capitalism,to stem global poverty .He said that millions live on a dollar a day in the global community.I’d say ,Capitalism might just started looking a whole lot prettier.

That should have read HUNGER-sorry.

Alex in Quebec: “but when WalMart plays big brother to the suppliers,it is ok.” Quote: “We still want to drive a hard bargain,but we now need to guard against abusing our power"- Sam Walton(A Handshake with Sam).

Ken V,

“I see we’re back around to the old ‘defenders of capitalism’ stance again.”

Our side has never left that stance, it’s just you who refuse to believe it!!

“Can’t you find a better champion from Wall Street’s 21st Century stars?”

This a Wal-Mart site, remember?  You have stated that point many times in the past!!  You are the one who calls us Wal-Mart lovers, we have not claimed that!!  In fact, we have said that we could care less, if Wal-Mart fails, as long as it’s failure is not caused by outside sabotage!!

Alex,

“These Libertarians seem to be talking out of both sides of their mouths.”

Guess it would sound that way to someone who does it themselves!!  It’s not a matter of government doing some things right (military), some things are just more efficent if done by government, but that doesn’t mean that EVERYTHING would!!  Take firefighting for example, in areas where there is ‘voluntary’ firefighters, they concentrate on keeping the fire from spreading, because it is usually pretty far gone, before the members are rounded up and get there!!  Government is usually running things, that are money losers to private business doing the same thing, they rarely make a ‘profit’ on anything they do!!

ddrb,

Now you are praising Bill Gates?  Isn’t he one of those ‘capitalists’, who earned his money off the backs of workers?  I guess, if I had Billions of dollars, I might be willing to part with $306 million, to be looked at as a ‘good guy’!!  Wasn’t he one of those ‘scum’ capitalists, before he set up the Gates Foundation?  And, wasn’t he also one of those who made more in one hour than most people make in a year?  It’s the old, “I got mine, now let’s change the system”!!

RDS: Given my preferences, I would choose “I got mine,now let’s change the system”!! over “I got mine and the hell with anybody else”!! Randian rhetoric. Have you not heard of Andrew Carnegie,the Mellons,the Whitneys,the Vanderbilts,the Rockefellers(one a governor of Arkansas), Buffet,-the list goes on of people who have” given back” of their private wealth to provide for the common wealth of communities both nationally and worldwide.La noblesse oblige.(BTW, I’d very much like to see the exact post where I EVER used the term “scum capitalist-"but a could think of a couple of entities that might qualify for that terminology.)

LIKE SOME LANDLORDS.

Then at the same time the American military can not go private because the government is doing a good job running it.

Alex, here’s a question for you—have you ever been a member of Canadian Forces?

Simple “yes” or “no” will do—no need for the rememberance garbage…

...as long as it’s failure is not caused by outside sabotage!!

I wouldn’t sweat it too much, RDS—these characters (take your pick!) couldn’t beat their way out of a wet paper bag!

A Handshake with Sam

A visual came to mind—the right hand is the hand of WMW (collectively speaking) shaking Sam Walton’s hand, while the left hand is hidden behind WMW’s back giving “the finger”.

Did I get it right?

“ some things are just more efficent if done by government,"~RDS

Bob (RDS) is sounding very socialist here! Government can be more efficent than the private sector for some things.
Do all the Libertarians agree with Bob (RDS)?

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Alex, here’s a question for you—have you ever been a member of Canadian Forces?

Simple “yes” or “no” will do—no need for the rememberance garbage…~bbrd

Rememberance garbage...? How disrespectful you are of soldiers who have died for their country. You make me sick.

ma,

“LIKE SOME LANDLORDS”

And, like some tenents!!  I just had a family who I let fall behind on their rent, because I felt sorry for them, who the city kicked out for ‘too many people in the apartment’,(8 people in a 4 person apartment), and they left, owing over $1,500.00 in back rent and the apartment trashed and it cost me over $4,000.00 in repairs and three months of lost rent ($600.00 a month, utilities paid)!!  I could try to sue for damages, but, it’s like the old saying, “You can’t get blood out of a rock”!!

Another old saying goes, “No good turn goes unpunished”!!

bbrd,

Guess a choice between “Yes” or “No”, was too hard for Alex!!

Alex,

Private sector companies can not afford to run at a constant “LOSS”, the way government does, get it yet?  It’s not a matter of who can do it better, it’s a matter of ‘profit or loss’!!  Government has an unlimited supply of income, private sector companies don’t!!  Are you really that stupid, or just pretending to be, to impress the other anti Wal-Marters?

When a state collects less money from its citizens/ corporations, I consider that a GOOD thing, since I believe that government doesn’t have a claim on people’s money to begin with, and in general needs to spend less - a LOT less. The fact that many people see this as a BAD thing shows me how dependent people have come on the government, and on the notion that the government is our savior. People are so used to the idea of government taking a cut from your pay, that they don’t even think twice about it. Well, it’s time to start thinking, people. I ask: name one thing the government does better or more efficiently than the private sector????

libertarian in
Tuesday, January 15 at 02:03 PM

It’s not a matter of government doing some things right (military), some things are just more efficent if done by government, but that doesn’t mean that EVERYTHING would!! 

RDS in
Friday, January 25 at 02:06 PM

So Libertarian says that government can’t do anything better than the private sector. But Wait!  RDS (formerly known as Bob) declares that government is needed because some things in society are more important than profit. Maybe healthcare is more important than profit Bob?  Ask the 50 million Americans that can’t afford your expensive system.

PS.  I wonder just how lightly you would take it if someone insulted your Veterans Day (or Memorial Day). Your bbrd is on the low side of the character scale.

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Be Careful of Those Stones You Throw at Alex, RDS!

I never tire or this!  Once again your words come back to bite you on the ass, RDS!

“Guess a choice between “Yes” or “No”, was too hard for Alex!!” ~RDS

Does this sound familiar?

“I do not answer YES/NO questions…”
RDS in
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 05:12 PM

“Did I get it right?

You almost got it right, bbrd.

“Sam Walton” is the one getting “the handshake.”

Lee Scott is the one getting “the finger.”

Now you see the problem.  It’s impossible to shake the hand of a dead man.  Many of Sam Walton’s ideas went to the grave when he did.

rds how did the city find out about 8 people living in your rental?

Didn’t you know?

Screwed: As Kenzu would say"That’s most definitely a “keeper”.

ma,

“rds how did the city find out about 8 people living in your rental?

Didn’t you know?”

Guess someone turned them in!!  And, no, I didn’t know it, there were only 4 when I rented the apartment to them, the woman gained custudy of her 4 other kids months afterwards and as I don’t live near them, I didn’t know, until the city notified me!!  And, I found out later, that the kids were told to go next door, when they saw the “Landlord” coming!!

RDS: No excuses now,that’s YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW.. You’re the landlord! Since utilities were paid by you,didn’t you notice an increase in amounts of usages ?

as far as utilities go, where i live some are estimated every few months. Some are paid three months at a time because thats how they charge. That women may have told the kids not to flush after every pee to save on water.

ma: Nothing like instilling good health habits in a child,ma.I was thinking more along the lines of electricity and gas-I know that these can be quite expensive and spike sharply doing extreme weather with increased usage. I am not familiar with utilities being estimated,but that is interesting. Thanks.

ddrb,

“I was thinking more along the lines of electricity and gas-I know that these can be quite expensive and spike sharply doing extreme weather with increased usage”

Do you think it takes more heat for 8 people than just 4, or a light costs more if 8 people are in a room than if only 4 people are there?  And, you are right, prices spike during extreme weather, so, it is not unusual to see spikes!!  Besides, there were only the 8 there for 2 months during the summer, before I was notified!!  And, if I had known, wouldn’t I have evicted them, because I had to pay the utilities and wasn’t getting any rent money, doesn’t make sense, does it?

Try being a ‘landlord’ and you will find out how well it works out for you!!

ddrb the gas,water,power take your prior years useage then divides it by 12, lets you know better what your bills are going to be and if you use less or more they get adjusted.Waste bill every 3 months at a set rate no matter what. Check the fine print on your bills it might be there because you have to sign up .Most companys don’t even tell you about it.

RDS: Firstly, It may not take more heat,but certainly more electricity if your’e washing and drying more clothes(8 people),or running a diswasher more frequently,or heating more water for additional showers. Are you saying your amenities don’t include a washer and dryer and a dishwasher?Does your rental not include AC-if they were there in the summer,surely this could be a tip off. Utilities costs are a real issue in some states.BTW,How do you KNOW I haven’t been a landlord?

ddrb

Are you kidding? Dish washer? A/C? Washer and dryer hook ups? What, are you delusional?

Bob is a slumlord! They don’t have those kinds of luxuries in the dumps that he rents out.

BTW, you can try to play the GENEROUS land lord and all around good guy, but those of us that have come to know you over the last couple of years know BETTER! You would gut your own mother if you thought she had swallowed a dime!

As for the anonymous person that turned in your tenants, well Bob that was you. It makes sense that you would have to wait for the courts to evict them so you found a short cut. You are such a coward! Grow some BALLS Bob. Take responsibility for you scumbag actions. You won’t get my respect, but Mary might come to worship at your alter.

ddrb,

“Are you saying your amenities don’t include a washer and dryer and a dishwasher”

No dishwasher, but hook-ups for washer and dryer!!

“Does your rental not include AC-if they were there in the summer,surely this could be a tip off.”

Yes, they do have ‘central A/C’, but that, like heat, depends on weather conditions!!

Big D,

“Bob is a slumlord! They don’t have those kinds of luxuries in the dumps that he rents out.”

First, you haven’t a clue as to what type of rentals I have!!  Second, what type of ‘luxuries’ am I to provide for $625.00 a month - utilities included?

“As for the anonymous person that turned in your tenants, well Bob that was you.”

What an ‘idiot’ you are, I wouldn’t have to turn them in and face a fine myself, Arkansas Law, say all I have to do is give them notice of 4 days to get out!!

“It makes sense that you would have to wait for the courts to evict them so you found a short cut.”

Sorry, but in Arkansas, if I am willing to give them 10 days to leave, and they don’t, it is a misdeamener for THEM and THEY would face charges, not me, Arkansas believes in ‘Property Rights’!!  Tell you what, if my places are so bad, explain to me, how I have been renting out apartments since 1996 and have NEVER ONCE had to advertize, when someone moves out, I always have 3 to 4 people wanting to rent, before I even turn it over on cleaning and repairing?  And, most of my tenents have lived there 3 to 4 years average, if it were a ‘slum’, why would they do that?

You sound like someone who is very familiar with living in the slums and have had problems with your ‘landlords’!!